The spokesman for the Interior Ministry, Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema (retd) has claimed that blast in Rawalpindi was a suicide attack targeting policemen, which killed at least seven people injuring other 14.
At his weekly briefing to media on the prevailing law and order situation here on Tuesday, he said that attacker was a suicide bomber in his 20s and investigation is in progress. He said that police have found head of the suicide bomber, who is said to be between 20-23 years of age. To a question, the spokesman said the government is aware of the threat imposed by the handful extremists and it would provide maximum security to the people.
"We condemn targeting of the police personnel by a suicide bomber on a police barrier in Rawalpindi killing seven people and injuring another 14, including six cops", said Cheema.
He said the police are investigating the perpetrators of this cowardly act and who would soon be brought to justice. Cheema, however, ruled out any possibility of foreign hand in this attack,. saying that the government has found foreign involvement in terrorist activities being carried out in Swat, Balochistan, and Fata.
"Some countries are reportedly supplying weapons to militants in Swat, Balochistan, and Fata," he asserted. At present, the situation in the restive Swat region is relatively calm as the ceasefire was unilaterally sought by the militants after which law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) have refrained from firing so that militants could pick their dead, the spokesman added.
The security forces comprising personnel of the Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary and Police have remain deployed in the area and would remain there till the situation is normal, he confirmed.
Cheema said the provincial government has been exercising restraint despite highly provocative and unlawful activities by a handful of militants. "All necessary measures would be taken to bring the intolerable state of affairs to an end at the earliest.
Those preaching violence and hatred should heed to reasoning and stop their anti-people and anti-state activities forthwith, and hand themselves over to the law-enforcement agencies," he demanded.
To a question, he said that troops were sent to Swat on the request of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) government and support of the federal government would continue as the centre has extended its support to provinces on their demand in the past.
About election rallies, the spokesman said that keeping in view the security threat in the prevailing circumstance, the interior ministry has drawn up a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to provide a viable framework for carrying out political activities, especially rallies and public meetings.
The draft-SOP has already been sent to all political parties and other concerned quarters on Sunday, he said, adding that it would be implemented by incorporating the views and suggestions of all the political parties.
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