Punjab Police did not observe the security guidelines, which also included a dummy bus in the convey of Sri Lankan cricket team, as was decided in a joint meeting of Punjab Police, Punjab Home Department and security agencies held on January 16, sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday. They termed this as a sever lapse in the security guidelines that was prepared for the escort of the Sri Lankan cricket team from the hotel to the Qadaffi Stadium.
'In the meeting, it was also decided that the visiting cricket team would be given the high level security that had been planned for the Champions Trophy, which is scheduled for November this year,' they added.
According to them, Punjab Home Department received a copy of an intelligence report, addressed to the IG Police Punjab, from the Crime Investigation Department (CID) on January 22, which warned that there is possibility of a serious terrorist threat to the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.
On January 23, the department intimated the IG Police Punjab of the report. On the same day, through a letter, the department asked various intelligence agencies to share further intelligence information regarding the nature of possible attack in detail, so that appropriate security measures could be adopted to foil the terrorist threat. Interestingly, no response was received from the intelligence agencies or forwarded any new information that could help them foil the attack.
Sources in Punjab Home Department dispelled the impression that there is a similarity between the Mumbai attack and Lahore attack. They ruled out the involvement of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaatul Dawa in the March 3 attack. Their modus operandi does not fit in this situation, as its past track record suggest otherwise.
'Targeting a foreign team reflects possible intention of terrorist of tarnishing the image of Pakistan in the international community. Hence, a strong possibility of foreign hands' involvement in the attack is there. We could not rule out that a conspiracy is being hatched to declare Pakistan a failed state,' they claimed.
Sources further said the intelligence agencies are also probing into the possibility of a Sri Lankan militant group Tamil Tiger's involvement, which might have been sponsored by the Indians. They said, this is not a far fetch idea, as many 'renegade groups' are available in Pakistan, who carry out such attacks for monetary benefits.
While talking to Business Recorder, Punjab Home Secretary, Nadeem Hassan Asif admitted that they received a copy of intelligence report from the CID. He said there were security lapses, but on the day of the attack, the police responded to the task and saved many precious lives, including that of the visitors. 'In fact, the police foiled the attempt of the terrorists of killing the members of the Sri Lankan cricket team,' he added.
Further, he dispelled the impression, reported in the press, that the terrorists did not receive any resistance from the police and allowed a freehand to them to fire at their will. He said that the police squad accompanied the visitor's bus played a dual role and while responding to the assault, they successfully escorted the bus to the stadium.
'In fact, the police succeeded in its duty of serving as a shield between the bus and the terrorist. The brave act of the police saved the prestige of Pakistan,' he added. Punjab Home Secretary observed that there was a communication gap between the law enforcement departments and intelligence agencies that led to the security lapses. He was of the view that this has to be addressed on war footing and loopholes have to be blocked.
'The prevailing circumstances requires setting up of independent security wings that specifically deals with security of foreign delegates and important personalities,' he added. Regarding the progress of investigation on the March 3 attack, he said they have gathered some clues, but those could not be disclosed at this point. 'Also, we are inquiring into the possible security lapses and a report in this connection would be completed within a week or so,' he added.
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