Security of Multan city was put on red alert on Thursday following intelligence reports about the entry of six suicide bombers into the Punjab. Police and law-enforcers warned high-profile personalities to restrict their movements to prevent bombing, and tightened security in and around key installations.
The police sources said soon after receiving the reports, their bosses issued a special security circular to their subordinates to put security on red alert. They said police had been directed to stay vigilant in and around important buildings to prevent possible terror strike(s). They said sandbags had been piled up at the entry points of sensitive installations.
They said such places were being guarded by law-enforcers carrying latest weapons. They said police had erected new pickets on major roads including Dera Ghazi Khan, Highway, Faisalabad-Jhang Highway, Bahawalpur, Vehari, Mailsi Highway.
They said scores of policemen and law-enforcers had taken positions inside and outside sensitive points to prevent possible terror activities. They said personnel of the police's special branch having sniffer dogs at their disposal had also been deputed at important public places such as airport, railway station, hospitals and bus terminals and van stations. They said all field officers of police had been directed to keep a close eye on suspicious persons and vehicles. They said entry of heavy goods vehicles in cantonment areas had been banned.
The sources said all Station House Officers (SHOs) have been instructed to ensure round-the-clock patrolling of respective areas to search for terrorists. They said policemen had been told to arrest all suspicious persons without Computerised National Identification Card (CNIC). The sources said that police have been directed to puncture the tyres of suspicious vehicles if it didn't stop at police pickets despite orders. They said vehicles entering in Multan would be thoroughly searched from now on.