Federal Government has put the security apparatus on red alert after receiving intelligence information regarding terrorist strike in Islamabad using suicide bomb attackers.
Intelligence agencies have informed that terrorists may strike from the slums located in different parts of Islamabad including illegal settlements of Afghan nationals particularly in I-11, Golra Morr, Chak Shahzad and other parts of the capital, sources in Interior Ministry told Business Recorder on Friday evening.
General hold up was announced in Islamabad on Friday evening to enhance vigilance, and avert any incident of terrorism, besides a crackdown was launched to bring the terrorists to task, they said. Strict checking was underway at exit and entry points of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to block the entry of miscreants. Dozens of suspects were detained by law enforcement agencies and some of them were taken to some unknown destinations for further interrogation.
There was terrorism alert from elite intelligence agencies that terrorists may strike some sensitive installations in Islamabad and Interior ministry has issued a directive to establish more check posts in capital, and hold a strict checking of vehicles entering Islamabad and keep an eye on suspected individuals.
Special emphasis of the intelligence information is on katchi abadies in Islamabad, and this is the reason that a thorough crackdown on katchi abadies will be launched. The law enforcement agencies were also asked to keep an eye on people migrating from Swat and other parts of Malakand due to military operation and make sure that militants might not enter in the garb of internally Displaced Persons.
It is pertinent to note that from January 2008 to March 2009, Pakistan faced 1,842 incidents of terrorism. According to a report of the Interior ministry an average of five terrorist incidents took place in the country every day during the last fifteen months. The statistics showed that 1,395 people were killed in terror incidents from January 2008 to March 2009.
Seven terror incidents occurred in Islamabad in which 87 people were killed. The highest number of 1,122 terrorist incidents took place in Balochistan. NWFP was rocked by 692 terrorist incidents, followed by 12 in Punjab, 9 in Sindh and 7 in Islamabad. A compensation of Rs 250 million has been paid to terror victims in Islamabad and other four provinces.
During last 12 months, Rs 28 million was paid to terror victims in Islamabad, Rs 103 million in Punjab, Rs 70 million in Sindh, Rs 99 million in NWFP and Rs 47 million in Balochistan. The government did not present a single inquiry report about terrorist attacks in parliament.
In response to another question, the Interior ministry informed the National Assembly that at least 6,169 foreigners, including 162 women, were imprisoned in Pakistani jails during 2008-2009. The highest number of 5,087 foreigners are imprisoned in Balochistan.