Security arrangements were beefed up in the city following reports that terrorists could strike in Multan and other parts of Punjab. Tension gripped the city on Sunday after reports that three explosives-laden vehicles and six suicide bombers had left Dera Ismail Khan to carry out attacks in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Mianwali, Bhakkar and other major towns and cities.
An intelligence source said terrorists could target security forces, clerics from certain schools of thought and important buildings and installations in the cities. The authorities have been directed to beef up security across the Punjab. It appears that after initially putting up stiff resistance, most of the Taliban chose to flee. An official said, "When they (militants) realised that they were being encircled, they decided not to fight a pitched battle".