In the wake of the terrorist attack in a sensitive government building in Peshawar, security in and around government installations in Islamabad has been enhanced to avoid any untoward incident. Sources in Interior Ministry said that the ministry had directed the police and other law enforcement agencies to beef up the security of important personalities, government installations and hotels in the capital.
Some terrorists had occupied a sensitive government building near US Consulate in Peshawar and took the security personnel as hostage. The building was cordoned off by Army, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies. Sources said that intelligence agencies had informed the Interior Ministry regarding the terrorist attacks on VVIPs and sensitive government installations.
There are threats of such strikes in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other parts of the country, they added. The security check points were strengthened with new blockades and deployment of more officials and officers to ensure the physical checking of the vehicles at entry and exit points of Islamabad, sources said. They said that anti-terrorist squad officials were brought on regular patrolling while police was directed to keep close check on suspected people.
They said that Interior Ministry had issued a terror alert last week and in a letter to chief secretaries, home secretaries and inspector generals of all provinces, IGP Islamabad and to other law enforcement agencies. The Ministry directed them to make a foolproof security arrangement for VVIPs, sources said.
Meanwhile, according to a spokesman of Islamabad Police, the Operation Division of Islamabad Police was directed to perform the security duties for VVIPs along with Security Division and ensure effective patrolling in movement areas.
A detailed briefing was given to the police officials regarding this security plan for Operation Division and it was decided that SP, DSPs and SHOs would patrol in their respective areas during VVIP movement while special pickets would be erected for security purpose and effective checking.
Special mobile patrolling squads would keep vigilant eye on the suspects and ensure complete co-ordination with their officers during the movement. The SSP Islamabad Tahir Alam Khan on the occasion said that the purpose of this security plan is to ensure foolproof arrangements during VVIP movements. He said that police officials of Operation Division would perform duties along with officials of Security Division and officials from SP level to SHO level would patrol in their respective area during VIP movement.
Tahir said that high alert security will be ensured at venue along with route duty and concerned SP, DSP and SHO will remain present at the venue issuing directions for maintaining foolproof security. The SSP issued directions to the officials for full compliance with the security plan and hoped that all officials would accomplish their responsibilities in a professional manner. He also directed to ensure effective checking at various police pickets in the city and made Citizen's Vigilance Committees more vibrant through defining their proper jurisdictions.