Ministry of Interior has requested the Ministry of Commerce and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) including law enforcement agencies to strictly monitor movement of 'wireless radio firing switches' which are being used as triggers for explosions in Balochistan.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that the Ministry of Interior has expressed serious concern over the possible availability of such kind of lethal devices used to carry out terrorist acts.
Ministry of Interior, National Crises Management Cell has requested the Commerce Ministry, Home Secretary Balochistan, Provincial Police Officer Quetta and FBR to take immediate steps to check movement of electronic circuit (triggering device).
The Interior Ministry has also apprehended that the import of such kind of devices needs to be checked by customs at ports and by law enforcement agencies etc. It has been reported that an electronic circuit (triggering device) recovered from Balochistan was dismantled in Explosive Exploitation Cell. Similar switches were also recovered from various areas of Balochistan during 2011.
The switch with stand off distance of 200 metres has the ability to fire 12 circuits at a time, which speaks of its lethality. Since this device has no significant use in the country, therefore its import, if any, may be strictly monitored, Interior Ministry observed. Ministry of Interior has suggested certain counter measures in this regard: Firstly, the customs officials must be briefed to check its import through air/sea ports.
Secondly, the law enforcement agencies particularly in Balochistan must be made aware of the switch particularly with reference to its range, ie 200 metres (900 ft) on the line of sight and, therefore, route clearance limits may accordingly be adjusted. In this regard, the law enforcement agencies should take necessary action, under intimation to this Ministry, sources added.