October 17, 2002	Thursday	Sha'aban 10, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 16: In the wake of parcel bomb explosions in police department of Karachi, which left at least seven people injured, the interior division has directed he police throughout the country to scan all parcels and mails before opening them, an official source said.

Brig Cheema of National Crises Management Cell, Interior Division, said immediately after the Wednesday’s incident, instructions had been passed to mail service to scan all the parcels, besides collecting the particulars of the senders.

He said three suspects had been taken into custody by the Sindh police in connection with the parcel bomb blasts. The suspects are being questioned by law-enforcement agencies, he said.

A senior police official said the police in Rawalpindi and Islamabad had been directed to strengthen security measures. Strict surveillance of people going to Pak Secretariat has also been started, while police will carry out random checking in twin cities, a police official said.

In another move, an emergency meeting has been called at the interior ministry on Thursday to review the law and order situation in the country, an official source said.

The home secretaries, the IGPs of the four provinces and the federal territory, and other officials concerned are expected to attend the meeting, which will be presided over the interior minister, the source said.

Meanwhile, in view of an intelligence report that terrorists may target Pakistan State Oil (PSO) filling stations, the law enforcement agencies have been directed to step up security, the source said.