RAWALPINDI, April 13: Interior ministry has directed the police to step up security around Qatari installations, especially the offices of Qatar Airways.

An official source told Dawn on Sunday that the Qatari authorities had requested the Foreign Office to increase security around the offices of Qatar Airways and other installations throughout the country.

In view of the request, the interior ministry directed the police departments in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar to step up security, the source added.

Inayat Sheikh, a senior official of the Qatar Airways told Dawn that the embassy of Qatar asked the staff to provide particulars of the airlines’ offices. However, the authorities did not mention the purpose of gathering the data, he added.

The official said a police officer visited the airlines’ office and reviewed the required security measures. However, the police guards are yet to be deployed, he added.

Meanwhile, the British High Commission and several other embassies, including the US and Iraq, have received anonymous letters urging the authorities to stop the unjustified war and killing of innocent Iraqi people.

A police officer said an investigation was underway to trace the person who mailed the letters.