08 October 2004	Friday	22 Shaban 1425

LAHORE, Oct 7: The Punjab police on Thursday heightened security in view of the Multan carnage in which around 39 people were reported to have been killed.

Senior Punjab police hierarchy convened emergency meetings shortly after the bomb blast and reviewed in detail the steps to avoid such incidents. The meetings also discussed the loopholes which let the terrorists to execute their mission.

Office of Punjab police chief IG Saadatullah Khan sent urgent fax messages to all the District Police Offices (DPOs) in the province, asking them to keep a strict vigil in their areas. "The DPO would be directly responsible for any security lapse," a part of the message read.

The DPOs were directed to convene meetings with participation of people from all sects and appeal them to coordinate with the administration to help eliminate terrorism. They have also been asked to summon all religious irritants at police stations and issue them warnings. They were also asked to detain any of them if required.

All entry and exit points of Lahore were barricaded and heavy police contingents were deployed there with directions to check each and everybody, especially suspects.