ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: Thousands of security forces were deployed in the federal capital on Wednesday raising fears that terrorists and suicide bombers were on the prowl.

Senior Superintendent of Police Sikandar Hayat, however, tried to cool the nerves of the citizens and told Dawn: “We have no information that suicide bombers might strike in Islamabad”.

Police and paramilitary forces were seen patrolling the city and manning barriers set up at points of entry into Islamabad and its sensitive sections.

Their vigorous checking of suspicious-looking vehicles and men at these barriers, gave credence to whispered intelligence reports that operatives of a banned militant organisation were trying to sneak into the city to launch terror attacks.

Local administration had put state-run hospitals on high alert overnight in preparation of possible terror attacks.

SSP Hayat however shrugged off the idea that Rangers, the Elite Force, Frontier Constabulary and Punjab and local police had been deployed to bolster security.

“Since they were here, we thought it better they stand on duty, rather than stand-by,” he said.

Some 3,500 policemen and paramilitary forces had been brought to Islamabad from Punjab last week for possible showdown with the religious militants at Lal Masjid. But the confrontation over the issue of “illegal mosques” ended in a climbdown by the government.

SSP Sikandar Hayat’s cool explanation, however, could not cool the nerves of the citizens who saw the security forces positioned at roads, important government buildings, shopping centres, multinational companies and fast food outlets — KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonald.

Some sources said Rangers were in the city not for security reasons but were “working in a different direction”.

SSP Hayat said the personnel called to reinforce Islamabad police just stand at different places to help local police on their request. “They do not and could not intervene in citizens’ affairs,” he added.

Asked about the incidents of Punjab police’s misbehaviour with the citizens of Islamabad, the SSP answered with the question “how could they misbehave with the citizens they are not authorised to stop and check any citizen anywhere in the capital?”.