February 19, 2007	Monday	Safar 1, 1428

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RAWALPINDI, Feb 18: In the wake of recent suicide attacks in different parts of the country, Rawalpindi police launched a crackdown and rounded up about 200 suspects on Sunday. However, 180 were later released on personnel sureties.

District Police Officer (DPO) Saud Aziz said during the crackdown, a number of hotels and inns were checked. However, majority of the people taken into custody were released after their identification and personnel sureties. Nearly, 20 people are still being questioned.

He said most of the people rounded up were Afghans and Pashtuns.

Meanwhile, offices of Al-Rasheed Trust and Al-Akhtar Trust have been sealed by the law enforcement agencies, sources said.

Two offices of Al-Rasheed Trust — one situated in Moti Plaza and the other at Khayaban-i-Sir Syed — were sealed. The two trusts had been under observation for quite some time.

DPO Saud Aziz said the state of alert had not been lowered and was still on “high alert”.

The government had ordered security to be stepped up across the country, particularly at mosques and important buildings and district court premises.

High alert had been declared on February 6 after a man blew himself up at Islamabad International Airport.

According to police sources, security in Islamabad had been further tightened and Rangers personnel and capital and Punjab police deployed at checkposts established at various places in Islamabad.

The checkposts have been set up at Faizabad, Shakarparian Chowk and Zero Point.

Taxila Correspondent adds: Following the suicide bombing at a court in Quetta, law enforcement agencies have adopted unprecedented security measures in Taxila and Wah Cantonment and intensified their checking on G.T. Road.

A number of pickets have been established to monitor the movement of militants and possible suicide attackers.

“Yes we have been informed by a sensitive agency that a group of suicide attackers may enter the federal capital or Rawalpindi from Waziristan Agency. Therefore we have adopted strict security measures and all vehicles coming from the NWFP are being thoroughly checked,” a high ranking police official said on condition of anonymity.

He said more pickets would be set up to increase checking of vehicles.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in sensitive areas, especially around defence and government installations after Saturday’s attack in Quetta.

Vigilance has been increased at public places including mosques, Imambargahs, railway stations, bus terminals and other sensitive areas.