Alert in capital on reports of terrorist infiltration
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, June 26: The government has beefed up security arrangements for foreign nationals and important personalities in the capital after intelligence reports suggested that some suspected terrorists or suicide bombers ‘may have entered Islamabad’ to hit high-profile targets.
“We have received information that some suicide attackers have reached Islamabad, after which all intelligence agencies have been directed to be vigilant to foil their designs,” interior ministry spokesman Brig Javed Iqbal Cheema said on Tuesday.
He was responding to a question regarding reported infiltration of suicide bombers in recent days. However, Brig Cheema urged media not to ‘sensationalise’ the matter.
Sources in security agencies said various departments were holding separate meetings to prepare plans to net the bombers.
The number of security personnel deployed in and around the Diplomatic Enclave has been increased.
The interior ministry spokesman said at a weekly briefing that written orders had been sent to intelligence agencies to take necessary steps to foil any terror plan.
He did not say who the suicide bombers were and which group and area they belonged to.
The spokesman said security of foreign nationals, especially Chinese, had been increased by the ministry’s Foreigners Security Cell.
Responding to a question about abduction of Chinese women by Lal Masjid activists from a clinic, the spokesman termed it a ‘shocking and unlawful act’. However, he said: “I can’t give any deadline about an action against Lal Masjid.”
“Lal Masjid clerics have been continuing their unlawful activities for several months despite utmost patience and tolerance shown by the government in a bid to wean them away from the dangerous path.
But the government retains all options and shall take appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of the inhabitants of Islamabad,” he said.
The spokesman said Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, who was in China, had assured his counterpart Zhou Yongkan that safety of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan was one of the top priorities of the government.Brig Cheema said both sides had discussed ways of enhancing cooperation in counter-terrorism and law enforcement.
China would help in capacity building of Pakistan’s law-enforcement agencies by providing equipment, he said.
In reply to a question, the spokesman said the government was taking several steps, decided by the National Security Council on June 4, to curb militancy in tribal areas.
“But it has been realised that the wave of terrorism cannot be suppressed by force and we have to change the mindset of the militants to tackle the problem,” he said.
He said the first meeting of senior officials of Pakistan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on trans-national crime would be held in Laos on June 28.
