ISLAMABAD, Jan 28: The government on Monday blamed foreign hands for the recent suicide attacks and other acts of terrorism in the country.

“We have solid evidences about the involvement of foreign hands in the prevailing turmoil in the country,” Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah told a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior at the Parliament House.

He said a comprehensive plan had been prepared for the Feb 18 elections and sensitive polling stations had been identified.

Senator Talha Mehmood presided over the meeting, which was attended by Senator Rehamattullah Kakar, Kamil Ali Agha, Syed Tahir Mashhaddi, Mrs Gulshan Saeed, Tahira Latif, Kamran Murtaza and Liaquat Bangulzai.

The committee members called for foolproof security arrangements for political and religious leaders.

The committee passed a resolution expressing grief over the tragic assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and called for payment of compensation to those who suffered financial loss in the unrest which followed.

Home secretaries and inspector-generals of police of the four provinces were also present.

The committee termed the assassination of Ms Bhutto a national tragedy.

Fateha was offered for the souls of Benazir Bhutto and victims of suicide attacks in the country.

The committee asked the interior ministry to prepare a comprehensive plan to protect people’s life and property.

It said there was a need to enhance budgetary allocations for the interior ministry so that police and other security agencies could be provided with the advanced technology and equipment to meet the challenges of modern terrorism.