February 04, 2008	Monday	Muharram 25, 1429

RAWALPINDI, Feb 3: Police in the twin cities of Rawalpindi- Islamabad have been directed to step up security around the Islamabad international airport, police and military installations, prominent political figures and foreigners in the light of intelligence that militants were planning to target them in retaliation to the ongoing operations in Swat and South Waziristan in very near future, Dawn has learnt.

The city police officer of Rawalpindi and the senior superintendent of police Islamabad have also been intimated that this time the suicide bombers might use cyanide-dipped nails in the explosives which can increase the loss of lives and create panic among the security personnel.

When contacted, a senior security official at the Islamabad airport confirmed that there had been intelligence that a suicide bomber aged between 18 and 20 years might strike within the next two days.

“We are taking no chances. The tightened security will ensure that whoever is intending to carry out such an attack will not do it so easily.

People entering the airport on foot are being strictly checked by the Airport Security Force while CCTV cameras are watching all the activities at the airport,” the official said.

It may be mentioned that on a number of occasions the federal government had intimated the provincial governments and the federal capital territory administration to ensure strict security in the light of intelligence of terrorist attacks. But mostly such reports have turned out to be a hoax.

Rawalpindi and Islamabad, however, were targeted by suicide bombers at least seven times last year in which several people including former prime minister Benazir Bhutto were killed and many injured.