March 17, 2008	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 8, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 16: The capital city was again throbbing with politics on Sunday as public representatives elected in the February 18 elections started pouring in to take part in the maiden session of the new National Assembly.

Though the law enforcement agencies have declared the Constitution Avenue, the Parliament and adjacent areas a “red zone”, the Parliament Lodges were full of life and so were the hotels and motels of the city.

It seems that the new faces, who will be talking their seats on Monday, have also brought with them a fresh hope to this metropolis which was rocked by a bomb blast at an Italian restaurant, Luna Caprese, Saturday evening that killed a Turkish lady and injured 20 others.

Sources said the intelligence agencies have warned of more suicide attacks in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

“That’s why the area of Parliament and around has been declared a ‘red zone’ — a state of security alert higher than the ‘high alert’”, a police official said.

Security personnel have sealed off the Constitution Avenue and all other roads leading towards the Parliament by laying barbed wires and putting up cement blocks to stop the entry of any explosives-laden vehicles.

“No vehicles other than official ones will be allowed to enter the red zone,” the official said.

The government has also issued special entry passes for the first session of the National Assembly and installed walk-through metal detectors. The Frontier Constabulary (FC) has also been deployed to strengthen the presence of the police in the vicinity of the Parliament.

Sources said police on Sunday rounded up more than 300 people from the suburbs of the twin cities during its random search operation. The people were later released after security clearance. Police will continue with their random search operation.

The traffic police have also chalked out a special traffic plan for Monday to ensure smooth flow of traffic on roads leading towards the Parliament.