March 27, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 18, 1429

RAWALPINDI, March 26: The federal government has directed the Rawalpindi and Islamabad police to increase security for former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi after intelligence that militants were planning to target PML-Q gatherings and kidnap his son for ransom, Dawn has learnt.

A source said through a letter the federal government had directed the inspector-general of police Islamabad, city police officer Rawalpindi and district police officer Attock to take appropriate security measures for prominent political figures, as militants were reported to have planned to attack PML-Q processions.

Citing the intelligence, the federal government said two groups of militants had been assigned the task to target the PML-Q gatherings and kidnap Mr Elahi’s son. One of the groups has been in Lahore while the other was in Islamabad waiting for their targets, the source said. He said the terrorist groups had been waiting for a proper time and place to execute their plans.

A senior police official said security around political figures and important installations had already been beefed up and all possible measures were being taken to avert any such attempt.—Staff Reporter