July 07, 2008	Monday	Rajab 3, 1429

LAHORE, July 6: The capital city police have been put on high alert after a suicide blast in Islamabad.

Besides intensifying patrolling, additional force has been deployed around important government buildings, trade centers, bus and wagon stands.

According to a handout, CCPO Muhammad Parvez Rathore has directed all divisional SPs to reorganize patrolling system in their respective areas and ensure round-the-clock patrolling and checking of hotels, guest houses and sensitive places.

The CCPO also directed foolproof arrangements at all the entry points of the city as well as checking of suspicious persons and vehicles.

He asked the people to extend their cooperation for the eradication of terrorism and inform police about criminals or suspicious elements and vehicles on telephone numbers 9200304, 9202881, 9203997, 9202369 and fax numbers 9202973, 9204037.

CM: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives. He directed the provincial health secretary to provide all possible medical facilities to the injured.

He said that teams of specialist doctors along with medicines and other necessary medical equipment should be sent to Islamabad from Rawalpindi immediately.

He said that relatives of the injured should not face any difficulty in getting medicines or blood.

The chief minister also directed the Punjab home secretary and the IGP to immediately contact the heirs of martyrs and injured to ensure every help they needed.

CONDEMNATION: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said that the blast at Melody Chowk was a proof of the failure of the government to maintain law and order and protect the lives of the people.

He said that it was strange that the government had not made foolproof arrangements for preventing the suicide bombing at the Lal Masjid meeting.

Condemning the heinous act, PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif phoned party officials in Rawalpindi from London and asked them to reach the hospitals and extend all-out help to those injured in the blast.