September 10, 2008	Wednesday	Ramazan 09, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 9: The security apparatus in the federal capital and the provincial headquarters has been put on ‘high alert’ in the wake of intelligence that terrorists are planning to carry out suicide attacks, the prime minster’s adviser on interior said on Tuesday.

“We have received reports of threats about possible suicide attacks after a would-be suicide bomber was arrested from Nowshera,” Rehman Malik said. Referring to the situation in the tribal areas, he said although the government had announced a temporary ceasefire during Ramazan, security forces would not hesitate to use force if insurgents tried to disrupt peace.

“We took action against militants in Bajaur when they set a post office ablaze there despite a temporary ceasefire. No one will be allowed to take the law into his hands. The government is committed to rooting out terrorism,” Mr Malik said.

He said that about half of the 300,000 people who had been displaced from the tribal areas after security forces took action against militants had returned to their homes.

About repeated territorial violations by Nato forces, he said the people of Pakistan had protested by adopting two parliamentary resolutions. “It is high time the US respects Pakistani public opinion.”

About human trafficking, the adviser stressed the need for dismantling the smuggling network and called for amending laws to deal with illegal immigrants.

“Economic pressures encourage poverty-stricken people to adopt illegal means to go abroad for a better life, but unscrupulous travel agents exploit them,” he said.