October 01, 2008	Wednesday	Shawwal 1, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 30: Security level was heightened to ‘red alert’ in the entire country on Tuesday, with authorities barring organising Eid prayers in open places.

According to a circular issued by the interior ministry sent to all provincial and district governments, there should be “no Eid prayers in open places”.

“The decision to discourage the holding of Eid prayers in the open was made in view of security concerns and in the backdrop of increasing number of suicide attacks,” the source said.

The previous government had made a similar decision two years ago, but most organisers ignored the orders.

The interior ministry said that it would be difficult for the police to provide security for worshippers in the open.

The source said the government had received threats of suicide bombings in major cities, including Islamabad, prompting it to raise the alert level. Other major cities under threat are: Karachi, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar.

The government has decided to deploy Rangers in Islamabad and their deployment was completed by late Tuesday night. In other major cities Rangers will remain on stand-by.

The ministry also urged the authorities concerned to seek assistance of private security agencies for maintaining peace. “Assistance of private security agencies is a part of the code under which guards... would be responsible for internal security of the mosques and other places of worship. Police will maintain security outside the mosques,” a senior security official said.