ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan asked police on Saturday to upgrade security measures for the capital as the country was in a “war-like situation” because of the military operation in North Waziristan.

He also told police to work out foolproof plan ahead of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s arrival. “The plan should take care of security of those participating in the Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s rally as well as that of the public at large.

“This is only possible through coordination between the administration and police of Rawalpindi and Islamabad,” Chaudhry Nisar said.

Qadri’s rally will not be allowed to enter Islamabad

Sources in the police department told Dawn that the interior minister had asked police to ensure that the procession led by Dr Qadri did not enter Islamabad.

The directives were issued at a meeting on security measures here on Saturday.

“Senior police officers needed to inculcate a sense of responsibility and vigilance among their subordinates in order to face the menace of terrorism as the country is facing a war-like situation,” the minister said.

The minister asked police and security agencies to gear up their resources and efforts to fully secure the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and their residents in the wake of the military operation in North Waziristan.

He directed the commissioner of Islamabad to ban all congregations, including Urs, citing the bomb attack at a shrine near the capital on Friday.

PAT RALLY: About arrangements for Monday’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s rally, a senior police official said: “Containers will be put in place to seal the `red zone’. Containers will also be placed at Faizabad, the entry point to Islamabad from the airport.”

“A special contingent of Islamabad police, probably with the support of Punjab police and Rangers, will be deployed at Faizabad to stop PAT workers from entering the city,” he added.

The police officer said the arrangements had been made in view of the previous record of Dr Qadri’s party because it had violated an agreement with the PPP government during its sit-in in January last year.

The interior minister directed the officials that the security of other parts of the twin cities should also be ensured so that unlawful elements did not take advantage of the situation.

He, however, asked them not to disturb the life of general public.

The commissioner of Rawalpindi, the IG of Islamabad and the RPO of Rawalpindi briefed the meeting about the measures being taken to ensure security in the twin cities.

Chaudhry Nisar said the sensitivity of the situation demanded heightened security measures and it was incumbent upon security agencies to fully secure public places and strategically important buildings.

“Police should review the overall security of the federal capital, with particular reference to entry and exit points and identification of sensitive buildings,” he said.

Chaudhry Nisar stressed that entry and exit points of Islamabad and Rawalpindi should be put on high alert and areas surrounding them should be thoroughly searched and cleared of any unlawful elements.

The meeting noted that the joint patrolling teams of Rangers and police have given a sense of security to the residents of Islamabad and directed to strategise this exercise to get its more optimum use.

It was decided that even unpaved routes, with special attention to unconventional routes, including pedestrian routes, should be secured.

The interior secretary, the chairman of the National Counter-Terrorism Authority and the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency also attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2014