Suicide bombers planning to attack PTI, PAT rallies, warns Nisar

Published August 16, 2014
Photo shows Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan addressing a press conference.—APP/File photo
Photo shows Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan addressing a press conference.—APP/File photo

ISLAMABAD: The country’s top intelligence agencies say terrorists are planning to carry out suicide attacks on protest rallies in Islamabad, Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan told reporters on Saturday.

“For the past three days, we have been put on a high alert by the intelligence agencies. According to reports, two suicide bombers are known to have entered (Islamabad and Rawalpindi),” Nisar said during a press conference in the federal capital.

“Their aim is to target PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf) and PAT (Pakistan Awami Tehreek) rallies.”

The interior minister said the reports came from military intelligence agencies.

“I don’t want to spread fear or panic – but if something happens tomorrow, it will be the government’s responsibility. This information is based on reports from the country’s top-most military intelligence agencies,” he said.

Nisar urged the leaders and participant of both the PAT and the PTI to coordinate with local administration to ensure better security.

“We have deployed an effective cordon of over 30,000 security personnel. It’s not a small security cordon…its massive with very high costs. But the security of the protestors is our responsibility. We want that PTI and PAT coordinate security matters with the local administration,” he stressed.

The interior minister said that the two parties had been given permission after a set of conditions were agreed upon.

“The conditions are clear. The Red Zone is a red line. Nobody will be allowed to cross it,” he reiterated.

“If any incident occurs, the security agencies are prepared to take appropriate action. Even if a single person crosses the red line, the law will swiftly come into action, he said.

Opinion

Editorial

Reserved seats
Updated 15 May, 2024

Reserved seats

The ECP's decisions and actions clearly need to be reviewed in light of the country’s laws.
Secretive state
15 May, 2024

Secretive state

THERE is a fresh push by the state to stamp out all criticism by using the alibi of protecting national interests....
Plague of rape
15 May, 2024

Plague of rape

FLAWED narratives about women — from being weak and vulnerable to provocative and culpable — have led to...
Privatisation divide
Updated 14 May, 2024

Privatisation divide

How this disagreement within the government will sit with the IMF is anybody’s guess.
AJK protests
14 May, 2024

AJK protests

SINCE last week, Azad Jammu & Kashmir has been roiled by protests, fuelled principally by a disconnect between...
Guns and guards
14 May, 2024

Guns and guards

THERE are some flawed aspects to our society that we must start to fix at the grassroots level. One of these is the...