RAWALPINDI: Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) and the Nur Khan Airbase have both been placed on ‘red alert’ within the span of a week in light of possible retaliation from militants. In addition, the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) has issued a fresh ‘threat alert’ regarding the target killing of police officers involved in the apprehension of senior Al-Qaeda members.

The government placed the country’s 36 airports on ‘red alert’ last Thursday, and the level was decreased after three days before being raised to ‘red alert’ again on Tuesday.

Security cordons were in place in Rawalpindi and Islamabad following the NCMC threat alert regarding Al-Qaeda’s South Asia operatives’ plan to attack police officials in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

NCMC directed the Punjab Home Department and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police to tighten security around police establishments and those officers who are on terror groups’ hit lists.

The NCMC issued the threat alert on Sunday, citing intelligence that Al-Qaeda operatives in the region were planning to target police officials from the twin cities. The NCMC also informed the Punjab home department that police officials involved in the apprehension of senior Al-Qaeda members would be under threat, and directed authorities to tighten security around the concerned officials.

As part of increased security at BBIA, restrictions have been set on pick-up and drop-off traffic, and those entering the airport premises are to be subjected to searches and questioning by security officials. Temporary passes for visited have also been cancelled.

When contacted, city police officer (CPO) Israr Ahmed Abbasi said that police officials have been directed to be vigilant while on patrols, and to keep weapons with them.

“The threat to police officials is very serious and we have been taking all the possible measures to ensure the security of police personnel,” Abbasi said.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2015

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