Nisar for full implementation of SC orders on court attack

Published March 4, 2014
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. – File Photo
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. – File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Tuesday directed for immediate implementation of the orders given by a three-member bench of the Supreme Court in the aftermath of the Islamabad court attack.

The apex court had ordered the authorities to identify policemen who failed to respond to a gun and suicide bomb attack on a court complex in Islamabad which killed 11 people on Monday.

Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani summoned top security officials over suicide attack, the deadliest to hit the heavily-guarded capital in more than five years.

Pakistan has been grappling with a homegrown Taliban insurgency since 2007. But attacks in Islamabad have been rare and Monday's incident raises questions about the authorities' ability to secure the city.

Chief Justice Jillani, who had taken suo motu notice of the attack, asked for detailed reports on the incident by next Monday and ordered CCTV cameras at courthouses in Islamabad and its twin city Rawalpindi to be made fully operational within 48 hours.

Chairing high level meeting at the interior ministry today, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar ordered immediate purchase of new walkthrough gates and CCTV cameras for the district courts, Islamabad and their immediate installation.

The interior minister directed the ministry officials for full implementation of the court orders by March 8, well before the next hearing of the suo motu case.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan directed the police high-ups to review the overall security of the federal capital with particular reference to entry and exit points and identification of sensitive buildings.

He asked police officials to present the reviewed security plan to him within the next four days.

Emphasising on the registration of residents of Katchi Abadis (slums), and people residing in the suburbs of Islamabad, he formed a task force to analyze all the data acquired so far in the light of the security requirements of the federal capital.

The minister also directed the secretary interior to coordinate with the Punjab government for implementing the order of the Supreme Court with regard to beefing up security of the District Court in Rawalpindi and the Rawalpindi Bench of Lahore High Court (LHC).

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