RAWALPINDI: Panic gripped police on Sunday evening when the Superintendent of Police Security announced on the wireless system at 6:49pm that the Regional Police Officer’s office had been attacked by four terrorists.

Security was already at high alert as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s plane was close to landing at Nur Khan Airbase and the last Chehlum procession was taking place in Westridge.

The announcement later turned out to be part of a mock exercise initiated by the SP Security to check the response time of the Quick Response Force and Elite Force.

However, panicked citizens also became an unplanned part of the exercise when the news of terrorist attack on RPO office appeared on some news channels.

Additional Inspector General of Police Rawalpindi Region RPO Akhtar Umar Hayat Laleka was at his residence and was unaware of the SP Security’s plans to stage the mock exercise.

He later expressed concern over the decision to carry out the exercise at his office without informing him.

Panic gripped the police right at a time when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s plane was landing at Nur Khan Airbase and Chehlum’s last procession was being held in Westridge on Sunday night, when the Superintendent of Police Security relayed a message on wireless system at 6:49pm that Regional Police Officer’s office had been attacked by four terrorists.

A police official, requesting anonymity, said SP Security Fazal-i-Hamid was informed by the wireless staff that as the prime minister’s VVIP movement was taking place, it was not an appropriate time to carry out a mock exercise. However, he reportedly ordered the staff to obey his orders.

Later, RPO Laleka clarified the situation, informing the media that it was a mock exercise as both his office and he are safe.

Published in Dawn December 22th , 2014