LAHORE: The Punjab government says it has received threat alerts for airports, prisons, schools and sensitive installations, besides targeted killing of known personalities and kidnap for ransom.

It has also pledged to take action against the madressahs found involved in terrorism.

“Security has been put on red alert after reports of terrorists’ attacks on airports, prisons and other sensitive installations,” Home Minister retired Col Shuja Khanzada told a press conference at the Chief Minister’s Office here on Thursday.

“Schools may be hit; there may be (indiscriminate) firing incidents, while target killing of prominent personalities and kidnap for ransom are also feared.”

Terrorists may also resort to kidnap for ransom, targeted killings

Threats existed and all security forces had been put on high alert to counter the terrorists, Mr Khanzada said.

Appealing to the masses to help the law-enforcers in pre-empting the nefarious designs of the terrorists, he said there was an extraordinary “do or die” like situation prevailing in the country that called for extraordinary measures and the citizens should share the responsibility of maintaining peace.

The minister said all the banned organisations had been stopped from operating and lists of NGOs and seminaries working against “national interests” as well as the person delivering provocative speeches had also been prepared and action would be taken against them on “solid evidence”.

Urging landlords and proprietors of hostels and guest houses to provide details of the tenants or guests to police and take care while renting out their properties, he warned them that otherwise they could also face trouble.

New laws had been enacted and the existing ones were being amended to tighten noose around the extremists and anti-state elements, he added.

Replying to a question about the religious schools involved in extremism, the minister said that action would be taken against terrorists, their financiers and facilitators in the light of reports of secret agencies.

He told a questioner that availability of funds for the law-enforcers, whether civilians or army, had been ensured as the finance secretary had been issued directions in this respect.

He said that citizens were happy over the setting up of military courts which would soon start functioning.

Punjab police Inspector General Mushtaq Sukhera said the National Action Plan was being seriously implemented in the province and gave figures about the arrests made in a search-and-sweep operation, seized weapons and vehicles and registration of cases.

“Police have registered cases against 650 people, recovered more than 8,000 weapons in the general holdup and impounded over 25,000 vehicles.”

He said a number of foreigners were among those arrested, most of them from Afghanistan and they also included terrorists.

Law Secretary Syed Abul Hasan Najmi said the government had issued five ordinances and the laws regarding tenancy, security of sensitive places, illegal weapons, wall-chalking and loudspeakers had been amended and their violation had been declared non-bailable offense. Similarly, sentences and the amount of fine had also been increased, he added.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2015

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