ISLAMABAD: An abandoned sweet box created panic at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Friday.

The box was noticed by the Central Control Room of the hospital and security staff was immediately directed to check it.

However, in the meantime rumours about a bomb in the box created panic and the staff was directed to keep a distance from the box.

CCTV Control Room in-charge Manzar Naqvi told Dawn that the box was placed under the biometric machine and it was spotted by the officials sitting in the Central Control Room.

“It was decided to keep the staff away from the box because of the possibility of bomb. However after scanning, the box was cleared by the security staff,” he said.

“Our CCTV network has as many as 52 cameras due to which it has become possible to check any unusual activity from the Central Control Room,” Mr Naqvi said.

Administrator Pims Dr Altaf Hussain said that though the box was cleared by the security staff, he has directed the security staff to become more vigilant and keep an eye on unusual activities and abandoned items to avoid chances of terrorism.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2017