RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Counterterrorism Department (CTD) has directed the police department to take all ‘threat alerts’ seriously in the prevailing security situation and maintain close liaison with various departments and intelligence agencies.

According to sources, the additional inspector general of CTD police urged the divisional police chiefs and city police officers to take extraordinary security arrangements.

A senior police official who had been associated with the CTD told Dawn that generally the police didn’t take general threats very seriously but took specific threat alerts seriously and conducted search operations in specific areas.

SP Potohor Division Syed Ali was of the view that police took all ‘threat alerts’ seriously, especially specific ones and put all possible security measures in place to thwart any incident.

While citing a recent ‘threat alert’ for the police establishments located in Raja Bazaar area, the SP said the police had been put on high alert there. He said sharp shooters were deployed at the rooftops of buildings and elite commandoes were detailed around the police establishments.

He said following the threat alert, search operations were conducted in the surrounding areas.

“We take all threat alerts very seriously, either it is specific or general threat,” SP Syed Ali said adding that police can’t take such things lightly.

While commenting on the issue raised by the CTD AIG during a meeting, SP Ali said: “All threat alerts need to be taken seriously.”

He revealed that police had also faced threat on the Martyrs Day, and on the occasion of candle light vigil held on the Bank Road, the security of the police was ensured first and then the senior officers and citizens were called to participate in the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2019