PESHAWAR, March 2: Paramilitary troops have been deployed to protect the United States Consulate and other foreign missions in the city after the suicide bomb attack in Karachi on Thursday.

Security was placed on high alert soon after the suicide attack in Karachi, senior police officials told Dawn.

Six platoons of the Frontier Corps and two of the Frontier Constabulary had been deployed at vital points in the city, including US Consulate, British Council, Iranian Consulate and other international missions and NGOs, said Capital City Police Officer Habib-ur-Rehman.

About 3,000 police personnel had also been asked to remain vigilant during the protest rallies on Friday, Mr Habib-ur-Rehman added.

Component parties in the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) have given a strike call against the publications of blasphemous sketches in some European newspapers and the visit of US President George W. Bush to Pakistan.

The police officer said they had chalked out a comprehensive contingency plan and divided the city into seven sectors headed by superintendents of police.

The seven sectors had been divided into 50 sub-sectors to timely extend help in case of any incident of terrorism, he said.

“We want to take immediate action to control the law and order situation in case of any incident,” he said.

The police had also decided to film the Friday demonstrations through professional cameramen to identify people resorting to violence for legal action, official sources said.

They said Afghan refugees would be not allowed at all costs to participate in demonstrations, they added.

Afghan refugees and teenagers had taken part in the Feb 15 riots in the city. “This time they will not be allowed to take part in the demonstrations,” a senior official vowed. Stick-wielding and shroud-draping protesters would also be stopped to take part in the rallies, he said.