MANSEHRA: The Lower Kohistan police have beefed up security for Chinese convoys in the region to prevent terrorist attacks, said district police officer Dr Mohammad Umar on Monday.

“Besides fighting terrorism, we [the police] are also ensuring the safety of Chinese nationals associated with mega energy projects on our soil, especially on the Karakoram Highway,” the DPO told a function at the police lines.

He said stricter security measures were introduced for Chinese nationals to prevent terrorist attacks like the one that targetted a convey of Chinese engineers in Bisham lately.

Dr Umar was made the DPO last week following the suspension of his predecessor, Jamil Akhtar, by provincial police chief Akhtar Hayat Gandapur over the lapse of security in the March 26 Bisham suicide attack that killed five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver.

The DPO laid a wreath at the memorial to the martyred policemen and inspected the guard of honour by a police contingent on arrival at the police lines.

He said the police department had increased the number of personnel deployed on the Chakai checkpost and others on the KKH up to the Upper Kohistan district.

“No vehicle will be allowed to move ahead without thorough checking,” he said.

The district police officer warned that strict action would be taken in case of negligence on part of police personnel in the provision of foolproof security to Chinese workers on the Karakoram Highway.

“We prefer the lives of Chinese workers to ours in line with our traditions and will go to any extent to protect them,” he said.

SP (investigations) Tahirur Rehman, SDPO of Pattan Circle Raja Khan, SDPO of Bankhad Ranowalia Circle Aurangzeb Khan and SHOs of police stations from across the district attended the meeting.

MOTORCYCLES SEIZED: The traffic police have seized over 100 motorcycles for being driven by underage bikers in Mansehra city and its suburbs.

The action comes on the orders of the district police officer, according to chief of traffic police Wajid Khan.

He told reporters here on Monday that the police called the parents of those underage bikers to promise in writing that their children wouldn’t drive motorcycles again without licences.

Mr Khan said those undertakings would ensure the return of seized motorcycles to their owners.

He said underage bikers put their as well as others’ lives at risk in road accidents.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2024