The Punjab police have been put on high alert with particular instructions to ensure heightened security arrangements for judges, courts and bars across the province.

The Lahore Central Police Office (CPO) issued a new security advisory on Tuesday in the wake of a suicide attack in Islamabad, which claimed the lives of a dozen people, besides leaving many others injured.

The CPO directed the Lahore capital city police officer, all regional police officers, district police officers (DPO) and other officials, to review and strengthen the security apparatus already in place for the protection of judicial complexes, courtrooms, judges’ residences, bars, and the movement of judges, calling these steps “imperative”.

All DPOs will hold meetings with their respective district and sessions judges forthwith to discuss the overall security of district courts, personal security of the judges, particularly during movements.

The Punjab inspector general directed police officials to deploy adequate and well-trained personnel and equipment at all the judicial establishments and bars, besides launching searches and sweeping judges’ routes to ensure hazard-free travelling.

The CPO also issued specific guidelines for entry and exit points of all the courts and entrances of the courtrooms.

Police officers were instructed to ensure daily and weekly inspections of the security arrangements. They were directed to deploy uniformed officers in every courtroom during all proceedings.

It was directed that courts should have both intrusion and duress alarms to raise an alert about unauthorised entry.

The CPO also issued a weapon policy, directing that firearms should only be handled by law enforcement officials on the premises of courts. Similarly, instructions were issued to enhance the security for senior judges’ families.

The police officers were further instructed to establish command and control centres at courts in every district of Punjab.

Twelve people were killed and 36 were injured on Tuesday in a suicide blast outside the district and sessions court building in Islamabad’s G-11 area, according to officials.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while briefing the media outside the Islamabad sessions court today, said that the suicide blast occurred at 12:39pm. The attack claimed 12 lives and injured 36.

Earlier today, the Sindh government extended the imposition of Section 144 across the province for another month, a notification from the Sindh Home Department stated. The ban was initially imposed last month to maintain law and order in the interest of “public and peace”.