RAWALPINDI: In view of the border and security situation, police and allied agencies have been placed on high alert across Rawalpindi, while a large-scale search and combing operation is underway.

As many as 31 people were arrested and cases were registered for violations of the Tenancy Act.

Police officials have been instructed to wear their departmental cards prominently when entering the Police Lines Headquarters and other offices as part of enhanced security measures. Security at shopping malls, markets, educational institutions, and sensitive government installations has also been increased.

City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi Syed Khalid Mahmood Hamdani has directed the SSP Operations and divisional SPs to brief and inspect personnel deployed on security duties in the field. Police employees have been ordered to display their departmental cards visibly on their uniforms while entering Police Lines Headquarters and offices.

In view of the security situation along the western border, a high alert was declared across Punjab, including Rawalpindi. Foolproof security arrangements were made for Friday prayer gatherings.

A video-link meeting chaired by Inspector General (IG) Punjab Dr Usman Anwar was held to review the security situation. Participants included RPO and CPO Rawalpindi Syed Khalid Mahmood Hamdani, Additional IG Special Branch Imran Ahmer, CCPO Lahore, Additional IG South Punjab, Additional IG CTD, and all RPOs, CPOs and DPOs.

The IG Punjab ordered enhanced security across the province, including Rawalpindi and Lahore, and directed senior officers to personally review security arrangements at mosques, places of worship and key installations.

Security at inter-provincial police check posts, police stations, offices and other law enforcement buildings has also been tightened. The IG Punjab further directed increased security for Chinese experts and residents, other foreign nationals, and called for accelerating the campaign against illegal foreign residents and immigrants, including Afghans.

He also ordered expansion of intelligence-based search, sweep and combing operations to inter-provincial border areas.

The Safe Cities Authority was instructed to ensure continuous monitoring of sensitive locations, including markets and business centres, through cameras and to enforce Section 144 imposed by the Punjab government banning the use of drones.

Following the IG’s directives, Rawalpindi police conducted search and combing operations in the jurisdictions of Dhamial, Jatli, Civil Lines, Waris Khan, New Town and Rawat police stations.

During a crackdown on Tenancy Act violations, 31 people were detained and cases were registered.

CPO Rawalpindi Syed Khalid Mahmood Hamdani said failure to register tenants is a punishable offence. He said a crackdown was underway to enforce the Tenancy Act and search operations were being conducted daily.

So far this year, 606 cases have been registered and 675 people detained for violations of the Tenancy Act. He urged citizens to ensure registration of tenants to help maintain law and order.

Strict security arrangements were also made during Friday prayers on the orders of the CPO. SSP Operations Malik Tariq Mehboob, along with divisional SPs, SDPOs and SHOs, remained in the field to monitor arrangements. Police personnel were deployed at all mosques and imambargahs.

Security at Police Lines, including the RPO and CPO offices and other facilities, has been further tightened. A letter issued to the Rawalpindi police force directed that all officers and personnel entering Police Lines or offices, whether in uniform or plain clothes, must display their departmental cards prominently and have them checked at entry points.

It was warned that anyone without a departmental card would not be allowed entry and would undergo verification at the reception like visitors.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2026