RAWALPINDI, Jan 16: The Punjab government has placed 32 jails on “red alert” and cancelled leaves of all jail staff after getting intelligence of suicide attacks.

A source told Dawn a directive had advised jail officials to search visitors and their belongings whenever they enter the premises of a prison.

The authorities have been advised to keep the outer gates locked and keep an eye on “suspicious-looking” people moving around any prison.

The directive also told the authorities to keep a close watch on people sitting in waiting rooms.

Most jails in the province have sandbagged entry and exit points after receiving the directive.

Earlier, the federal government had asked the four provincial and federal capital territory administrations to put security forces on high alert in the wake of intelligence that militant leaders were planning to carry out suicide attacks on three former federal ministers and to strike at two government buildings in Islamabad.