KARACHI, Aug 5: The Sindh police has been placed on a high alert in view of the independence day celebrations on Aug 14, and snap checking of vehicles has been launched by the police in the provincial capital.

The decision was taken following threats of terrorist attacks on public places, government property, officials, as well as on the US interests and other foreigners.

A senior official feared that terrorist attacks similar to Murree incident on Monday morning at a Christian school, or a car bomb explosion could be repeated.

He, however, declined to divulge information about the nature of threatening calls and the mode used by terrorist to communicate with the police.

He said law-enforcement agencies have been deployed at mosques, imambargahs, churches, temples, and other religious worship places besides, religious seminaries. Security at city-based foreign consulates, restaurants and other installations has also been beefed up.

The deployment of police at public places, government offices and buildings has also been increased to meet any untoward incident.

Sources said a series of meetings were held by the high officials in Sindh government and they tightened the security in the city by putting the police on a red-alert twice a day to carry out an exercise to deal with an emergency.

A senior police official said: “We are prepared and will take every possible step to maintain the law and order.”

He said the high alert would remain intact after the independence day on Aug 14, and it would go beyond Sept 11.

Sources said trained commandos had been deployed at sensitive places, including foreign consulates, offices of high commissions, residences of foreign dignitaries, multinational companies and important installations.

Besides, security has also been tightened at airport, railway stations, entry and exit routes of the city, shopping centres, commercial and trade centres, and other places to meet any eventuality.

The leaves of the police officials have been cancelled and all of them were bound to join their duty at all costs.

Police would also use a helicopter for air patrolling over the areas, declared vulnerable for possible terrorists attacks, they added.