RAWALPINDI, Feb 29: After four buses traveling in a convoy from Rawalpindi to Gilgit were attacked in Kohistan on Tuesday leaving 18 passengers dead, the police here asked the transporters to deploy armed guards in their vehicles on the route, official sources said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (operation) Yasin Farooq confirmed that the police had issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the transporters on the Rawalpindi-Gilgit route.

He said the transporters had also been asked to use metal detectors and other gadgets for checking passengers and their baggage before leaving the bus bays. According to the SOP, the transporters should also deploy female security guards in their buses.

The deputy superintendents of police and station house officers of City and New Town circles have been directed by the city police officer (CPO) to hold meetings with the transporters to chalk out a fresh strategy to ensure safety of passengers on the route.

The CPO said: “We will also provide police protection to the passenger buses from Rawalpindi to Gilgit, if possible.”

On the other hand, private transporters who had suspended their service for Gilgit on Tuesday continued their protest. “We didn’t ply any transport between Rawalpindi and Gilgit today due to insecurity,” said Nisar Hussain, the owner of a private transport company.

He said some police officials visited Pirwadhai bus terminal and interviewed a number of transporters. They also sought the list of passengers from the transporters.

“There is no issue of security in Punjab police area; it starts from Hazara and upwards,” Mr Hussain said. He added that they had been demanding provision of security in sensitive areas but nobody took it seriously.