RAWALPINDI, Oct 7: After the assassination of Maulana Azam Tariq, the Islamabad police have been directed to step up security for Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari following intelligence reports that the two could be targeted by terrorists, an official source told Dawn.

He said Mr Zardari’s sister and MNA Doctor Azhra Fazal on Tuesday lodged a formal request with the capital territory police to tighten security for her brother as she feared an assassination attempt during his inter-city movements.

Similarly, security for the interior minister has been tightened in light of intelligence reports that he was on the hit list of sectarian terrorists, the source said.

A senior police official confirmed that steps had been taken to increase security for the interior minister. “The number of police guards for the interior minister has been increased,” he added.