RAWALPINDI, Dec 31: Heightening tensions with India has forced the government to suspend the army-run monitoring system in the country, sources told Dawn here on Monday.

The spokesman of Inter-Services Public Relations, Brig. Saulat Raza, confirmed suspension of the system, saying the troops involved in the monitoring system were required at the borders because of the latest developments.

The decision, it is learnt, has been implemented with immediate effect.

Giving details of the orders issued by the government on Monday, the sources said monitoring at provincial level had been completely terminated.

The district support mechanism evolved after the devolution of power on August 14 had been suspended. However, sources were pessimistic if the system would ever be revived again with the general elections scheduled later this year.

The monitoring in the city districts will nevertheless continue till further orders, they said.

At the federal level, the sources, quoting the orders, said the existence of monitoring would be substantially reduced.

The army monitoring system was put into place on October 19, 1999, days after Gen Pervez Musharraf took over as the chief executive of the country. The mandate entrusted to the army monitoring teams at the time of installation was to ensure good governance; to provide relief to the common man and identify and unearth corruption.

During the two years, two months and 12 days of existence, officials said, they filed thousands of cases that were presently being prosecuted by the National Accountability Bureau.

Tensions have been escalating since December 13, when five suicide attackers tried to storm the Indian parliament. Fourteen people died, including the attackers.

Since then, India has been amassing troops along the Line of Control, working boundary and international border forcing Pakistan to deploy its troops.