ISLAMABAD, Dec 26: An intelligence report that terrorists may strike in the capital and target politicians and religious leaders has led to a high alert in the city, sources told Dawn.

A senior officer of the Islamabad administration said the city police and the administration had received a letter from the interior ministry that suicide attacks could take place in Islamabad. According to the letter, terrorists can target some high profile politicians and religious leaders.

The officer said security had been tightened in and around the capital city and the high alert would stay till the Jan 8 general election. Three wings of Rangers and personnel of the Elite Force, Punjab Constabulary and the city police had been deployed at sensitive places in Islamabad to avert any sabotage activity, he added.

He said the administration and police had reviewed security arrangements in the capital and had started restructuring police pickets, adding that law-enforcement personnel had started checking hotels, inns and bus stands. "We have been keeping a strict vigilance over suspicious people staying in hotels and inns and moving around bust stops."

Intelligence agencies have been asked to keep an eye on suspicious people and send reports to the city administration for taking further action.

A senior police officer told Dawn that security had been provided to politicians, including Pakistan People's Party chairperson Banazir Bhutto, and religious leaders who faced threats and had sought protection. They were provided with police motorcades while moving around the city and police had been deployed at their houses, he added.

BAITULAH’s threat: The federal government has directed all provinces and the Islamabad capital territory administration to step up security around ten Shia individuals and political leaders in the light of intelligence that Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud has placed them on his hit list to be targeted in the very near future, Dawn has learnt.