ISLAMABAD Dec 28: Security alert on Friday caused great inconvenience to the public and gave a curfew-like situation in cantonment area restricting hundreds of faithful from offering prayers at a mosque on the Mall in Rawalpindi, sources told Dawn.

The sources said not only the movement of vehicles was banned from noon to evening, Imams of some nearby mosques were also questioned by the security personnel about their affiliations with any group.

The Imams under fear cleared themselves of affiliation with any party or organisation, they added.

The sources said President Musharraf was to attend a dinner at Artillery Mess on the Mall adjacent to the GHQ and Pindi Club ground.

A beautiful mosque located inside the mess premises attracts about 1,000 faithful on Fridays mostly from the high gentry, both the army and civilian, with dozens of vehicles thronging the road at prayer timings.

As a result of the high alert and tough security measures, not only the people were restricted from offering Friday prayers, but nobody was allowed to enter the mosque from outside for Asr, Maghrib and Ishaa prayers, the sources said. Nobody was allowed to enter or leave the area during the period, they added.