Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Security at all places of worship including churches was beefed up across the country after the Quetta blast on Sunday, with the direction to keep a close eye on movement of suspicious people.

According to reports gathered from across the country, the inspectors general of police of all the four provinces, GB and AJK have issued instructions to ensure full security at churches and other places of worship. The police in the provinces have been told that the terrorists could target the gatherings on the eve of Christmas.

Lahore CCPO Captain (r) Amin Wains has confirmed declaring of security high alert in the city. He also issued directions to all the SPs to visit the places of public recreation personally and also directed security high alert at all the churches in several cities.

DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf has also issued directives to the Dolphin Force and personnel of PRU to ensure effective patrolling.

Faisalabad police personnel at all entry and exits routes to and from the city have been put on high alert while security of church-goers has also been enhanced.

The security has also been further beefed up at all public places, government buildings and important places in Lahore and Islamabad.

Meanwhile, IGP Sindh AD Khawaja has issued directives to make the overall security in the province fool-proof. He issued directives to make concrete and extraordinary security arrangements at all important places, sensitive installations, important office buildings and public places across the province.

IGP Khawaja directed to further speed up intelligence-based actions against the criminals in all the districts of Sindh and make random snap-checking, police patrolling and other security works more coordinated and effective. He directed to further beef up security measures at all police ranges as well as district and zonal levels.

In Peshawar, which is a very sensitive city, patrolling has been increased while the intelligence officials have been asked to remain on high alert.

Reports from Gilgit and Muzaffarabad said that the police heads have directed all the senior officials under their commands to ensure high alert at religious places and places of people’s gatherings.

Published in Daily Times, December 18th 2017.