Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has issued a red alert on the information of entry of suicide bombers in the federal capital while security has been beefed up at the Red Zone, police lines, Benazir International Airport, Islamabad High Court, district courts, shrines, principal buildings and tourist spots.

The notification issued by NACTA says that suicide bomber Osama, son of Muhammad Ali Mohammad, was dispatched to carry out suicide attacks in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Therefore all the institutions are being directed to ensure security arrangements.

It was said in the high alert that Osama and his brother were studying in Peshawar while another person Ghazali from Quetta is their facilitator.

Security has been set on high alert in the federal capital following issuance of directives by NACTA. The security has been increased two fold at the Red Zone, police lines, Benazir International Airport, Islamabad High Court, district courts, shrines, principal buildings and tourist resorts.

In the wake of security concerns, Faisal Mosque was vacated before the Friday prayer and walk through gates were installed therein. The bomb disposal squad conducted a massive search in the mosque and allowed the faithful to offer prayers in the mosque after strict checking.

SSP Operations Islamabad Sajid Kayani undertook visits of different areas and checked the security of important installations, Red Zone, mosques, Imambargahs. He also directed the police officers to issue a security high alert.

He ordered the zonal officers to check security arrangements in their respective areas and brief the jawans and officers in the backdrop of the prevailing situation.

The SSP Islamabad visited the F-8 Kutchery, private and public offices, installations, diplomatic enclave, Red Zone, important areas, mosques, Imambargahs, shrines including Bari Imam shrine, educational institutions, media houses and the press club and reviewed security arrangements therein.

An emergency meeting of Islamabad district administration was held under the Deputy Commissioner Capt (Retd) Mushtaq Ahmad and it was decided in the meeting that the security of all places of worship and shrines would be checked regularly.

Deputy Commissioner Capt (r) Mushtaq Ahmad has issued directives to all assistant commissioners that visits of all educational institutions and private shopping plazas be carried out on a day to day basis and an audit report about their security be filed as well.

Combing operations: Following the recent upsurge in the terror incidents, the security forces have been directed to gear up combing operations in Rawalpindi here on Friday.

According to an Inter Services Public Relations press release: “In the wake of the recent upsurge in terrorist incidents in the country, search and combing operations in areas of Rawalpindi district have been enhanced and security apparatus have been put on high alert.”

A conference chaired by Commander Rawalpindi Corps and attended by the high-ups of law enforcement agencies was held to take a stock of the security situation and review the response mechanism to deal with the terrorists’ threat.

Security forces and intelligence outfits had been instructed to further intensify combing and targeted operations with the aim to eliminate terrorists.