Averting disasters: Terror plans in run-up to polls revealed

Crisis management cell says most attacks planned for Balochistan and K-P.

ISLAMABAD:

Already faced with the monumental task of maintaining basic law and order in the country, the interim government has now been warned by intelligence agencies that terrorists may carry out “massive” attacks during electioneering.

A report compiled by National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) of the interior ministry claims that various militant groups are planning terrorist activities, specifically in the Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces and some areas of Punjab in the weeks leading up to the election on May 11.

“Jandullah in co-ordination with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Tehreek-e-Taliban is planning to carry out terrorist activities in Balochistan, especially Noshki and Quetta, including attacks on government/semi government personnel/installations,” reads the report, based on tips-off from intelligence sources of security forces.

The report further said recent fighting between TTP, Lashkar-e-Islam and pro-government Ansar-ul-Islam since January 25th this year, will have serious repercussions not only for FATA/Khyber Agency but also for Peshawar and other districts as well.

This year’s elections mark the first time in the history of Pakistan that political parties will be fielding candidates from the lawless FATA areas bordering Afghanistan.

One tip warned of an attack in Islamabad as well. Reportedly, Usman Saifullah Kurd is planning some attack on sector I-8 Islamabad. The sector is inhabited by various former and serving military officials and many top bureaucrats.

The report also mentions that the TTP is planning suicide attacks on key government buildings in Peshawar. Meanwhile, the Baloch Republican Army is also reportedly planning to conduct IED attacks in Dera Bugti, Naseerabad and Jaffarabad.

Possible attacks in some areas of Punjab have also been mentioned. “Miscreants of the TTP based in Mir Ali are planning to carry out terrorist attacks in Khanewal, Multan and the surrounding areas,” says the report.

To avert any untoward incident, the government is planning to constitute a joint task group comprising representatives of Police (Operations and Special Branch), Inter-Service Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, Military Intelligence, Civil Armed Forces and the Election Commission. It has also decided to set up control rooms at the provincial and district levels.

NCMC has asked provinces to send their requisition in advance for army and CAF. The Interior ministry will also provide two helicopters to each province for air surveillance a few days before elections.

The ministry of interior will also be coordinating with the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority to suspend mobile phone service in areas where there are threats of terrorist activities.

NCMC will also be sending out a daily report on law and order to the President and Prime Minister Secretariats and other stakeholders on anything that could affect the elections process.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2013.