Security threats: Nisar bans religious gatherings in Islamabad

PTA directed to block roaming facility for SIMs issued in Afghanistan.

ISLAMABAD:

In the wake of Friday night’s attack on Chan Pir Darbar shrine, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has directed the Islamabad Commissioner to place a ban on all congregations in the federal capital.

Chairing his first meeting following a week-long ailment on Saturday, the minister also directed police and security agencies to review the security of the twin cities and use all their resources to protect them from threats emerging due to the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan Agency.

According to an official statement released after the meeting, Nisar stressed the need to pay special attention to security at all entry and exit points of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. He also asked police high-ups to identify sensitive installations and take security measures accordingly.

The meeting also reviewed security measures for Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s return.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday directed the Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) to block the roaming facility for mobile phone SIMs issued in Afghanistan.

The step has been taken on the request of law enforcement agencies to thwart anti-state activities of terrorists who frequently use such SIMs.

The premier directed PTA to complete the task within the next two days. No PTA official was available for comment despite repeated attempts.

According to telecom experts, the PTA would have to ask local operators not to connect roaming calls from Afghan numbers. They added, however, that Afghan SIMs may still work in areas near the border with Afghanistan due to the signal ‘spill-over’.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2014.