Red alert: Security beefed up in sensitive parts of G-B

Strict measures in place at CM House, Governor House and Secretariat.

GILGIT: Security has been beefed up in sensitive areas of Gilgit-Baltistan in the wake of the attack on Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar.

According to a statement issued from the office of the chief minister on Friday night, strict measures have been taken in view of the precarious situation following the barbaric attack. The security situation has been further exacerbated by the execution of terrorists on death row in Faisalabad, the statement read. “The measures have been taken to avoid an untoward incident in the region,” it added.

Chief Minister House, Governor House and Secretariat are among the sensitive places where security has been tightened.

According to a security official, security agencies have warned that militants may carry out similar attacks on other educational institutions in the country.

“For this reason, the government has asked us to increase security in the region,” said the official.

Most schools have been closed for winter vacations from December 15. Moreover, security has been enhanced at schools, including Army Public School Gilgit, where examinations are under way.

Earlier, on Friday, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government announced a schedule for this year’s winter holidays for all government and private educational institutes in the province.

Similarly, the Punjab government also announced winter holidays from December 19 to January 3. Exams which were scheduled to take place this month have been postponed to January next year.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2014.