Terrorist plans to attack parliament and MNAs unveiled

BAHAWALPUR: A terrorism plot to blow up Parliament and other important buildings has been revealed in Bahawalpur. Security agencies and police also discovered that MNA Kashmala Tariq, several Ahmadi leaders and united Christian Hospital (UCH), Lahore personnel were also on the target list.

As a result, the federal and provincial government have issued orders to beef up security across the country. According to details, the interior ministry has issued a letter to all four provincial home secretaries in this regard. The letter states that terrorists are planning to target the parliament. Other possible attack sites included Avari hotel, Gujranwala Cantt, Shadbagh Police Station, Samanabad Lahore Church, as well as a petrol pump in Rana Town, Shahdara. The authorities have also stated that they have received reports that the terrorists are trying to abduct Kashmala Tariq and other MNAs in southern Punjab.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2011.