Ominous signs: ‘Fearing terrorist attack, Lahore was already on high alert’

Security forces had already received four threats about a possible assault.

LAHORE: A ‘high alert’ warning has been in effect in the walled city since April 1 after being issued by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta). The warning noted the threat of a militant attack on Lahore, a senior Punjab government official disclosed after a Wednesday suicide blast killed at least six people.

The official, while giving more details, said security forces had received four threats last month over a possible terrorist attack in Lahore – two on March 29 and two on March 30.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was also briefed about those threats during a cabinet committee meeting on law and order at the beginning of April. In response, the meeting decided to heightened security across Punjab, particularly at the main entry and exit points of the province and Lahore on the directives of CM Punjab.

Police and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) were told to improve their coordination and constant surveillance of suspects, the Punjab government official said.

In the meeting, it was also decided that Punjab Police and Rangers would speed up the ongoing combing and search operations across the province.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah revealed that amid the nationwide census, Lahore was on the militants’ hit-list.

However, the minister claimed improved security would help protect the census teams and other important installations throughout the province.

On the other hand, a senior police officer, requesting anonymity, said the alert was nothing more than giving false reassurances to the public as there was no room to tighten security any further. Terrorists could only be beaten through precise intelligence, he added.

On Wednesday, a suicide bomber killed at least six people, including four army soldiers and wounded 19 when he blew himself up near a vehicle taking part in a census in Lahore.

According to Rana Sanaullah, the planning of the attack was done in the Kunar province of Afghanistan.

Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the incident and directed the Punjab Inspector General to submit a preliminary report about the blast within 24 hours. The government is yet to give a statement about the exact nature of the incident and is awaiting a report from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency.

The Cabinet Committee on Law and Order met again on Wednesday shortly after the incident to discuss the situation arising out of the attack. The meeting was presided over by the provincial law minister. According to a statement, the committee will await the forensic report before deciding its future course of action. Another meeting is scheduled for Thursday (today) to review the report.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2017.