Reactions to OBL death: Security stepped across the country

Islamabad Police asks for 1,000 Rangers to be deployed in the city.


Asad Kharal May 06, 2011

LAHORE:


Security forces in the federal and provincial capitals, as well as major cities across the country, are on a heightened state of alert after intelligence agencies received reports of elevated terrorism threat levels in light of the target killing of al Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden.


Interior Minister Rehman Malik has ordered the deployment of an additional 200 Rangers and 100 members of the Frontier Constabulary for Islamabad after receiving information that the Taliban and other groups affiliated with al Qaeda might attack the federal capital. Islamabad Police had requested the additional assistance after their officers were deployed to enhance the security of diplomatic missions in the city.

At a meeting in Islamabad chaired by the interior minister, the heads of all law enforcement agencies discussed the elevated threat levels, including those to the life of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, and developed a plan to deal with the situation.

Police officials in the federal capital have requested an additional 1,000 Rangers to help deal with the threat. In addition, they asked for 71 new vehicles to escort the 14 new cabinet members as part of their security detail.

Islamabad Police has about 10,000 officers, but is short-staffed by about 700 due to deaths and retirements which have not been replaced by the department because of a hiring freeze. The department has 60 vehicles, of which 52 are deployed for the protection of officials, rather than patrolling the streets.

The interior minister has asked the police and other agencies to step up their efforts in monitoring the activities of suspected terrorists.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2011.

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