Remembering Rescue 15 attack: ‘Police ready to take on the terrorists’

SP says city on high alert for four days, security for govt buildings beefed up.

LAHORE:


The terrorism incidents at the Federal Investigation Agency building, the Special Intelligence Unit building, GPO Chowk, Sherakot picket and Data Darbar shrine show that policemen were prepared to take on the challenge posed by terrorists, SP (Mobile) Ahter Waheed said on Friday.


He was speaking at a ceremony held to honour police officials who lost their lives in an attack on the Rescue 15 centre in Civil Lines on May 27, 2009.

At least 35 people were killed when a van loaded with explosives was blown up at the entrance to the emergency centre. The emergency call centre was shifted to Qurban Lines after the incident. In December 2010, the emergency call centre was relocated to Qila Gujjar Singh police lines. An upgraded computerised system was introduced at the new centre under the supervision of former SP (Mobile).


SP (Mobile) Waheed said the city had been on high alert for four days. He said there were threats of more terrorist attacks on government buildings. He said security had been enhanced for the threatened sites. The police force, he said, was prepared to tackle the terrorists and ready to make all sacrifices needed to protect the people.

The SP mentioned Inspector Abdur Rehman and ASI Ghullam Mustafa by name among others who had lost their lives on May 27, 2009. He also paid tribute to other officials who had lost their lives in fighting the terrorists.

He said it was an unforgettable day in the history of the Police Department. “The department is privileged to have dedicated personnel willing to lay down their lives for protecting the people,” he said. He said it was these sacrifices that boosted the morale of the citizens.

He praised the police for having prevented the terrorists from inflicting much more serious damage in the suicide blasts on Data Darbar urs and the chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2011.
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