Islamabad issues 'special' plan amid rising security concerns

25 temporary check posts set up; all foreigners required to carry identification documents

ISLAMABAD:

In light of rising security concerns, the Islamabad police on Tuesday issued a 'special' plan, keeping security on high alert.

In accordance with the plan, the police have set up 25 temporary checkposts across the city and are constantly monitoring the entry points of Islamabad's Red Zone area with the use of Safe City cameras.

In an early morning tweet, the police furthered that they are also monitoring metro service passengers through video recordings.

موجودہ سیکورٹی صورتحال کے پیش نظر خصوصی سیکورٹی پلان کا اجراء۔

اسلام آباد میں 25 مختلف مقامات پر عارضی حفاظتی چیک پوسٹس قائم کی گئی ہیں۔ ریڈ زون کے داخلی راستوں کی سیف سٹی کیمروں سے ریکارڈنگ کی جائے گی۔ میٹرو سروس کے مسافروں کی ویڈیو ریکارڈنگ کی جائے گی۔
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— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) December 27, 2022

"Legal action will be taken against unspecified number plates and unregistered vehicles," the police stated, directing citizens to ensure their number plates were issued by the excise office.

They have also requested foreign nationals to carry their identification documents with them and asked landlords to "register tenants and employees at the nearest police station or service centres."

The Islamabad police maintained that those employing unregistered local or foreign workers will be investigated.

Read US embassy restricts staff movement in Islamabad

The police also instructed citizens to report any unusual activity on the 15-helpline.

The plan comes two days after the US, UK, Saudi Arabian and Australian governments issued advisories to their respective citizens in Pakistan, prohibiting their nationals in the country from visiting a five-star hotel in Islamabad because of the possible threat of a terrorist attack. 

The unprecedented advisory and threat alert were issued after a police official embraced martyrdom and several others were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up during a check-up in Sector I-10 of Islamabad.

This was the first suicide attack in the federal capital in more than eight years, police officials and witnesses had said.

The bombing, claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), took place near the police headquarters on the main road leading to government buildings housing the parliament and other high offices.

Since then, Islamabad has been on high alert and security arrangements have been tightened.