Averting terror: Lahore police on red alert
Security stepped up at police offices and homes, mosques and imambargahs.
LAHORE:
The city’s police chief put the force on red alert yesterday after receiving intelligence reports of potential terrorist attacks.
A statement from Capital City Police Officer Ahmad Raza Tahir said that the reports indicated a “strong likelihood” of an attack at police establishments and offices. He said security was being stepped up at government buildings, the Lahore Press Club, mosques and imambargahs and other places of religious congregation, as well as police buildings.
Police sources said that a search operation had been launched in some upscale neighbourhoods of Lahore based on a tip, but no arrests had been made as of Thursday night.
The sources said that the force had received red alert notices before, but the police chief hadn’t made public statements about it because it was feared this would cause panic. They said that security around the residences of police officers had been stepped up.
SSP (Operations) Shaukat Abbas told The Express Tribune that patrolling had been increased in the city, especially around sensitive areas. The CCPO’s statement also implied that there was a sectarian nature to the threat. He said that a code of conduct concerning hate speeches and literature, which had been drawn up by the government and scholars from various Islamic schools, must be followed strictly. He said that security arrangements at mosques and imambargahs should be augmented with the help of local organisers. The police chief said that public cooperation was essential and appealed to citizens to report any suspicious activity, particularly if they saw men with weapons, to Emergency 15, Qurban Control (99200269) or Traffic Control (99201910). Their identities would be kept secret.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2011.
The city’s police chief put the force on red alert yesterday after receiving intelligence reports of potential terrorist attacks.
A statement from Capital City Police Officer Ahmad Raza Tahir said that the reports indicated a “strong likelihood” of an attack at police establishments and offices. He said security was being stepped up at government buildings, the Lahore Press Club, mosques and imambargahs and other places of religious congregation, as well as police buildings.
Police sources said that a search operation had been launched in some upscale neighbourhoods of Lahore based on a tip, but no arrests had been made as of Thursday night.
The sources said that the force had received red alert notices before, but the police chief hadn’t made public statements about it because it was feared this would cause panic. They said that security around the residences of police officers had been stepped up.
SSP (Operations) Shaukat Abbas told The Express Tribune that patrolling had been increased in the city, especially around sensitive areas. The CCPO’s statement also implied that there was a sectarian nature to the threat. He said that a code of conduct concerning hate speeches and literature, which had been drawn up by the government and scholars from various Islamic schools, must be followed strictly. He said that security arrangements at mosques and imambargahs should be augmented with the help of local organisers. The police chief said that public cooperation was essential and appealed to citizens to report any suspicious activity, particularly if they saw men with weapons, to Emergency 15, Qurban Control (99200269) or Traffic Control (99201910). Their identities would be kept secret.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2011.