Pindi on high alert amid Pak-Afghan conflict

In view of the prevailing western border and security situation, police and allied agencies have been placed on high alert across Rawalpindi, with extensive search and combing operations underway. Thirty-one individuals have been taken into custody and cases registered against them for violations of the Tenancy Act.

Security has been further tightened around sensitive and government installations, shopping centres, markets and educational institutions. Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Mahmood Hamdani has directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) and divisional Superintendents of Police to remain in the field, personally brief deployed personnel and conduct on-site inspections of security arrangements.

Police personnel entering Police Lines and departmental offices have also been instructed to display their official identification cards prominently on their uniforms.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General (IG) of Punjab Police, Rao Abdul Kareem, chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation and issued orders to ensure foolproof arrangements throughout Punjab, including Rawalpindi.

Following developments on the western border last night, police across Rawalpindi and the wider province were placed on high alert. Comprehensive security arrangements were put in place for Friday congregational prayers. A video-link conference, chaired by the Punjab IG, was convened to review security measures in light of the western border situation.

Participants included the Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO), Rawalpindi CPO Syed Khalid Mahmood Hamdani, Additional IG Special Branch Imran Ahmar, the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore, the Additional IG South Punjab, the Additional IG CTD, as well as all RPOs, CPOs and District Police Officers (DPOs) across the province.

The IG directed that security be further enhanced in Rawalpindi, Lahore and throughout Punjab. RPOs, CPOs and DPOs were instructed to personally review security arrangements for mosques, places of worship and key installations. Enhanced protection has also been ordered for inter-provincial police check-posts, police stations and offices, and buildings of other law enforcement agencies.

Security measures are to be ensured for Chinese experts and residents, other foreign nationals, and at their residences, workplaces and during travel.

The IG further directed that the campaign for the repatriation of illegally residing foreign nationals, including Afghan nationals, be expedited. Intelligence-based sweep and combing operations are to be expanded to inter-provincial border areas.