Eid security: 24 districts declared sensitive

LAHORE: The Home Department has categorised 24 of the 36 districts of the Punjab as ‘sensitive’, Home Secretary Shahid Khan told The Express Tribune on Friday. They are: Lahore, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Nankana, Attock, Jehlum, Chakwal, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Toba Tek Singh, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, Vehari, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Rajanpur, DG Khan, Layyah, Multan, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Jhang, Chiniot and Muzaffargarh. Ten of the districts have been classified as Category A (high risk) and the rest as Category B. Khan said intelligence reports have indicated that terrorists might carry out suicide attacks at major Eid congregations. In light of the intelligence reports, 165,990 police personnel will be on duty during Eid holidays.  The risk of a terrorism attack, he said, was the highest in 10 cities that include Lahore, Multan, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Mandi Bahauddin, Jhang, Chiniot and Muzaffargarh. The home secretary said that a two-kilometre perimeter would be established around mosques and eid gahs. Khan said the police personnel will also ensure that banned organisations do not set up camps to collect hides.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2012.