Nisar wants ICT to devise new security plan for bomb-hit fruit market

Interior minister wants additional patrolling by police and Rangers, regulate entry and exit points of the market.

ISLAMABAD: Following the deadly blast at the fruit market in Islamabad on Wednesday morning, interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in a security meeting directed the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) to take over control of the I-11 fruit market from CDA and create a security plan.

In the high level meeting, Nisar stressed on the need for better and effective coordination between all the concerned departments to be two steps ahead of terrorists.

Nisar asked ICT and police to identify potential targets under threat in the federal capital and workout a comprehensive security plan to safeguard them. He added that joint patrolling by police and Rangers must start during this month.

In addition to directing the ICT to take over security of the fruit market, he said all its entry and exit points should be properly regulated and surveillance cameras be installed.

Directing due care for all the injured at government expense, with compensation to the injured and relatives of the deceased be paid within next three days as per the package approved in the case of F-8 District Court incident.

Earlier, Chief Commissioner and IG Police briefed the Minister about the details of the incident and said there are 22 deaths so far in the bomb blast with 83 injured.

Secretary Interior, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, IG Police, NC NACTA and Additional IG attended the meeting.

The blast that took place in the early hours of Wednesday in the busy market left at least 22 people dead and dozens injured.