Interior Minister directs high security for twin cities

Nisar says that surprise search operations in adjoining areas of the Islamabad airport should be made more intensive.

ISLAMABAD: Security for the twin cities – Islamabad and Rawalpindi – has been put on high alert as directed by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday, in the wake of the ongoing operation in North Waziristan.

The decision was put forth during a meeting chaired with the district and police administration of the twin cities, during which Nisar also said that surprise search operations in the adjoining areas of the Islamabad airport should be made more intensive.

“It was a regular meeting to review the security situation in the twin cities. The minister directed the district and police administration to keep the security of sensitive places extremely tight,” an official said.

Nisar said the district and police administration of the twin cities have been directed to increase security and keep it on high alert, adding that there should be tight security in sensitive places.

Last month, militants launched two brazen attacks at two major airports of the country. The Pakistan Army had been tasked to help the police and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to secure sensitive installations across the country.

Nisar, while reviewing the overall security plans of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, said that there should be state-of-the-art coordination between the security apparatus of both cities in order to better tackle emergency situations. He further directed the police to enhance its capacity in terms of training and acquiring modern equipment.

He said that joint patrolling teams of Rangers and police have given a sense of security to the residents, but their services need to be made more target-oriented and effective.

CPO Rawalpindi and SSP Islamabad briefed the minister about security plans, ongoing search operations and results in their jurisdictions during the meeting.

Attendees at the meeting included Acting IG Islamabad, Secretary Interior, Commissioner Rawalpindi, DCO Rawalpindi, CPO Rawalpindi, SSP, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Acting IG Islamabad, SSP ICT, and AIG Special Branch