Twin cities’ security: Intensify searches near airport, Nisar orders LEAs

Directs Islamabad, Rawalpindi police to stay on high alert.

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday directed law enforcement agencies to intensify search operations in the areas surrounding the Islamabad airport in the wake of the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan.

At a meeting to review the security situation of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the minister also instructed the administration and police of the twin cities to be on high alert.

“It was a regular meeting to review the twin cities’ security,” an official privy to developments said. “The interior minister directed the police and district administration to keep security at sensitive spots extremely tight.”

According to an official press statement issued after the meeting, Nisar asked the security agencies to work beyond the call of duty and show utmost responsibility in order to counter any unfortunate incident.

Reviewing the overall security plans for the twin cities, the minister said “there should be state-of-the-art coordination between the security apparatus of the twin cities to better tackle emergency situations.” He also directed the police to further enhance its capacity by means of physical training and modern equipment.



Nisar said 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 the security plans, ongoing search operations and their results in their jurisdictions.

Interior secretary, Rawalpindi Commissioner, DCO Rawalpindi, CPO Rawalpindi, SSP, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Acting IG Islamabad, SSP ICT, and AIG Special Branch attended the meeting.

Militants last month launched two brazen attacks at two major airports of the country. Pakistan Army has been tasked to help police and other law enforcement agencies to secure sensitive installations across the country.


Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2014.