Fresh threats: Security at government buildings heightened

Interior ministry issues security advisory; directs employees to limit visitors

ISLAMABAD:

Interior ministry has directed all government departments to enhance security at their buildings to thwart any terrorist attack.

The ministry issued security advisory for government buildings following intelligence reports of a possible terrorist attack in the capital.

All the federal ministries and departments, especially Pakistan Secretariat, have been advised to ensure adherence of the issued security procedures which are titled “Tightening of security measures in the federal secretariat buildings and government offices.”

An official of the ministry has cited the ongoing military offensive in the troubled areas of Pakistan which got into its ‘decisive’ phase recently. Similarly, threats received from a militant group which, according to an intelligence report, intends to launch an attack on some government buildings also led to the security alert.

Employees of grade 16 and below have been restricted to see their visitors inside the office, while visitors to officers of grade 17 and above will only be allowed to enter the buildings upon confirmation from the relevant officer and upon submission of their CNIC to the security staff.

While the federal government employees, irrespective of their grades, have also been asked to display their security passes during working hours, particularly at entry and exit points.

Security directorates of all government departments are advised to frequently conduct surprise checks in and around their respective buildings and parking lots to ensure proper compliance of security instructions.

They have also been asked to check official identifications of all employees entering the buildings without giving attention to any excuse in this regard.

The advisory also contains special instructions for security staff of Pakistan Secretariat building that houses offices of various federal ministries.

It says only stickered/permitted vehicles would be allowed to enter the secretariat building while security staff would ensure enhanced security measures if some foreign dignitary is visiting the building.

“Advisory is issued as a precautionary step to protect employees, government buildings, and the visitors to offices,” the officer commented.

He claimed that it had been issued upon receipt of “credible information” from a law-enforcement agency that a terrorist group aims to attack government buildings in Islamabad, as usually such buildings remain a soft target due to frequent movement of the general public.

The official added that security directorate officials of the ministry also visited different government buildings to check if security arrangements suggested by the ministry were in place or not. “In case of non-compliance of these instructions, it will be reported to the high-ups at the ministry,” he warned.

Interior Ministry spokesperson was not available for his comments over the issue.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad Police have also enhanced security measures in the city.

SSP (Operations) Sajid Kiyani told The Express Tribune that extra security measures had been put in place in shape of the establishment of additional pickets and enhanced police patrolling in the wake of the overall security situation.

“It’s not in the backdrop of some specific threat but the general security threat the whole country has been facing,” Kiyani said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2015.