Suspension of mobile phone service thwarted terrorists’ plan

Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday said the suspension of cellular network on Yaum-e-Ishq-e-Rasool (Love of Prophet (PBUH) Day) had foiled the nefarious plans of terrorists, and that the idea had proved successful. “If mobile phone is the root cause of the problem, we would surely curb its misuse. Soon, we will come up with a strategy,” he told reporters while visiting a police checkpost to examine security situation amidst demonstrations against a blasphemous anti-Islam film. He said the protestors had been asked to gather in F-9 Park or at D-Chowk and not damage the public property. To a question, Malik said he had sought a report on the killing of a private television channel’s worker during a demonstration in Peshawar, and that he would talk to the prime minister for providing financial assistance to the victim’s family. Malik said the police was handling the protestors with iron hand and that no one challenging the government’s writ was being spared. He said that until Thursday night there were intelligence reports of likely terror incidents in Peshawar, Quetta and Islamabad. “However, the strategy of suspending cell phone service got applause even from Karachi, where unprecedented peace has been witnessed for the very reason,” he said. The interior minister said that pillion riding had also been banned in Islamabad for a day, as motorcyclists holding batons and petrol bottles were seen to torch public properties. “Those who come for peaceful protest never come with baton in their hands. Even some people were also seen shooting with pistols. It looked as if they were coming for a feud,” Malik said. To a question about the arrival of banned outfits’ activists, he said that “known faces” would be nabbed but at the present moment, police could not do anything against those who were unfamiliar. He said the Rangers had already been deployed to support the police, while the army has been put on alert to handle any emergency situation. “However, after yesterday’s (Thursday) action, the violent elements would have realized that we mean business. And even today, I mean business,” Malik said.