ISLAMABAD: After the bombing of Sehwan’s Lal Shahbaz Qalander shrine which left over 88 people dead, a crackdown was launched in the twin cities on Friday in which at least 90 suspects, including 10 Afghans, were detained.
Security in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, heightened after the Lahore suicide bomb blast, remains on alert.
In the capital, Islamabad Police – including women police -along with Rangers, Rescue 15 and other security agencies carried out search operations in the suburbs in Bhara Kahu including Dhok Nai Abadi, Ahmed Town, Athal, Kalma Chowk, Dhok Jilani, Nain Sukh and Dhok Mohri.
Police officials said that they had also recovered guns including four sub-machine guns, two repeaters, 12 bore shotgun, two double-barrelled guns, two 8-mm pistols, three 9-mm pistols, and a dagger.
In Rawalpindi, police and security agencies also conducted search and combing operations in Peerwadhai, Sadiqabad and Faizabad.
Police officials said that during the search operation, they had arrested 53 suspects, most of which were Afghan nationals.
Most of those held during the combing operations were handed over to the local police after initial investigation. The military, meanwhile, said that security forces had been directed to gear-up combing operations in Rawalpindi.
According to a statement from the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a meeting was held between Commander Rawalpindi Corps and senior officers of various law enforcement agencies to take a stock of the security situation in the garrison city.
“In wake of recent upsurge in terrorist incidents in the country, search and combing operations in areas of Rawalpindi district have been enhanced and security apparatus has been put on high alert,” the military said in a statement.
“Security forces and intelligence outfits had been instructed to further intensify combing and targeted operations with the aim to eliminate terrorists and sleepers cells.”
Police in Abbottabad on Friday sealed the shrine of Panj Pir.
Following the afternoon prayers, City SHO Sardar Wajid sealed the shrine in a bid to minimise chances of large gatherings at public places.
Police in Azad Jammu and Kashmir have further beefed up security in the valley where an assassination attempt had been made on a prominent cleric two days ago.
