LAHORE: The Punjab Police have said that Lahore and its surrounding areas are highly vulnerable to terrorist attacks. As per the recent information, the police have said that terrorists are aiming at soft targets in the provincial capital and nearby areas.
In a statement issued on Monday, it was informed that in the wake of recent threat alerts, there is high possibility of suicide bombing, attack through car bomb or improvised explosive device, indiscriminate firing by elements of Indian-Afghan hostile intelligence agencies, or attack by terrorist groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Daesh and Jamat-ul-Ahrar.
The statement said that the most vulnerable targets in the city include public places, public events, busy markets, shopping malls, important personalities, on-duty officials of law enforcement agencies and processions or gatherings at Mall Road, where a number of sensitive and important building are located, including Governor House, Punjab Assembly, Lahore High Court, State Bank of Pakistan, 90 SQA, PC Hotel, Avari Hotel and other important federal and provincial offices.
Earlier, terrorist attacks in Lahore this year, including suicide blast at Mall Road, on a census team and at Ferozepur Road, as well as a blast at Saggian Bridge, which have claimed the precious lives of several innocent citizens and on-duty officials of law enforcement agencies, prove that terrorists might further resort to attacking soft targets.
The Punjab Police have alerted that to deter and avoid any untoward incident, the district administration and law enforcement agencies must be sensitised to remain vigilant and on high alert. It suggested that foolproof security measures, extreme vigilance and heightened security measures be adopted at all tiers to avoid any untoward incident.