[center]<b><span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>Security red alert declared all over Pakistan</span></b>[/center]
<b>Pakistani police officers check vehicles after a security alert in Islamabad, Pakistan on Friday, June 6, 2008.</b>
<b>ISLAMABAD, Sept 30 : The government on Tuesday declared security red alert in the entire country and barred concerned authorities from organising Eid prayers in open places. Interior Ministry has issued a circular which was addressed to all concerned authorities that there should be no Eid prayer in open places, a source in the ministry told Dawn. The source said the circular that barred holding of religious congregation in open areas had been sent to all provincial and district governments.
"The decision to discourage holding of Eid prayer in open places has been made in view of security concerns and in the back drop of increasing suicide attacks,â the source said. It is pertinent to mention here that a similar decision has been made two years ago by the last government but people did not follow it as mostly Eid prayers are offered in Eidgahs which are also open.
The interior ministry was of the view that it would be quite difficult for the police and other security forces to provide security to worshipers during Eid prayers. The ministry believes that open places where Eid prayers are offered are vulnerable to suicide attacks. <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>The source said that the government has received threats of suicide bombing in major cities of the country including Islamabad therefore red alert has been declared in the whole country. Other major cities under threat are : Karachi, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar.</span></b>
The government had decided to deploy Rangers in Islamabad and their deployment will be completed by Tuesday late night. In other major cities the Rangers will remain standby to assist political administrations and police.
The interior ministry also urged the authorities concerned to seek assistance of private security agencies for maintaining pace and ensure safety of the people on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr.
âYes, it is a part of the security code that we have to acquire the assistance private security guards because under this code the security guards, whether hired by us or mosque administrations, would be responsible for internal security of the mosques and worship places and police remains outside the mosque for outer security,â a senior security official said.
The official said security had also been beefed up around all mosques ad Imamargahs to avert any attempt of terrorism.
In Islamabad police commandos equipped with sophisticated weapons and wireless sets have been deployed at all sensitive places. In commercial places they security personnel have been deployed in plain clothes with sniffer dogs to avert criminal and terrorism activities.
The official said security has been tightened in the vicinity of all mosques, Imambargahs, VIP route, airport, exit points and entrance, bus stands and other public places.
âWe have obtained records of all hotels and guest houses located in the federal capital and thoroughly investigating the record and details of those who have been residing in these places for over a month.
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