Islamabad police released a “special” plan on Tuesday in response to mounting security concerns as it establishes 25 temporary checkpoints throughout the city and mandates that locals and visitors carry identification credentials at all times.
The security strategy, which was announced on the official Twitter account of the Islamabad Police, calls for the Safe City cameras to record the Red Zone’s access points and the video surveillance of metro bus riders.
citizens are requested to carry their identification documents. use excise office issued number plates on vehicles. legal action will be taken against illegal number plates and unregistered vehicles. foreign nationals should carry their identification documents with them.
⬇️— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) December 27, 2022
The authorities will be using safe city cameras to record Red Zone entrances while the metro bus service passengers’ video will also be recorded.
The police requested the residents and foreigners to carry their identification documents. The residents were also advised to use excise office issued number plates on vehicles.
“Legal action will be taken against illegal number plates and unregistered vehicles,” warned the police.
Measures under this plan also require landlords and employers to register their tenants and employees at a nearby police station or khidmat marakiz (facilitation centers).
Police said citizens who had employed unregistered local or foreign workers would also be investigated.
They appealed to citizens to inform authorities of any unusual activity on the 15-helpline.
The alerts were issued after a suicide attacker, riding a cab, blew himself up when four bike-riding cops of Eagle Squad intercepted the car at Sector I-10/4 — sending the federal capital into a frenzy.
As a result of the blast, a police official was martyred, while seven — including a policeman and civilians were injured — police told the media. Later, a joint investigation team (JIT) was formed to probe the suicide bombing.
Numerous foreign embassies including Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Australia issued separate security alerts on Monday, asking their citizens to limit their movement in Pakistan.
While stating that officials in Islamabad had been instructed to increase monitoring and restrict travel within the city, the Australian high commissioner made a similar statement.
Other embassies have also encouraged their personnel and people to limit their travel for a while over the current holidays, especially until January 1.
