News
Monday, August 20, 2012
Country under grave threat of terrorism on Eid, says Malik* Interior minister says mobile services could be suspended in some areas
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Warning that the country was under grave threat of terrorism on Eidul Fitr, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Sunday mobile phone services may remain suspended in some parts of the country on the occasion because of security threats.
Talking to media after a meeting with PTA officials, Malik said that mobile phone services may remain suspended during Eid due to existential threats. He said that the exact time for cellular blackout cannot be determined and it could happen at any time. Apologising to public in advance for any problem, the minister said that threats existed in certain areas of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan.
Malik said the reason behind cellular suspension was that terrorists could strike on the occasion of Eid in some areas of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said he has told cellular companies that they could be asked at any time to stop services in certain areas of country where threats exist. Malik said no negligence would be tolerated by the law enforcement and security agencies. He directed the IG and senior superintendent of police to prepare a comprehensive security and traffic plan for the federal capital. He added that deployment of Rangers should also be included in the security plan. Rangers’ deployment was also ordered at sensitive places and Malik called for strict vigilance and surveillance in the Diplomatic Enclave to avert any terrorist attack.
Separately, the interior minister reportedly spoke with his Indian counterpart, Susil Kumar Shinde, on Sunday about the exodus from Bangalore and Mumbai by migrants to their homes in the northeast, media reports said. Indian government has reportedly blamed Pakistan for a media campaign that triggered a mass migration. Media reports said around 35,000 people have left Bangalore and Mumbai because of threatening messages posted on Internet saying that Muslim community would be attacking northeastern Assamese after the end of Ramazan in reprisal for recent ethnic violence. Kumar asked Malik to act firmly against those responsible for what he termed a “hate campaign” through mobiles phone and Internet.
Both the ministers decided to handle the issues with mutual cooperation and keep a close interaction. Malik extended invitation to Indian home minister to visit Pakistan to finalise visa agreement that had already been agreed during the meeting of home secretaries of both sides.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk