Anti-terror force deployed in Islamabad

A special anti-terror force, comprising paramilitary troops and the police, has begun patrolling the Pakistan capital Islamabad from Monday, the government said.

The Rapid Response Force has been deployed with a view to check crime and terrorism in the federal capital, the interior ministry said.

Islamabad, which has seen a series of blasts in recent months, has been divided into 13 zones for this purpose and the paramilitary soldiers, Rangers and the police will patrol round-the-clock.

Dozens of people were killed and injured when militants stormed a local court in Islamabad in early March. A security guard was killed and another injured in twin blasts in Islamabad early Saturday.

The force is also empowered to conduct specific operations targeting terrorists as well as criminals, an official statement said after Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan presided over a high level security meeting.

The security for the capital city has also been enhanced as the security forces have launched an operation in the restive North Waziristan tribal region against the Taliban militants and officials fear a backlash.

The interior minister told the meeting that these patrolling vehicles should not only check terrorism-related activities but also robberies and other crimes. He asked the authorities to publicise in the media that any law and order related complaints by the public would be promptly responded to from an emergency telephone number.

Police sources said that militants and criminal gangs have also now started sending threatening letters to business people in Islamabad to extort money. Shopkeepers have also now deployed private security guards in view of these threats.

A joint control room has been established for surveillance and monitoring of these vehicles as well as to reinforce the Rapid Response Force.

Officials will also conduct mock exercises regarding the security of important places in Islamabad to better equip the police to meet any eventuality.

Chaudhry Nisar said that police posts in Islamabad should be strengthened to improve the stop and search vigilance of police by properly checking the vehicles and people entering the federal capital.