Pakistan’s Interior Ministry issued a statement on Saturday directing Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to maintain “great vigilance.”
The notice alert has urged all provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-LEAs Baltistan’s to beef up security measures in order to avert any unforeseen terrorist strikes.
“… In light of the recent terrorist attack in Lahore’s Anarkali Bazar and the threat posed by anti-state elements’ activities, all provincial and special area governments/Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are urged to maintain heightened vigilance and readiness to deal with any untoward situation,” the notification stated.
On January 17, militants attacked a police roadblock near Islamabad’s Karachi Company Police Station. The event resulted in the death of a police officer and the injury of two others. The Pakistani Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) claimed responsibility.
Following this event, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed warned of other terrorism-related incidents in Islamabad, stating that the capital’s police and other security forces are on high alert.
On January 20, however, another terror incident occurred in which terrorists targeted Lahore’s famous Anarkali market. Three persons were killed and 28 were injured in the Lahore bombing. An investigation is ongoing.
Sheikh Rasheed also came under fire from the opposition for the country’s escalating terrorism activities. One opposition senator observed that he had “not seen the interior minister in the House for any briefing in the last nine months.”
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