Islamabad would be sealed off completely from Tuesday to “ensure foolproof security arrangements during the upcoming SAARC Summit”, AFP quoted a senior Pakistani minister, as saying, on Sunday.
“After reviewing various reports from intelligence agencies, we have decided to seal off Islamabad,” the agency quoted Pak Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat, as saying.
“All entry points to Islamabad from Peshawar, Murree, Azad Kashmir and the motorway will be brought under strict surveillance for 24 hours,” the minister said while addressing a press conference at Parliament House in Islamabad.
Arrangements have also been made for aerial surveillance of Islamabad around the clock, he said.
He further apologized beforehand if any commuters feel an inconvenience because of checking at the entry points and said that all such arrangements were being made to improve Pakistan’s image abroad, according to the agency.
“A slight security lapse can defame the country and the government will not allow it,” he said.
According to him, Islamabad has been divided into three zones for security purposes wherein the area hosting official delegates from Marriott Hotel to Serena Hotel had been declared a red zone.
”Around 4000 police officials under the command of the superintendent of police would be deployed for security purposes.”
“Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee will bring his own security, whereas we will also provide special security arrangements for him,” the agency further quoted the minister, as saying.
Meanwhile, the agency added that units of the Pakistani Army were positioned on the Margalla Hills overlooking Islamabad for the first time on Sunday as part of security efforts ahead of next week’s South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit.
Roads leading to the two hotels where the foreign guests will stay will be barred to ordinary traffic with the route to the Convention Centre, the summit’s imposing venue, the agency said. “No private vehicle will be allowed on the roads during the summit.”
Police armed commandos will guard strategic points in the capital while plain-clothes officers will patrol with sniffer dogs, the agency further quoted a police spokesman, as saying. nepalnews.com mr Dec 29