ISLAMABAD: In the wake of a terrorist attack on the Loralai police lines, a high alert was declared in the capital city and surveillance mounted around police installations.

Besides, extra precautionary measures were adopted to provide security to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who is scheduled to arrive in the capital on Thursday (today), officials in the local administration and police said.

The Afghan president will be provided security as per the standard operating procedure (SOP) during his scheduled stay in the capital and other cities.

Paramilitary troops along with 1,500 officers and officials of the police will perform security duties during the visit of the Afghan president. Red Zone would be partially sealed to restrict the entry of unconcerned persons.

Eight pickets are established in and around the high security area where well-equipped policemen have been deployed.

Vigilance is also mounted on Margalla Hills by deploying police and paramilitary troops.

Two trails of the hills falling in the Red Zone will be closed till the departure of the VVIP, said the officials, adding the metro bus service in Islamabad would also remain suspended on Thursday.

An emergency was declared in the state-run hospitals on the directives of the capital administration and the staff asked to remain on a high alert on Thursday.

Firefighters and other rescue departments were also put on a high alert and asked to keep their vehicles and rescue staff on a standby.

Moreover, all police installations were put under vigilance after the terrorist attack on the police lines in Loralai, Balochistan.

Deployment of officials was made around important police installations and pickets were established on roads leading to them, said the police.

Furthermore, search and combing operations were being conducted in slums, along nullahs and other areas.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2019