Minister orders heightened security across province amid threat alerts

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KARACHI: In response to intelligence reports regarding potential terrorist attacks, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar has directed law enforcement agencies to implement heightened security measures across the province, including a complete blockade of all entry and exit points and of sensitive locations.

These directives were issued during a high-level meeting chaired on Wednesday by the home minister to review the overall law and order situation, where the Inspector General of Sindh Police provided a detailed briefing.

The home minister emphasised that intelligence reports related to law and order must be utilised effectively, and directed that a comprehensive strategy be developed to deal with all possible threats.

A spokesperson confirmed that the Sindh Police has been directed to ensure the complete implementation of the National Action Plan, while the minister specifically stressed the need for a clearly defined course of action against banned organisations, sectarianism and militancy.

The security of sensitive installations, places of worship, including mosques, madrasas and imambargahs, and other important locations will be made foolproof in consultation with their respective administrations.

Calling for a more proactive approach, he ordered senior officers to assume responsibility by being physically present in the field rather than remaining in their offices.

The home minister stressed accelerating intelligence-based operations and making operational strategies, such as snap-checking, picketing, reconnaissance, surveillance and patrolling, more effective.

A security audit of all important and sensitive installations was also ordered.

To enhance operational capability, he directed the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) to formulate recommendations for required resources, including drones, vehicles, explosive detection devices and other modern equipment.

Special emphasis was placed on aerial surveillance, with directives to conduct drone operations in potentially sensitive areas of Karachi as needed, and to establish a separate, dedicated unit for this purpose.

The home minister described the further upgrading of the Special Branch as the “need of the hour,” expressing a clear vision for the department.

“We want to make the Special Branch the vanguard of counter-terrorism measures,” he said, adding, “the Special Branch will be our primary wing, and its intelligence reports will be reliable and robust.”

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2026

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