LAHORE: Pakistan’s top counter-terrorism agency has issued two alerts, warning about possible terror attacks by two suicide bombers at the Wagah and Ganda Singh borders with India around the Independence Day.
The National Counter –Terrorism Authority has asked the Punjab Director General of Pakistan Rangers, the home department and the Punjab (Pakistan) police chief to take high preventive measures to protect the public as well as security personnel.
“Tehreek-i-Taliban’s Fazalullah group is planning to target parade at Wagah Border Lahore and Ganda Singh Border in Kasur on August 13, 14 or 15,” the security alert says.
The alert also says two suicide bombers have been sent to hit these targets.
“Extreme vigilance and heightened security measures are suggested to avoid any untoward incident,” it says.
The Punjab (Pakistan) home department has also issued a separate alert saying “at least 16 suicide attackers have entered the province” who are planning to target public gatherings in connection with the Independence Day.
Following the alerts, the Punjab police launched a crackdown in the border areas and arrested a number of suspects.
“Police have taken more than 50 suspects into custody during a crackdown and security has been beefed up in the city as well as in the border areas,” Lahore police spokesman Niyab Haider said.
He said the suspects would be quizzed and keep into custody till verification process as a majority of them could not produce documents related to their identity.
He said police personnel have also been deployed at the border areas on Pakistan’s Independence Day (August 14). Rangers have also reportedly enhanced their patrolling in the border areas.
