After the blast in Islamabad at Marriott Hotel, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, South Zone, Iqbal Mehmood, has devised a security plan for areas in the Red Zone by deploying extra Elite Force personnel and installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

DIG Mehmood said that due to Saturday night’s suicide attack in Islamabad, he had immediately ordered a security alert in his zone and cancelled the leaves of officers working in his zone. He had also called for a meeting late Saturday night and discussed various security issues.

After the meeting, orders were issued to close the roads leading to the Governor House, the Chief Minister House, the US Consulate, and roads leading towards five-star hotels and government buildings. Snap checking was also ordered and police officials were asked to keep an eye on suspicious people and vehicles.

The DIG said that late Saturday night he along with senior officers of his zone led the patrolling in various sensitive spots and reviewed security arrangements. He had also met with the management of five-star hotels, including the Pearl-Continental (PC) Hotel and Marriott, and reviewed security arrangements and camera control rooms. Later they had re-run the security plan at Marriott and PC.

He had directed the security personnel present at the Marriott Hotel to remain alert and had made changes at the entrance of the hotel and told them to keep the road blocker up till the car coming inside the hotel be thoroughly checked. Afterwards, he moved towards the PC hotel and directed them to block the entrance gates, including the gate from Sani’s Super Store and thoroughly check vehicles and people entering the hotel.

Regarding the security measures at the Sindh Secretariat and the Sindh High Court (SHC), the DIG said that they had placed containers at the entry and exit points of both buildings as part of security measures and deployed police personnel at the spot for random checking of vehicles coming to these government buildings.

Moreover, officers working in these government buildings were asked to take stickers from Tuglaq House, otherwise vehicles without stickers will not be allowed to enter and will be parked at a ground situated near the Arts Council. The same security arrangements have been adopted at the Supreme Court premises and police personnel have been deployed for random checking.

Furthermore, the DIG said that security was upgraded at consulate offices, including the US Consulate.

Moreover, they had also reviewed the working of the CCTV cameras installed within the premises of the Red Zone and also deployed extra personnel belonging to the Elite Force to tackle any untoward situation.

The Awan-e-Sadr Road and the CM House Road had been closed due to security risks, the DIG said, adding that they will be opened on Monday morning but personnel of the police will remain present there with barriers to check every passing vehicle.