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Govt warned of attacks by female bombers

* Police told to keep an eye on burqa-clad women
* Stadium in Peshawar identified as likely target

By Shahnawaz Khan

LAHORE: Law enforcement agencies have forwarded intelligence reports to the senior government officials regarding suicide attacks expected to be carried out by women bombers across the country, highly reliable Interior Ministry sources told Daily Times on Sunday.

“There are chances that that male and female former students of Jamia Hafsa, Jamia Fareedia and Lal Masjid that managed to escape from ‘Operation Silence’ could carry out suicide attacks across the country,” the intelligence agencies’ reports said, according to sources. The report also suspected involvement of students from these madrassas in the suicide bombing on July 17 in Islamabad.

Intelligence agencies had forwarded detailed reports to the Interior Ministry as well, the sources said, following which authorities had issued special instructions in this regard.

Police told to keep an eye on burqa-clad women: In the report, sources said, authorities suggested that police seniors across the country immediately issue instructions to keep a close eye on suspicious women wearing shuttlecock burqas and/or youngsters roaming near important installations, especially foreign ones, as well as important personalities, law enforcement personnel and important public and business places.

They said that the ministry had also circulated special letters in this regard to senior security and administrative officials across the country. Provincial police officers (PPOs) of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, NWFP, and the Islamabad police inspector general (IG) had also been especially directed to take precautionary measures on an emergency basis, they said.

Peshawar stadium likely target: Intelligence agencies said in the report that in Peshawar, Kernal Sher Khan Shaheed Stadium, Khyber Road, would be the likely target of such attacks, since there was a large number of rickshaws and public transport vehicles parked there most of the time.

Punjab Police Central Office sources said that after the instructions were passed out, the Punjab police hierarchy had issued special directions, in accordance with which more than 2,500 Punjab Police Special Branch personnel were roaming the streets along with other law enforcement officers to keep an eye on anti-state elements. Sources also said that the Special Branch personnel comprised mostly female officers who were working in select areas - such as madrassas for women – undercover.

When Daily Times attempted to contact the government officials concerned, they were not available for comment.

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