ISLAMABAD ( MEDIA REPORT )
The Senate Standing Committee on Interior was informed by the IG Islamabad Police, Tariq Masood Yasin, that 13 terrorists who were planning to target four installations including five star hotels were arrested last month. The IG told the committee which met under the chairmanship of Senator Rehman A Malik that the terrorists belonging to the banned TTP were being backed by the Indian Intelligence Agency RAW and the Afghan Intelligence Agency.
He said the Safe City Project was very effective for security, law and order and crimes’ prevention. He said the Safe City Project in Islamabad was operational and the cameras installed at different places had been linked to different departments. He assured to further improve the project adding that it would be a role model for other provinces too.
He disclosed that the terrorists had prepared a major terror plan for Islamabad in the first week of June. He said an intelligence agency had informed about the entry of 13 terrorists in Islamabad.
Acting on the intelligence report, the police and other law enforcement institutions were alerted. The vehicles of the terrorists were identified through “Safe City Cameras”. They were not allowed to enter Islamabad city and were arrested.
He said Islamabad was saved from vast destruction. He said the terrorists wanted to hit two five start hotels as well as the Quaid-e-Azam University and the Allama Iqbal OpenUniversity.
Answering a question about the cost of the project, the IG said the cost of the entire project had been recovered by foiling the major terror bid through the “Safe City Cameras”. The IG also said that there was no political pressure on him as the interior minister had given him full powers.
Senator Rehman Malik said that he had started the Safe City Project as the interior minister and lauded Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for completing it.
He also suggested the setting up of a central data base of criminals across the country. He directed the interior ministry to consult the provinces in this connection.
Rehman Malik asked the IG Sindh to submit a report about the investigation into the murder of Amjad Sabri.
The IG Islamabad said he was himself supervising the investigation into the murder of PIM’s Professor Dr Shahid and the committee would be informed of progress in the investigation.