Islamabad: Red Zone security in focus

[Naveed Yaseen]

Senate body for cut in capital entry points
ISLAMABAD: A special committee of the Senate on Saturday directed the federal capital administration to reduce entry points to the city from 34 to 10-12 as part of the government’s new security plan.

A high-level meeting of the committee was held at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Babar Awan to examine and evaluate security measures in and around the Parliament House with particular reference to newly created Red Zone.

A comprehensive security plan was discussed to fortify the parliament building and its surrounding area.

A red security zone around the Parliament building would be declared and everyone would be checked upon entry to this zone, the meeting decided.

It decided to constitute a special committee headed by Senator Babar Awan. Senators Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi and Syed Javed Ali Shah would be its members and it would hold its first meeting after Eid.

The meeting also recommended machine-readable number plates for vehicles with the help of NADRA and other relevant agencies. It instructed the capital administration to check credentials of owners before registering their vehicles.

The CDA was directed to expedite installation of surveillance cameras at all sensitive points without further delay. The Senate special committee also directed the civic body to explore ways and means for increasing civil society liaison with the police.

The meeting expressed concern over fast growing encroachments and rapidly popping up Katchi Abadis inside the federal capital, particularly close to the Bari Imam Shrine, which is in the immediate vicinity of the President House, Prime Minister House and the Parliament House.

It observed that the slums and Katchi Abadies were infested with crimes and should be checked and monitored regularly.

Matters relating to the parking of the visitors vehicles at the Parliament Lodges also came up for discussion during the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Senate Secretary Raja Muhammad Amin, Islamabad IGP Asghar Gardezi, DC Amir Ali Ahmed and other senior officials.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...008_pg11_1