Authorities in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, has ordered a rapid tightening of security across the region following a suicide bombing in Islamabad that killed at least 12 people and injured more than 30 on Tuesday.
The directive came after a suicide explosion outside a court complex in the federal capital, which Defense Minister Khawaja Asif described as an attempt by militants to demonstrate their reach within the country.
The government attributed the attack to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whose leadership is believed to be based in Afghanistan. Islamabad has long accused Kabul of harboring the militants and aiding their cross-border attacks against Pakistani civilians and security forces.
“This cowardly act of terrorism [in Islamabad], occurring so close to our provincial borders, underscores the persistent and evolving threat being posed by extremist elements and necessitates an immediate, proactive security response throughout the province,” the provincial home department said in a notification.
The notice called on relevant authorities to urgently “beef up the security apparatus” throughout the province.
It specifically highlighted the need to protect “high-value, sensitive, and densely populated areas,” urging measures to ensure their safety.
Marked “Most Immediate,” the letter was sent to top provincial police, counterterrorism, and administrative officers, instructing them to boost security presence and vigilance in major cities including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan.
While the majority of militant attacks in recent years have occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, provinces bordering Afghanistan, Punjab has also experienced significant attacks in the past, prompting authorities to adopt preventive security measures.
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