Security forces in Punjab have been placed on high alert after the attack on the Peshawar Imambargah on Friday, Inspector General (IG) Punjab Rao Sardar Ali Khan has ordered.
Regional Police Offices (RPO) and District Police Offices (DPO) have been directed to ramp up security at sensitive locations, including significant religious and public places. The IG Punjab said that search and sweep operations were being conducted across the province and security plans for critical locations were put in place.
Furthermore, surveillance at inter-provincial and inter-district checkpoint would be heightened, and night patrols have been ordered to increase.
Prime Minister Imran Khan issued a statement on Friday night saying that the government had “all info regarding origins of where the terrorists came from [and] are going after them with full force.”
Have personally been monitoring operations & coordinating with CTD & Agencies in the wake of the cowardly terrorist attack on Peshawar Imambargah. We now have all info regarding origins of where the terrorists came from & are going after them with full force.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 4, 2022
The AFP reported that the Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing. Security expert had also believed the attack was typical of those perpetuated by the Islamic state’s Khorasan chapter.
Peshawar police chief Muhammad Ijaz Khan reported that that investigators were trying to ascertain the identify of the bomber through DNA testing. He also noted that two amputated feet found on the scene were believed to be from bomber.
The death toll of the Peshawar attack has risen passed 60, with additional casualties expected. Seven of those killed were children, the police chief said.
