Security agencies on a look out for suspected militants in Margallas

Security agencies on a look out for suspected militants in Margallas

No fewer than three security agencies are combing the Margalla National Park for two suspected militants who have been reported to be hiding in the rough terrain right in the heart of Islamabad. Already weary of dozens of road barriers in the city, the general
public seems to have had enough of the inefficient security departments who, despite of their round the clock search and monitoring, still leave out several loop holes to enter the city.

Responding on the intelligence tip-off the capital police in collaboration with paramilitary troops and army launched an operation on Margalla Hills on Monday to check for any possible militant hideouts.

The joint operation continued on Tuesday too with all the three agencies police, army and the Rangers contributing more resources towards the security of federal capital against any possible attack from the hills.

The movements of the paramilitary troops came after two suspects in custody spoke of militants hiding there to strike the city. They were arrested in the widespread hunt for the miscreants who fired rocket on the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad last
Friday.

“The most serious challenge is the geographical location of the Margalla hills — here is Islamabad and across the road is Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said one capital police official posted at the newly established picket at Pir Sohawa.

There is a strong presence of Rangers at Pir Sohawa too. Apart from being stationed in the CDA Rest House, Rangers also have a small camp at the hiking terrain from Pir Sohawa to Loa Dandi, whereas another camp is situated between Pir Sohawa and the Monal
Restaurant.

As a matter of fact, the security concentration at Pir Sohawa was due to recent terror threat. Before this, the presence of KP and Islamabad police there was negligible.

“It was mainly because the locals living on both sides, Islamabad and Haripur district, have never been involved in crime, terrorism or lawlessness,” said a local shop owner at Pir Sohawa, “We are all poor and hardworking people so the police have never
taken the area seriously, but we fear for the future.”

In view of their tradition the locals are least bothered by such deployments and one can see youngsters with axes and saw cutting firewood even inside the Rangers camps, while the Islamabad police get ‘roti’ as gifts from the local restaurant.

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Posted by Naveed A Bari on Feb 2 2012. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry