Western diplomats in Pakistan want to import armoured personnel carriers for safety

Islamabad, Mar. 14 : After the US and the UK advised their citizens against visiting Pakistan due to security threats, Western embassies may request the Pakistan Government to allow them to import armoured personnel carriers (APCs) for the protection of their senior staff. Particularly, High Commissions of Commonwealth member countries in Islamabad are so anxious, that some of them have already acquired such vehicles for their senior officials.

I am not aware of such measures, but our security staff does take measures from time-to-time, according to fresh advisory and threats,

The News quoted British High Commission spokesperson Jennifer Wilkes, as saying. The security threats are intensifying even more ground with the deteriorating political situation in Pakistan, and occasioned by the lawyers long march call being supported by some of the major opposition parties.

Sources claimed that security officials of embassies and high commissions had taken a serious note of the build-up in and around the federal capital, where lawyers and political activists from all parts of the country were trying to stream in.

The scenes of long march and the threats that the lawyers and the political activists would be causing a standstill in Islamabad are really worrisome.

We have in the past experienced attacks on our senior diplomats and staffs. It is advisable that additional measures for protecting them are taken without any delay, sources said.

We are aware of the Foreign Officeis announcement that embassies and high commissions would be extended additional security.

But such measures have not been enough in the past. Therefore, we are planning to be extra cautious and use all instruments of security and make them available in Islamabad and throughout Pakistan, they added.