Heavy security on Bhutto’s arrival

By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS

Karachi : Special security arrangements were made for former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who faces life threats from extremist forces in Pakistan. Bhutto arrived here Thursday ending her eight years of self-imposed exile.


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“We had arranged deployment of anti-terrorist squad throughout the route from Karachi Airport to the Jinnah mausoleum,” city police chief Azhar Farooqi told IANS.

Farooqi admitted that there were serious threats to the life of former prime minister. “These are not imaginary threats but are real and we are concerned about her security,” he said, adding Bhutto was taking security concerns easily.

Bhutto, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson for life, was taken into a truck along with her party leaders to the Jinnah mausoleum after she came out of the airport.

A bulletproof glass shield was erected on the truck. But Bhutto opted to stand in front of the glass rather than behind it.

“I am not afraid of these people, I only fear Allah,” she said referring to radicals in Pakistan.

Farooqi said that a jamming device, which can jam wireless signals used to explode bombs by terrorists, was also installed on the truck. The jammers make sensors of bombs insensitive.

Farooqi said that more than 5,000 people from the police and para-military forces were deployed for Bhutto’s security. “We have seen some people throwing and pushing bouquets towards Benazir (Bhutto), that can be dangerous,” he said.

Thousands of people welcomed Bhutto and many were seen climbing on roadside trees to get a look of their leader. Many were throwing petals and chadors on Bhutto.

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