Pakistan tightens security for US diplomats

A mob stormed the U.S consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Tuesday, killing U.S ambassador Christopher Stevens and several other staff members.

There were also anti-U.S protests in Egypt’s capital Cairo and on Thursday a crowd stormed the American embassy complex in Yemeni capital Sana’a before being driven out by police.

“We have beefed up the security for the possible threats to the US embassy,” Khurram Rasheed, a senior police official responsible for diplomats’ security in Islamabad said.
“We expect some protests against the embassy tomorrow so we need to anticipate any escalation of violence.”

The U.S embassy in Islamabad is situated inside the city’s heavily-fortified diplomatic enclave, and Rasheed said the entrance would be closed and extra security forces deployed.
In the eastern city of Lahore, police said they have already issued an alert to protect the U.S consulate.

“The security is already tight but we have issued an alert to stay on top of the situation,” Abdul Ghaffar Qaisrani, senior police official responsible for security noted.

“We are also gathering information to figure out whether some organizations are planning to organize further protests. In which case, we will take further measures to protect the U.S consulate.”

The anti-Islam movie which was uploaded onto the Internet last week in America sparked fury across the Muslim world, incensing anti-American sentiment worldwide.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar criticised the film.
“We have always promoted inter-faith harmony; however the desecration of any religion is always condemned by Pakistan and as a nation we are very, very strongly condemning such a movie,” said the Foreign minister addressing the press.

In the northwestern city of Peshawar, where a car bomb attack against the U.S consulate vehicle killed two people on Sept 3, authorities said they were “cautious” about the developing situation.

In Karachi, security also scaled up its operations, making sure they had enough men on duty to handle any spill outs.
Moreover, a number of religious and political organizations in Pakistan announced they would hold more demonstrations.

Majlise Wahdate Muslimeen and Jamat-e-Islami Pakistan held demonstration in different areas of Pakistan on Friday.