ISLAMABAD, Oct 16: The capital police have asked the management of hotels and lodges, located in Red Zone to strengthen their security, keeping in view the prevailing situation and threats and also to share the details of their visitors with the area police, police sources told Dawn.

The meeting was held between the representatives of the hotels, including Marriott, Serena and Best Western with the police in the Secretariat police station to discuss the security arrangements.

It was also decided that the police will conduct search of vehicles – visitors and hotels – as part of the security arrangements.

Besides, the deployment of Special Branch personnel, the policemen in plain clothes will be dep-loyed around the hotel to keep an eye on suspicious people.

The representatives were asked for cooperation as the arrangement may result in inconvenience for the hotel management and their visitors.

The representatives of the hotels were also asked to check each and every vehicle and verify their documents.

Supervisory officers – Superintendent of Police or Sub-Divisional Police Officer – will regularly check the steps being taken by the management of the hotels for the security and in case of any negligence, action will be taken.

Similarly, a meeting was scheduled with the caretakers of government lodges, including Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan houses, MNA hostel and residential colonies of officials to discuss the security arrangements and brief them over it, the police said.

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has also directed the police to make proper security arrangements for the parking lot adjacent to Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan during his appearance in the apex court.

The Interior Minister showed displeasure over the improper arrangements and checking of vehicles and their drivers.

He asked the officers concerned – SP and DSP SC – to make the proper arrangements in this regard to avoid any untoward incident.