LAHORE Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan says the terrorists who attacked three security-related institutions in the city on Thursday were on a hostage-taking mission.

Flanked by Home Secretary Nadeem Hasan Asif and Inspector-General of Police Tariq Saleem Dogar, he told a press conference here that the terrorists were carrying dates, grams and water with them — a clear-cut hint of plan to stay longer after taking hostage security officials.

About possible demands of the terrorists, he said these could be no different than those made by the terrorists who had taken hostage army men at the GHQ in Rawalpindi the other day.

Answering a question about the involvement of Punjabi Taliban, he reiterated the provincial government's stance that it was propaganda against the province as no organised network of terrorists existed in southern or any other part of Punjab, though there might be some individuals involved in terror activities.

'Just name a single seminary that is patronising militants or is offering military training,' he challenged.

He did not rule out a foreign hand behind the terror incidents in the province and said the angle had been put before the federal government too.

About the efforts being made by the security agencies to break the network of terrorists, he said the militants developed a new network after smashing of the earlier one. However, it was a sensitive issue which could not be disclosed prematurely.

Asked why the authorities did not block access roads to the state buildings that came under attack on Thursday despite intelligence reports of possible terror hits in the city, the minister said though all possible safety measures were taken for the protection of the institutions, civil life could not be suspended by completely barricading the roads.

The minister announced a financial aid package for the families of those killed or wounded in the terror acts. In case of death of an official, his heirs would be paid Rs3 million in cash, one residential plot, payment of salary until retirement, full pension and job for one of his offspring.

Heirs of a civilian will be paid Rs300,000 in cash in case of death and Rs75,000 in case of serious injury.

Mr Dogar said in suicidal attacks the attackers usually manage to break the first line of defence. However, the performance of security agencies remained satisfactory during Thursday's incidents as the terrorists could not break the front line of defence otherwise the damage could have been more serious.

He urged the citizens to keep a vigilant eye and inform security agencies in case of any unusual activity in their localities.