ISLAMABAD: The government has declared 'high alert' across the country at least for a week because of apprehensions of subversive activities and also possible violence during protest activities by different groups over the release of US spy Raymond Davis, official sources said on Thursday.

A senior security official, who attended a meeting held in the interior ministry, said that the high alert would also cover President Asif Ali Zardari's address to a joint sitting of parliament on March 22.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik presided over the meeting attended by the interior secretary, the chief commissioner, Islamabad, the inspector general of police, Islamabad, and representatives of Rangers, Frontier Constabulary and intelligence agencies. Meanwhile, the US authorities in Pakistan have decided to close the embassy in Islamabad and consulates in Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar on Friday because of protests planned against Davis's release.

Although the closure has been announced only for Friday, the reopening date has not been mentioned and it would depend on the situation.

“The US embassy in Islamabad and the US consulates general in Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar will be closed on Friday,” a notice issued by the embassy said.

“The embassy will issue an updated Warden Message when the embassy and the consulates general reopen for routine business,” it added.

A spokesman for the interior ministry said: “Information has been received that certain elements will try to sabotage peace and security across the country particularly in major cities, including Islamabad. In this context the security of Islamabad has been accorded high alert.”

He said all kinds of rallies and demonstrations had been prohibited, except in a specified area at Shakar Parian.

“It has been observed that the chambers of commerce & industry and various traders' organisations have repeatedly requested that some venue should be identified for public gatherings so that disruption of business activity should not take place,” the spokesman said, supporting the idea of holding meetings at a specified place.

He said it had been requested that Shakar Parian might be designated as a public gathering point in this context.

A source in the interior ministry said the federal capital would be sealed on March 21 and 22 as part of security arrangements being made for the joint sitting of parliament.Besides banning rallies and demonstrations in the federal capital, the government has made it mandatory for every citizen to carry the national identity card while moving out.

“People are asked to carry their identity cards in case the same are checked by police deployed at checkpoints. Instructions have been issued to all law-enforcement agencies, including Islamabad Police, that no inconvenience should be caused to general public; however, no compromise on security should be made,” the spokesman said.

Aerial surveillance has also been ordered so that better monitoring can be ensured. The arrangements will continue for a week with a view to ensuring peace, tranquillity and security.

The meeting was informed that joint patrolling by police and Rangers had been increased and the capital police had been instructed to ensure effective and thorough checking at all police posts, particularly at entry and exit points of the capital. Police have been instructed to show utmost courtesy to residents.