living through the threat
the marriot bomb blast shaked the capital city 5 days back. being in karachi - i didnt realize what impact it would have on the people of islamabad till today when i had to come to islamabad on a business trip.
i expected security to be more vigilant - and that is how it was. but what i didnt expect was the fear instilled in the heart of people.
literally - i saw policemen standing at some distances from each other. their faces were somber. they were stopping cars for random checking and the way each car was stopping was also showing the general attitude: fear!
there were more blockades. more silence. more seriousness in the air. i think the terrorist succeeded in their objective: rising terror.
i went to serena hotel - the guards stopped me seeing the black hp laptop bag hanging on my shoulder. only one of the guard stepped forward to check me while others stepped back -
after assurance that i had no bomb in my bag i moved forward. i couldnt help but notice that several guards that 'tasbeeh' in their hands. one of the hotel staff standing at the gates had the most nervous face - constantly he was mumbling something - probably reciting his prayers.
on my way back to karachi - there was a security threat at the islamabad airport. all flights are delayed and i am sitting in a corner writting this post. it's horrible. heavy police outside - again, random checking of cars - policemen with nervous faces (i think i've seen them nervous for the first time in my life).
i hope everything comes back to normalcy soon.
i expected security to be more vigilant - and that is how it was. but what i didnt expect was the fear instilled in the heart of people.
literally - i saw policemen standing at some distances from each other. their faces were somber. they were stopping cars for random checking and the way each car was stopping was also showing the general attitude: fear!
there were more blockades. more silence. more seriousness in the air. i think the terrorist succeeded in their objective: rising terror.
i went to serena hotel - the guards stopped me seeing the black hp laptop bag hanging on my shoulder. only one of the guard stepped forward to check me while others stepped back -
after assurance that i had no bomb in my bag i moved forward. i couldnt help but notice that several guards that 'tasbeeh' in their hands. one of the hotel staff standing at the gates had the most nervous face - constantly he was mumbling something - probably reciting his prayers.
on my way back to karachi - there was a security threat at the islamabad airport. all flights are delayed and i am sitting in a corner writting this post. it's horrible. heavy police outside - again, random checking of cars - policemen with nervous faces (i think i've seen them nervous for the first time in my life).
i hope everything comes back to normalcy soon.
