Huma Aamir Malik, Arab News

KARACHI, 27 June 2004 — Authorities stepped up security yesterday at Pakistan’s largest airport after receiving a tip that terrorists might try to hijack a plane, the third time security has been increased in recent months, airport officials said.

“Due to the hijacking threat, a red alert has been imposed on Karachi airport. All anti-hijacking measures are being taken,” said Maj. Riaz Ahmed, a spokesman for the Airport Security Force.

He gave no details about where the tip came from. No arrests have been made and no flights grounded, Ahmed said, but passengers are being asked to report to the airport four hours before all flights.

Airport security has been tightened in Pakistan on at least two other occasions since April, once after the government received word that a terror cell might be planning to target a plane from Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Fazlur Rehman was detained by police at the Karachi airport after his arrival from Islamabad. Arrangements are being made to send him back to Islamabad.

Qari Gul Rehman, who came with Fazl but was not detained, addressed MMA workers outside the airport and condemned the incident.

MMA’s acting president Qazi Hussain Ahmed will arrive in Karachi tomorrow, party sources said.

On Friday, the Sindh provincial government banned the entry of both leaders into the port city fearing their presence will fan sectarian and religious passions.