Security high alert across Pakistan after TTP chief's death

Security has been put on high alert across Pakistan after the death of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud who was killed in a U.S. drone strike on Friday evening in northwestern region of the country, local media and police officials said on Saturday. According to police officials, deployment of security and police personnel was increased at all sensitive government installations in all the provincial capitals and in federal capital of Islamabad besides increasing checking at all exit and entry points of the cities. Security was tightened at the U.S. consulate in provincial capital of Peshawar, eastern city of Lahore and southern port city of Karachi, in an attempt to prevent a possible backlash from Taliban militants. A big number of Army personnel were deployed in the northwestern district of Dera Ismael Khan, one of the main entrances from the restive tribal region of the country. Police also set up blockades at all entry and exit points of Islamabad besides starting random snap checking. Chief of Pakistan Taliban Hakeemullah Mehsud was killed in Friday's U.S. drone strike that targeted his house and vehicle in the country's Pakistan's northwestern tribal region of North Waziristan. A day after the attack, a spokesman of the TTP South Waziristan chapter Azim Tariq confirmed the death of Mehsud saying they would take revenge of killing of their chief. Pakistani Taliban also confirmed the incident and funerals for the TTP chief and other militants killed in the drone strike were held on early Saturday morning in various parts of North Waziristan. Former TTP chief Mehsud was one of the most wanted men in Pakistan with a 5 million U.S. dollars bounty on his head announced by the U.S. government in September 2010. Pakistan's federal interior minister on Saturday evening confirmed the death of Hakeemullah Mehsud and announced to have stopped its three-member delegation from visiting North Waziristan where they were scheduled to hold peace talks with Taliban delegation on Saturday.