ISLAMABAD:
The federal government’s decision to deploy 500 Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel to restore law and order in Karachi has forced the FC to withdraw security officials from a number of federal ministers, foreign dignitaries and other prominent politicians in Islamabad, The Express Tribune has learnt.
An official source, requesting anonymity, said that the FC in the capital – guarding diplomats and other dignitaries – has run short of its personnel after the interior ministry moved more than 500 personnel from Islamabad to assist the Sindh authorities to control the current law and order situation in Karachi.
Sources said that the FC was responsible for the security of 192 important locations in the capital including diplomats and ministers’ residences and offices.
“Except the platoon commander, all FC personnel including its staff in Islamabad will be on active duty now,” an official said. He added that the FC was facing difficulties performing its duties since out of the 43 platoons deputed in Islamabad, 13 had been moved to Karachi, increasing the burden on the rest of the force.
He said that some of the ministers have expressed displeasure when the FC personnel were removed from their residences. The capital police alone are now responsible for the security of political dignitaries, it was revealed.
“Since a significant number of FC personnel have been moved to Karachi, it is not possible for the FC to protect some of the VIPs because the prime duty of the FC is to protect foreigners,” sources said.
Most of the FC personnel have been posted in the Diplomatic Enclave and at the residences and offices of foreign diplomats in the capital.
Various diplomats, who have been visiting the foreign minister’s office from time to time, expressed reservations over the security measures, the source said. It was further revealed that some ambassadors have already left Islamabad since security measures were not taken up to their satisfaction.
The source said that the capital police’s operational division was also affected as more than 6,000 policemen had been deployed for the security of VIPs after the departure of the FC personnel. Around 3,000 policemen are now posted in different police stations who are supposed to man checkpoints across Islamabad, the source added.
In 2010, Interior Minister Rehman Malik had asked the then Islamabad inspector general police (IGP) Kaleem Imam to submit an evaluation report for a new force to be constituted for the protection of diplomats, which is yet to be set up.
The official said that the purpose of the proposed force was to guard VVIP routes and foreign dignitaries visiting the capital. Initially, the force was planned to comprise at least 1,000 security officials, the official said, adding that it would work under the command of the Islamabad IGP.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2011.
COMMENTS (13)
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@Author , rephrase pls ,this is not opportunity cost ,rather a "sunk cost " . A sunk cost is a cost , incurred but is irrelevant in decision making . How very true , we know the outcome .
@Sarmad: this is absolutely not about the comparison of our two cities. A country is like a body, if a limb is malfunctioning the whole body could feel the pain. Dont grow such differences. You dont know what is really going on in Karachi. Its not common people who are doing it. In each city common people are majority and they hardly get involved in any distructive activity. Karachiites are so sweet, I am not a Karachiite so Im saying that.
@Cautious: Aaawwww!!! How sweet of you. Deeply touched but nevertheless thank you for your concern. We are not worried. Inshallah! There will be a light at the end of the tunnel. But you know something.......BRAVO and VIVA ANNA!
@H.A. Khan: ABSOLUTELY! These 'freeloaders' just do not accept responsibility and procras-tinate the delay in execution of projects. Moreover, with the 'fat cat' salaries they must get their security arranged by themselves. Why should our sloth employees get more for giving less? Eid Mubarak and Salam to you.
@Karim Javed: You are one hundred and one percent RIGHT. Eid Mubarak and Salam to you my brother.
@ cautious.. yup your definitively missing something.. its called a life.. go get one and worry about your corruption in India.. try and support ANNE..
You have one of the largest armies in the World --- yet you can't police two cities at the same time - can't control your border - and 1/2 the country is under the control of militants. Maybe I am missing something?
500? What are the rest of the 618,000 active armed personnel doing? Those numbers include military as well as paramilitary forces.
Moving FC personnel to karachi will only benefit if a thorough operation is carried out to cleanse Karachi of all Arms and Amunition otherwise no point
So called VIPs and Ministers should pay the cost of security gaurds.This is the only way citizens will get security
It will be fine, at least Islamabad is Sober compared to Karachi, it could survive without extra paramilitary forces.. but karachi on other hand is Chaos! We should cut the number of our troops at borders and send them to Karachi too.. (just saying)
And you are saying about protecting ministers and VVIP so for your kind information they are our employees.
Well, Islamabad is surviving on Karachi's expense so does not matter if Karachi seeks some attention back.