Security alert: DHA decides to take matter into its own hands

Officials ask govt to grant policing powers to DHA security staff.

KARACHI: Not one to let their area succumb to crime infestation, the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) has asked the government to grant policing powers to its security staff.

With rising incidents of theft within the locality, a formal request has already been sent to the Ministry of Defence as DHA has expressed its helplessness at not having enough powers to curb street crimes without a legal cover.

“Our hands are tied. We don’t have any legal authority to take action,” said Col (ret) Muhammad Amjad, the director of DHA Vigilance, which is made up of 800 retired soldiers.

“This is the time to decide if our vigilance’s role should be limited to implementing bylaws or whether it should include protection of life and property of the residents.”

This proposal was brought up in a recent meeting of senior military and civilian officials. The DHA will now take up the issue with Karachi Commander Lt Gen. Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhry, who is also the president of its executive board.

The civilian administration, however, is against DHA’s interference in matters which according to them, do not fall under the military-run developer’s domain.

“Let me make one thing clear: there can’t be law within a law,” said the Deputy Commissioner South Jamal Mustafa Qazi. “DHA’s vigilance officers already have sufficient authority yet they have failed to control robberies and street crime.”

While acknowledging that the number of mobile phones and vehicle snatching were highest in DHA, Qazi said that the government could not prioritise security in the area. “Security in Defence is as important to me as that in Saddar.”

Price of property in DHA has historically remained high as people perceive it as a safe place for residence and investment. However, in recent months crime has shot up with involvement of criminal gangs.

Tackling crime

Senior police officials agree that number of reported incidents does not reflect the real situation as FIRs are hardly registered and police stations don’t record them to save their reputation.

Qazi says that the police will remain helpless against criminals until the high profile residents of DHA change their ways. “We have seen many cases where influential people have pressurised police into freeing street criminals.”

Unlike the gated societies of Askari and Navy Housing Scheme, DHA has 43 entry and exit points. Deserted streets with pole lights often switched off makes it a haven for criminals. Young men riding motorbikes can easily escape in maze of interlinked streets, according to police officials.

“Manning all the entry and exit points all the time is not possible. We are talking about one street linked to another and then to another,” said Col Amjad.

Five police stations have jurisdiction in DHA with hundreds of listed policemen but just a handful of them are available for patrolling the streets. Many of them are deputed outside the residence of VIPs.

The area around Khayaban-e-Rahat has become a hotbed for criminals these days, said Col Amjad. “We make our presence felt in one area and they start robbing people in some other area.”

In recent weeks, Rangers have started to backup the DHA’s security. “Wherever Rangers get involved in snap checking, the crime rate tends to go down as it did on on Korangi Road.”

DHA officials used to have magisterial powers till year 2000 before the local government system was introduced.

That authority basically monitored that bylaws were followed by the residents but it also provided enough leverage to check law and order, say DHA officials.

The DHA and police have formed a task force which has six mobile vans and 10 bikes for keeping a check on criminals. DHA has also set up a control room to monitor the surveillance cameras which are being installed in all the commercial areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2012.