SDPI seminar: Experts deconstruct Aug 15 standoff, discuss crisis response mechanisms

Say public is neither sensitised nor educated about anti-state and disgruntled elements.

ISLAMABAD:

The police should be reconfigured along modern lines to combat modern challenges and emergencies in the wake of the Jinnah Avenue incident, experts said on Monday.

They were speaking at a seminar titled, “Armed Man Episode in Islamabad: Lessons Learnt in Crisis Management and Ethical Media Practices” organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

The speakers discussed crisis response mechanisms in Pakistani cities, the capabilities of law enforcement agencies and the live broadcast of the August 15 standoff.

They said the hours-long saga wherein a single gunman engaged the security forces was a failure of leadership and showed non-professionalism on the part of the capital’s police force.

The speakers called for institutional independence and steps for improving the police’s morale.



They also urged the media to consider the ethical ramifications of reporting on crisis situations.

Ejaz Haider, TV anchor and analyst, expressed concerns over the capabilities of law enforcement agencies to deal with urban crisis management.

“Countering terrorism in urban centres is a complex task which requires adopting a modern professional approach, standard operating procedures and regular training,” Haider said.

He added journalists should be sensitised on crisis reporting.

Dr Moeed Yousaf, TV personality and analyst, said the August 15 standoff may further increase the indecisiveness of the police in dealing with future pressure situations. He said the government must draw some lines as the future of counter-terrorism activities would be fought in urban centres.

He criticised the role of politicians during the Jinnah Avenue standoff.

“If this had happened in any Western country, Zamarud Khan would have been behind bars for taking the law into his own hands and risking the lives of others,” Yousaf said.

Former interior secretary Syed Kamal Shah said the first duty of the police should have been to cordon off the area effectively. The police were not able to completely clear the area off from the public and media crews even until the time the gunman was captured.

Shah said the public is neither sensitised nor educated regarding their responsibility to keep an eye on anti-state and disgruntled elements.

“The media has played an immature role,” he said. “Running commentary and live coverage of the movement of our elite and commando force jeopardised the operation.”

Afzal Ali Shigri, former inspector general of police, said it was time for Pakistanis to take a long and hard look at the way stakeholders must respond to emergency situations such as hostage crises or militant attacks.

He added the police have staff trained in tactical and operational skills but do not have the resources to adequately counter incidents such as the Dera Ismail Khan jailbreak.

Shigri said the police department should have a trained public relations wing to handle the media in such situations.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2013.