Security measures: Nisar orders raising of rapid response unit

Calls for reactivation of National Crisis Management Cell, picket improvements and higher alertness.

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday called for moves to raise a rapid response force of highly trained marksmen possessing technical skills and training to handle a sudden crisis.

The minister, while chairing a high-level meeting here, focused on the lessons learnt from the recent incident in Islamabad and specifically emphasised on ground improvements by the Islamabad police. He also underscored the need for out-of-the-box solutions to deal with security issues, according to a press release.

The meeting, held at the interior ministry, was attended by top ministry and police officials and representatives of the Islamabad administration, who discussed last week’s Jinnah Avenue standoff in the capital and the overall security situation.

Nisar also advised the officials to implement an integrated communication system and clearly define the standard operating procedures (SOPs) within a week’s time. He exhorted all the officials to commit themselves to equal application of law at all levels, and to uphold its highest standards in their decision-making.

The interior minister sought improvements in pickets/checkpoints, reduction in working hours from 12 to 6, better discipline and alertness and enhanced level of security.

He has also issued directives for SP-level coordination at sensitive checkpoints, and assured full monetary support and facilitation from concerned quarters on essential technical requirements of the Islamabad Capital Territory Police. Nisar also set them a one-week deadline to specifically point out the technical requirements of the division.

Nisar also called for reactivation of the National Crisis Management Cell on a priority basis, and urged for efficient functioning of the cell with appropriate level of threat identification and assessment response system.

Earlier, the interior minister had approved the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act 2013 briefed by the Islamabad chief commissioner and instructed to forward it to the federal cabinet for formal approval. The new local government act provides for bridging the rural-urban divide, single tier system, based on wards without union councils, a local government commission and effective enforcement of municipal functions.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2013.