Going techie: Electronic monitoring for sensitive govt installations

IGP Durrani says property owners need to submit details of tenants with police.

PESHAWAR: The government has decided to install an Access Control System at Peshawar High Court, Central Jail Peshawar, the provincial assembly building, the Supreme Court registry building, Judicial Complex and Civil Secretariat in order to protect them from terrorist attacks.

The Access Control System comprises close-circuit television cameras and a biometric system. The decision was taken on Friday after IGP Nasir Khan Durrani sent a summary to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, recommending steps be taken to protect vulnerable government buildings.

Meanwhile, during another meeting at the Central Police Office (CPO), IGP Durrani stressed on the police force to create awareness among landlords to share tenant details with law enforcement.

“Police should create awareness among people and no action should be taken against the owners without first issuing warning letters to them,” said the IGP at the meeting.

Under the Building Security Ordinance, 2014, it is necessary for owners of rented houses to provide details about tenants at local police stations. Over the past few weeks, forms have been distributed among property owners but a majority of them were unable to submit their replies by the February 6 deadline.

Most people, however, complained that police officials did not distribute the forms at all localities and said expecting every owner to submit a reply which was unjust.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2014.