In the line of fire: No protection for the protectors

Karachi's operational police force struggles to combat crime in the absence of bulletproof vests


Faraz Khan January 30, 2015
Karachi's operational police force struggles to combat crime in the absence of bulletproof vests. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: For Karachi Police - the frontline force in combatting crime in the restive city, a major impediment in discharging their duties is the lack of modern equipment. Many a time have the law enforcers decried their outdated machinery which is no match for the sophisticated weaponry of the militants who have made strongholds in the city.

Forget the weapons, Karachi's law enforcement personnel do not even have adequate protective gear to shield themselves in case of attacks. Over 300 personnel have lost their lives since the beginning of the Karachi Operation in September, last year.

Days after the operation commenced, the Sindh government had given the green signal for a Rs5 billion modernisation plan to equip law enforcers with the latest gear. According to the proposal sanctioned by the chief minister, 25,000 bulletproof jackets (12,000 for the Karachi Police), 20,000 bulletproof helmets (10,000 for the Karachi Police), 5,000 protective gloves and 5,000 submachine guns were to be procured over a prescribed period of time.

Though the plan is still victim to inordinate delays and bureaucratic negligence, the Karachi Police did receive around 5,000 bulletproof vests in the first phase. These vests were purchased from a local supplier and manufacturer of ballistic body armour - Zafar Azfar and Company.

"These vests are made of polyethylene and each is worth around Rs48,000," a source in the company told The Express Tribune. "Since July, the company has been waiting for the payment of the vests from the police department but the latter keep making excuses."

The company offers three kinds of bulletproof vests - polyethylene, Kevlar and Kevlar XP. The polyethylene vests cost around Rs48,000 per piece, Kevlar costs Rs50,000 while Kevlar XP costs between Rs55, 000 and Rs60, 000.

Oxygen for the police

Being the frontline force in the fight against militancy in the city, police have been finding it increasingly difficult to defend themselves from attacks in the absence of bulletproof vests. Having lost hundreds of personnel to such attacks, the department finally had enough vests to cater to the needs of the operational force - the ones in the field. Unfortunately, the reality is far from this as a majority of personnel are still deprived of the vests, while others are using the old ones that leave them vulnerable to injury.

For VIPs only

Not just the 5,000 recently-procured vests, the Karachi Police also received 1,000 vests donated by the Sindh government in September, this year. Besides, the department already had 1,500 usable vests available with them. Cumulatively, these vests should have been enough for the operational force whose personnel are most vulnerable to the attacks. Sadly, the operational force has once again been neglected as the majority of the vests have been given to those personnel who are deployed for the security of VIPs.

"All these vests were meant to be for the Karachi operational police but, unfortunately, they were given only a limited number," explained a senior police official, who was visibly frustrated with the outcome. "Most were given to the police engaged in the security of VIPs although these were not for them," he said. "What we can do? We cannot do anything. They (VIPs) are so powerful," he added helplessly.

For his part, the Karachi police chief Additional IG Ghulam Qadir Thebo said that more bulletproof jackets were being purchased for the police force.

Until then, personnel deployed in areas such as the Pirabad Police Station in Orangi Town remain at the mercy of militants' gunfire. The police station has strength of around 150 personnel, but has to make do with only 50 vests at the moment. "We desperately need the jackets - not only while we are on duty but each personnel here needs a jacket even when he is off duty because most of our colleagues have been killed when they were on leave," explained a police official of Pirabad police station. "Currently, we make do by sharing the jackets between the two shifts."

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2015.

COMMENTS (1)

Hassan Khan | 9 years ago | Reply

Really a sad state of affair, Police needs to be empowered & political interference is the root cause of mismanagement. Due to politicians support the right man for the right job is not selected instead a unprofessional & impotent officer is appointed, who the serves his & the guy who brought him. This police can do wonders for the people only & only if politicians stay out and dont make the police their own home security.

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