Safety measures: Jamshoro, Hyderabad varsities told to step up security

Sindh University has yet to start a project to fortify its main campus

HYDERABAD:

Universities in Jamshoro and Hyderabad have been asked by law enforcement agencies to adopt an array of security measures in view of the prevalent threats of terrorist attacks on educational institutions.

In Jamshoro, which is home to three major universities, a three-tiered security, comprising private security guards, police and Rangers, has been put in place. An emergency response plan has also been formed by the Pakistan Army.

"Some 500 personnel, including 350 guards and 150 policemen, have been deployed for day and night duty in the three universities," Jamshoro SSP Captain (retd) Tariq Wilayat told The Express Tribune. He said that the police, with the help of the army, will soon start training the private security guards of the universities.

Additionally, the universities have been directed to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at all important locations inside the campus and establish a control room for round-the-clock monitoring of the campuses.

In Hyderabad, Qasimabad and Rural SP Rai Mazhar Iqbal said he has issued security guidelines to Isra and Sindh Agriculture universities. "We will carry out a security audit next week and suggest measures for bolstering security," he said.



The neighbouring Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), Sindh University (SU) and Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) are spread on around 8,000 acres of land in Jamshoro. The MUET and LUMHS are largely covered by boundary walls and seem to have adequate strength of the security guards and CCTV camera systems.

Sindh University

However, the biggest of the three varsities, the SU, has yet to start a project to fortify its main campus. "We have recently held two to three meetings to discuss the construction of the boundary wall, installation of CCTV cameras, check-posts and other measures," SU spokesperson Prof Suresh Makhijani told The Express Tribune.

According to official sources, Rs25 million from the grant provided by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan has been set aside for the wall's construction. An advertisement for the contract will soon be published in newspapers.

A controversy also surrounds the award of contract to a private security company. "A company, which belongs to a relative of vice-chancellor Abida Taherani, has been given the security contract in violation of the tender," alleged an official requesting anonymity.

He claimed that not only the guards from the Empire Security Company have been acquired at a higher rate, they are less equipped and trained as well. "The former company charged a maximum of Rs14,000 per guard for a month but the new company is being paid up to Rs18,000."

According to him, the company was placed third among the security companies shortlisted after a tender last year. "Although a decision against the tender was put in mothballs, the Empire [Security] Company was awarded the contract on ad hoc basis."

Around six dozen guards have been acquired from the company who perform duty at the main campus, employees' colony and hostels, in addition to about 200 guards appointed by the varsity itself. There are two types of guards: those from the private company and the others from SU's own employees appointed on the posts of security guards.

Prof Arfana Mallah, the president of SU Teachers Association and a member of SU syndicate regarded as an aide of vice-chancellor Taherani, said that the contract has been awarded on an 'interim basis'. However, she denied any favouritism was involved in the award. She also refuted that the company is owned by a relative of the vice-chancellor.

The varsity's security incharge, Mohammad Bux Laghari, refused to speak on the matter. Spokesperson Prof Makhijani, expressing a lack of knowledge about the security details, said that Laghari is not authorised to talk to the media.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th,  2016.