Guarding workers: 12,000 policemen to provide security

KARACHI:

As many as 12,000 police personnel, including commandoes, will perform security duties during the anti-polio campaign starting today. Over 400 Rangers personnel will also be part of the security teams.

The anti-polio campaigns, particularly in Karachi, have had a violent history as several health workers as well as police personnel have lost their lives during attacks.

Sindh IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali issued instructions on Sunday for providing comprehensive security cover to health workers and other stakeholders during the campaign.

According to a comprehensive report compiled by Sindh Operations AIG Ghayasuddin Rashidi, around 5,000 police commandoes and personnel from Sindh Reserve Police, Counter-Terrorism Department, Sindh Crime Branch, Anti-Encroachment Cell, Shaheed Benazirabad Elite Police Training School, Razzaqabad, and Police Training College (PTC), Saeedabad, and PTC, Shahdadpur, will perform security duties in addition to the existing force of the Karachi police. “Karachi police have deputed around 7,000 police personnel with 410 mobiles and 240 motorcycles for the anti-polio campaign,” the reported revealed. It added that 240 police commandoes from the Rapid Response Force and 200 commandoes from Special Security Unit have also been placed at the disposal of the Karachi police.

The IG also directed that during the drive, there should be an effective mobile and motorcycle patrolling besides timely intelligence sharing and random routine checking at different point.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th,  2016.