Hayatabad police launch awareness campaign

Govt officials, students told how to act during a terror attack

PESHAWAR: With Peshawar facing attacks and threats against its government and educational institutions in the past years, the Hayatabad police have launched a drive to spread awareness about survival and emergency handling during a terrorist attack in the area.

The programme is based on techniques devised by some of the world’s top anti-terrorist officials to tackle any untoward incident for the decision was taken after rising threat alerts from various quarters.

Hayatabad ASP Shoaib told The Express Tribune that some of the top universities, medical colleges, private schools, governmental and non-governmental installations in the city are located in the area.

Owing to the threat of terrorists, ASP Shoaib said he had directed a security audit of these buildings and train inhabitants about emergency handling.

He said that they prepared a short course over the matter and presented it to the administration and employees at these facilities apart from students studying at the educational facilities in the area.

The training consists of three parts. It highlights the weaknesses in the existing security measures discovered during the security audit - mandatory for police to make operational guidelines effective for protection of sensitive and vulnerable establishments and places (SVEP) against terrorist threats.

Secondly, the drive aims to make ordinary people understand their role during any attack. The officials used videos to demonstrate survival techniques prepared by the world’s top anti-terror cops.

The third aspect of the campaign focused on making these places and the people there less vulnerable. They were also given tips such as asking what to do when something goes wrong, paying attention to emergency exits at public places, acting decisively during any situation, leave belongings behind and escape if the opportunity presents itself, finding cover from attackers, putting distance and obstacles between yourself and attackers and to seek out authorities for help.

“It can be dangerous to join big groups nearby and to take public transport,” ASP Shoaib said, as he further advised, “always assume that there’s going to be a secondary device or action.”

He urged people to take advice from police officers or other officials nearby in the event of an attack and to help fellow stranded citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2017.