Practice exercise: Mock terror attack drill held

Tested preparedness level, Army, police security forces take part in manoeuvres

ISLAMABAD: Soldiers scrambled to take positions as police controlled public and transport to make way for ambulance to move bodies and injured following a terrorist attack in Islamabad.

This was the scene of an emergency coordination exercise held on Thursday at an under construction building in Sector G-7.

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) was designated to deploy ambulances, doctors and paramedics to treat injured people in the event of a bomb blast or any other major mishap.

Army, Rangers, Islamabad police, Bomb Disposal Squad, police commandos, Rescue 15, CID, CIA, Special Branch, Traffic Division, CDA fire brigade, National Forensic Science Agency and ambulances participated in the exercise to coordinate in case of a te On the special directives of Inspector General of Islamabad Police (IGP) Sultan Azam Temuri, a fake call was made about the entrance of terrorists in an under-construction building in sector G-5.



Senior police officials including IGP Sultan Azam Temuri, DIG (Operations) Waqar Ahmed Chohan and officials of law enforcement agencies reached on the spot and started implementation on the rescue plan.

As per SOP, a media corner was set up and DIG (Operations) gave a detailed briefing to the media men.

Police officers were not aware that the call was fake and it was just for rehearsal purpose.

After rehearsal, DIG (Operations) in a briefing said such a rehearsal was essential to prepare for emergency situation and to ensure security in the federal capital. He appreciated all the wings approach time, adding Police commandos performed well. IG Temuri appreciated the Islamabad police and other officers to reach the spot within approach time and said flaws in the plan should be overcome.

IG Temuri coordinated with Pims Executive Director Dr Amjad Mehmood and director emergency.



Emergency beds were vacated and security staff cleared transport blockage .Emergency ambulances went to the place where emergency was suspected.

Doctors, nurses, paramedical staff were put on high alert. Director emergency checked medicines, operation theatres were equipped in time. Surgeons and physicians came on time in emergency to check the severely injured patients and to transfer large number of dead bodies if required.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2018.