The value of people’s security

Terrorism is an expensive war to fight. Pakistan knows this better than perhaps any other country, be the costs in terms of financial loss or human resource. The former also includes costs for establishing and training multiple security forces to combat terrorism, the most recent of which is the Islamabad Counter-Terrorism Force (CTF). Still in its infancy at only four months old, the CTF is reported to be dissolved soon owing to a lack of interest by officers. The lack of interest, logically, is owed to poor incentives offered to candidates.

Around here, it is beyond our integrity to expect a government or bureaucratic department to operate with the correct intentions to improve the well-being of the citizens they serve. Many officials secure positions for the titles and benefits attached. Although we can aim condescending attitudes towards newly hired CTF officials for transferring out of this important responsibility due to low salaries, a breakdown of the numbers, according to one report, reveals flabbergasting facts. It informs that a special allowance announced by the PM for CTF constables, after drastic cut, would be just Rs2,200 per month. Visibly, this is exploitation of the officials. The Finance Department and the prime minister demonstrate through this decision that they assign no significance to the purpose and institution of the CTF. Nonchalant attitudes towards the well-being of officials who are tasked with protecting common citizens highlight that comments made by politicians following a terrorist attack are mere rhetoric and spoken in a pseudo show of concern for the lives lost. Quite the contrary, the press coverage following such tragedies often shows politicians who are elated at the opportunity to speak to the public.

Islamabad must offer better pay scales for the CTF to remain functional. Embarrassing moves such as deducting Rs5,290 from a small initial allowance of Rs7,490, which falls below the poverty level to begin with, create distractions and renders citizens vulnerable.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2018.

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