VIP security

In Karachi, being mugged, kidnapping for ransom, and burglaries at home, among others, are not uncommon.

A recent report in this paper revealed that there is about one policeman for approximately every 2,000 residents in Karachi. This presents a troubling scenario in a city, which has seen a considerable amount of violence over the past two decades, with the post 9/11 challenges just adding on to the ethnic violence and rampant street crime. Being mugged at red lights, kidnapping for ransom, and burglaries at home, among others, are not uncommon.

Add to that, with top al Qaeda and Taliban leaders being captured from the city, there are growing fears of a spreading influence of their ideology and possible consequences for law and order.

What adds to the disproportionate figure is the news that at least 5,000 police personnel — excluding the paramilitary forces that contribute an additional manpower of 2,000 — are deployed for VIP security.

It is common enough to see, outside the homes of these very important people, a group of policemen sipping tea on lawn chairs or talking among themselves. We are also told that some journalist are also enjoying this facility at tax payer expense. While it is true that VIPs are often victims of targeted violence, it also holds true that the common man is time and again subject to criminal acts, and each citizen of the country, VIP or not, is entitled to the protection of the police.

The report also quoted an officer as clarifying that technically, if proper procedures are followed, the VIPs must pay at least a part of the assigned officers’ pay.

One solution then, for there is no denying that VIP persons are often targeted, is to ensure that such payments are made. Moreover a system must be set in place clearly specifying which VIPs are entitled to protection as well as the number of security personnel which can be assigned to them and this must be strictly implemented. VIPs should be made to hire private personnel, carefully screened by the police. They must pay for the privilege of being protected.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2011.