The law enforcers deemed as more vulnerable
In the wake of the recent terrorist acts on law enforcement agencies, a secret organisation visited various police departments in Rawalpindi division to review the security situation of police officials.
Sources said, the organisation submitted a detailed report to the higher authorities which pointed out serious flaws in the security measures being taken at regional and city police officers’ offices, houses, Police Lines, Police Training School Rawat, Punjab Constabulary and Police Training College Sihala.
The report pointed out the faults in the security measures being taken at the Additional Inspector General’s office and other divisions of law enforcement agencies.
According to sources, the reports stated that there are six closed circuits TV (CCTV) cameras installed in Rawalpindi’s regional police office and all of them are out of order. Similarly, no measures have been taken for the securing the parking lot there.
Though the City Police Officer’s (CPO) office has six security compartments, there is no walk-through gate over there. Also, there is a canteen inside the building, next to the terrorism court, through which anyone can easily enter the building.
The report says Police Lines Rawalpindi can easily be targeted through the roof of the 3rd-floor, which houses the Excise Department.
Similarly, the report highlighted shortcomings in the security measures which had been at the Police Training School and Punjab Constabulary Battalion 2. The boundary wall of the centre does not exist and no walk-through gate has been installed there.
The college wall had holes in it and the watch tower between Christian Colony and Commandant House is also incomplete.
With reference to College Campus No 2, the report said that there is no wall between the Principal’s House and the colony gate.
The naala (drainage canal) flowing between Gate Number 5 and 6 has been temporarily blocked by wires and has no search lights to monitor the area.
Talking about the issues raised in the report, a police official, Captain (retd) Zubair Ahmed, said that all necessary measures were being taken in Rawalpindi to improve the security arrangements at the police offices and training colleges. He said that CPO Rawalpindi had visited the Police Lines and restrictions had also been imposed for restricting the entry without identification.
Moreover, he said that police check posts were being set up on both sides of the railway line and deployment of security guards in the building was being increased.
He admitted that some of the CCTV cameras were not working. However, they were being repaired and will soon be functioning.
With reference to Sihala College Deputy Commandant Dr Ghulam Rasool Zahid said, he was aware that the digital walk-through gates were not installed but he said that search lights and metal detectors were present. He said new batteries have been installed in the metal detectors and boundary walls have been built again to secure the premises. Security guards and patrol officers have also been assigned to different parts of the college.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2011.
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