Murree gets baton-wielding force

Civil Defence volunteers to patrol the streets of the hill station, tackle violent incidents

RAWALPINDI: With snow blanketing the hill station of Murree, it is attracting a large number of domestic tourists, many of whom would arguably set sights on and feel what snow is for the first time in their lives.

However, with the hill station gaining a repute for being overcrowded and frequent fistfights between local hotel staff and tourists, the Rawalpindi Civil Defense has decided to take matters into its own hands.

The civil defence has decided to raise a squad of volunteers in Murre to tackle the violence between visitors and locals.

The force will consist of 13 volunteers who are residents of the hill station. These volunteers will be trained by civil defence authority.

Armed with batons, they have been deployed in the ongoing snow season to manage tourists.

Civil Defence District Officer Talib Hussain told The Express Tribune that the force will work in shifts from 9am until midnight.

Moreover, the volunteers will patrol across the markets built along the famous Mall Road and will assist the visitors coming from different cities.

Hussain added that since Murree is a hill station, tourists are the main source of economy for the town. Hence, their protection is of top priority.

He added that should they feel the need, the number of volunteers deployed could be increased.

‘Boycott’ campaign takes toll on Murree tourism

When asked whether the volunteers will share any similarities with the purposeful tourist police raised in neighbouring Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) tourist-attracting districts of Naran and Kaghan, Hussain said that they were quite different primarily since the officers part of the tourist police are in fact police officers while this squad is comprised of volunteers who only have civil defence training.

He explained that the volunteers will act as an extra layer of security in the hill station in addition to the traffic wardens and regular police are will continue their patrol in the markets and at other recreational spots. Though not police officers, the volunteers can be recognized from the civil defence uniforms which they will be obligated wear during their patrols.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi chief commissioner has expressed his satisfaction on the security arrangements undertaken in the hill station during the snow season, noting that the number of incidents reported has witnessed a decline.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Raja Khurram Zaman said that the security issue in Murree was quite serious since traders had formed their own teams which include members from hotel and restaurant administration.

Reiterating his party’s policy to boost tourism as a key economic and jobs generator, he categorically stated that any incidents of violence with visitors will not be tolerated. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2019.