Security audit of federal capital’s hotels sought

Police working on devising new SOPs for security of establishments

ISLAMABAD: Days after gunmen tried to storm a private hotel in the southwestern coastal city of Gwadar leaving five dead and a slew of terror attacks across the country, police in the federal capital have decided to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure effective security of hotels.

A security audit of the arrangements already made at hotels in the federal capital will also be undertaken.

This was decided during a special meeting convened at the Rescue 15 office on Monday to review the existing security arrangements. The meeting was chaired by Islamabad Police Operations-DIG Waqaruddin Syed and also attended by Investigations SP Dr Mustafa Tanveer, Industrial Area SP Aamir Khan Niazi, City SP Sayed Aziz, Saddar SP Malik Naeem Iqbal, Rural SP Muhammad Omer Khan and administrative representatives of well-reputed hotels of the city.

DIG Syed said that all hotels will have to conduct a complete security audit while the standard operating procedure (SOP) will be devised to ensure all relevant security measures are taken.

He further urged hotel administrations to remain in close contact with SP, SDPOs and SHOs of their respective areas and to appoint focal people in this regard. He suggested that security guards from well-reputed companies should be hired and these guards should be properly trained about the use of weapons.

Moreover, he suggested that closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras should be installed and a complete archive of their recordings must be maintained.

Further, the DIG said that security staff deployed at hotels should be briefed about how to comprehensively check visitors using metal detectors at the entry points of hotels.

Given the high temperatures this Ramazan, he suggested that only those security staff who are in good health should be assigned security-related duties and that these  personnel to be deputed at proper places from where they can take action in case of any untoward situation.

Meanwhile, all police officials were directed to ensure effective patrolling in their respective areas and to continue checking hotels, motels and inns.

He asked the hotel administration to record of visitors on a continuous basis and maintain vigilance of suspicious travellers. In case any suspicious activity is noticed, the police must be informed immediately, he stressed.

The hotel officials informed the DIG about their security issues which Syed assured to resolve immediately.

Earlier, the IGP reviewed the law and order situation of the city and asked all police officials to take effective measures to curb crime.

He asked to put more effort into those areas where the crime rate was comparatively high and conduct search operations there.

He directed to senior officials to have `Sehri and Iftari' with those cops who are performing their duties at police pickets and brief them about effective security steps. Moreover, he said that most criminals use motorbikes to commit crimes, hence all bikes driven without documents should be impounded.

Wife assaulted by husband

A man allegedly assaulted his wife when she forbid him from indulging in illicit businesses.

Zameera Afzal told the Waris Khan police that she had married Arshad eight years ago and the couple had three children, including a daughter and two sons with the eldest just seven-years-old.

The two lived in the New Amarpura area while the suspect ran a furniture business. However, she said that her husband got involved in dealing drugs and illegal weapons.

A few days ago, she quarrelled with her husband, urging him to give up the illicit business and to honestly run his furniture business. At this, Arshad allegedly shot at her, injuring her. However, for the sake of their children, she chose to remain quiet and did not inform anyone.

Following that incident, Zameera said that the suspect briefly paused his illegitimate businesses but then resumed it a few days ago leading to another series of quarrels between the two.

She added that while quarrelling the other day, Arshad smashed her head with the butt of a gun and then put the gun to her head but her eldest son intervened in the nick of time and Arshad fired into the ceiling.

Using the opportunity, Zameera said she started screaming for help after which the suspect assaulted the victim, tearing her clothes before firing into the ceiling again. Later, Arshad locked his children and his wife inside the house and left.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM SALEH MUGHAL IN RAWALPINDI 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2019.