Enhancing security: Foreigners asked to register with police
The new directions have come two weeks after the kidnapping of a US citizen, Warren Weinstein, in Lahore. “The government is stepping up its efforts to ensure the security of foreigners,” a senior official in the interior ministry told The Express Tribune. “Foreigners have been asked to register themselves with the local police station,” he added.
The official said that the police will provide security to all the foreigners who will get themselves registered. “Special arrangements will only be made for such foreigners, not all,” he said.
Former interior secretary Tasneem Noorani said that it is the home ministry’s responsibility to protect foreigners by providing them trained security guards. “In case of any urgency, sometimes the foreigners are asked to hire the services of security agencies registered with the interior ministry,” he said.
When asked why foreigners do not follow these instructions, he said, “They do not trust the police.”
The interior ministry’s spokesperson said that the government is concerned over the rising incidents of kidnapping. Quoting a report prepared by intelligence agencies which stated that foreigners have been visiting prohibited areas without permission, he said the ministry has issued a circular to all the foreign missions in this regard.
According to ministry statistics, around 3,000 foreigners are currently working in various diplomatic missions. The US is at top of the list with 879 workers. With 211 officials, the UK takes the second spot. Around 5,000 foreign students are also studying in various educational institutions in Pakistan.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said she will check with the departments concerned about fresh calls for enhancing foreigners’ security.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2011.
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Pakistan will always encourage and provide one window facilities for foreign investors
If I am a foreigner visiting Pakistan this is exactly what I would not do: register and give all my contact information to the Police. Police is the first entity which should not know your whereabouts lest they use this information to get you kidnapped and share the ransom. Pakistani society will soon, if they have not yet, realized that the social and political infrasturcture is broken down in Pakistan to the level that it is bordering on being a failed state. The role of the Police is not one of protectors; they are equal partners in crime. The Police checkposts setup at major intersections in major cities are centers of extortion and theivery.
If Pakistani citizens don't trust the police -- why should foreigners?
Classic Pakistan reactionary governing. Foreigners have no reason to trust or rely on Pakistani security agencies. Instead of focusing on eliminating the real problem -- terrorism and lawlessness -- the focus is shifted to putting further demands on the "foreigners". Last I knew, most kidnappings in Pakistan are of Pakistanis!
It's just like the NOC debacle. Instead of all out war on terrorist outfits, the solution is to restrict the movements of the "foreigners". But obviously that hasn't stopped the Pakistanis blowing up fellow Pakistanis all over the country!