Funding crisis cripples courts' security

RAWALPINDI:

The construction of the Kachehri Chowk underpass and overhead bridge has left the district courts' security arrangements in disarray, with police pickets, a ladies' search room and a guard room demolished by the project committee and left unreconstructed.

The City Police and district administration have failed to rebuild security pickets and search rooms at both main entrances to the district courts, despite three months having passed. The delay has been attributed to a severe financial crisis and the non-availability of funds.

Police personnel deployed at the entrances have been forced to use small, eight-foot temporary monsoon monitoring tents provided by the Punjab Government for protection against intense heat, humidity and heavy rain.

A damaged walk-through gate stand has also been propped up with wooden supports, while the gates themselves are reportedly non-functional.

The ladies' search facility, which was demolished during the bridge project, has also not been restored. Consequently, female police personnel are compelled to conduct searches of women entering the courts in an open area, compromising privacy and dignity.