High alert: Police pickets resurface on roads

Police presence increased, security beefed; nearly 250 suspects nabbed in six days.

ISLAMABAD:

Just when road obstructions started easing up, they were suddenly enhanced. From less than routine, police presence in the city has almost doubled over the past few days, particularly during night time.

According to senior police officers, the enhanced security measures have been taken due to threats to government installations and five-star hotels from a group of terrorists.

“With the North Waziristan operation on the government’s cards, we have to be extra vigilant,” said a police officer, adding that Islamabad, being the nearest city, can become the first victim of any fallout. However, some officers said this was a high command’s “tactic” to keep the police alert and improve their performance.

Sources said over two dozen new pickets have been established across the city, especially in the peripheral areas and outer cordon. Three months back, the entry and exit checkpoints were reduced from over hundred to just over 50.

“The police officials deployed at the checkpoints have been instructed to thoroughly check every vehicle,” said a police officer.

In addition, the city police have arrested nearly 250 suspects during night patrol and searches during the past six days. Most of them are people who failed to prove their identity or their purpose of stay in Islamabad.

“They were Afghan nationals from the slums and some outsiders residing in inns and hotels. Such elements are usually involved in criminal activities,” said a police officer who took part in search operations.

He said the administrations of hotels have also been asked to provide identity record of people staying with them.

According to the official, a particular hotel at a sensitive location in the Red Zone was named in the threats intercepted by intelligence agencies. The Secretariat police then visited two major hotels in the Red Zone and inspected the security arrangements there. The managements of these hotels were also asked to enhance security measures, said another official.

However, he said the threat was not of any specific nature. The enhanced police presence, he said, was on the directions of the senior superintendent, who made re-deployments and wanted to see the police in action.

“In a way, it is good because it makes the police more agile,” said the officer. However, he wasn’t sure if the strategy is working to fight street crime.

“Picketing is never a good idea to tackle street crime, though it is more convenient for the police,” he added. He suggested enhanced patrolling instead.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2012.