60% bank guards in Punjab have no security clearance: Report
Some guards involved in robberies linked to banned outfits.
LAHORE:
That the terrorism economy is fuelled by theft, robbery and ransom has been suspected for long. A recent intelligence report, however, lends credence to the theory.
Thirty incidents of bank robberies took place across Punjab over the past 11 months, with dacoits taking away Rs394 million, according to figures from the Punjab police.
In some of these incidents, the bank’s security guards had links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other banned outfits, reveals an intelligence report available with The Express Tribune.
The major loophole, the report highlights, is the lack of security clearance of guards deployed by private security firms at banks.
Digging the problem
During the course of investigation of some cases, it was discovered that most of the security guards involved were residents of tribal areas, and did not have security clearance from the police and home department, said sources familiar with the matter.
The findings not only prompted the intelligence agencies to conduct a survey, but also pay attention to the process of security clearance for guards deployed at banks, sources added.
The purpose of security clearance is not only to minimise incidents of bank robberies, but also to squeeze the source of funding to the TTP and other banned outfits, said Inspector General of Police Punjab Haji Habibur Rehman.
Operatives of banned outfits were found involved in some incidents of robberies, in the guise of security guards, Rehman said.
Field units were subsequently deputed to randomly check bank guards and see if they have received clearance. In the process, 2,060 security guards from 381 security firms posted at 809 banks were checked.
The results were shocking. Only 842 guards had security clearance; the remaining 1,218 guards, or 60% of all guards surveyed, were deployed without a security clearance.
Who is at fault?
Representatives of private security companies said the process of security clearance of guards is extremely lengthy.
Col (retd) ZI Farrukh, former president of Pakistan Securities Services Association (PASSA) Punjab chapter, said a large number of cases relating to security clearance are pending before the special branch of the Punjab police and the home department.
Officials at the home department, however, said there is no backlog of security clearances.
The intelligence report recommends that the State Bank of Pakistan and the interior ministry must be asked to ensure security clearance of guards deployed at banks by law.
Action should be taken against banks that fail to follow the instructions, the report adds.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2012.
That the terrorism economy is fuelled by theft, robbery and ransom has been suspected for long. A recent intelligence report, however, lends credence to the theory.
Thirty incidents of bank robberies took place across Punjab over the past 11 months, with dacoits taking away Rs394 million, according to figures from the Punjab police.
In some of these incidents, the bank’s security guards had links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other banned outfits, reveals an intelligence report available with The Express Tribune.
The major loophole, the report highlights, is the lack of security clearance of guards deployed by private security firms at banks.
Digging the problem
During the course of investigation of some cases, it was discovered that most of the security guards involved were residents of tribal areas, and did not have security clearance from the police and home department, said sources familiar with the matter.
The findings not only prompted the intelligence agencies to conduct a survey, but also pay attention to the process of security clearance for guards deployed at banks, sources added.
The purpose of security clearance is not only to minimise incidents of bank robberies, but also to squeeze the source of funding to the TTP and other banned outfits, said Inspector General of Police Punjab Haji Habibur Rehman.
Operatives of banned outfits were found involved in some incidents of robberies, in the guise of security guards, Rehman said.
Field units were subsequently deputed to randomly check bank guards and see if they have received clearance. In the process, 2,060 security guards from 381 security firms posted at 809 banks were checked.
The results were shocking. Only 842 guards had security clearance; the remaining 1,218 guards, or 60% of all guards surveyed, were deployed without a security clearance.
Who is at fault?
Representatives of private security companies said the process of security clearance of guards is extremely lengthy.
Col (retd) ZI Farrukh, former president of Pakistan Securities Services Association (PASSA) Punjab chapter, said a large number of cases relating to security clearance are pending before the special branch of the Punjab police and the home department.
Officials at the home department, however, said there is no backlog of security clearances.
The intelligence report recommends that the State Bank of Pakistan and the interior ministry must be asked to ensure security clearance of guards deployed at banks by law.
Action should be taken against banks that fail to follow the instructions, the report adds.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2012.