Borrowed defence: K-P to procure arms via loans to secure prisons

Officials say waiting for ADP funds will only increase risk of breaches.

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has yet to provide foolproof security at provincial prisons in the wake of the July 29 jailbreak in DI Khan and threats from militants to several other jails. A lack of funds seems to be the primary reason behind the continuing lapse.

Limited finance is why the prison department has still not improved jail security, officials shared with The Express Tribune. The dilemma made all the more obvious by the provincial interior ministry directives to the Provincial Police Officer (PPO) to procure arms and ammunition “immediately”, on the back of loans.

The instructions were given when the K-P Home and Tribal Affairs Department realised waiting for the Annual Development Programme (ADP) funds would only further delay the arms procurement, said officials from the home department wishing to remain anonymous. The department would not want to take such a risk in the face of serious threats to prison security and overarching issues in law and order in the province, they added.

Security was heightened just after the DI Khan prison incident. However, a shortage of arms and ammunition remains the main hurdle in strengthening defence, those familiar with the matter added. And it needs to be overcome to make sure the unfortunate incident is not repeated in future. The July 29 security meltdown took place despite enhancing prison protective measures after the Bannu jail breach in 2012.

“We don’t want any another incident as we have been receiving agencies’ reports on possible attacks on prisons,” said an official. The provincial interior ministry will not wait for ADP, he added.

When contacted, K-P Home and Tribal Affairs Department Spokesperson Qamar Ali confirmed the department has written to the PPO to procure the necessary arms and ammunition immediately.

The PPO has been directed to ensure the required items are supplied immediately so prisons in K-P can be secured. Ali also confirmed all district police officers have been kept abreast of these developments.

While the DI Khan Central Jail breach is still being investigated, the government has beefed up security at all provincial prisons. The army was deployed at Central Prison Peshawar soon after.

At least 243 prisoners escaped on July 29 when militants stormed the jail with mortars and grenades. Twelve people including policemen were killed and many more were injured.

In April 2012, nearly 400 prisoners, including Adnan Rashid who was allegedly involved in a plot to assassinate former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, were freed when militants attacked the central jail in Bannu.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2013.