Combating terrorism: Govt terms surveillance the ‘weakest area of police’

Seeks formation of a proper crisis management plan.

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) home ministry has expressed concerns over the ineffectiveness of the police department’s surveillance, terming it “one of the weakest areas.”

According to a notification issued by the Home and Tribal Affairs Department on Wednesday, the urgency of the situation demands a sound system of surveillance be activated so offenders are promptly brought to justice. It would be the “key to success”, it added.

The notification maintained all seven divisional commissioners, regional police officers and intelligence agencies should make a proper crisis management plan (CMP).

The CMP must contain elements such as terrorist perception, captivity and modus operandi of the enemy, state of preparedness, mitigation, involvement and awareness of community, review of previous cases, keeping a check on hotels and starting a crackdown against terrorists who have already been declared offenders.



The notification also stated commissioners, political agents and intelligence agencies in the tribal areas and along the Pak-Afghan border have a special responsibility of gathering intelligence regarding planning and execution of terror acts in the region.

Officials claimed intelligence information had allowed them to devise such plans in the past, prior to terror attacks.

“After two or three days, the situation relaxes again. That should not happen in the future,” said one official, adding: “Militants change their plan whereas the police remain asleep. This results in activities of terrorism.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2013.