Preparedness: Capital’s authorities conduct mock exercise

Emergency-readiness test involved entry of two terrorists at the Convention Centre.

ISLAMABAD: The capital’s law enforcement forces performed a mock exercise at the Convention Centre on Sunday to test their emergency-readiness.

Senior officials, including of the Bomb Disposal Squad, police commandoes, Rescue 15, Operation Division, Logistic Division, Traffic Division, Capital Development Authority’s Fire Brigade and ambulances participated in the rehearsal.

The rehearsal was based on the hypothetical scenario that two terrorists entered the Convention Centre.



According to the police, senior officers including Inspector General of Police Sikandar Hayat, Assistant Inspector General Operations Sultan Azam Taimuri, Senior Superintendent Police Operations Muhammad Rizwan, Superintendent Police (SP) Investigation Muhammad Ilyas, SP City Mustansar Feroz and SP Saddar Jamil Hashmi, all Assistant Superintendents of Police, Station House Officers, Police Commandoes and other wings of the Islamabad Police reached the spot within seven minutes.

All the different police wings reached the spot and took their positions within the approach on time. A media corner was established on the spot to give the police version to the press.

During the rehearsal, an escape call for two people in a suspected vehicle was given.

Police officers were not aware that it was a fake call and they conducted strict checking on all entry and exit points.



After the rehearsal, SSP Muhammad Rizwan in a briefing said such rehearsals are essential for preparing for emergency situations and to ensure security in the federal capital.

On August 15 this year, a gunman, Sikandar, held his own family hostage in Blue Area amid a stand-off with the police that went on for five hours and became an embarrassment for authorities.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2013.