Airport Security Force personnel stand guard at Karachi airport. PHOTO: AFP
It didn’t matter if the 11 Airport Security Force (ASF) officials killed last Sunday in an attack on Jinnah International Airport were wearing bulletproof vests, their colleagues say. “The bulletproof jackets we are provided with are useless,” says one rank officer who wished to remain anonymous. “Even a needle could pass through these jackets.”
Autopsies and medical examinations performed at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where the deceased and injured were brought confirmed the officer’s claim: a majority of the ASF victims received bullets to their upper torso. “We did not see any bulletproof jackets when the ASF victims were brought to the hospital,” one of the medico-legal officers Dr Raja Memon told The Express Tribune. “They were just wearing their ASF uniforms.”
As their colleagues receive treatment for injuries sustained in the attack, members of the ASF have voiced their frustration with the level of security provided to them. “We are assigned here to protect the airport but unfortunately, there are no arrangements for our own security or safety,” said an ASF officer. At any given time, five ASF companies, with 68 personnel each, are deputed for the Karachi airport’s operational security. “There is a limited quota for bulletproof jackets and only a few personnel are provided with the jackets,” explains a commando. “A majority of us are compelled to perform our duties while putting our lives at risk.”
“We do not have the means necessary to provide bulletproof jackets to all personnel,” the ASF spokesperson admitted. “We provide jackets to those deployed at sensitive points. Those who lost their lives in the attack were not deployed at sensitive points.” He denied that the vests were ‘substandard’, however, saying the ASF maintains the high quality of protective gear such as bulletproof jackets.
The ASF officials complain that while no measures for their security were taken before or after the attack, financial issues or staff shortages have also remained unresolved. “You can see that most of our men hitch a ride home after work because they don’t have the means to own their own transport,” said a constable. “Most of the time, we have to pull back-to-back shifts because of which we are unable to perform our duties with alertness.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2014.
COMMENTS (10)
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Maybe it's my computer monitor but those guys are wearing blue camo which is like wearing a sign "shoot me".
First TRAIN these so called policemen, look at them... unshaven, untrained, illiterate, they are just dummy police, No training, no education, why? If Pak soldiers can be well groomed and well disciplined, then why cant the police be like them....they are apathetic, and their attitude says they are not interested in their job, so first train them, then arm them.
Massive budget! Ali do you even give tax? No they are under Aviation division not under Army.
And yet the GoP just bought 2 bullet proof limos for USD2 million, a rip off price, if you ask me. These vehicles are available for around 3-400 thousand each. But we cannot afford bullet proof vests for security forces.
I pity ASF - it is such a shame for GoP and embaressment for tax payers and citizens
I thought ASF was run by military men. Where is the military's massive budget going then?
Rehman Malik is a billionaire
NAB must initiate a probe that why substandard bullet proof jackets were purchased and book those responsible for it.
Why are we not surprised? if the gear was not sub-standard and useless, it would go against the Pakistani character. With all the local, bilateral, and multilateral borrowing and agreements of co-operation in various fields, the ASF is trailing behind. What about local capacity to manufacture? Since, we have an assortment of steel and apparel manufacturers in the country, why not utilize them? Salams