Precautionary measures: PIMS moves to deal with terrorist threats

Rapid response force set up comprising retired commandos.

ISLAMABAD:

To deal with a possible backlash from the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan Agency, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) administration has moved to strengthen internal security by hiring 32 retired commandos for a rapid response force.

The step was taken after the Islamabad Police cold shouldered the Pims administration who thrice requested the chief of police to establish a check-post or a sub-police station in the hospital.

From Monday the commandos will join Pims as a rapid response force and will look after its security, said Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University Pims Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof. Javed Akram.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, he said, “If there is a terrorists attack on the hospital, the administration did not have sufficient security in place to deal with the situation.”

Since the military operation started doctors and medical staff feel they are under threat and feel insecure. They asked the Pims administration several times to enhance security, he added.

Every other day the hospital receives high-profile patients like politicians and prisoners due to which doctors and the medical staff feel insecure, the VC stated.

“Private security guards will patrol the hospital in plain clothes and if they find something out of the ordinary they will report to the commandos,” he said. “The hospital has given the force a jeep and three motorbikes and requested arms licences.”

After the deployment of commandos the hospital administration is planning to reduce visiting hours of attendants from 24 hours a day to four hours, two hours in the morning and two in the evening, he said. “Moreover, the majority of entry and exist points at Pims will be closed and only one or two will be open.”

Prof. Akram said they had sent a request to the chief of Islamabad Police to deploy officials at the hospital but he had not heard back from him.

An Islamabad Police official, who wished not to be named, said officials were already deployed at Pims and were on patrolling duty day and night. “It is the responsibility of the Pims administration to strengthen their security and the Islamabad Police will support them whenever needed.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2014.