The almost month-long protests by the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have forced over 40,000 security personnel to brace tough conditions and perform duties for 12 hours a day.
Hassan Jan, a Frontier Constabulary (FC) official, came all the way from Karak on August 20 and claims it is the toughest duty he has performed to date.
Jan is not alone facing such hardship as thousands of other personnel of the Punjab Police, FC, Pakistan Rangers and Islamabad Police are also sharing the burden of duty.
On three sides of Parliament House and the Pakistan Secretariat, these officials are seen standing, sitting, sleeping, playing cards, listening to radio, making calls and doing hundreds of other activities during duty hours.
Most of over 400 security personnel deployed near the entry gate of the secretariat are mostly seen resting at a makeshift extension.
“This is how we sleep, especially during the two-hour duty at nights which are more often sleepless,” said Imran Sakhawat, an official of the Punjab Police from Sargodha.
Most of the police officials use their protective shields and bulletproof jackets as their beds while taking a nap or lying on the ground.
A Punjab Police official added that 12 hour duties are not tough but there should be refreshing and comfortable rest in between. “But there is no such thing,” he said.
Another group of policemen sitting outside the main entrance of Margalla Road was playing cards. While others colleagues were chatting and jostling each other and cracking jokes, a policeman sitting under a tree by himself said “Now we have found ways to get over the idle duty so we are acquainted with this environment.”
Abdullah Kundi, an FC official from DI Khan, said he is satisfied with the food now as a makeshift pakora and jalebi shop has been set-up for them near the secretariat mosque.
Unsatisfied with school accommodations
Moreover, the security personnel have termed the facilities unsatisfactory in the 27 schools and colleges that presently serve as their lodges.
Saleh Muhammad, an FC official from Hangu, said they were residing in a school in Sector G-6 but for around 1,000 officials only 10 toilets were made available.
“There are no places to take a bath so everybody has to bathe in the open while sleeping conditions in the classrooms are also cramped,” he added.
The army officials deployed to protect the buildings in the Red Zone are living in several buildings of the assembly hall, secretariat and verandahs of various ministries with one official guarding them day and night.
According to an official of the Ministry of Interior, around 40,000 security officials have been called to guard the capital and the sit-ins.
“They could not manage proper facilities for such a high number of officials but are trying their best to meet their basic demands,” he said, on the condition of anonymity.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2014.
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Ahsan Iqbal for a change try to speak some truth. Your arithmetic is up the creek.
@Faisal
Thora zayda nahee hogaya
Shows to tell that civilians protesting can run the country better without state machinery than the government itself. Protestors have managed to prop up tents, open schools, have art classes, chai restaurants, tent hotels, dispensaries, sound system, etc. etc... give this country to them and see how they are able to run the remaining of this country better with far less resources.