Show me the money: Chitral police puts its foot down over payment for its services

DPO says security will not be provided to organisations that do not pay for it.

CHITRAL: The police will not provide security to any private organisations, including educational institutes, if they will not pay the department for its services, said Chitral DPO Abbas Majeed Marwat on Friday.

He was addressing a meeting in his office regarding the security of privately-run organisations. Chitral MPA Fouzia Bibi, officials of Golain Hydel Project, security consultant Colonel (retd) Sardar Muhammad Khan, Chitral Airport Manager Waqas Khan and the principal of Langlands School and College participated in the meeting.

Marwat said that on the directives of the provincial government, the district police has been providing security to private educational institutes and other organisations, but these establishments are bound to pay a fee to the police department for its services. According to Marwat, organisations that need security are required to sign an agreement with the police.

“The National Bank of Pakistan is the only department which is currently paying a fee to the police and all other departments should follow suit,” said the DPO.

He added the provincial government has decided to recruit 6,000 ex-servicemen as security guards to fulfil the security needs of all organisations that request for it.

Officials of the Golen Hydel Project told Marwat the Water and Power Development Authority is running several projects with the help of foreign loans and it will take time for it to get donors to agree to pay the additional security costs.

“Providing security to mega projects in Chitral is our responsibility,” said MPA Fouzia. Similarly, Chitral Airport Manager Waqas Khan said PIA is already suffering financial hardships and cannot afford any additional expenses. However, he assured the DPO he will let his seniors know of the police department’s request.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2015.