Swinging into action: Police emergency? Elite commandos are at your service

The Special Security Unit is taking it upon itself to counter lawlessness in the metropolis

KARACHI:

Made a distress call on the police hotline? Don't be surprised if it is black-clad police commandos armed with modern, sophisticated weapons who respond instead of your regular officers.

The Sindh police's Special Security Unit (SSU), responsible for the security of the prime minister and the president, is set to come to the rescue of ordinary citizens. Established in 2010, the 2,000-strong SSU works as a security force for the country's top leadership. Highly trained and exceptionally disciplined, the officers are equipped with sophisticated weapons to deal with terrorism and other deadly situations.

"A pilot project will be initiated in the next two months, in which the SSU will reach out to the public to help counter lawlessness and targeted killings," explained Security AIG Maqsood Ahmed.



In the first phase of this project, which will kick off in the South Zone, the elite force will respond to complaints made on the Madadgar 15 police emergency number. Once someone complains at 15, the SSU control room team will swing into action and within minutes, the special teams will reach the caller.

The control room aims to have the picture and details of the caller on display, while the positions of the SSU vehicles — 20 of which will be on patrol in South Zone day and night — will also be shown on screens. As soon as the complaint is made, the nearest vehicle will be sent to the caller.

SSU SP Muzzafar Iqbal claimed that the project will soon branch out from South Zone to the entire city. "We will have around 200 vehicles patrolling the metropolis, responding to emergency situations."

The elite force's other plans to engage with the public include establishing 10 police facilitation centres, also referred to as public help centres, across Karachi in order to help the people solve their civil and criminal problems. Meanwhile, a dispute resolution committee will be formed to solve family disputes and other such matters.

"Residents can walk into the facilitation centres, discuss their problems and even register FIRs," asserted Ahmed.

The SSU's long-term plan involves establishing a counter-terrorism university, to deal with a subject that officials claim is not taught in any educational institute in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2015.