Security measures: Bomb disposal experts to train police personnel

Islamabad Police begin focusing on checking at entry, exit and police check points within the city.

ISLAMABAD: To ensure peace and tranquility on the eve of Ashura, Islamabad Police began focusing on checking at entry, exit and police check points within the city.

Bomb disposal squads are regularly visiting the points to brief deployed personnel for effective surveillance. All senior police officials have been assigned responsibilities by the Islamabad General of Police Kaleem Imam to monitor security arrangements in their respective areas while a special patrolling plan has been made to curb criminal activities.

Director Bomb Disposal Squad Major (R) Tabassum  Zareef said that three bomb disposal squads each comprising ten officials visited police pickets and guided the deployed policemen on how to check suspected persons or vehicles, identify explosive material or detect improvised explosive devices.

“Policing is a very tough job, yet at the same time it is a service to mankind. With the same objective, the police are endeavoring to ensure effective security arrangements in the city,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Islamabad Tahir
Alam Khan.

A special strategy, he said, has been recently chalked out to further tighten security and police commandos have been given assignments to perform security and patrolling duties too. Vehicles have been provided to the police commandos for patrolling in sensitive areas during Muharram and various sectors including G-6, G-9, I-9, I-10, Tarlai, Shah Allah Dita, Bari Imam (Nurpur Shahan) and other sensitive areas.

Meanwhile, DIG (Operations) Bani Ameen said that lady commandos and plainclothes personnel have also been deployed around public places and sensitive areas. He said the Quick Response Unit has been constituted to immediately respond in case of any emergency and ensure assistance to citizens.

IGP Islamabad Syed Kaleem Imam also ordered police squads escorting the IGP, DIGs and SSPs to patrol the city after dropping the officers to their respective offices or homes, while stating that he is trying to improve the present policing system. He said that around 120 terrorists and their handlers have been arrested from Islamabad during the current year.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2010.