Sit-ins’ aftermath: Capital to get anti-riot force

City witnesses over 1,000 protest demonstrations, processions annually

ISLAMABAD:

After last year’s near paralysing protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek in the city, and owing to shortage of available police personnel, the government has decided to establish a special force to counter possible riot-like situations in the federal capital.

The existing strength of the capital police is over 10,000. However, just over 3,000 personnel are practically in the field as the remaining are deputed with judges, ministers and other VIPs. Some are also performing their duties at the Police Lines, according to official documents.



Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Mushtaq Ahmed said in order to counter possible riot situations arising out of sit-ins and processions, the Ministry of Interior has decided to establish an anti-riot force (ARF).

As per the PC-1 of the project, over 1,000 protests are staged and processions taken out in the capital every year.

The document, available with The Express Tribune, states that the available police force cannot handle riot situations due to its various other responsibilities.

The project was supposed to start at the beginning of this year and be complete by next June depending on the availability of funds but it has apparently been delayed.

“The PC-1 has been sent to the ministry and after that it will be forwarded to the Planning Commission for final approval,” explained Ahmed.

Sharing details, Ahmed said the project would cost Rs1.61 billion and 2,000 officers would be inducted in the force.

Best of the best?

The planned force will come under the Islamabad Police and an ‘ARF Centre’ will be established at the Police Lines.

The force will be equipped with tear-gas guns, 12-bore pistols, rubber bullets, water cannons, wireless sets, etc.

The training component will also include martial art training for which at least 40 martial arts trainers will be used, said the document, which also proposes that the ARF Centre include an open-air basic gymnasium.

Another senior official of the district administration said once the project was approved, a physical or financial delay would have a negative impact. He said the addition of the force would improve the law and order situation in the city and should thus not be delayed.

A senior official of the ministry said the idea was floated by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who believed the existing strength of the capital police was inadequate to meet the city’s policing needs.

A police official said the project would be completed within months after release of funds.

Security experts believe that after the establishment of the ARF, police officers would be able to focus on fighting crime. Three new police stations which were recently established in the city have yet to formally start functioning owing to various problems.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2015.