Rao Dilshad Hussain

The role of police has changed in recent years. It is now not just to maintain law and order but also to counter the menace of terrorism. The police force is gearing up for its new duties but a lot more needs to be done.

Police have to stop suicide bombers and provide maximum security to the general public. But one should not forget that a suicide bomber is bent upon giving his life. There is not much that can threaten him. Steps can be taken to ensure that the losses are minimised.

Despite having latest security gadgets and a lot of resources, Israel could not stop terrorist activities. At times police does get prior information about the possibility of suicide attack. But then it is always difficult to assess the modus operandi of the suicide bomber or as to exactly where he will attack. Police always strive to provide 100 per cent security services to the religious and political processions.

Police always draws strict security plans to ensure peace on special religious occasions like Eid Milad-un-Nabi, 10th of Muharram-ul-Harram and Hazrat Ali?s Martyrdom Day. It was the first day of September when the terrorists attacked the religious procession of Hazrat Ali?s Martyrdom Day near Karbala Gamey Shah. More than 2,000 policemen had been deployed. At that time police had 5 to 6 reserve brigades. Last year 1600 policemen had been deputed for the same procession.

It is very sad that after the blasts people in the religious procession attacked the policemen. They beat the police men. There was urgent need to deploy more policemen to control the situation. But that was not to happen and the whole security system seemed to have gone haywire. The mob rushed towards the Lower Mall Police Station and burnt it. All this could have been avoided had the rapid response unit reached the place in time.

Preliminary investigations showed that there was little lapse on the part of police. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. Police were monitoring everything through roof top snipers-shooters and CCTV cameras while various intelligence agencies were also monitoring through surveillance video cameras. The situation entirely changed after cracker blast. People started beating policemen many of whom were critically injured.

Police does not have resources to install CCTV cameras across the city. Police officials encourage the business community to install CCTV surveillance cameras. Most shopping plazas and bazaars are regularly monitored through these CCTV cameras.

Punjab police have more than 300 sniper-shooters. They are very much effective during the public meetings of VVIP?s like prime minister and chief minister because at that time snipers can easily watch and monitor every one?s movements. Snipers get enough time to take down the attackers. In the case of Gamay Shah incident the area was too congested for the snipers to be any effective. In huge public gatherings it is too difficult to pin point the suspects. Some times with the help of sniper-shooters and surveillance cameras police does catch the suspects. Suicide bombers have been captured before they could launch the attack.

Police does not have the latest security gadgets to counter terrorism including explosive detectors, sniffer dogs and explosive scanners. Given these equipment police would be in a better position to counter terrorism. Punjab police has developed its own units to counter terrorism. It would be better if these units are properly equipped with the latest gadgets. The war on terror can also be won with good policing. It is not the fight of a tank and a man. It is a man to man approach that we should be taking.

Pakistani economy has lost billions of rupees in damages due to terrorism. The government has not been able to draw a proper strategy to counter terrorism. It is high time the government take decision and ban public rallies and processions. This step alone would save many lives and deter the terrorists from trying to create rifts in our society. Parliament needs to play a more constructive role. All the stake holders should be taken on board and political solutions should be sought. All political and religious groups need to be brought together at one platform in or outside the parliament to ensure one stand against terrorism. Otherwise the heavy price we are paying for terrorism will continue to mount.