News
Monday, April 16, 2012
‘Rs 220m spent monthly on security of 600 VIPs’By Atif Raza
KARACHI: Despite having serious life threats in Sindh, especially in Karachi pertaining to high street crimes, target killings, extortion, kidnapping and other terrorist activities, the Sindh government instead of increasing the number of law enforcers, which is presently 1:60 ratio in the province, is extravagantly spending Rs 220 million monthly for the security of 600 prominent personalities.According to home department sources, the Sindh government is splurging Rs 220 million monthly for the security of some 600 media magnets, including politicians, bureaucrats and other very important personalities (VIPs). However, a single personnel is available for the security of 6,000 persons, despite having four security zones, foreign security cell and Mohafiz force.
Around 1,310 law enforcers were deployed in special security unit of Sindh Police, including an additional deputy inspector general (ADIG), three superintendents of police (SPs), 15 inspectors, 76 sub-inspectors (SIs), 191 assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs), 104 head constables and 920 constables.
Some 1,710 policemen were posted in security zone II, including an ADIG, one deputy superintendent police (DSP), seven inspectors, 12 SIs, 100 ASIs, 53 head constables and 1,520 constables.
Sources said in (VIP) security zone III, some 1,675 policemen were present, including an ADIG, one DSP, six inspectors, 12 SIs, 100 ASIs, 53 head constables and 1,501 constables while foreign security cell has 607 policemen, including an ADIG, two DSPs, three inspectors, 11 SIs, 38 ASIs, 56 head constables and 496 constables.
Mohafiz force consists of 611 policemen, including an ADIG, one DSP, 13 inspectors, 44 SIs, 34 ASIs, 192 head constables and 396 constables.
Source said the population of Sindh stands at some 50 million, out of which 20 million live in Karachi whereas only 32,000 policemen were deployed that caused to create serious law and order problems.
Needless to mention, during the last 18 days, some 75 persons, including political workers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party, Pakistan People’s Party, Sunni Tehreek and others, were killed while 65 vehicles were torched and scores others injured.
Although several committees were established to avert such incidents in future, none of them has given fruitful results to overcome the deteriorating situation of Karachi.
There is no letup in the vandalism that started after the murders of MQM men on March 28 but the authorities don’t even think of decreasing the number of policemen from the security of high profile personalities and accommodate them in the city.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk