Aziz asked to equip police with explosive detectors
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Oct 29: The interior ministry has recommended to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to equip police and other law- enforcement agencies with explosive detectors to curb the incidents of bomb blasts in the country
, a security expert told Dawn on Friday.
Commenting on the fresh blast in a local five-star hotel on Thursday night, the expert said the incident could have been averted, if the security personnel manning the entrance to the hotel were provided with explosive detectors.
He said proposals for installation of security cameras at sensitive locations in Islamabad, revamping of police and provision of modern sophisticated equipment to the security personnel had already been sent to the government but it was yet to move in this regard.
"If the authorities concerned had installed security cameras under an agreement made with a Chinese firm, the blast in the hotel could have been avoided," he said.
The agreement on installation of security cameras had been signed three months ago between the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and a Chinese firm but the interior ministry had so far failed to implement it.
Similarly, the government had also been requested to earmark required funds of Rs3 billion for revamping of the capital police but the finance ministry was reluctant to release the funds.
The expert said the government had also been suggested to purchase four or five gates which could be installed at the entrance points of Islamabad to check carrying of explosive materials and arms.
"The cost of one gate is stated to be $0.8 million and thus the purchase of five gates could cost $4 million. Similarly, the cost of explosive detectors ranges between $50,000 to $0.2 million. By spending this amount, a fool-proof security cover could be ensured in Islamabad," he said.
He said no government and private security agency in the country had ever provided any explosive detector to the security personnel thus providing an open field to the terrorists to attack anywhere they wanted.
