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| July 25, 2005 | Monday | Jumadi-us-Sani 17, 1426 |
Diplomatic Enclave security check irks people
ISLAMABAD, July 24: The long queues of cars and pedestrians at the entrance of the Diplomatic Enclave due to the painstakingly slow security check in the wake of London bombings have become a bane of those working in the designated commercial area or visiting the enclave for other reasons.
The enclave houses a multinational bank, a national research institute and an oil company’s office and over 300 people work there. A number of people working in these offices told this reporter that they had to stand at the entrance of the enclave in the scorching heat due to the slow security check.
“The short-tempered police officials demand special ID cards, issued by the SSP Diplomatic Protection, without which one cannot enter the enclave,” said a woman worker. She said last year police had issued them car stickers to enter the area, however, this process was abandoned on July 1 and now they had to procure a special entry card.
Another person feared that the long queues of people standing at the entrance could be an easy target of any terrorist activity, as terrorists could easily mix in the gathering. Such long queues could be easy targets for suicide bombers, said a young man, who works in one of the offices located in the enclave.
“For receiving guests, clients and customers, the offices have to send a fax message to the SSP’s office informing the authorities about the name of the persons and the purpose of their visit. Once the fax message is received, an order is relayed to the police check post to allow entry to the persons,” he said.
However, due to lack of coordination among the security personnel, the relaying of orders from the SSP’s office to the security staff takes a lot of time, he said.
Most of the pedestrians, who reach the Diplomatic Enclave after going through the travails of the public transport, have to suffer long delays and outright rejection at the check post, another man said requesting not to be quoted.
“It is quite clear that there is no regard for women and the elderly. This cumbersome entry process has made it almost impossible for the people to visit the offices located in the area,” he said.
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