KARACHI, Nov 16: The surveillance cameras installed at various sensitive points in the city by the police and city administration have proved a mere cosmetic measure time and again, as not once a piece of incriminatory evidence has been recorded by the cameras.

A security official feared that majority of the surveillance cams installed at various points in the city were out-of-order in absence of maintenance.

In Tuesday’s blast outside the PIDC House, the investigators have failed to extract any proper footage of the scene before the blast.

“Off the two cameras affixed at the PIDC House, one was out-of-order while the second one was damaged in the blast, we have failed to get a clear footage from the tapes,” said an investigator.

Following the blast on Tuesday morning, investigators were hoping that recordings of the surveillance cameras would help them out in the investigations. But as per routine, the traditional methods of investigations reportedly yielded the results.

Though the focus has been shifted from the KFC as being the target of the terrorists, the multinational fast food chains and major restaurants in the city have been advised by the authorities concerned to install close circuit monitors in the aftermath of Tuesday blast.

As a matter of routine during VVIP movements in the city, police install the surveillance cameras at various strategic points, but one wonders if in case of an eventuality these surveillance monitors would work.

On each occasion, these cameras are hired by the police department from the private sector for the VVIP duties or on the occasions of the religious processions taken out in the city.

Around seven to eight cameras were installed at the Metropole Hotel by the traffic police for dual purpose to check the violators of traffic rules and to keep an eye on scrupulous elements.

Cameras are also affixed near the US consulate as well as sp,e other foreign missions and five star hotels in the city.

However, at places where proper recordings were made, the tape was reused after keeping it for a limited time. This was mostly practised by banks and hotels, said an investigator.

Only in case of bank robberies, police have managed to reach or trace the identity of the suspects, but such instances are limited.