FAISALABAD, March 9: Senior police officers in the district have locked themselves in their offices as security measures against suicide attacks, Dawn has observed.

Main and adjacent gates of offices are locked and guards have been deputed there to prevent the visitors from seeing officers.

“Sahib is not in the office. Sahib ji is busy in meeting with some senior officers from Lahore. Sahib will be available after an hour,” this correspondent heard a constable telling visitors.

Only a few selected visitors are allowed to let in and even they have to pass through body searching and a walkthrough gate installed close to the deputy inspector general’s (Operations) office.

Many visitors were disappointed on Friday when they failed to meet the senior officials.

These security measures have also exposed the professionalism of police as the walkthrough gate has been installed a few feet from the DIG’s (Operations) office.

“What will police do after it find someone with explosives through the walkthrough gate when a potential suicide bomber is just few feet from the DIG office?” asked a visitor. Police had better installed the gate away from the office as anti-suicide bombing measure, he said.

Another visitor said the deteriorating law and order situation in the district and tight security plan for police offices were contrasting features of the police. He said police had been tasked with protecting his own officials instead of the general public.

Baba Qamar Din from Tandlianwala went through a mind-boggling situation when he was refused to meet the police officials.

He said had he any recommendation from any political bigwig or senior police officer, he would have seen the officers.

One of a police official requesting anonymity said security had been increased on the recommendations of the government to avert any eventuality. He said surveillance cameras would also be installed outside other offices to keep an eye on the movement of the visitors. He said offices had been directed to conduct detailed survey pointing officers and areas to be equipped with security cameras. He said station house officers would submit their reports regarding those areas where security measures would be tightened.

The recent spate of suicide bombings forced police to tighten security in the district and in and around the police offices, he said.

“It’s not true that visitors are not being allowed to see the officials but the number of visitors has decreased owing to the locked offices and tight security,” he said.