June 24, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 19, 1429

PESHAWAR, June 23: Following a kidnapping incident of 16 members of Christian community from Peshawar on June 21, Capital City Police Officer Attaullah Wazir and SSP Operations Syed Imtaiz Shah were made officers on special duty (OSD) and their successors took charge of the offices here on Monday.

A high-ranking officer requesting anonymity told Dawn that it was good luck of the subordinate officials that the former CCPO saved them from suspension. He preferred to become OSD but saved skin of his subordinates including SP Cantonment Circle, ASP Hayatabad, SHO Peshtakhara and others, he added.An officer having the rank of deputy inspector general, he said, could not be suspended without the prior approval of prime minister.

The source said that Christians usually informed police about their functions to seek security but this time they did not bother to communicate it even to local police station.

The official said it was very easy for police to take action against the militants anywhere in the settled areas.

He said that police were aware of the movements of militants in various parts of the metropolis and could confine them to the tribal areas but the high-ups of the department were avoiding any clash with them.

Citing the example of March 3 incident when a militant group had attacked people at Shaikhan village and killed about 12 persons, he said all officials including former CCPO Tanvirul Haq Sipra were present on the occasion but no action was taken against the militants.

“We don’t know as to why an action was taken against so many police officials at a time when police need more moral support,” he said, adding that they still did not know as to what would be the policy if militants again struck the district.

Referring to kidnapping of Khasadar Force personnel from Jamrud area of Khyber Agency, the official said that government was duty bound to suspend the officials of political administration.

He said that militants were freely roaming in the tribal agency, crossing the borders but government was yet to direct them for taking action against them.

“Had we taken any action it would have resulted in bloodshed and the entire responsibility would have been rested with us,” the official said.

However, he observed that station house officers of Peshtakhara and Sarband police stations were doing their duties and had even not been transferred.

Meanwhile, it was reported that militants continued their activities in the settled areas and as a result of their threats a family reportedly giving amulets to patients and needy people had left its residence at Phase-6 in Hayatabad for an undisclosed location.

The family head had already left for Dubbai who had reportedly asked his family to immediately shift to safer place in the city to avoid an attack by the militants. During visits to offices of some police officials it was noticed that the incident demoralised them greatly.