ISLAMABAD: A mock exercise conducted in Islamabad on Wednesday revealed the preparedness and the vigilance of the police force. It also tested the response time of different police stations, as external help was also acquired.

During the drill, Shahzad Town police station was attacked by a group of five ‘terrorists’, armed with modern and sophisticated weapons and explosives, the police sources said. Reluctantly, a policeman was ‘killed’ and two others ‘injured’. However the police team managed to gun down two attackers and arrested three.

A nearby camp of Rangers, remained in the dark about the supposed attack, until they were informed by the headquarters in Islamabad, even then they responded late, they added.

One of the police officers, while talking to Dawn, said: “We are not satisfied with the response, as it was not a ‘surprise’ mock exercise.”

All emergency and law enforcement agencies took part in tackling a mock-attack on a local police station

All the concerned departments were informed about the mock attack at the Shahzad Town police station, but still the outcome of it was less than impressive.

During the exercise, armed terrorists entered the police station from the main gate, killing one police guard. They eventually reached the reporting room, the police officer told Dawn.

Before the staff at the station understood the situation, the mock attackers injured two other policemen, including the moharrar, they said, adding that an SOS call was aired through the control room.

As a response, all wings of the police, Civil Defence, Rescue 1122, fire engines, ambulances and Rangers’ Rapid Response Force (RRF) reached there.

“During the search, the personnel ‘killed’ two attackers and arrested the remaining three, inside the police station,” the police source said.

“When the operation was almost over, a contingent of Rangers, stationed at a base camp nearby, reached the spot and scolded the RRF personnel for not informing them about the attack,” the police source said, adding that the RRF officials informed that it was a mock exercise.

According to a statement issued by the police, Islamabad police performed the rehearsal on Wednesday to prepare for any kind of emergency situation using SOS calls.

Senior officials, including the bomb disposal squad, police commandos, Pakistan Rangers, Rescue 15, Crime Investigation Department, Crime Investigation Agency, Special Branch of Islamabad police, the traffic division, CDA fire department and ambulances, took part in the exercises.

This exercise was conducted on the instruction of Inspector General Islamabad Police (IGP) Aftab Ahmad Cheema, to prepare the cops for any emergency situation.

IGP Cheema and Senior Superintendent of Islamabad Police Mohammad Ali Nekokara appreciated the response of the police force.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2014