No doubt, many would be justified in describing the situation inside Pakistan as a security nightmare. However, such epithets appear inconsequential to officialdom as demonstrated by the serious security lapse witnessed on Wednesday at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Rawalpindi.

As reported, the employee of a money-changing business arrived here from Karachi, carrying with him an amount totalling some Rs70m.

As he exited the arrival lounge, he was set upon by several men, beaten and dragged off to a waiting vehicle, robbed and then abandoned a few kilometres away from the airport.

Read: Passenger kidnapped at airport, robbed of millions

Colleagues who had been waiting to greet him were left watching helplessly as, in full view of the public and the security apparatus at the airport that also serves the capital city, the man was kidnapped.

Key installations in the country, including airports, must now constantly maintain readiness to defend against any sort of attack — as the one on Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport last year.

Indeed, such a state of preparedness is often proclaimed by those in positions of authority — until they have reason to be embarrassed.

If this is the sort of response — ie none — that can be expected from those guarding the capital’s airport, citizens can legitimately raise questions about the performance of all others.

The jeep that was used in the kidnapping had been parked in the drop-lane for over an hour; if it was accosted by security personnel, clearly, the robbers told a convincing tale.

A clue can be found in the fact that two of the kidnappers were dressed in police uniform, while a third posed as being from one of the intelligence agencies. With the airport guarded by personnel from many circles of law-enforcement bodies, from the police to the Airport Security Force to the army, it is almost incredible that a crime as audacious as this could be carried out.

But then, again and again, we are given reason to recognise the lesson: security arrangements are pointless unless they are well-coordinated, well-equipped and response-ready. Will this ever be internalised?

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2015

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