RAWALPINDI: In an effort to improve the security cover provided to VIPs, the Punjab government has decided to change the security codes, or ‘call signs’ designated for federal and provincial ministers, political leaders, governors, chief ministers and public office holders, on a regular basis.

Call signs are coded monikers that identify key individuals, and are used by the police over wireless communication to refer to high-value personalities. One of the most famous call-signs in the world is ‘POTUS’, the acronym the US Secret Service uses for the president of the United States. However, the US president’s radio call-sign changes every day.

Though call signs assigned to VVIPs, which include the president, prime minister and chief justice of Pakistan, are changed on a regular basis; the call signs designated for VIPs such as governors, chief ministers and other senior administration and police officials, are never changed.

However, the decision, which was taken to ensure better security for VIPs in the wake of the bombing that claimed the life of Punjab home minister Col Shuja Khanzada, has yet to be implemented.

Orders yet to be implemented; police now responsible for ensuring VIPs’ security even if they aren’t asked to

Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Ahmed Abbasi told Dawn that “though it has been decided, implementation in this regard will start after we receive formal directives”.

Acknowledging the dire need for better security measures, he admitted, “We are taking no chances in issues related to VIPs’ security, especially in view of the prevailing security situation”.

Sources told Dawn that the decision, which was taken about a week ago, came alongside directions that police across the province had to ensure security for VIPs and ministers who visited their jurisdictions, irrespective of whether they asked police for added security or not.

A senior official told Dawn that police had been directed to install walk-through gates and use metal detectors to check visitors who came to attend functions where VIPs were in attendance, as well as setting up police posts at all vulnerable establishments.

Security officials say that the president, prime minister and chief justice of the Supreme Court, as well as visiting sports teams are categorized as VVIPs; while all ministers, judges of the high court, senate chairman and deputy chairman, foreign delegates, ambassadors, inspectors general of police, divisional police chiefs, DCOs and commissioners were categorized as VIPs.

The source said the government has also directed police to take the threat alerts, issued routinely by intelligence agencies, more seriously. Usually, these threat alerts are not pursued seriously by local law enforcement and have been described as “generally vague” by several police officers.

However, their importance has been highlighted following the attack on the Punjab home minister. Col Khanzada had been receiving death threats for some time, but this was not taken into consideration by law enforcement agencies when the provincial minister visited his native village near Attock.

Intelligence sources say that the federal government’s National Crisis Management Cell had intimated provincial governments to beef up security around senior police officers and other security establishments as it was believed that terror groups were planning to target them and other security establishments.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2015

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