RAWALPINDI: Officials of the Islamabad police have suggested a separate security wing be established for the metro bus service, after intelligence reports indicated that providing proper security to the service was not possible with existing resources.

Intelligence agencies had shared concerns about the lapses in security for the bus service and the 10 stations in Rawalpindi and 14 in Islamabad.

A senior police official of the Islamabad capital territory, who requested not to be named, told Dawn that because of joint operations of the police in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and other responsibility, it was not possible for the Islamabad police to provide foolproof security to the metro bus service.

The official said that he had pointed out the issue of security lapses to the higher authorities and suggested a separate security wing be formed which will be tasked with providing security to the bus service.

City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Ahmed Abbasi told Dawn that the police do not deploy officers for the protection of the bus service and that the police keep an eye on the buses while patrolling the rest of the city.

“Private guards are hired by the metro bus authority and police officers are not deployed to exclusively look after the bus service,” CPO Abbasi said.

At each station, eight guards are deployed and since the metro bus service started in the twin cities, the 200 security personnel that are deployed to guard it have observed four strikes over the issue of wages and claimed they are not paid on time. The strikes were called off later after the guards were paid their wages.

Meanwhile, all police stations were directed by their superiors on Sunday to ensure strict security measures are in place at schools, colleges, media houses and other important sites in the federal capital.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2016