ISLAMABAD: Despite having one of the riskiest jobs in all of law enforcement, officials and technicians of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) serving in the capital do not receive any sort of special risk allowance, the interior ministry has admitted.

In its written response to a question posed by Jamaat-i-Islami MNA Sher Akbar Khan, the ministry told the National Assembly that the finance division had turned down a request for sanction of technical allowance for the capital’s Bomb Disposal Squad, but did not specify when.

Ever since the scourge of terrorism has haunted the country, BDS officials have regularly put themselves in harm’s way to ensure the safety of others.

The squad carries out regular and mandatory sweeps of venues before the arrival of VIP or VVIPs, a police officer said. In addition, BDS officials examined every single explosive device recovered from the city and submit their report, which helps investigators track down the culprits responsible for that act.

For example, BDS teams regularly have to secure and dispose of duds or spent ammunition, left over from the Ojhri Camp explosion in 1987, which have been recovered from all parts of the city – from Bhara Kahu to Golra.

In addition, sources in the police told Dawn that both the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Anti-Riot Unit (ARU) – specialised units mandated to carry out dangerous operations and handle large, unruly crowds – also receive no such allowance.

The ATS is a special unit of skilled police officers specially trained to deal with terrorist activities, hardened criminals and other dangerous assignments.

Usually, the squad is used for combing operations in high-risk areas, or to defuse tensions in areas prone to sectarian violence. However, members of this elite squad only receive a pitiful Rs300 as ‘ATS allowance’.

This is equivalent to the ration allowance given to the average police constable and is hardly adequate compensation for individuals who perform such high-risk duties.

The ARU is often in the line of fire, most recently when supporters of Salmaan Taseer’s assassin Mumtaz Qadri descended upon the capital. They also get no extra allowances, despite the fact that they are summoned to maintain the peace whenever there is an untoward situation.

This unit has often been at the receiving end of the fury of angry mobs, and have been attacked with everything from stones, batons to live weapons.

Police officials told Dawn that an allowance equal to an officer’s initial basic pay was given to those serving in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, but this is only applicable to those posted from outside from the province.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2016