The recent phenomenon of hiring security guards by companies in order to fortify their security has boomeranged, and many guards are proving to be wolves in sheep’s clothing
THE unprecedented mushrooming of security agencies in Karachi and the appointments of security guards in such agencies without examining their credentials has shaken people’s confidence in the security system.
A recent robbery of Rs40 million that took place at a money changer’s office in Saddar committed by its own security guards is not a new phenomenon. Such robberies have been committed in the past as well. However, the government has never bothered to take action against any security agency for hiring personnel of dubious characters.
As the amount involved in the recent robbery was a huge one that jolted the entire country, making everyone suspicious of security guards, the government had to take some cosmetic measures, and sealed Maverick Security Agency, run by a former army colonel.
According to details, two security guards of the agency were hired by a money changer Zafar Paracha. Ali Khan and Shaukat Ali, both hailing from Mardan, were employed to keep an eye on, and protect Mr Paracha while shifting a huge amount of money from one place to another. On Oct 20, on the Abdullah Haroon Road, Mr Paracha was putting US dollars equivalent to Rs40 million along with his security guards in his friends Honda Civic car when security guards changed their intention and robbed their employer. They beat Mr Paracha, threw him out of the car, and ran away with the money.
Ever since, the police have failed to find a clue to the robbers’ whereabouts and have not found the owner of the agency, Colonel (retd) Asghar Feroz. The police raided the agency’s office and found liquor bottles, photographs of call girls and an unlicensed TT pistol. Subsequently, the Sindh home department sealed the office and suspended the weapon’s license.
In August 2003, a security guard, deputed at a branch of a bank near the Schon Circle in Clifton, with the help of some men looted more than Rs10 million. The police have, to date, failed to get hold of the security guard, identified as Shahzad Khan, hailing from Peshawar.
The police say that the guard chose a Saturday night to carry out his operation as the bank would be closed the next day, but the guards would still be on duty. The guard, along with his accomplices, broke down a three-inch thick wall in the bank where lockers were located. He collected cash and valuables and fled from the scene.
On Dec 30, 2003, a security guard, Asal Khan, was posted outside a fast food outlet in North Nazimabad. He killed the manager of the outlet and injured a waiter since he thought he was not getting his due share from the customers’ tips. Despite the fact that he had nothing to do with the tips, he continuously demanded for his cut.
Security guards have also been seen involved in kidnapping cases. For instance, Shafaquat, a security guard posted at Nadeem Arcade located on the University Road was arrested for kidnapping a seven-year-old boy, Umair. Shafaquat had kept track of Umair’s father and Umair for quite some time and kidnapped the latter on April 10 this year. He demanded a ransom of Rs1 million. The police and the CPLC managed to arrest the security guard and on his information, the decomposed body of the boy was recovered on May 21.
Police officials are of the view that the credentials of personnel that are hired by security agencies are not thoroughly examined and evaluated. They believe it is slackness on their part that causes such incidents. An incompetent man is given weapons and he cannot do anything when it’s time to perform his duty.
Officials of the Sindh home department say that most private security agencies are violating terms and conditions laid down in the Regulation and Control Ordinance 2000 and the Private Security Agencies Rules 2001.
It would be interesting to note that a security agency has to seek clearance from government agencies such as the Special Branch, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) before hiring a security guard. However, officials say, the rules are never followed properly.
According to the Regulation and Control Ordinance, no licensed security agency can hire a guard that does not possess a clearance certificate issued by the police department after passing a shooting test.
“No such test takes place and this is a fact. This very condition is overlooked by each and every security agency. That is why, every now and then you read reports related to deaths of security guards in accidental firing,” a senior official on condition of anonymity disclosed.
He said: “I can bet there are many guards working for various security agencies who don’t know how to operate the weapon which they carry.”
Similarly, there are a number of cases in which armed bandits snatched weapons from security guards or guards helplessly looked at the bandits looting people,” he added.
Training is also an important condition mentioned in the ordinance. However, once the guards are appointed, security agencies immediately ask them to perform their duty. Assistance from police training schools is also not sought by them. In the Rs40-million robbery case, one of the two guards was appointed just three days prior to the incident.
Referring to such violations, police officials say that according to the rules and regulations laid down for the private security agencies, no licensee shall employ any person who has served in the armed forces, including the Airport Security Force without getting clearance from the interior ministry, obtained through the government.
On the other hand, almost each and every security agency has a retired army officer working on a key position such as that of the administrator or the general manager. “The trend to appoint retired army officers is there because compared to the civilians they can do their job quite easily,” an official claimed.
During the investigation it also came to everybody’s notice that in several robbery cases in which security guards were involved, the addresses furnished by them were mostly fake.
Many security agencies recruit people without verifying their domicile as in many cases fake domiciles are provided to acquire jobs.
Some officials are of the view that security agencies are established purely for commercial purposes. They do not want to make huge payments on account of salaries, therefore, they employ untrained and less educated personnel who do not demand exorbitant wages.
“It has been observed that some of the private security agencies have started hiring personnel on a daily wages. Such ad hoc measures can only trigger mishaps,” an official opined.
During the course of an investigation into a bank robbery in the Al-Falah locality in which private security guards broke open the lockers, it was learnt that the guards had furnished wrong personal information and even their addresses were fake.
A senior police official, referring to a clause of the rules of security agencies, said that a security agency cannot employ a person in the capacity of a guard who’s a convict or was dismissed from government service on misconduct.
However, he said, security agencies have been completely ignoring the very clause and as a result many people having criminal background have joined them.
In this respect, revealing an interesting aspect a police official apprised that a security agency known as Al-Furqan recruits personnel only with religious leanings and appearance. The agency provides guards to only religious personalities. He said:”If you notice a double-cabin vehicle, carrying bearded armed men in civvies, they are the armed guards of that very religious security agency.”
