In March this year, terrorists staged an audacious gun-and-bomb attack on the heavily-guarded district courts in Islamabad, which left 11 people dead and 29 others injured.

The attack exposed lapses in the security arrangements in place to protect lawyers and judicial staff at the district courts, located in the heart of the busy F-8 Markaz. The attack prompted swift action and standard operating procedures (SOPs) were developed by nearly all concerned departments. The attack also set off a blame game between two wings of the police, security and operations. Lawyers also traded barbs with law enforcers, accusing them of being lax in their duties.

In the aftermath of the attack, police regrouped and began to focus on security arrangements at the site. Walk-through gates were installed on the court’s premises and the entire compound was monitored through newly-installed CCTV cameras. Security officials posted in this area, as one may well imagine, are supposed to on high alert. But now it seems that after the initial surge, the levels of vigilance at the district courts are beginning to slip again.

A recent security audit survey of the security arrangements in place at the district courts revealed that most of the metal detectors and walk-through gates installed here have already begun to malfunction.

“The gates installed near the Dainty Food entry point are not working properly and need to be fixed,” said officials, quoting from the security audit report.

The survey also found an unchecked entry point adjacent to Margalla police station and recommended the immediate installation of walk-though gates and the deployment of personnel at the point.

One of the most vulnerable points at the district courts is the lawyers’ chamber, near the football ground in F-8 Markaz.

“Neither side has been cordoned off properly, nor are there police pickets to keep an eye on passers by and intercept any suspicious individuals,” the officials said.

“There is no proper lighting here and anyone can enter from this side under the cover of darkness and create havoc in the morning,” they said.

The survey also noted that body searches were carried out only at the entrance to the court premises, not outside each courtroom, judges’ chambers or other buildings located inside the compound commonly known as the zila katchery.

The audit also found that there were no CCTV cameras covering the side of the courts near the Nadra office.

To the West of the court premises, the situation is no different. There are no fences or CCTV cameras to check the entry of potential terrorists in the area near the dispensary that is still under construction and ideal for use by attackers.

The judges’ parking is also in need of CCTV cameras, the audit noted.

In addition, the report called for the immediate revamp of the CCTV control room and the police control room, as well as the need to ensure round the clock police presence for effective monitoring.

The report also suggests that backup power supply should be installed at the control room so that power failures do not lead to a loss of data which could yield important evidence. Technicians who can deal with any malfunction at the spot are also needed for the upkeep of the CCTV system, the report says.

The report also points to weak links in the security cordon, pointing out that any terrorist who gains access to the mosque next to the courts can enter the courts through the roof of the mosque.

“A bunker should immediately be established on the roof of the mosque to guard the vulnerable,” officials added.

The security wall around the courts is also quite low and can be scaled easily by anyone, the report said, calling for it to be raised in accordance with the security requirements of the area.

The district court compound is a maze of small alleys and passages offering several points for concealment. In order to counter certain loopholes in the security plan for the courts, the report also suggests that fire extinguishers be installed in these narrow alleys where fire tenders may have a hard time reaching.

A number of small canteens and tuck shops, including a private hotel and a tandoor, are also pointed out in the report as potential security risks.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2014