RAWALPINDI: The regional police officer (RPO) Rawalpindi on Monday directed the deployment of the Quick Response Force (QRF) units for the security of Chinese engineers working on a CPEC railway track and Elite Force commandos around their residence.

RPO Mohammad Wisal Fakhar Sultan Raja issued the directions after visiting the sites between Gujar Khan and Jhelum where the Chinese engineers are working. He found serious security lapses at the sites and directed the concerned police officer to strictly follow the standard operating procedure for the security of foreign engineers working on development projects.

It has been almost eight months since an intelligence agency pointed out alarming lapses in the security of the 16 Chinese engineers working on the rail track between Jhelum and Gujar Khan.

The intelligence agency in its report sent to the inspector general of police had stated that the 16 Chinese engineers, including a woman, were erecting an iron fence along the rail track between Jhelum and Gujar Khan.

RPO issues direction after finding serious lapses in security of Chinese workers on railway track between Gujar Khan and Jhelum

The intelligence agency had said only four low ranking police officials of the specialised protection unit (SPU) of the Punjab police were deployed for the security of the Chinese nationals. None of the senior security officials of the SPU or the district police were deployed to lead them.

The SPU had been formed to provide protection to foreigners, including Chinese engineers, working on different development projects in Punjab.

The report had also stated that there was no walk-through gate at the double-storey rented eight-bedroom house where the Chinese nationals were staying.

During his visit to the site, the RPO directed the police to deploy QRF units for the protection of the Chinese workers within 24 hours in addition to deployment of the Elite Force commandos at their residence.

A police expert said due to the tightened security in urban areas, the law enforcement agencies should not ignore the security of foreign nationals in the rural areas.

Two Chinese language teachers were kidnapped by gunmen in Quetta on May 24. Later, the militant Islamic State (IS) group claimed that it had killed the two Chinese.

“The kidnapping of the Chinese nationals has made us more vigilant over their security and we are taking no chance in this regard,” said a police officer.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2017