ISLAMABAD: Dozens of police personnel are living in dangerous circumstances, in a building in Police Lines headquarters that has no proper entrance or stairs, and has never been repaired since a terrorist attack in 2008.

The building, which was once used by the Anti Terrorist Squad, has a number of cracks that have weakened the structure and could collapse due to its weight, or a jolt from a earthquake, police officials said. Although the building is close to the Central Police Office, it has yet to come to the notice of senior officials such as the inspector general of Islamabad police (IGP) or the deputy inspector general of police.

The building is a stone’s throw away from the CPO and is home to four dozen officials, police said.

The attack in 2008 destroyed the building’s facade, including its entrance and stairs, and the building has not been repaired.

They said officials now use iron stairs to access the building, which is three storeys high and has six halls that contain 18 beds, 15 two-bed rooms and three single rooms. There are more officials living there than the maximum limit, police officials said.

Although the building was abandoned for a year or two after the attack, nearly a decade has passed without a decision on whether to demolish or repair it. In the meantime, low-ranking police officials decided to start living there.

Police said moharrars and the Police Lines deputy superintendent of police are informed before anyone gets lodging in the barracks or residential buildings in the area.

Senior police officers are also aware of the matter, but safety measures have not been taken because the staff living in the building are low-ranking officials, they claimed.

They said dozens of follower staff, including a naib qasid, cook, barber, tailor, gardener, cobbler, masseur, laundry-man and sweeper live in the building, but there are no welfare arrangements or safety measures for them.

Concerned officials, including the IGP, could not be reached for comment.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2018