RAWALPINDI: A division will be created for VVIP and VIP security at the Islamabad International Airport (IIA), but VVIP and VIP movement will continue to take place from the Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) until these new security arrangements have been completed.

In cases where VVIPs and VIPs travel on commercial flights from IIA, the Rawalpindi city police officer (CPO) will coordinate with the Special Branch to provide them security cover.

This was decided at a meeting to review security at IIA; 70pc of the airport’s area falls under Attock’s jurisdiction, while the rest is in Rawalpindi district.

The meeting was attended by the Civil Aviation Authority’s IIA airport manager, the superintendent of police (security), the IIA chief security officer, the chief traffic officer, the Attock district police officer (DPO) and the deputy commissioners of Rawalpindi and Attock.

A unified jurisdiction of IIA will be remarked, for which the revenue area within a few kilometres outside the airport’s boundary wall will also be re-marked to include it in the Rawalpindi district.

A unified jurisdiction will be established by adding the entire premises into the revenue limits of Rawalpindi district.

A separate police station will also be established, and a case for its resources, sanctioning of its strength and infrastructure and the creation of a security division will be sent to the inspector general of Punjab police and the other concerned authorities.

Until the establishment of a unified command, the Rawalpindi CPO and Attock DPO will perform their security and crime-related functions in their specified jurisdictions.

In addition, a police post outside the boundary wall has been proposed to enhance existing security because there are a number of small villages and private housing societies around the airport that need to be monitored by police and intelligence.

The city traffic officer has also been directed to devise a plan in light of the number of vehicles entering the airport and parking in space available.

Regular patrols by Rangers and police are also required, as are police pickets on the arteries leading to and from the airport.

At present, VVIP and VIP movement is taking place at BBIA, which has been used by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and former president Asif Ali Zardari for security reasons.

On Tuesday, Mr Sharif and Ms Sharif flew to Lahore from BBIA on a special plane that left at around 3:30pm.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2018