Police have been mobilised to provide extra protection to the VIPs and maintain law and order in and around the district. And for this purpose, the police have set up joint army-police pickets at exit and entry points and increasing patrolling on motorbikes. Since the assassination of Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti in Islamabad, the police in Rawalpindi have reviewed the security arrangements for the VIPs. First thing that the police have done is to increase the number of policemen escorting a VIP.

Now six policemen equipped either with semi-machine gun or G-3 rifle will accompany the VIPs. Earlier, two gunmen were provided to the VIPs during their movement in the city.

Additionally, 16 police pickets have been established at exit and entry points in Rawalpindi district. Of the 16, six are jointly manned by the army and the police. Police claim these barriers have been effective in checking acts of terrorism and other crimes, including vehicle theft and robberies.

On the other hand, Rawalpindi’s Regional Police Officer (RPO), Mukhtar Gondal, has been taking measures to check ‘irregularities’ in the department. Recently he had ordered surrender of motorbikes used by policemen for purposes other than official duty. He had also ordered surrender of all impounded vehicles used by some police officers. Though the officers were reluctant in returning the vehicles, he forced them to do so. Recently Mr Gondal made the former city police officer to return the four vehicles he was continuing to use even after the transfer.

Following the RPO’s orders, as many as 140 motorbikes were ‘collected’. It helped in forming ‘Muhafiz Squads’ – two policemen on a motorbike patrolling the sensitive areas.

Recently, a ‘security and counter terrorism’ meeting – attended by senior army and police officers, an officer of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) and a senior doctor from the Rescue 1122 – discussed the security arrangement in Rawalpindi in the light of intelligence reports that terrorists were planning to attack the government buildings and military installations.

The source said the military authorities were concerned about the security of the cantonment, especially due to increase in street crime. They feared that the vehicles stolen from different parts of the city might be used by terrorists. The meeting was concerned about the fact that the police were informed about some people in cars taking pictures of important buildings but they still managed to escape.

The RPO was of the view that setting up police pickets and extensive patrolling had helped bring down incidents of vehicle thefts.

Though Mr Gondal is going an extra mile to make the city safe, his team is not wholeheartedly backing his efforts. It has been often observed that the RPO is himself patrolling the city as his subordinates join him afterwards. And as soon as he finishes the patrol, the rest of the force vanishes.