Master planning for public security

IT is a relief to learn that we are, finally, considering implementing a modern integrated security system in Islamabad – in place of the idea of the Wall.

Measures in this integrated security system are reported to include vehicle scanners and cameras at a reduced number of entry points into the capital city, as well as radio frequency identification chips in vehicles to identify and facilitate entry into sensitive areas.

The outmoded idea of the Wall had been the initial product of official reviews of Islamabads security arrangements in the wake of the Marriott Hotel and Police Lines bomb blasts in September and October respectively.

Other reactions to the attacks in Islamabad, by government offices and corporate businesses, were mostly outsourcing of the typical manned guarding services and barricading with concrete blocks.

In contrast, reviews of security arrangements in the aftermath of the recent Mumbai attacks have led to demands for the introduction of a sophisticated public security infrastructure for India, an infrastructure that goes well beyond metal detectors and closed circuit television (CCTV).

In this day and age, many cities in developed countries, and even in developing countries like China and South Africa where terrorism threat is nowhere near that of Pakistani or Indian cities, already have hi-tech integrated security systems or integrated security network infrastructures.

Such a security system or infrastructure includes access control, intruder detection, perimeter security, fire detection, and in some cities, even nuclear/radioactive isotope and biological threat detection systems.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa, for instance, is covered by such a security system, “fully integrated across a newly installed 1,000 Gbit LAN running on a fibre backbone, with wireless network links for more remote sites”. The system is operated by a Safety and Security Directorate, which implemented the system from an initial Security Master Plan.

Similarly, under the Safe City project in China, local public security bureaus in major Chinese cities have established and are establishing total security solutions in their cities which comprise “integrated digital security networks, environmental safety detection systems, emergency response and security data management facilities”.

The Safe City security infrastructure also enables the police in Chinese cities to scientifically plan their deployment through “dynamic arrangement, comprehensive control and precise strike capabilities”.

The closest that we in the federal capital have to such a modern security system is in DHA Islamabad. The latter boasts of an ambitious comprehensive security plan consisting of special surveillance cameras and an integrated security system through a central fibre network and smart card at check posts. This 24/7 security system is also supposed to have mobile vans and trained personnel in addition to independent police stations.

Covering the whole of Islamabad under a similar hi-tech integrated security system will help protect the federal capital in three major ways: detect and report the presence of threat agents before a breach or attack; detect an incident while it is occurring; and provide data and analysis to the type and extent of an incident so that public officials can respond appropriately to mitigate effects or damage.

The public security sector has long suffered from low budgets, limited resources and inadequate information systems. It is high time we move public security to the status of “infrastructure”.

The police infrastructure, e.g., police station buildings, police vehicle fleet, police communication systems, computerisation, and police training, salaries and accommodation, should be maintained up to specified standards.

An airborne police arm could also be created for the federal territory having helicopters to patrol areas within their specified regions.

A computerised data bank of building plans in the Islamabad area could also be created. In the light of the urban warfare techniques being adopted by terrorists, the most relevant example being the Marriott Hotel bombing and fire, it is important to have an easily accessible and reliable data bank relating to building plans and layout of buildings and streets within the federal territory.

To encourage the building of this public security infrastructure, persons or entities investing in security in relation to their premises or investing in a company specialising in public security could be eligible for tax concessions.

To complement the hardware-oriented and software approach in dealing with security, we also need to have better collaboration on information between existing organisations dealing with public security.

Only active and efficient collaboration between existing security agencies, not only within the federal territory but also between the federal agencies and those in the provinces and between different governments, through seamless, cross-border and cross-organisation processes, can we hope to transform information into “intelligence”.

The Marriott Hotel and Police Lines bombings in Islamabad, just like the recent attacks in Mumbai and the 9/11 attacks in the US, are stark reminders that we have entered a new era in the domain of public security which requires that we adopt an integrated security system that allows smooth interoperability – the sharing of data and knowledge through information and communication technology – between different agencies and different governments.

‘Killer roundabout’

Sir,

Through this letter I want to draw your attention towards the ‘killer chowrangi’ situated on the National Highway near the Steel Town entrance gate. I am surprised that so far, since the development of Steel Town and Gulshan-i-Hadeed, no one has pointed out this killer roundabout.

Why have I called it a killer roundabout? Every week, two to three road accidents occur here due to the over-speeding of light and heavy vehicles. The main factor behind the accidents is that this roundabout is located close to the Steel Town entrance and there is no traffic signal or any police to control the traffic coming from the National Highway

Who is responsible for these accidents?

This situation must be resolved to save the precious lives of the people. The authorities concerned must take immediate remedial measures.

ENGR SYED ABDUL REHMAN
Gulshan-i-Hadeed

Aggravated law & order

Sir,

Karachi once again has become a battlefield for political activists. Scores of workers of various political parties have been killed during the last few months. It is beyond comprehension why the city has been so vulnerable. The government seems to pay no heed to the aggravated law and order situation of Karachi.

Karachi is said to be the backbone of Pakistan and contributes the major chunk to the national exchequer. Destabilising the city means destabilising Pakistan.

Therefore, the present government should take drastic steps in order to improve the prevailing law and order conditions. All political and religious parties must be brought on board and a joint strategy must be developed in order to defuse the tension and hostility prevailing among political activists.

All political forces of Karachi should join hands in order to eliminate the factors responsible for unrest in the city and those found guilty should be brought to justice.

For a change, I would suggest that those involved in crimes and criminal offences should be put behind bars – irrespective of their political affiliations – whether in power or in opposition.

MUHAMMED ZAFIR ZIA
Karachi

Price hikes

Sir,

The poor citizens, already struggling to make ends meet, have now been crushed by an increase in electricity tariffs. This increase comes as an unwelcome addition to load-shedding, compounding the miseries of the already suffering people.

The elected, democratic government has not provided any relief to the voters and all the promises so far have gone in vain. Flour, fuel and now electricity – almost all of these are out of the common man’s reach. I request the authorities to kindly take strong steps and catch the culprits responsible for electricity theft, which would definitely help to overcome the power crisis. The ‘kunda gang’ must be punished. This will help prevent the common man from joining them.

DR MADIHA AFTAB
Gulbahar No 1

Who will fill holes?

Sir,

Since development work on roads began in the city some eight years ago, every road or street has been dug leaving dust, stones, cuts and holes on both sides of the roads. If the middle portions of roads have been repaired, the sides remain un-repaired. In some streets, it has been seen that after the completion of the maintenance work, for the laying of new pipelines of gas, telephone, electricity etc, the newly repaired and built up roads have been dug and left un-repaired, with the result that the whole atmosphere of such areas looks dusty and muddy.

In order to prevent such mismanagement, the following suggestions may be considered on a priority basis:

(a) In future all the construction work of roads should not be started simultaneously.

(b) Area-wise contractors should be given contracts and not just one contractor should be engaged for all works throughout Karachi.

(c) After the construction of new roads in the city, no digging of any kind should be allowed.

(d) If digging is needed urgently for any gas, telephone or electricity pipelines, guarantee must be taken from the departments concerned to fill all the holes and cuts immediately after their work is completed.

(e) If the department concerned is not complying with the guarantee, they should be heavily punished financially and morally by the city nazim.

(f) The city nazim may kindly conduct survey for these holes and cuts in the newly built roads and remove the dust and stones gathered there.

(g) All the towns and union council nazims should also look after such irregularities and report to the city nazim for compliance of the agreements made by all the parties or departments.

DR ALI AKBAR DHAKAN
Shanti Nagar

Shershah flyover

Sir,

This is with reference to the pictorial advertisement released by the National Highway Authority (NHA) claiming as follows:

“Highways are the key to economic growth and progress. National Highway Authority endeavours to strengthen the national economy and lead the nation to new destinations on the highway to prosperity,” published on October 31, 2008.

It is my humble submission that the NHA should have also published the photograph of the collapsed Shershah flyover, which stands as a monument of shame for the NHA.

NAZIM F. HAJI
Stadium Road

city@dawn.com

Xmas in Karachi

Christmas season is here and just like any other festive occasion like Eid or Diwali there is a spirit of joy, happiness and goodwill in the air, which makes one feel good, especially in these gloomy times.

The Christian community in Karachi celebrates the joyous occasion with equal zeal and fervour with people starting the festivities by shopping well ahead of the occasion as they have to purchase a lot of things, especially gifts, for their loved ones. Then there is the task of decorating the Christmas tree with beautiful adornments such as trinkets, bells and coloured lights. Beautifully wrapped gifts are placed under the tree to be opened on Christmas morning. Shopping malls have Santa Claus and some charities give away gifts to children.

Schools have tableaux highlighting the birth of Christ while TV channels show Christmas-related movies and plays, the most famous being A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, a personal favourite.

A significant aspect of Christmas is carol singing with major choirs singing in prominent churches of the city such as St Anthony’s, St Lawrence and of course St Patrick’s Cathedral, where the largest congregation for midnight mass is held on Christmas eve. The Karachi Vocal Ensemble, a concert group formed in 2004, plays a major role in Christmas also. The group comprising Koreans, Japanese and Britons along with Pakistanis – both Christian and Muslim – recently staged a performance for Christmas at the French cultural centre, Alliance Francaise, with beautiful renditions of different carols.

A similar concert was also staged by the group at the British High Commission.

The spirit of any festive occasion – irrespective of its religious status – is to create goodwill and spread the message of love, peace and harmony to mankind and God alone knows Karachians as well as the entire country can spread love, peace and harmony with a lot of cheer in these harrowing times.

—Syed Ali Anwer

A state of distrust

It was not very long ago that we read of an angry mob burning two dacoits alive. The media was awash with varying views on the incident. The question was: what can a society do when justice fails them? And the question still remains unanswered. Recently, a little before midnight we heard loud gunshots accompanied by shouts and screams. Our first reaction was to switch off the lights and go inside as the gunshots were quite loud and persistent. The gunshots stopped after a while but the shouts and screams were increasing. It was then that we went out to inquire.

It turned out that two men, dacoits if you please, were ‘escaping’ after snatching some valuables when some young men on motorcycles intercepted them and opened fire. After a brief exchange of fire the dacoits surrendered and were made to lie on the road. They were then brutally beaten up by the angry mohallah men who had gathered in quite a large number by then. It was approximately 20 minutes later that a police van came despite the fact that the nearest thana is only five minutes from here.

By then the dacoits had been beaten up quite badly by anyone who could get their hands on them. ‘Kill the ******’ was the general opinion of the mob. But still somehow they managed to make it alive to the police van.

What is interesting to note is that when the car the dacoits were escaping in was searched a policeman’s uniform was found, among other things. The other dacoit was identified as a local refrigerator repairman by some people. Whether one of them was really a policewala could not be established.

In the discussions that followed the incident all the neighbourhood men were unanimous about one thing – those thugs deserved much more than what they got. Distrust of our police system was what was making them think on such lines.

Psychologists agree that display of such violent behaviour by a society is not a healthy sign. They say it shows the decadence of the society’s mindset. In a healthy set of circumstances one would not resort to violent acts or even try to justify them. What is it then? Are we a society beyond repair? What else can complete lack of trust in your justice system compel you to do? When your policemen become the biggest thugs themselves, where do you go?—Tooba Asim

The cemetery

Recently I went to the Christian cemetery (Gora Qabristan) to pay respects to my dear departed ones and was appalled to see the conditions prevailing there.

First of all Gora Qabristan, being one of the oldest Christian cemeteries in the city, is a historical landmark located at one of the busiest thoroughfares, Sharea Faisal, and should therefore present an impressive and aesthetic image at all times. On the contrary the graveyard’s façade as well as the interior is in pretty bad condition. The walls have crumbled down from many places and not been rebuilt for quite some time, giving a passage to thieves who venture in to steal marble slabs and sell them in the market.

Besides, tall weeds have grown out of proportion, as a result of which some graves are not even visible at all and can provide a hiding place to unsavoury characters. Moreover, after every monsoon season rainwater accumulates in a few areas submerging some old graves. Stagnant pools of water are formed creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes carrying waterborne diseases.

Ironically, a small park has been built just opposite the graveyard with running fountains and neatly trimmed grass with beautiful flower shrubs presenting a pleasant sight for sore eyes.

The authorities concerned must take immediate remedial measures to return lost glories of the cemetery, for it is not only alarming for the relatives of those who are buried there but also is a sad reflection for the image of the city.—J. Pinto

KPC polls

At last the Karachi Press Club elections are over and so are the vigorous campaigns that started a week ago. No doubt daily visits to newspaper offices by candidtaes demanding votes despite disturbing the work atmosphere is a healthy trend. But the volley of text messages asking for votes sent to almost every club member might need some rethinking.

It started off with an average of a few messages every day on behalf of contesting panels, but the practice somehow gained momentum and during the last couple of days every individual candidate took advantage of cheap or free packages being offered by mobile phone service providers.

The text messages being run were: appeal to all members to cast their valuable vote to elect their panel; this group is being supported by mister so and so; this team will serve you all; we promise you the best future and development of housing scheme; please support me as an MGB candidate (member governing body) etc.

Such messages were not limited to mobile phones as they bombarded even email inboxes of some journalists. On polling day, there were half a dozen messages every couple of hours, reminding club members of their duty to cast vote and of course for one or the other group of candidates. The learned candidates were successful, for yours truly rushed to the Press Club to cast his vote in a bid to get rid of the reminders at the earliest. But unfortunately, it was not the case for the messages continued until the polling ended.

With the fast-growing media and technological sophistication, I fear the future election campaigns may even involve video-conferencing to convince voters.—HA

Compiled by Syed Hassan Ali

karachian@dawn.com