KARACHI, April 20: A three-member committee headed by Inspector General, Sindh, Jehangir Mirza is investigating the aspect of administrative loopholes in security arrangements at Nishtar Park on April 11, when a bomb blast killed more than 50 people during a religious congregation.
This was stated by Additional IG Syed Nayyar Husnain, a member of the committee. DIG Yameen Khan is the other member of the committee.
The committee’s terms of reference includes suggesting measures to overcome administrative weaknesses in future.
Speaking at a seminar on Ensuring Safety at Public Gatherings, organized by the Pakistan Press Foundation at its Vicky-Zeitlin Media Library on Thursday, AIG Husnain said that besides conducting investigations, it was imperative for the police department to find out and overcome its own weaknesses in order to avert recurrence of such tragedies in future.
In reply to a question, he said media could not be blamed for creating problems in the wake of such tragedies. In fact, he added, it was the human psyche that often hindered rescue operations.
TPO, Saddar, SSP Sanaullah Abbasi, told the seminar that police would always prepare a contingency plan for a big public gathering or procession to ensure safety of citizens. Setting up of pickets, erecting barriers, deployment of personnel in uniform and civvies, etc. were some of the measures taken on such occasions.
In case any unfortunate incident, the police would move to rescue people in distress by providing first aid to the injured and rushing the seriously injured ones to hospitals.
He, however, observed that the media men’s activity at a scene of such incidents ‘damaged’ evidences. “They also put the police officials concerned under pressure by keeping on ringing them to seek information about the incident.”
Anwar Kazmi of the Edhi Foundation criticised general public’s attitude at the scene of such incidents, indicating that they would not even give way to ambulances and rescue workers. “Sometimes ambulances come under attack as was witnessed at Nishtar Park on April 11.”
Giving another example, he recalled that Edhi volunteers had not been allowed to enter Faizan-i-Madina where stampede at a congregation had killed a number of women and many others needed immediate help.
“Had the volunteers been allowed in, many lives could have been saved,” he added.
He stressed on creating awareness among people about a prompt and effective rescue operation and how to behave at such happenings to prevent more loss of life and property.
“People must not become emotional at such times as this may only cause more harm to victims.”
He urged media to play its due role in creating such awareness in masses.
Dr Kaleem Butt, Medical Superintendent of the Civil Hospital Karachi, said that the hospital had a Disaster Management Plan under which the required number of doctors and paramedics were moved on a short notice. It also had an exclusive medical store with all essentially required medicines and equipment to deal with a situation where 200 casualties arrived at a time.
Normally, the CHK maintains one operation theatre on an emergency basis, but has another four to function in the event of a big incident. Each of the OTs has a capacity of operating more than five persons.
Similarly, the Patients Welfare Association very efficiently runs a blood bank. Following the Nishtar Park tragedy, the association had managed to collect blood donations in excess of its storage capacity.
Dr Kalim Butt also complained of people’s attitude on such occasions, saying that their attitude often affected doctors’ performance adversely.
He stressed on imparting training to paramedics and volunteers in handling the critical cases in emergencies.
He particularly made mention of the problem of traffic jams on city roads that was resulting in delay in shifting the injured to hospitals as ambulances could not find a clear way.
Saquib Soomro, representing the Civil Defence Department, Sindh, and Ms Samina Ishaque, Director PPF, also spoke at the seminar.—PPI