KARACHI: Investigators probing the recent bank heists, which sent ripples through the security establishment in Islamabad, have found that private security guards at a few local bank branches are officially restrained from firing in case of a robbery under a tacit understanding between their companies and the respective banks, it emerged on Tuesday.

Background interviews with police officials tasked with the investigation of three recent bank robberies in the city showed that the private security guards of different companies told interrogators that they were asked to avoid firing inside the branch in case robbers strike.

“We interviewed two guards deputed at the private bank branch robbed in the west zone of the police organisational structure,” said an official.

“They were well aware of arms handling and one of them looked physically strong, smart and active. But both of them said they were asked to avoid firing in case of robbery under the understanding between their company and the bank management.”

Same was the finding of another officer who said initially he suspected that the private guards had some involvement in the robbery at a bank branch in the district south because they did not put up resistance despite being in a position to fire at robbers. “But later we came to know that they did not feel confident to open fire, under the directives of the bank management,” he added

Rs70m looted

In the 19 bank heists, the robbers managed to take away more than Rs70 million from different bank branches in the city this year alone.

While police investigators believed that the security guards` performance remained below the required professional skills, they had not found a clue to their (private security guards`) involvement in any of the robberies committed this year.

At the same time, the investigators and the private security companies find the private banks — mainly locally owned and managed — least interested in ensuring security of their insured assets.

The bandits in most bank robberies managed to take away the digital video recording (DVR) system with the booty.

“Unfortunately, we have found the banks least interested on this particular subject,” said DSP Asghar Usman, looking after SP office of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), mandated to probe heinous crimes from terrorism to bank robberies.

“Similarly, security companies are least bothered about the professional grooming and training of their guards though I think they will have to do that if their clients, I mean banks, really demand.”

Chairman of the All-Pakistan Security Agencies Association (APSAA) retired brigadier Rasheed A. Malik appeared to be in agreement with DSP Usman.

He admitted there were some banks which had formally conveyed to their respective (security) companies that they did want any firing incident inside their branches in case of robbery attempt.

“The security companies are bound to perform under the given situation and requirement of the clients,” he said.

“The security of bank branches demands elaborate arrangements and not just deployment of one or two armed guards. But unfortunately it has not been the case with a majority of our banks.”