Islamabad Police have demanded of the Interior Ministry to return 163 high speed double-cabin vehicles, purchased for patrolling in the capital but were given to high government functionaries including ministers, chairmen and Parliamentary secretaries. Interior Ministry has given no response on the letter of capital police so far.
Lack of personnel and logistic support is putting pressure on Islamabad Police in terms of security arrangements, and it is necessary that vehicles and manpower be provided to police for better security arrangements, well placed sources in Islamabad Police told Business Recorder on Friday.
The vehicles were purchased during Musharraf Government for Islamabad Police to enable it make federal capital safe and secure. But later on, Interior Ministry took possession of these high speed vehicles and put them on personal security cum protocol duties of ministers, state ministers, chairmen of committees and other government functionaries, while capital police was left with old and obsolete vehicles.
Sources in Islamabad Police said that in the wake of increasing terrorist strikes and threats given by Taliban regarding terrorist strikes, Capital Police decided to make the security of Islamabad impregnable for which it needs more personnel and vehicles. The top brass of Islamabad Police sent a letter to Interior Ministry demanding 163 vehicles back for field use, they added. "We not only require vehicles, but also personnel and equipment but government is not paying any heed to these issues," they said, adding that after Lahore Rescue 15 blast, Islamabad Police was asked to increase number of security personnel at entry points and enhance patrolling, but on both fronts it is very difficult to meet the requirements.
Interior Ministry sources told this scribe that a letter was received in the ministry regarding return of vehicles to Islamabad Police but so far no action was taken in this regard. They said that 163 high speed vehicles of Islamabad Police are being used for personal security of ministers and other high government functionaries. However, without substitute arrangement of security of government functionaries, Interior Ministry is not in a position to return these vehicles, they added.
Well placed sources in Interior Ministry admitted that Islamabad police is suffering due to lack of proper security equipment, but lack of resources is one of the hurdles in provision of this equipment. They said that a huge number of Islamabad police personnel are on security duty of government functionaries, which is also affecting security arrangements in the capital.