Police personnel at Diplomatic Enclave ill-equipped

Officials of Islamabad Police on duty at entry and exit points of the Diplomatic Enclave are working without proper facilities and equipment, which makes the diplomatic enclave vulnerable to attacks. The police personnel stationed at entry/exit points are under-equipped. Only street lighting is provided at the gate near the Convention Centre and the police personnel deployed there are not even provided with a torch to ensure proper checking of credentials.
In addition, there is little shelter in case of rain/storm or fans during summer. There is no arrangement for cold drinking water either, stated several police personnel deployed at exit/entry points. The situation at security check points of the diplomatic enclave is not that different from other check points in the city where police personnel are working without any proper lighting system to check vehicles during night, said a police official on duty at an entry point.
When this scribe contacted Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Security Muhammad Ashfaq, he stated that all pickets at entry and exit points of the diplomatic enclave are properly constructed and at some distance washrooms have been constructed for on-duty personnel.
He said that there is no need for portable searchlights as high voltage spot lights have been installed at every picket. Each policeman has an eight-hour duty, and water coolers have also been provided to them. Though Capital Police SP claimed foolproof and effective security apparatus for diplomatic enclave, yet on March 20, the theft of a vehicle places a question mark on these claims.
The stolen car was Toyota Corolla bearing registration No LD-582 and was stolen from parking area of Capital Heights Apartment. The security arrangements of the diplomatic enclave are in the hands of Security Division of Islamabad Police and besides diplomatic enclave it is providing security to Presidency, Prime Minister Secretariat and house, Supreme Court of Pakistan, and foreign missions, Parliament House and lodges, secretariat blocks, other government offices and buildings. Pakistan Rangers are assisting the Security Division in security.