Bahawalpur airport: Prime Minister concerned at lack of security
Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif has expressed his concerned over the ineffective security at Bahawalpur airport during his last visit to Lodhran when a dog came on the runway accidentally in the presence of security personnel, which delayed flight for a few minutes at the conclusion of Lodhran visit on Saturday last. Prime Minister's advisor Shujaat Azim immediately ordered the suspension of Bahawalpur airport manager, as he was unconcerned in the security duty and Shujaat Azim constituted inquiry committee to probe the matter, sources said on Monday.
The police, special branch and intelligence personnel had taken over airport security on that day, the personnel even did not allow airport bird shooters keeping weapons and moving freely for external security according to Blue Book security SOPs and they were removed from the airport runway, and police special branch had taken over all arrangements, security sources said.
None of security personnel could be suspended into the whole matter except putting the collective negligence responsibility on Bahawalpur airport manager. Sources said that Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif had expressed his concerns on security, but the Bahawalpur airport manager was performing his administrative duty by handing over airport, runway to security personnel and they obeyed their respective bosses instead airport manager.
The Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) and security protocol guidelines available in Blue Book say that security personnel responsible for no bodily is caused to the VVIP. They are responsible that no incident takes place, which causes embarrassment any kind. The Blue Book says that police and the Special Branch authorities to closely examine watch and identify the areas of threat to the safety of the VVIP.
The Captain of the aircraft/helicopter by which the VVIP is to travel will be responsible for its serviceability and the correctness of the fuel, samples of which will be retained, sealed and made over to the police. He will sign a certificate and make it over to the local representative of the Inspector-General of Police, Blue Book said.