UN-INVITED GUEST OF TWO
PARTIES – SECURITY LAPSE
01 August 2004
Our Government is seriously concerned with terrorism like unfortunate incidents which are picking up. The Government has done and is doing whatever is possible. It has as much possible provided police and armed escort to VIPs, to enhance security some link roads at some places have been blocked for ordinary traffic, every hook and corners vigilant police is thoroughly checking Motorcyclists and Rickshaws. But even then such unfortunate incidents keep going on. What is the reason for it?
Could it not be that we are paying all our attention on some steps like more and more security personnel, more sophisticated arms to these security personnel but may be neglecting the real points treating such points just unimportant?
There had been a big scandal in allotment of industrial plots in Karachi. The Sindh Government perforce had to order an enquiry as “Taja Hawaldar” honourable Mr. Ardeshir Cowasjee in his column exploded this scandal.
The SITE Karachi which invited applications had contacted National Bank of Pakistan to arrange computer programming facilities for balloting of the applications. At the balloting Ministers, senior bureaucrats and VIPs including the applicants were present to see the transparency in balloting. The whole balloting process was recorded on video tape. A bearded man comes on the stage, runs the computer, feeds the input and starts the balloting process. This bearded man was the main important concentrated figure for the whole ceremony lasting more than half an hour.
For having the testimony of the bearded man in the Enquiry, now no body knows who this bearded man was. The SITE management says that they “thought” this man came with NPB Team. On the other hand NBP Team says they thought this was the SITE man. The enquiry report tells no body recognizes him who he was and both sides blame the other.
Here is the point to ponder in all this “drama”. We concentrated more on important things like stopping traffic ambulances when ministers were coming to the Site Office, extraordinary security out and inside the Site offices where balloting was being held, checking of chairs and sofas for any hidden gadget but gave no attention to real point who is coming with whom. In the marriage party Bride took it as guaranteed that a Guest eating his 5th chicken tikka was invitee of Bridge-groom side and Bridge groom side thought he was from bride side.
The bearded man was brought in through a deep pre planning by one of the two parties. There is no need saying which one as matter in itself speaks well. However the second point out of it is that wherever there is such an unfortunate incident there is mostly a lapse of security and that lapse is that in case of eg. bringing a pistol in a plane, a timing device in highly secured area, someone from inside had definitely helped it and unfortunately when it comes security checking our “friendship, high rank” always has an influence in by passing the prescribed security requirements.
PS: This writer of this has in the past worked for more than 18 years in Police Service abroad.