40pc police deployed for VIPs in capital

ISLAMABAD: Around 40 percent of police force in the federal capital is deputed for the VIP security and none of the dignitaries is charged for the police guards assigned on their security, said the police responding to a Right to Information request.
While VIPs are not charged for the police guards, citizens private security guards for their protection as police major concern is protecting the high and mighty deviating from their basic duty.
“As per Police Act 1861, additional police force can be provided to the individual on payment by individuals. However, no one is being charged for this facility please,” reads the reply of AIG (Esablishment) Islamabad Police. He refused to name the VIPs availing police escort.
Islamabad police have a total strength of 10,332 officers and personnel but 39 percent of them (3677) have been deployed on VIP security leaving behind 6,655 policemen to take care of two million populations meaning thereby one police official for 300 citizens.
As there is no consensus on holding census as yet thus no official figure available, Islamabad population is estimated to have crossed beyond two million. A meager amount of budget is allocated for the watch and ward. Again, this is largely spent on VIPs security and the police station generally operates on pay-as-you-go style meeting fuel and vehicle requirements from the citizens, according to the officials.
There is no concept of budget allocation police station-wise and it is controlled at top level and trickles down at the discretion of the high ups.If 2014-15 budget for Islamabad police is any guide, 91.42 percent is for paying the pay and pension etc whereas only seven percent has been earmarked for the operating expenses.
The News had sent RTI requests to all provinces in addition to Islamabad Police and interior ministry demanding answers to seven questions relating the security details assigned to VIPs, number of police strength.
Only the Islamabad Police have responded so far, however, after the intervention of Federal Ombudsman Secretariat as Syed Anwar Mehmood, honorary senior advisor to the Ombdusman directed them to answer.
As many as 3,677 policemen have been allocated for special security division that is also responsible for guarding key installations in addition to “the provision of security guards to the VVIPs and VIPs.” Those assigned police escort include president, prime minister, diplomats, distinguished individuals as well as judges of superior courts, according to AIG Police.
The special security division is headed by an SSP-rank officer and comprises of five SPs, 12 DSPs, 41 inspectors, 144 sub-inspectors, 264 ASIs, 517 head constables and 2,693 constables, making a total of 3,677 (38.77percent) of Islamabad police force. Nevertheless, there is a shortage of 1370 officers and personnel as the sanctioned strength of the special security division is 5047.
Although the number of police escorts deputed for the VIPs was drastically decreased during current regime, the police deployment is being increased again after assessment of threats perception to them, according to the official reply of Islamabad police.
As for as the police-population ratio is concerned, Islamabad rivals with big cities where policing has not been a prime concern either, let alone the smaller cities and far flung areas. Take an example of Lahore, a city of 11 million populations with a police force of 32600.
The News does not have figures available to segregate the police deployed for VIP security and for the commoners in. Nevertheless, going by the total strength of Lahore police means there is one policeman for 335 citizens, according to a recent study done by Tariq Khosa, former IGP.
If we look at Punjab level, the country’s biggest province with a population of 103 million (according to 1998 census), there are 179,921 policemen i.e. 1-573 ratio. Those deployed for VIP security are included.
In 2013-14, Punjab police’s share in the provincial budget was 7.59pc. Of the allocation, 84pc went towards salaries and 7.7pc to fuel, leaving only 8.3pc for operational costs, according to Mohammad Ali Babakhel, a police officer. “Per capita police spending must be increased. Presently per capita police expenditure in Punjab is $7.6. In contrast, Indian Punjab spends $15.9, Turkey $135 and London $754,” he wrote in a recent article on Punjab police.
The situation is graver in Karachi that has a population over 20 millions but the police force of 26,504 thus one policeman for 850 citizens. How many of them are deployed to protect VIPs is anybody’s guess.
According to a report last year, the private security guards have outnumbered due to increasing demand who have crossed the figure of 55,000.