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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Interior minister denies kickbacks in deal
By Shakeel Anjum
ISLAMABAD: The Interior Ministry is buying scanners to be installed at roads to check explosives being brought into cities by terrorists but ironically, the selected models lack the vital capability of detecting explosives from a distance (as in other available models) and this critical deficiency could make all the difference between an apprehended shipment or another bomb blast right in front of one of these very scanning posts, sources told The News.
The News was told that two scanners were purchased from China, to be used by Customs, to detect smuggled items, including drugs and explosives.
Interior Ministry sources said security agencies had demanded seven scanners having the specific capability of detecting explosive material, which cost Rs 5 billion and these also had complete Excess Control System (ECS) whereas the inferior systems were being bought for a much higher price tab of Rs 9 billion.
The sources also said that the purchased scanners are not human friendly and their radiation levels were too dangerous for human body.
According to technical experts, jots or particles of explosive materials are unstable and continuously puff out in the air. They say that specially made scanners, recommended by the security agencies, catch particles and alarm the operator from a distance of over 400 yards regarding the presence of explosive material.
They said that unfortunately the scanners purchased could detect the dangerous explosive only after the vehicles would pass close by them and thereby explosive could explode in the very ascertainment process.
The sources said that the Islamabad police demanded seven explosive detecting scanners with ECS to install on seven sensitive entry points of the capital city, including the Red Zone.
The estimated cost of the complete system, including seven explosive scanners was Rs5 billion but the people involved in the deal rejected the proposal of the actual requirement and decided to purchase unrelated scanners on over-estimated price, allegedly, for kickback and commission.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik when contacted said that the scanners, imported from China were multi purpose as they had the capability of detecting explosive material as well as narcotics hidden in vehicles. He denied any commission or kickback was involved in the deal.
The minister said a shipment of two huge scanners has reached Pakistan, which would be installed at major roads of the Capital, adding, while a consignment of mobile scanners would arrive soon.
He said that mobile scanners would be provided to all provinces. The minister expressed ignorance about the quality and type of scanners, and said, “The quality and type of scanners was finalized by a board of experts of atomic energy commission (AEC) while the deal and financial matters were settled by the Planning Division.”
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briefs...
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ISSN 1563-9479 
