BAHAWALPUR City News

Bahawalpur airport manager made ‘scapegoat’
From Our Correspondent
BAHAWALPUR: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed concerns over ineffective security at the Bahawalpur airport when a dog appeared on the runway accidentally in the presence of security personnel, which delayed the flight for a few minutes at the conclusion of his Lodhran visit on Saturday last.
Adviser to Prime Minister Shujaat Azim immediately ordered the suspension of airport manager for showing negligence and constituted an inquiry committee to probe the matter, sources disclosed to The New, on Monday.
The police and intelligence personnel had taken over the airport security on that day. They even did not allow the airport bird shooters to keep weapons and move freely for external security according to Blue Book security SOPs as they were removed from the airport runway. The Special Branch had taken over all arrangements, security sources said.
The sources said the airport manager was performing his administrative duty by handing over the airport, including the runway, to security personnel who obeyed their respective bosses instead of the airport manager.
The security protocol guidelines available in the Blue Book say the police and the Special Branch authorities are responsible for closely examining and identifying the areas of threat to ensure safety of a 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 give it over to the local representative of the IG Police, Blue Book says.