ISLAMABAD – Private security guards hired by citizens on the advice of capital police are ill-equipped and untrained, and have clear instructions from their employers not to use their guns in any circumstances. In the wake of rising terrorists activities and street crimes, one can see security guards on almost every street, outside hotels, markets and offices, with the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration having registered around 150 security companies so far.
“The ICT administration has issued licenses to security companies, but did not bother to make a mechanism to check arms and quality of training imparted by these companies,” an official said. The security guards employed by these security companies are not properly trained and lack modern arms and other equipment.
During discussions, several private security deputed at various areas said they had little or no training and lacked proper equipment. “The company has given us clear instructions not to use guns in any circumstance and flee to save our lives in case of violence,” the guards said.
They said their employers did not care for their training and paid them a salary that could barely run their kitchens. “Most of them [employers] do not follow government orders of paying the minimum salary of Rs 7,000,” the guards said. One of them said there was no difference between a stick and his gun as it could not fire. “I was given only two rounds two years ago and they are still with me,” he said. He said he was never inquired about the condition of his gun by his employer. The guard said private security was nothing more than a formality.
Another guard said he had informed his employer that his gun was not working time and again, but no action had been taken. A ICT spokesman said the administration had constituted survey teams to ensure compliance and payment of the minimum monthly wage of Rs7,000 to private security guards. “ICT has issued strict directives to security companies to provide a week’s training as well as provide modern equipment to their staff,” he said.
He said that ICT administration have taken action against several companies who failed to follow the government’s instruction.
