After a guard in DHA shot down a supervisor and a shophand at the shop he was assigned to guard over a minor issue, the creditability of the induction criterion for guards at private security agencies is being questioned, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The reputation of private security companies has been badly damaged with questions being asked about the physical and psychological records being maintained by the companies.
Remembering the incident: According to the details, on May 23 a guard Attiqur Rehman shot three men, killing two and injuring one. Attique who was hired at Agha General Store located in DD commercial area Defence. The guard was an employee of Arcane Security Company also located in DD commercial area. Police sources said the security agency had been kept out of the case and not been involved in the incident’s investigations.
The FIR states that guard Attique provided Arcane Security Company used to smoke in front of the shop while guarding it.
The shopkeeper had stopped the guard from doing so several times but he continued. The owner of another store in the vicinity said that the guard used to smoke frequently and made it difficult for ladies to pass. “I had asked the guard to at least walk away from entrance before smoking myself a number of times but he never stopped,” he said. He said that on the day of the incident the supervisor Dilshad and a worker Fayyaz at the shop had asked him to stop smoking.
After this a minor scuffle erupted between the guard and two men after which the guard had shot both of them and another guy who had interfered in the matter. Hafiz Adil, 22, and Dilshad, 20, were killed while Fayyaz 24 was badly injured.
Attique had fired on three using a pump action provided by the security company. One of them was killed at the spot while one passed away in the hospital, the other is still seriously injured. After the shootout the guard had fled from the scene on foot and was captured by the police later in the same evening from DHA.
Company not included: Although the guard had been sent to jail for murder, police sources claim that ironically the private security company has not been included in investigations. “Only a nominal investigation was conducted with the company”, said the source. The company continues to do business without any hindrance, despite the Punjab Chief Minister showing concerns over the spread of private security agencies in a high profile security meeting 5 weeks ago.
The CM had said that the performance of some security agencies was poor with neither their security guards are fully trained nor equipped with modern weapons.
He had asked the Home Secretary to devise a comprehensive system should be evolved for reviewing the performance of private security agencies in the province and arrange detailed briefing on the matter.
No psychological test: The Investigating Officer Irshad had refused to comment on anything related to the issue, while Maj (R) Mian Muhammad Shakeel who claimed to be the manager of Arcane Security Company said that they had set high pre-requisites of inducting guards. “We complete all documentations regarding those we hire.
We also go through references and receive undertakings from people who know candidates,” Shakeel said. Responding to a question, question he said that they had no psychological test and that they send men on a two-week physical training. Arcane Securities was set up 3 years ago and employs almost 50 guards at different locations. Shakeel, however, claimed that they had given written statements to the police on the incident and on the recruitment of Attique. However, questions remain.
No criterion for guards
