Apropos report published in your newspaper “Bogus Bomb Detectors in business despite global scandal”. James McCormick the businessman responsible for selling this fake device ADE-651 is in prison for making and selling this fake bomb detector that has been banned all over the world, yet this device with an antenna continues to be used at all airports in Pakistan, a country facing terrorism threats and engaged in Zarb e Azb.
The irony is that this device is now being manufactured and sold by none other than our own Airport Security Force. With such blatant conflicts of interest going unchecked, security is bound to be compromised. Profits of billions have blinded those who were deputed and paid for by state to make our airports and passengers safer.
Pakistan’s airports have been declared red because of major security lapses; frequent bird hazards etc and require full focus to make them more secure. Yet the ASF has all the time to plan, build and market residential and commercial plots in a new housing society floated by them in Karachi. One of major factors which facilitate security violators is easy access to all our airports by mushrooming of residential housing societies and other commercial outlets around periphery of airports in what should be a sterile zone. The waste from these housing and commercial outlets is major factor contributing to bird hazard, which has unacceptable high occurrence at our airports.
Tragedy is that this fake ADE-651, nicknamed “Khoji” is now being marketed by its new makers in Pakistan and used by police, security guards etc deputed to guard roads, buildings, bridges and other important locations. The sole purpose of creating these security agencies in Pakistan stands defeated if they were to indulge in irregularities, conflicts of interest and abusing their powers. The sacrifices of hundreds of thousands who have died fighting terrorism or being its victim would go in vain, if greed of few were to prevail.
Tariq Ali
Lahore
