After last year’s paralyzing protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek(PAT) in the city, and owing to shortage of available police personnel, the government has decided to establish a special force to counter riots situations in the federal capital, local media reported on Wednesday.
The existing strength of the capital police is over 10,000. However, just over 3,000 personnel are deployed in the field as the remaining personnel are deputed with judges, ministers and other VIPs. Some are also performing their duties at the Police Lines, according to official documents.
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Mushtaq Ahmed said that in order to counter possible riot situations arising out of sit-ins and processions, the Ministry of Interior has decided to establish an anti-riot force (ARF).
As per the PC-1 of the project, over 1,000 protests are staged and processions taken out in the capital every year.
According to reports, official document states that the available police force cannot handle riots due to their various other responsibilities.
The project was supposed to start at the beginning of this year and completed by next June, but it has been delayed.
“The PC-1 has been sent to the ministry and after that it will be forwarded to the Planning Commission for final approval,” Mushtaq said.
Ahmed further said that the project would cost Rs1.61 billion and 2,000 officers would be inducted in the force.
The planned force will come under the Islamabad Police and an ‘ARF Centre’ will be established at the Police Lines.
The force will be equipped with tear-gas guns, 12-bore pistols, rubber bullets, water cannons, and wireless sets.
The document revealed that the training component will also include martial arts training for which at least 40 trainers will be hired. Additionally, the document also proposed that the ARF Centre should include an open-air gymnasium.
Another senior official of the district administration said that once the project was approved, a delay because of financial constraints would have a detrimental impact. He said that the addition of the force would improve the law and order situation in the city and therefore, should not be delayed.
A senior official of the ministry said that the idea was floated by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who believed that the existing strength of the capital police was inadequate to meet the city’s policing needs.
A police official said the project would be completed within months after release of funds.
Security experts believe that a year after the establishment of the ARF, police officers would be able to focus on fighting crime.
