The Allama Iqbal Medical College here in the City has turned an emergency practice drill simulating a possible terror attack into an amateur movie snippet of considerable yet unintended comedic value.
Amidst the terror prone aura of the country, there is a definite need for preparations and arrangements in the event of an attempted attack; an idea many institutions across the country have both invested in and adopted.
However, the AIMC has done so in a way so irresponsible that it is worrisome.
The prestigious government medical school filmed their own preparations for such attack in a video that was shared on the college’s official Facebook page. Perhaps the filming and posting was an attempt to spread awareness of how ‘prepared’ the college feels at the present, or to send the terrorists a message, one that details exactly how they plan on preventing their potential attack.
Not only was the video footage released, it was shot in a way that can only be described as filmy, with blaring, pounding, action movie tracks that transform the college space into an episode of ‘Homeland’.
So rather than making the ‘mock exercise’ a productive drill by simulating a real life situation, the exercise ended up being pointless.
A major character in the video is the school’s principal. Prof. Dr Rashid Zia, who enters to the beat of the dramatic music.
Shortly after the Principal registers his presence, the students are told to evacuate the vicinity, and to not be alarmed when armed forces enter the campus.
A quick fade shifts the scene to the lecture complex where a masked gunman, who apparently can’t speak for himself, gets one of the college staff to voice his threat for him. This man, equipped with speaker phone threatens the college students, who now have their head down, to not lift their faces or be prepared to be fired upon.
Meanwhile, the dimensionless entity that is the Principal observes the spectacle whilst, security forces earnestly wait for their que of exactly four seconds (post announcement) to neutralize the terrorist.
The video also records the security force’s use of dogs and other techniques including the operations of the Dolphin force, emergency response units and rescue workers.
The video culminates with the Principal thanking all the security organisation involved and especially the SHO and Vice principal after promptly being reminded to do so on film.
When contacted, Pakistan Today was told that Dr Zia is not in the country for another fortnight and is unavailable to answer questions about the decision to record the video and the good doctor’s own stellar performance.
Meanwhile students belonging to AIMC were not all particularly amused. Some felt that while drills were an unfortunate necessity, them being so opulent and filmy was a waste of time for a medical school. Others felt that it was all in good humour, they did agree it was far too over the top. What they were all agreed on however was that the principal did indeed have a flair for theatrics, and he took his full opportunity to
It is vital that security drills should, in all cases, be encouraged given the state of terror in the country. Even if only to lull people into a sense of security to continue everyday operations of life.
However to dramatise and film the effort, that too with an absurd angle and style, is dangerous, against protocol and just in bad taste.
