Xeric
RETIRED THINK TANK
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Yes, and my 'proposals' focusing on reforms in local law enforcement and the FIA and IB are meant as a means to 'establish basic law and order' - the ability to become 'first responders' to terrorism/extremism related activity stems from that focus on 'basic law and order'.
Elite Police Force and some of the specially trained military and para-military units would act as support elements in case of a need for more 'Kinetic Operations'.
The FIA and IB are the main tools against these elements. But then when the likes of Zardari would reinstate thousands of employees whose services were once terminated of disciplinary and political grounds, i doubt that these agencies would be able to give much. The FIA can just do its primary job of look after immigrations etc, the IB can take care of providing info to the LAEs, both would somehow add to it. But when a DPO is more worried about his posting and his affiliation with the MPA, i dont think he can do much to our benefit. The whole system of civilian governance needs an overhaul. The unnecessary expenditures, the futile meetings at district/provincial HQs where these officers just go to waste their time because 'saab' abhi farig nahi hain...and for issues which can be explained on telephone etc needs to stop.Pakistan has to decentralize security - which means we have to focus on capacity building of local law enforcement, provincial/civilian intelligence and making civilian security forces politically independent, better trained and much better paid.
In a country of 180 million, with poor controls over material that can be potentially used for explosives, and poor control over porous borders with Afghanistan and Iran, it will be almost impossible to tackle terrorism and extremism (small local cells especially) with a centralized military and para-military force.
It is certainly not the ISI or PA that has a 'thana' in every city, town or neighborhood - it is the local cops, and they have to be focus of reform to become Pakistan's first line of defense against terrorism and extremism.
It is the local cops who have the best feel for their neighborhoods and residents, and the best ability to observe and respond to 'suspicious activity'.
The reforms and ideas behind the successful Motorway Police would be good model to follow.
I would also argue that the FIA and IB need to be merged with their provincial equivalents, with provincial HQ's, to minimize red tape and better share data and information. The two organizations need to be taken away from the Interior Ministry and put under the control of a bi-partisan parliamentary commission, perhaps similar to the judicial commission.
Imagine, the SHO of a thana being the first respondent to a situation, the Elite Police immediately coming into action to respond to action etc etc. The news that ' security agencion nay ilaqay ko ghairay main lay liya hai' should end! The handlers executing a terrorist attack are always somewhere around the ground zero, filming, analyzing the attack etc, with intel being readily available these guys can be nabbed there and then. There strong holds/safe houses kept under watch, just like the guy who was caught day before yesterday, the moment it was clear that they are planning to flee the country, they were got from their balls.
But all this would need alot of effort, not much is lost still, these can be improved if someone want to make it happen. The political elites are the ones who have to do it. Martial laws are no answers, Army cant be everywhere. Karachi ho tu Army kyn nahi arahe, Zardari kaam na karay tu Army kyn nahi kuch karahe..enough yaar!
Re- today's statement of DG Rangers Sindh that the sitution of Karachi is worst than that in FATA!!
He is correct! With the kind of laxity we have been giving to these MQM guys and the kind of weapons and the strength that these guys have mustered, i seriously doubt if a military action is taken against them, situation would be no more different then that of Bangladesh. BTW, Sir Mustafa Kamal has already threatened yesterday that; 'this is not the 1992s'!!