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| India-Pakistan |
| Kidnapping at airport |
| 2015-04-24 |
| [Dawn] No doubt, many would be justified in describing the situation inside Pakistain as a security nightmare. However, man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them... such epithets appear inconsequential to officialdom as demonstrated by the serious security lapse witnessed on Wednesday at the Benazir Bhutto ... 11th Prime Minister of Pakistain in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistain People's Party, who was murdered at the instigation of General Ayub Khan. She was murdered in her turn by person or persons unknown while campaigning in late 2007. Suspects include, to note just a few, Baitullah Mehsud, General Pervez Musharraf, the ISI, al-Qaeda in Pakistain, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who shows remarkably little curiosity about who done her in... International Airport in Rawalpindi. As reported, the employee of a money-changing business arrived here from Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... , carrying with him an amount totalling some Rs70m. As he exited the arrival lounge, he was set upon by several men, beaten and dragged off to a waiting vehicle, robbed and then abandoned a few kilometres away from the airport. Colleagues who had been waiting to greet him were left watching helplessly as, in full view of the public and the security apparatus at the airport that also serves the capital city, the man was kidnapped. Key installations in the country, including airports, must now constantly maintain readiness to defend against any sort of attack -- as the one on Karachi's Jinnah International Airport last year. Indeed, such a state of preparedness is often proclaimed by those in positions of authority -- until they have reason to be embarrassed. If this is the sort of response -- ie none -- that can be expected from those guarding the capital's airport, citizens can legitimately raise questions about the performance of all others. The jeep that was used in the kidnapping had been parked in the drop-lane for over an hour; if it was accosted by security personnel, clearly, the robbers told a convincing tale. A clue can be found in the fact that two of the kidnappers were dressed in police uniform, while a third posed as being from one of the intelligence agencies. With the airport guarded by personnel from many circles of law-enforcement bodies, from the police to the Airport Security Force to the army, it is almost incredible that a crime as audacious as this could be carried out. But then, again and again, we are given reason to recognise the lesson: security arrangements are pointless unless they are well-coordinated, well-equipped and response-ready. Will this ever be internalised? |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #1 left watching helplessly as, in full view of the public and the security apparatus at the airport They need Mall Cops. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2015-04-24 02:05 |