Islamabad: 400 to 500 US citizens affiliated to US embassy in the city: IG police

[Naveed Yaseen]

Sub-committee formed to probe Blackwater presence

By Zulfiqar Ghuman

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights on Tuesday constituted a five-member sub-committee to probe the alleged operations of US security firm Blackwater USA in the country from the ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs.

The decision to constitute the sub-committee was taken after a majority of committee members expressed concerns over reports of Blackwater (Xe Worldwide) operations in Pakistan and the reported renting of a large number of houses in Islamabad by US citizens. The committee, chaired by Riaz Fatyana, met at Parliament House. When asked, Islamabad Inspector General (IG) Kaleem Imam said around 400 to 500 US citizens, who comprised the US embassy staff, were present in the Capital, but denied the presence of Blackwater USA in the country.

He said the US citizens included security officials, who were training local law enforcement personnel.

The committee also recommended the government constitute a special anti-terror force to fight militancy and terrorism, since the country’s army and police were not trained for this kind of fighting.

All provincial IGs as well as Railways and Motorway Police chiefs, provincial home secretaries and senior Interior Ministry officials were also present. The committee urged police chiefs to adopt a people-friendly attitude and to address their grievances. The committee also recommended the government hold specific training programmes for the police force to train them in human rights and modern investigation techniques.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg7_13