Five specific warnings ignored by Punjab

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: Just like the Liberty attack earlier in the month, the Punjab administration and police were given unbelievably specific warnings, including one from the Lahore military corps, that police training/recruitment centres in the province would be targeted by terrorists.

However, the terrorists were yet again given a free hand to go in for the kill — thanks to another serious security lapse and other “important” political business of Punjab’s security and administrative machinery.

The two gory incidents — Liberty and Manawan — prove that there is no government in the Punjab, or the one that does not care about security, where terrorists feel free to carry out evil operations and kill many.

On both occasions, police and administration officials boasted to have done miracles. Previously, they claimed saving the lives of Sri Lankan cricketers where a quick-thinking brave driver had saved them, and now seek credit for catching four of the assailants and killing as many, no matter after they had achieved their goals.

Documents made available to The News reveal at least five different warnings of a possible terrorist attack were given during the last 12 days to police and other authorities in Lahore but practically nothing was done, thus giving the terrorists an easy go.

On the contrary, the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) was seen enjoying food with Moonis Elahi of the PML-Q in a fashionable cafe of Gulberg a few days back. They sat together for almost two and a half hours. On Friday last, senior police officers were invited along with their families to a dinner at a five-star hotel in Lahore, where the main attraction was music.

While just after the imposition of governor’s rule, key police officials in Lahore were replaced, at least 50 station head officers (SHOs) and almost all DSPs were lately transferred. More than 30 DSPs — made OSD by the Shahbaz Sharif government for their questionable record — were given postings in the special branch.

Documents show besides the Interior Ministry and the provincial police chief, the Lahore’s Military Corps headquarters had also forewarned of a terrorist attack. In one case, the entire top district, regional and provincial police hierarchy was specifically told about extremely high threats of terrorist attacks on police buildings/establishments in the Punjab. What adds insult to injury is the fact that these warnings were issued between March 19 and March 28 but still police could not prevent the Manawan terrorist attack on the training school.

According to details, the Punjab IGP wrote to all and sundry in the police department a “top secret” and “most immediate” faxed message on the 23rd of this month. The operative part of the message read: “Today a suicide attack on a police building in Islamabad proved fatal. The threat of such a terrorist attack on police buildings/establishments in the Punjab is also very high.

“It is hereby directed that high alert is declared for security arrangements of all police stations/police buildings/police establishments/police lines and police training institutions. Following steps be taken immediately:

1. SOPs for the security of all police buildings/establishments be followed in letter and spirit and no laxity be tolerated.

2. Snap checking of security arrangements of police buildings/establishments be conducted during day and night by gazetted officers.

3. The capacity/capability of the security staff/sentries be ensured to meet the challenge.

4. Security cameras/security devices installed in buildings/establishments should be in working order round the clock.

5. No unauthorised person or vehicle be allowed access to these buildings/establishments without proper checking and search.

6. No cluster of force should be allowed unnecessarily. However, if it is necessary, all precautions should be taken for the security of the manpower.

“These instructions are general guidelines on the subject. Further security measures should also be taken to ensure foolproof security of manpower and buildings/establishments.”

The instruction was issued on March 23 but what was predicted has been carried out so smoothly and conveniently by the terrorists, who targeted the Manawan police training centre — the largest one in the region. Just four days before the warning, the Military Headquarters 4 Corps also known as Lahore Corps warned different military and civilian authorities, including several officers of Lahore police, of “threats of a terrorist attack”.

The communication, tagged as “most immediate” reads: “Reportedly, in the backdrop of the gruesome terrorist act against the Sri Lankan team, terrorists may be prompted to exploit the uncertain internal security environment to perpetrate similar attacks. Apropos, terrorist activities may be manifested as following:

a. Terrorists may resort to similar tactics with necessary innovation to target high-profile defence/strategic installations, VIPs, diplomats and other government functionaries.

b. Serial suicide bombings followed by indiscriminate firing of small arms to cause massive casualties.

c. Abduction of VIPs, high-profile civilians or foreigners for a prolonged period.

d. Target important political/religious leaders.

2. In order to meet the dynamic threat, following measures are required to be undertaken:

a. Re-evaluation of existing capability/potential vis-a-vis the threat.

b. Creation/availability of well-equipped and well-trained Quick Reaction Forces/special elements (commando, aviation, fire brigade, etc).

3. In view of the above, it is imperative that necessary preventive and pre-emptive foolproof security measures should be adopted to forestall any untoward incident. All concerned to be extra vigilant in and around respective formations/units...”

On March 27, the 4 Corps issued another “threat warning”, saying: “Reportedly terrorists may target high-ranking civil/military officials and important installations in Lahore in near future...” Different authorities, including police were warned that crowding of troops/individuals at one location be discouraged.

On March 23, the Interior Ministry shared its information with all concerned, including the Punjab police chief, conveying: “Reportedly, two groups of 13-14 miscreants each have been dispatched to Islamabad and Lahore to carry out terrorist activities. The miscreants are likely to move in the guise of Tableeghi groups. No further details are available...”

On February 28, the 4 Corps again circulated a report, saying: “It has been learnt that some kind of sabotage activity might take place in the country during the next 48 hours. The likely targets are main cities, commercial centres, communication infrastructure, trains and indiscriminate firing on the pattern of Mumbai attacks...”

Despite all these warning, the authorities concerned were caught napping. But top provincial police and administration officials remain jubilant, touting the Manawan operation as a great success. In case of the Liberty attack, the CID had clearly warned authorities that RAW terrorists intended to target the Sri Lankan cricket squad while travelling between the hotel and the stadium.

It precisely happened the same way. Initially, the provincial administration and the police in that case, too, boasted of having done a miraculous job by saving the lives of the visiting cricketers. But later the government’s inquiry confirmed an extremely serious security lapse as out of around 150 police personnel deputed there, hardly 25 were present at the scene.

The irony is that no top gun was held responsible, as some junior officers were made scapegoats. A night prior to the Liberty attack, the top administration of the province attended a meeting at the Governor’s house, where Interior Adviser Rehman Malik was also present, on the political wheeling-dealing to achieve the target of installing a PPP government in Punjab.

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