Islamabad: F-9 park becomes safe haven for robbers and muggers

[Naveed Yaseen]

PIMS neurosurgeon, wife deprived of valuables during walk

Friday, October 09, 2009
Shakeel Anjum

Islamabad

Looting and mugging as well as physical assaults on women has become order of the day in the Fatima Jinnah Park. It has become a safe haven for criminals despite the presence of CDA security guards and police.

Most victims avoid reporting to police about these incidents to avoid ‘thana procedures’. Among dozens of incidents of looting and mugging in the park, a neurosurgeon at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Professor Dr. Khalique-uz-Zaman, and his wife were looted at gunpoint when they were taking a walk in the park. They were deprived of gold ornaments, cash and mobile phones.

The surgeon told police that a masked man suddenly came out of the bushes and held them at gunpoint when they were taking a walk at around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday. He said that the man snatched gold ornaments from his wife and then cash and mobile phones from him and disappeared in the dark.

CDA Spokesman Syed Mustafain Kazmi, when contacted by ‘The News,’ said that stringent action would be taken against the concerned officials of the CDA, if they were found guilty. He said that CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi had visited the park last week and asked the project director to beef up security in the park, especially in the evening. He said that security would be further beefed up in the F-9 park.

Deputy Commissioner (Islamabad) Amir Ali Ahmad, when contacted by ‘The News,’ said that such incidents were continuously coming into his notice. He said that he had ordered an inquiry into the matter and deputed Assistant Commissioner Captain ® Fareed as inquiry officer.

In July 2005, the then district magistrate Tariq Pirzada had ordered a judicial inquiry into a high-profile case of physical assault on a woman in the F-9 park.

Assistant District Magistrate Dr. Ehtasham Anwar Mahar had probed the matter and fixed the responsibility of the incident on the CDA as a whole and partially on police, recommending action against the officials for showing negligence.

The then district magistrate Tariq Pirzada, in the light of the report, had asked the CDA chairman to beef up security, improve infrastructure, remove bushes and install lights along every track and road in the park. He directed the SSP to take action against the police officials for their negligence and poor response.

Dr Ehtasham Anwar Mahar’s report states: “The role of CDA in whole of the event is most disappointing. The incident occurred at a place, which was entirely managed by the CDA. The security of the place is responsibility of CDA and police normally doesn’t enter inside the park until and unless asked for.”

When the news appeared in newspapers, the Islamabad administration as well as police were immediately set into motion, but the relevant CDA staff remained unperturbed. Neither was an inquiry held into the matter nor were security arrangements beefed up. It may be noted here that the incident took place on July 28, 2005.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=202394