Inquiry tribunal’s report into Liberty shootout: Proper preparations, only on paper

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Report says Police Department did not show efficiency on the field
* Notes warnings issued by home secretary, interior secretary of attack on Sri Lankan team

By Rana Tanveer

LAHORE: The report of an inquiry into the Liberty shootout when the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked, conducted by an inquiry tribunal consisting of Justice Shabbar Raza Rizvi, has stressed that proper preparations had been made for the security of the cricketers but only on paper.

The tribunal prepared a 106-page inquiry report, which was compiled after examining 69 witnesses. The tribunal expressed resentment that proper security plans were prepared but not followed by the officers concerned. The tribunal maintained that senior commanders, supervisory officers and police officials were not present on the points contemplated in the security plan.

Passing orders: The report maintains the incident demonstrated that the Police Department was only good at passing orders. It says orders for the security of the Sri Lankan cricket team were passed from the inspector general of police (IG) to the additional inspector general of police (AddlIG), and eventually reached the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) or station house officers (SHOs) through the proper chain. The report points out that all officers in the chain showed efficiency and responsibility in completing the paperwork on time, adding that none of them bothered to check the arrangements out on the field. The justice said he wished the nation had seen the operations superintendent of police (SP) or the operations DIG or any of the responsible officers after the incident.

Warnings issued: According to the report, the then home secretary received an official report from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) about the possibility of an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team by the Indian intelligence agency RAW. The home secretary issued written instructions to the IG to ensure foolproof security arrangements for the team. The report maintains whatever measures the IG took in this regard were not implemented.

In addition to this, the interior secretary also wrote several letters to the concerned authorities in the Punjab government to make foolproof arrangements and stressed that nothing must be left to chance in view of the wave of terrorist attacks in the country.

In light of repeated warnings, another letter was dispatched from the IG office to all senior police officers. Divisional and Security superintendents of police were ordered to personally check the security arrangements.

When questioned in the court, then IG Khalid Farooq said he directed the capital city police officer on February 26, the additional inspector general of police, the special branch senior superintendent of police, and several other officers to ensure security arrangements. To another question of the tribunal, Farooq said he did not feel the need to check the implementation of his instructions because it is deemed that any instructions issued would be followed in letter and spirit.

Then capital city police officer (CCPO) Haji Habibur Rehman said he met operations deputy inspector general of police (DIG) on March 2 in the presence of Model Town and Civil Lines SPs and stressed the need for security. At this, the judge maintained that the CCPO has followed in the footsteps of the IG and had issued orders to his subordinates instead of implementing them himself.

Then Operations DIG Amjad Javed Saleemi said he modified the security plans on March 2 and convened special meetings to discuss various aspects of the plan. The judge held that the DIG had utterly failed to perform his duty.

About the security SP, the judge said the gentleman did not feel any concern after checking the paperwork that was already completed by his predecessor.

Mujahid Force SP Babar Bakhat Qureshi was also reprimanded by the court for not being in the field to command and supervise his force.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg13_3