Schools security beefed up in Karachi over terror threat

Home dept sends letters to LEAs warning terrorists planning to target schools on APS carnage anniversary, may also target KSE building

KARACHI: The law enforcement agencies have beefed up security for schools and other educational institutions in Karachi as well as the city’s bourse following the home department’s warning that terrorists were planning attacks in connection with the first anniversary of the Army Public School Peshawar carnage on December 16 and the hanging of four militants involved in that attack.

The home minister issued two letters to the security high-ups in the province.

The first letter read, “It has been reported that terrorists will try to avenge the hanging of their four associates by the security forces and carry out attacks in connection with the Army Public School anniversary. This time, the activity will be more severe than the Peshawar attack. Keeping this in view, the security of all educational institutions (private, semi-government and government) may be enhanced forthwith. The administration of these institutions should be sensitised and advised to immediate report any unusual activity to local law enforcement agencies and security forces. Besides, the security of school buses and vans during their movement may also be reviewed. It is therefore requested to take the necessary action into the matter and extreme vigilance and stringent security measures may be exercised by all concerned to ward off any untoward incident.”

The other letter read, “It has been reported that the leader of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, namely Mufti, is planning to send eight or 10 terrorists from Afghanistan to Karachi. They are planning to carry out a major attack on the Karachi Stock Exchange this month. It is therefore requested to take necessary action into the matter.”

The two letters were sent to the IGP and the Rangers’ provincial headquarters.

After receiving the letters, police and Rangers high-ups held a joint meeting to come up with a strategy to deal with the threat.

The meeting was also attended by senior officials of the intelligence agencies. Officials told The News that the participants of the meeting had decided to increase security for educational institutions in the city and intensify the crackdown on terrorists and other criminals.

South and City ranges

DIG South Jamil Ahmed told The News that extra police personnel had been deployed for the security of educational institutions, especially those in sensitive areas

Besides, he added, police patrolling had been increased outside educational institutions in the South and City district. The official said he was also in contact with the administration of the schools. The official said police were also checking the availability and functioning of CCTV cameras installed at schools.

“Response teams have been formed to assist school administrations in case of an attack and a standard operating procedure has also been issued to schools to inform them about the steps they should keeping the treat in view.,” he added.

West Range

DIG West Feroze Shah told The News that there were over 1,500 schools, colleges and universities in the area falling in his jurisdiction.

The official added that he had held meetings with the principals and other representatives of the educational institutions and issued them a standard operating procedure.

The DIG West said almost all educational institutions falling in his jurisdiction had increased the height of their walls and installed CCTV cameras at entrances as well as inside classrooms.

The official said the school administrations had also been instructed to screen their staff and security guards in coordination with SHOs.

The DIG said SHOs and DSPs of the West range had been ordered to personally patrol the areas in their divisions from 7am to the finishing times of educational institutions.

“Every police station has its intelligence department and instructions have been issued to them to remain in touch with the administrative staff of educational institutions,” he added.

East Range

DIG East Munir Ahmed Shaikh said there were about 2,000 educational institutions including the NED and the University of Karachi in the East range.

He added that after an earlier threat, he had met with the administration officials of educational institutions and checked the security system and installation of CCTV cameras there.

“All the educational institutions in the East range have taken the required security steps and keeping in view the present threat, we have further increased security at the educational institutions.”

The DIG South said he had instructed SSPs to conduct search operations in areas near educational institutions.

He added that a quick response force had been assigned the task of countering any untoward situation.

The official said SHOs had been instructed to patrol near schools, colleges and universities from morning to evening. Besides, vehicle will not be allowed to park in front of or near educational institutions.

Separately, Rangers director general Maj Gen Bilal Akbar held a meeting at the paramilitary force’s headquarters, the Jinnah Courts, to discuss steps to tackle the threat.

Action plan

Following the attack on the Army Public School Peshawar last year, the Sindh police department had issued an action plan for schools.

In the plan, police told school administrations to activate the emergency alarm system and call 15 or at the CPLC emergency numbers, give them their addresses and also activate parent networks. School maps should be ready for security personnel and in case of an attack, children should be told to leave their school bags, books, and other belongings and rush to the assembly point. There should no running on stairs to avoid a stampede. Moreover, lights, fans, electrical appliances, other equipment, and the main switch should be turned off. A teacher must be the last person to leave the class and take the head count in the assembly area to ensure that no one is missing using the attendance register. If possible, students should be taken to pre-arranged safer place in the neighbourhood.

The staff should check washrooms, libraries, etc where students may be present and none including visitors should be allowed to leave the school building without the authorities’ clearance. Classrooms should be checked to ensure they are empty and everyone has left and school activities can be resumed after the building is declared safe. The action plan should be strictly implemented and the officials of the police stations concerned should inspect the schools to check security measures were adopted or not. The school administrations should have a control room and security cameras at entry and exit points with at least one week’s recording. The cameras should also cover the outer periphery of the schools. Major roads around schools should also under camera surveillance. Any suspicious movement during school timings should be reported to police or the CPLC. Camera recordings should be daily monitored to ensure there was no suspicious movement after school timings. Proper height of boundary should be ensured and security guards deployed at an elevated place or on the rooftop of schools. School administrations, if possible, should also arrange walkthrough gates and metal detectors at entry points.

School timings should be adjusted and divided to minimise congestion and on finding a suspicious parcel or bag, the staff should stay away, cordon off the area and immediately inform police. Moreover, sufficient fire extinguishers should be ensured on each floor and windowpanes should preferably be laminated with fragment-resistant film to prevent splinters in case of a blast.

Vehicles should not be allowed to drop or pick children from the very front of the school gates or park close to the gate.

Hawkers and vendors should not be allowed near schools and van drivers should be advised to remain vigilant while on the way to school or leaving children home. Van doors should be kept locked all times to avoid becoming an easy target. It should have at least one security guard accompanying the children for security.

Parents and drivers when driving should watch their rear view mirrors at all times and avoid sitting in vehicles on roadside.

Schools authorities should install emergency bell and have all emergency numbers including those as police, the CPLC, ambulance services, and the fire brigade on the notice board and also ensure they were available to parents.

First aid kits should be handy and accessible. In case of emergency meeting and assembly points should be identified.

Washrooms, libraries, classrooms, conference rooms, etc should be regularly checked. An emergency evacuation plan should be planned out with direction signs. Moreover, emergency drills should be held.—Originally published in The News