Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The announcements made at mosques on behalf of the federal police advising citizens who are proceeding to their native towns to celebrate Eid ul Fitr to make the security arrangements of their residences in Islamabad on their own have triggered a sense of insecurity among them.

The announcements were made at the mosques of Islamabad on behalf of thefederal police on the night between Friday and Saturday added that the police would not be responsible for safety of their homes.

In the wake of these announcements the citizens have started feeling insecure at their homes in the federal capital. Incidents of thefts, robberies and banditry take place in the federal capital during Eid holidays because the citizens move to their native towns to celebrate Eid ul Fitr.

During this time anti social elements, robbers and thieves break into the homes and decamp with belongings, cash and jewellery. Last year 3000 robberies occurred on the eve of Eid and citizens were deprived of valuables worth millions of rupees.

This year the police have placed the responsibility of safeguarding their homes on the citizens themsevles, which has caused harassment among them.

Hundreds of employees have got their leave cancelled. The citizens asked: “What is the use of the federal police if it cannot provide security to our homes”.

The number of proclaimed offenders in the jurisdiction of all 33 police stations of Islamabad runs into over 5000 Only a few among them have been arrested and those who have not been nabbed are found involved in robberies and banditry. IG Islamabad Tariq Mehmood Yasin has described the announcements made at mosques as part of the security plan saying that these announcements were aimed at alerting the citizens.

The federal police is going to launch an SMS service through which the citizens will be informed about their security arrangements. The majority of police personnel will not proceed on leave to their homes on the occasion of Eid this year. Police patrolling will be enhanced on Sunday. The security of the city will be ensured through safe city project.