PESHAWAR: For officials of the bomb disposal unit (BDU), accomplishment of every task literally means a new lease of life because they have to play the death game throughout their career.
The BDU officials defused 15 explosive-laden vehicles and over 2,000 explosive devices all over the NWFP in 2009, but it is fact that they have only 10 percent of the facilities required to counter the everyday terrorist attacks.
The BDU of the Frontier Police has only 35 officials out of the sanctioned strength of 125, which is insufficient to deal with the precarious security situation. These officials have been trained to detect and defuse explosives in a specific area.
Working round-the-clock because of lack of manpower, the BDU staff members have to put their lives at risk every time they receive information about a bomb.A BDU inspector sustained injuries while defusing a 10kg bomb on the Ring Road near Achini village on January 15.
Six officials of the unit were killed while defusing explosives in 2008 while one was killed in Bannu and four others were injured in Swat last year.
We have 10 percent of the required explosive-defusing and detecting gadgetry in these trying times, the head of the BDU, AIG Shafqat Mahmood Malik, told The News. He added that the IGP was cooperative and had provided some equipment to the wing during recent months.
A DSP heads the unit at divisional level, supervising an inspector and a few constables and headconstables in his ill-equipped team. During the last year, we neutralised seven explosive-laden cars in Peshawar alone. The total number of vehicles defused was 15. Our men defused an explosive-laden vehicle in Khyber Agency on Saturday, while we foiled three such terrorist bids in Peshawar within two days only, said Shafqat Malik, a known forensic and explosive expert in the country.
Malik is said to be on the hit-list of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for thwarting many of their nefarious plans. We need specialised and well-equipped vehicles, at least two for Peshawar and one for every division. We need the latest gadgetry and proper training of the men as terrorists from all over the world have landed here to play havoc with our peace, said Shafqat Malik.
It may be added that Malik has been supervising investigation into the recent Karachi bombing and other major terrorism incidents in the federal capital and other parts of the country. The lives of the BDU officials, who have been on their toes for almost five years, are at risk. These cops are yet to be offered a special package and gallantry medals.
NWFP bomb disposal unit has only
The BDU officials defused 15 explosive-laden vehicles and over 2,000 explosive devices all over the NWFP in 2009, but it is fact that they have only 10 percent of the facilities required to counter the everyday terrorist attacks.
The BDU of the Frontier Police has only 35 officials out of the sanctioned strength of 125, which is insufficient to deal with the precarious security situation. These officials have been trained to detect and defuse explosives in a specific area.
Working round-the-clock because of lack of manpower, the BDU staff members have to put their lives at risk every time they receive information about a bomb.A BDU inspector sustained injuries while defusing a 10kg bomb on the Ring Road near Achini village on January 15.
Six officials of the unit were killed while defusing explosives in 2008 while one was killed in Bannu and four others were injured in Swat last year.
We have 10 percent of the required explosive-defusing and detecting gadgetry in these trying times, the head of the BDU, AIG Shafqat Mahmood Malik, told The News. He added that the IGP was cooperative and had provided some equipment to the wing during recent months.
A DSP heads the unit at divisional level, supervising an inspector and a few constables and headconstables in his ill-equipped team. During the last year, we neutralised seven explosive-laden cars in Peshawar alone. The total number of vehicles defused was 15. Our men defused an explosive-laden vehicle in Khyber Agency on Saturday, while we foiled three such terrorist bids in Peshawar within two days only, said Shafqat Malik, a known forensic and explosive expert in the country.
Malik is said to be on the hit-list of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for thwarting many of their nefarious plans. We need specialised and well-equipped vehicles, at least two for Peshawar and one for every division. We need the latest gadgetry and proper training of the men as terrorists from all over the world have landed here to play havoc with our peace, said Shafqat Malik.
It may be added that Malik has been supervising investigation into the recent Karachi bombing and other major terrorism incidents in the federal capital and other parts of the country. The lives of the BDU officials, who have been on their toes for almost five years, are at risk. These cops are yet to be offered a special package and gallantry medals.
NWFP bomb disposal unit has only
