Cops Were Lazing at Home During Attack on Sri Lanka Team

Friday, March 20, 2009 at 1:52 pm under Pakistan News

Lahore: A high level probe into the security lapse during the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team has revealed that all three Superintendents of Police (SP) who were entrusted to look after the security arrangements during the Lankan convoys movement didn’t reported on duty on the day the attack took place, and were in their residences.

It has been learnt through an enquiry conducted by the Additional Inspector General of Police Salahuddin Niazi that SP Model Town, Dr Raja Abid, SP Security Ehsan Younis, and SP Civil Lines Rai Ijaz were at their residences when the Lankan team was being sprayed with bullets in the heart of Lahore.

The enquiry report said these officers should have been on duty at around 6:00 a.m. to check security measures along the route, but they reached Liberty Chowk 40 to 45 minutes after the attack. Sources also revealed that only one DSP was present on the route to check security measures.

All other DSPs reached the Gaddafi Stadium before the arrival of the motorcade without combing the route.

DSP Civil Lines, Faisal Gulzar who had visited the route of Sri Lankan team and match officials found many police jawans missing from various important points, The Nation quoted sources, as saying. Gulzar also delivered emergency messages about the missing policemen over the wireless, but this went unnoticed by the concerned authorities, the report said.

Meanhwile, Pakistan investigation agencies have denied that either the Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) or the Jammat-ud-Dawa (JuD) had a role to play in the terror strike on the Sri Lankan cricket players.

The report which was submitted by the FIA to the Interior Ministry stipulated a serious dereliction of duty by some senior police officers that lead to the atrocious attack.

The Ministry has reportedly forwarded the report to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. The PM is expected to go through the suggestions recommended in the report and give suitable instructions on what action needs to be taken to prevent such attacks in the future.

The findings point towards the possibility of a foreign hand in the terror assault on the Lankan team.

Sources also revealed that only one DSP was present on the route to check security measures.

All other DSPs reached the Gaddafi Stadium before the arrival of the motorcade without combing the route.

“DSP Civil Lines, Faisal Gulzar who had visited the route of Sri Lankan team and match officials found many police jawans missing from various important points,” The Nation quoted sources, as saying.

Gulzar also delivered emergency messages about the missing policemen over the wireless, but this went unnoticed by the concerned authorities, the report said.