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Margallas not that sealed

Posted on: Thu February 02, 2012

ISLAMABAD: In responding to intelligence that terrorists were plotting to strike Islamabad from Margalla Hills the capital police and the Rangers have strengthened their presence on the hills.

But are these steps enough? People doubt that as they detect many gaps and loopholes of which potential attackers can take advantage of.

Responding on the intelligence tip-off the capital police in collaboration with paramilitary troops and army launched an operation on Margalla Hills on Monday to check for any possible militant hideouts.

The joint operation continued on Tuesday too with all the three agencies police, army and the Rangers contributing more resources towards the security of federal capital against any possible attack from the hills.

The movements of the paramilitary troops came after two suspects in custody spoke of militants hiding there to strike the city. They were arrested in the widespread hunt for the miscreants who fired rocket on the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad last Friday.

"The most serious challenge is the geographical location of the Margalla hills here is Islamabad and across the road is Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," said one capital police official posted at the newly established picket at Pir Sohawa.

There is a strong presence of Rangers at Pir Sohawa too. Apart from being stationed in the CDA Rest House, Rangers also have a small camp at the hiking terrain from Pir Sohawa to Loa Dandi, whereas another camp is situated between Pir Sohawa and the Monal Restaurant.

As a matter of fact, the security concentration at Pir Sohawa was due to recent terror threat. Before this, the presence of KP and Islamabad police there was negligible.

"It was mainly because the locals living on both sides, Islamabad and Haripur district, have never been involved in crime, terrorism or lawlessness," said a local shop owner at Pir Sohawa, "We are all poor and hardworking people so the police have never taken the area seriously, but we fear for the future."

In view of their tradition the locals are least bothered by such deployments and one can see youngsters with axes and saw cutting firewood even inside the Rangers camps, while the Islamabad police get "roti" as gifts from the local restaurant.

Amid presence of variety of guns the environment at Pir Sohawa is always peaceful and lively with tourists coming from all over the country moving happily on the road enjoying the scenic view of Islamabad on one side and the villages on the other.

But these conditions can also provide an easy access to terrorists to spots overlooking the capital to attack the city from a height.

Since there is no restriction on vehicles coming from the KP, any vehicle with 3 to 4 persons can reach Pir Sohawa and instead of crossing the Islamabad police post they can turn left at the small road leading to the Loa Dandi track.

Even the officials of Rangers and police acknowledge that there are many loopholes in the security setup.

However an official said that the heavy presence of police and rangers at the hills will discourage the terrorists.

"These pickets and check posts are like deterrents and even if the terrorists sneak past they do get distracted," said an official of the Islamabad police.

Besides, there are several spots from where approaching Islamabad is possible for those who are used to walking on long and rough terrains.

It is a general trend that Islamabad police at the Murgzar zoo post do not check those coming from the Margalla seriously compared to those going towards the hills.

However, one Ranger at the Margalla on condition of anonymity told Dawn that for terrorists sneaking past security barriers was not easy.

"The jawan with LMG at the bunker can easily differentiate the local villager, tourist, and other outsiders," he said.

Courtesy : Dawn News