Veteran jihadis are being
employed by private security companies, sources told.
“Almost half of the guards in security
companies are jihadis and most of them have fought in
Afghanistan,” sources said.
A Home Department official said, “We
are investigating.” He said the security companies
would be asked to send a record of their employees and
their place of deployment. “The information from
companies will be counter checked,” he said. “The
companies will also be asked to give details of their
clients and weapons. We will set up a special cell in
the home department to monitor security companies,”
he said. The official said 120 companies had been given
licenses and 86 had companies non-objection certificates.
Pakistan Security Services Association’s
Punjab President Col (r) ZI Farrukh said, “Those
who have given up jihad for good should not be discouraged.”
“The security companies usually
do not employ jihadis, but can make a mistake. A government
notice is sufficient to scrutinise the security staff
in the companies,” he said. “Jihadis are not
going back. They are going to stay and get jobs. It is
better they work with the companies and are monitored,”
he said.
He said the government should locate jihadis
who are not working with security agencies but are working
privately. “People have employed private guards.
The police don’t have their details. The police
should have a verification of every guard. There are persons
who have weapons and are employed by the companies in
and outside Lahore. Government should collect their details
as well, “ he said. The Punjab government is introducing
a new security culture by involving security companies.
So the jihadi guards could create problems, sources said.
However, an official from a security company
said: “Jihadis are trained people and can prove
to be very good bodyguards. They know their weapons and
how to use them.” The Punjab government is considering
making security plans mandatory for plazas, markets, private
schools and moneychangers.
The Punjab Home Department had a meeting
with the representatives of private security companies
on September 21, where a proposal to employ private security
guards during cricket matches, cultural festivals and
other events was also discussed.
