As I See It
Learning security lessons
While public memory remains fresh, what better example to illustrate the predicament of security forces and those they protect than the brutal assassination of our charismatic Ms. Benazir Bhutto? The October 18 blast only underscored that this was a tragedy waiting to happen but, unfortunately, either the protectors or the protected did not use it as a wake-up call. A correct analysis of some of the security lapses that led to (and including) December 27 could mean the difference between life and death for others in the future.
One most concede that it is extremely difficult to reconcile the requirements of a political campaign with the security protection that is a must for potential target of assassins. Security is not an exact science, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to cope with motivated attacks. With the advent of the suicide bomber, deterrence has become exponentially more difficult, and almost impossible in providing any protection for innocent bystanders.
Ms Benazir's supporters crowded around the armoured car at the gate of Liaquat Bagh, and it came to almost a dead stop. As befits any popular leader, she spontaneously stood up through the sunroof to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd. Even a cursory study of videos and still photographs will show one person firing a pistol at Ms. Benazir from fairly close range while another behind him, wearing a chaddar pulled around his head, is taken to be the person who set off the blast. Only experts in photo interpretation can really decide the sequence and track, viz the shots being fired, Ms Benazir seen disappearing into the vehicle through the sun-roof and simultaneously, the blast goes off killing nearly two dozen persons and injuring many more.
The govt claimed initially, on the basis of the medical report, that Ms Benazir was killed by the lever of the sunroof compressing into the side of her head because of the blast, and not because of a bullet. Those who were sitting next to her, and in the car following, maintain she was killed because of bullets hitting her.
Eyewitness account is always important, and the controversy can be conclusively confirmed by an autopsy. The determination will give pointers to the perpetrators of the outrage.
Instead of slowing down, the gate should have been kept clear, the vehicle should have been accelerating to quickly clear this obvious place for ambush. In the video, we do not see uniformed police around the vehicle; at this constricted exit there should have been a double cordon. Someone in the security chain is responsible for "severe dereliction" of duty. The local administration, the immediate head of Ms Benazir's security detail, and whoever in the federal government who was immediately overseeing this responsibility, is all culpable of criminal neglect.
At the very least, some government officials are guilty of looking the other way. If this indifference was deliberate, the stakes become much higher and it becomes a conspiracy. Only an independent investigation can exclude the far-out possibility that this atrocity was deliberately engineered.
Ms Benazir paid with her life for being loyal beyond reason to her political aides, but the so-called "security experts" (none of whom have any credible security credentials) criminally let her down. The security management of any popular charismatic leader is always going to be difficult, all the more reason why she should have been counselled and protected by security professionals.
Oversight by political appointees notwithstanding, for their own selfish interests, her aides kept her cocooned from good security advice. Any VIP's life depends upon his (or her) listening without debate to the express instructions of a professional head of the security detail, someone with adequate training, expertise and experience.
Armoured vehicles do not have sunroofs, why did her armoured car have a sunroof? Why did the company in Dubai, entrusted with armouring the vehicle, put in the sun-roof; or was this done at the express instructions of someone in Karachi? Addressing conspiracy theories, why not question the person or persons who insisted on the sunroof being installed?
In a rush of adrenaline, Ms Benazir spontaneously popped out through the sunroof to acknowledge her admiring followers. She always reacted to adoring crowds and was difficult to keep in check, all the more reason to ensure that she was not given such an opportunity.
The collection, collation, dissemination and distribution of information by the various intelligence agencies need to become "actionable intelligence" quickly. The excellent expertise and capability among our intelligence community has been compromised over the years. The first compromise is "official," a lot of time and public money is wasted in targeting of those in opposition to the government.
The major compromise is "unofficial," the personal vendettas of some intelligence officials, not only on behalf of vested interests but also on personal likes and dislikes. There have to be two benchmarks, one to differentiate between anti-state and anti-government activity, and the other to check if the reports are patently fake, and/or motivated, and/or fabricated.
If an intelligence ombudsman checks the veracity of the reports and finds them false they should be taken as perjury, and those making and/or initiating them or signing-off up the line must be prosecuted and sent to jail, whatever their rank and seniority. Fabrication of reports is a major business for some, and it must be punished severely. Most times, effort and money are spent on non-professional activities.
If they dare to play with the lives of those they hate, they not only need to face the same consequences but also have to reimburse the government revenues wasted. They must be made accountable! What quality of information and analysis does one expect from such people? The "great really silent majority" in the intelligence services are quality people, one expects from them the credible "actionable intelligence" that this country desperately needs.
Mr. Asif Zardari made a remark in passing about his selection of guards in the inner cordon around Ms Benazir from among his former prison-mates; this was shocking. Irrespective of the personal loyalty he built up among his fellow prisoners, and irrespective of whether the person was innocent or guilty of the crime that put him in jail, nowhere in the world would those having a criminal record be allowed near a security detail, i.e. unless he or she had absolute security clearance.
Any employee, what to talk of security personnel, must be verified as to his (or her) antecedents; how this was carried out needs also to be checked. Could the loyalty of any of the party cadre in the inner cordon have been subverted?
The president has assured Scotland Yard's detectives a free hand in examining all clues and questioning anyone; ascertaining the facts as they were, and elaborating on the glaring weaknesses in our security practices and procedures. This must be done in letter and spirit, prosecuting anyone who obstructs the investigation as being part of the crime. If the lessons learnt save the lives of others in the future, it will be well worth it. Are we ready to heed the lessons learnt?
Ikram Sehgal, is an eminent Pakistani political analyst and columnist.
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