Security Concerns Plague Peshawar Sports Complexes: No Adequate Measures in Place, Daily Wages Employees Control Security”

Security Concerns Plague Peshawar Sports Complexes: No Adequate Measures in Place, Daily Wages Employees Control Security”
By Musarrat Ullah Jan

There are major security lapses in the two sports complexes of Peshawar, managed by the provincial sports directorate. The absence of security arrangements is a matter of great concern. Surprisingly, the security responsibilities have been entrusted to daily wages employees at the Peshawar Sports Complex and Hayatabad Sports Complex, both under the management of the Provincial Sports Directorate.

During the National Games, a suicide attack took place at the sports complex in Peshawar cantt. Shockingly, the deployed daily wages employees lack any security training or access to proper weapons. In emergency situations, the two inadequate weapons provided to them are of no use.

The Gulbarg police station has already submitted a report on the security officials deployed at Peshawar cantt sports complex and their security measures. The administration was clearly instructed to make necessary arrangements for security. However, the provincial sports directorate has failed to respond to these instructions.
Unfortunately, no action has been taken by the administration. At the main gate of the Hayatabad Sports Complex, daily wages employees, who primarily serve in class fourdutyl and administrative roles, are responsible for security duties. They are required to work eight hours daily.

The Peshawar Sports Complex, previously known as Qayyum Sports Complex, solely relies on male daily wages officers for security. These officers inquire about the details of every visitor and grant them entry. Shockingly, even when women visit the gym, their security is handled solely by male officers.
Women are questioned orally before being allowed to enter. Moreover, there is a noticeable absence of female security officers at the main gate of Peshawar Sports Complex, who could not only check women but also gather relevant information from them.

The Provincial Sports Directorate has remained completely silent on this matter. Despite hundreds of women athletes visiting the Peshawar Sports Complex daily for various sports activities, the directorate has failed to appoint female officials for their security.

Remarkably, the Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex charsadda , also managed by the Provincial Sports Directorate, stands out as the only complex with trained private security personnel. In contrast, Peshawar continues to rely on daily wages employees for security duties, even though their salaries are meager.

Trained private security personnel are only deployed in Charsadda, where they can effectively handle security situations. On the other hand, the weapons provided to the officials at the gate in Peshawar are merely for show, as highlighted in the report from Gulberg police station. Furthermore, no instructions have been given to the security personnel regarding the use of weapons in unavoidable circumstances.

This lack of guidance and preparedness is evident in the aftermath of the attack on a journalist on June 20. Security personnel were left scattered, emphasizing the urgent need for proper training and the provision of adequate resources.