During the England cricket team’s tour in Islamabad, a submachine gun (SMG) assigned to the Islamabad Police personnel was stolen. The police’s missing weapon, identified as SMG number 218, was later on used in the recent bank heists in the federal capital.
Authorities reported that an impostor, wearing a uniform inscribed ‘Dilawar’, fraudulently acquired the weapon from the Secretariat Police Station. The individual manipulated identification details to obtain the SMG, including a fake belt number (283) and an incorrect mobile number.
The Assistant Sub-Inspector responsible for the weapon issued it without proper verification procedures, which directly contravened police protocol. The stolen SMG was later identified as being used in a series of bank robberies that have plagued Islamabad, raising serious concerns about internal security protocols within the police department.
Following the incidents, a report of the missing SMG was filed, and an investigation was initiated. This situation has underscored the need for stringent adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) within the police force, particularly concerning verifying and tracking issued weapons.
In response to the escalating number of bank robberies, the Islamabad Police have reinforced their SOPs. Measures include the immediate shutdown of several banks for failing to comply with security mandates and the requirement that each bank employ three guards, specifically excluding any guards over 50.
The reinforcement of these SOPs follows closely on the heels of two recent bank robberies in Islamabad, which resulted in the tragic death of a bystander and injuries to a security guard during exchanges of gunfire. These incidents have heightened the urgency of addressing security lapses and improving preventive measures to safeguard public and financial institutions.
