Karachi police forms Anti-Riot Force to handle violent protests, rallies

KARACHI: Pakistan's biggest industrial and business hub finally has its own Anti-Riot Force (ARF) to tackle anti-law protests and rallies, the city's police chief announced on Tuesday.

The ARF, formed as part of the Karachi Police by Dr Amir Ahmed Shaikh, the additional inspector-general of police (AIG), follows international standards and, for now, will work at a zonal level.

The ARF contingents will be formed as per the orders of zonal inspectors-general (IGs) of police and would be called in urgently and stationed anywhere in the city on an emergency basis.

The force was introduced at an event held at the Garden Police headquarters, wherein Karachi Police Chief Dr Amir Shaikh addressed its members. Also among the attendees were Amir Farooqi, the deputy inspector-general (DIG) for East District, senior superintendent (SSP) at the HQ, district SSPs, and other top police officials.

Dr Shaikh apprised the officers and other personnel of their responsibilities as well as the benefits of the force in detail. While for now, the ARF comprises 357 officers, it will be expanded later on to more than 1,000.

Some 150 officers, part of three squads from the additional three zones in the East District, were equipped with gas masks and other necessary tools of international standard.

These officers will work as members of the ARF for three months and will subsequently be posted as per their own wishes, to be replaced by new ones. Essentially, the force will work parallel to the ordinary police.

It is noteworthy that the ARF officers would usually not carry any kind of weapons but will be armed with riot gear, especially personal armour, shields, and helmets/gas masks, to defend themselves from potential protesters' sticks, batons, and stones.

As per Dr Shaikh, the ARF officers were being properly trained in strategy and tactics in the face of demonstrations and rallies. They will control protest crowds from turning violent, disperse mobs, and help maintain order.

Although methods that riot police forces around the world use, such as pepper spray, rubber bullets, and stun grenades, were not introduced, the police chief announced Rs2,000 prize for the tear gas deployers and Rs1,000 for all officers of the new force.

Karachi's top cop said the citizens were obligated to respect the police and that officers should maintain good conduct while interacting with the public.