[javed]

Midnight 14-15 August 56 lockers were broken in a Habib Bank Branch Karachi were found broken. The duty security guard is alleged to have masterminded it. Two versions appeared in the press. One is that the Security Guards were from a private security company named Excellent Security Agency which provides security guards exclusively to Habib Bank only and is owned by an ex HBL executive. The second version is that the Guards belonged to Habib Bank Security Company. The Manager of the Branch however told police that the CCTV cameras were switched off after banking hours hence no recording. It is generally believed that no bank dacoity can take place unless there is some direct or indirect help from inside the Bank.

If an honest research type study is made, which in fact would never be initiated, it would be found that such incidents occur mostly in those Branches of Banks or National Savings where the departmental or private security guard is used as a peon for making tea, going out for mail and photocopying, distributing Forms to the customers rather than doing his assigned duty. The gun with these guards is found hanging on shoulder and not in the hands. The Police guards would always be found comfortably sitting on chairs with guns lying in their laps horizontally. Why should these policemen be provided chairs I have never known. Two years back in Karachi I visited three National Savings Centers in search of Account Opening Forms. In all three centers I was served by the Security Guard and in all cases providing me wrong stationery. In none of the three case Center’s clerk or Officer Incharge was to deal any customer. In one case the Security Guard handed me over a departmental internal stationary and I reported all this to the Central Directorate National Savings Islamabad but never to get any response even a word of thanks. A few years back after finding on each visit to a Habib Bank Branch the Security Guard dealing with customers while the Manager remained tight in his chair in his glass houses as an experienced professional having served 25 plus years with a foreign police, I entered the Manager’s glass house and drew his attention to the security risk. This Branch by then twice had already been the victim of decoity. I had a shot in my heart when the lethargic Manager advised me to mind my own business as the Branch security was not my concern. I addressed in writing the Habib Bank President more than once to this as usual never to get even a line of thanks let alone appreciating my concern.