Question 1 -- What is CPLC?
It is the abbreviation of Citizen Police Liasion Committee. It is a registered NGO working under the Government of Sindh and the Governor House umbrella. It works on modern lines. It is run by volunteers, and some of the paid professinal staff. It is possible to organize sub-CPLC committees, called Neighbourhood care, under its framework. For more please visit:
http://www.cplc.org.pk
Question 2 - What is Your Initiative, what it has to do with CPLC?
Ours is an initiative to form a legal, duly registered NGO under the auspices of Sindh Government's CPLC. There will be round the clock patroling by our armed Guards on motorbikes and in a mobile. Its frequency is estimated to be every 5 minutues. As we are still not registered, and in the process of organizing the community, we are NOT allowed to use the CPLC registered name. We are therefore, calling it for now, the Community Policing Liasion Initiative, for a safe neighbourhood, Gulistan e Jauhar, Block 14. In short: CPLISNGJ. Fore more, please visit:
http://www.cplisngj.blogspot.com
Question 3 -- Who are the managing committee and founding members?
There are 10 permanent founding members for now. Their names, and phone numbers can be seen at this website.
Question 4 -- Are the Managing Committee Members, or anyone else associated with the general members making any money in this project?
The answer is simple: NO. They all are like you, home owners and residents of the area, and are making an effort to ensure that organized crimes do not take place here, and a cohesive community emerges to help each other.
Question 5 -- How the Membership Money will be spent ?
The membership money, or the seed money, is required to support the essential Capital Expenditure. This includes, among others: Office, Office Equipment, Transport Vehicles (motorbikes, mobile pickup), Wireless set and hand sets, Mobile Phones, etc. These purchases will only be made after following standard purchasing processess, like 3 quotes, and an approval by the Managing Committee members. You will note that the Managing Committee will also include at least 2 members to be nominated by the CPLC, at the time of registration of the NGO
Question 6 -- When the security operations will start?
We were aiming at 15th May 2007 as the start date. But a delay in the membership goals has made it impossible to start the operations on that date. Only 25 households have signed up so far. Even some of them have not yet paid the membership fees. We therefore request you to please encourage your neighbours to become members. We could also raise the fees to Rs. 10,000. But it is deemed to be a discouraging figure for most of the area households. We are also looking for donations from possible sources.
Question 7 -- How much time the registration process will take?
It takes only one week, as advised by the CPLC officers. It depends on presenting to them a workable budget scenario and membership details.
Question 8 -- Is this the first or a unique initiative of its kind?
No. Similar projects are successfully working in PECHS Block 6, Hill Park, Ferozabad, and Bahadurabad. Alhamrah society is under formation.
Question 9 -- How do the other similar Projects fare now?
Let us give you the story of Block 6, PECHS. They started to work with only 35 members. Now they have over 600 households.
They all have become very responsible and they themselves come and collect and pay their monthly contribution bills. Their streets are clean, free of crime and peaceful. They have reduced the exit / entry points, converting the area in to a compound like community. They all participate in each others moments of sorrow and happiness.
The policemen working with them have become like their own household members, living with honour, and willing to offer any sacrifice in the performance of their duties towards the community's safety. The abandoned parks of the area are today green and beautiful, welcoming the kids and women alike to come and enjoy their free time there. Garbage collections are performed by the Committee using their own tractor trollies at night - thus increasing the patroling time and safety. All the streets are well lighted and taken care of. If any sewerage and water line problems crop up, they solve it too themselves.
Today they have 22 working and paid staff, including a manager drawing Rs. 15,000 PM. Best of all, today they all know each other by name. An annual dinner is also hosted where they all gather in a fun environment.
Question 10 -- Police is itself considered, rightly or wrongly, a source of problems in the society. How can we trust them?
This is a very difficult question. Like whether the egg came first or the chicken! But I guess, Allah sent the chicken packaged in an egg shell. Do not laught it off :) . This is true. We share your thoughts and concerns that the Police system is an un-reliable thing in our society. But surprisingly the organizers and members of other CPLC Neighbourhood Care Projects have pleasant experiences to share with us.
The community has taken care of certain basic needs of the Police personnel assigned to them. And as a result they have become a part and parcel of the Community. Today, the situation is that Policemen seek recommendations to get themselves appointed and remain in CPLC NC structure. The factors behind this seem to be: An ordinary Police officer and personnel has to perform very difficult and tough tasks for extra long and restless hours in the Police stations and on the roads. Some of the tasks also compromise with the conscience and the moral values. Working closely with community they are in a fine environment, with an honourable life. The community often provides them with their alms and donations on religious occasions, substantiating their income.
Monthly expenditure for each Police Guard remains close to Rs. 3,000, which is much cheaper than hiring private security guards. The organizers of other communities of existing CPLC NCs say that you find out about their individual goodness only when you work with them. They find themselves taken care of, and not forced to pick pockets of any victims! They are given new uniforms, shoes, laundry facilities, and a daily food allowance and certain bonuses.
Their monthly pay comes from the Sindh Government, along with their weapons. There is a secret system of surveillance over them, and in case of any suspicions wrong persons can be easily removed and replaced .
Question 11 -- We have a modern security alarm and aid system, which dispatches armed guards on pressing a panic button and raising an alarm!
There are various levels of security paradigm. Ordinary Chowkidaars with a whistle, Licensed Armed Guards from authorized security agencies, and passive electronic warning systems. Each one of them has its place, merits, and demerits.
Generally Private Guards, and Chowkidaars, work with inappropriate resources and training. They cannot put up a fully fledged resistance against a gang of organized criminals. You must have observed that such Chowkidaars are forced to work in an inhumane environment. Their income is low too (if hired from a Security Agency, the fees charged by them should not be forgotten), and they can succumb to greed and criminal minds and gangs urgings. It is often reported in the press that crimes are committed daily with their connivance at the banks and jewellers. They are made to sit in the streets in a discomfort, where they are sick of their lives because of heat, hunger, thirst, and are bathed in their sweat for many a days without a shower. Many times suspects can be seen sitting with them. People without uniforms and ID cards, are seen showing off their weapons, and one wonders if they are the Guards or Criminals themselves!
There are many legal issues too. Private guards do not fire, and they cannot interrogate suspects wandering in the streets. In most of the instances these guards are unknown persons, without a reference and a character and address check. In case of any problems you will never find them.
Other modern security systems work on a premise that if an un-authorized person would attempt to break-in, the system will raise an alram.... if turned on at that time. The security guards will then come, but they cannot enter your house ... by law, and by their contract. That can be done by Police only ! Such systems represent second tier. First step is that suspects ought to not be able to enter the streets. If they manage to, they are immediately spotted and restrained. It must be acknowledged, however, that such second tier systems do have a repelling factor for the criminals who have little time and risk taking abilities.
Please think more about this. How do the criminals of today are operating? They come in the strength of 5 to 10 persons. They enter very peacefully, taking someone at the gunpoint in broad day light. No observer can sense that something wrong is going on! They enter in the open doors, while people are leaving for offices, children are going or coming from schools, and when the gardeners are working..
The electronic alarm systems rely on telephone lines, and some emergency systems through mobile phone network too. These work on a premise that no un-authorized persons can enter. For this you will have to keep your windows and doors closed. This is an unlikely scenario in Pakistani society. It makes you a sort of a prisoner in your own home! Whenever an acquaintance will come, you will have to turn off the alarm. And when needed this is possible that the system would be off! Because in view of the recent spate of crimes and their modus operandi, the crimes are taking place while the alarms are off, or the guards are away.
For a right opportunity for them, the criminals plan and wait for months. Because it is a project worth hundreds of thousands of rupees. And how do they find out about their victims. They are NOT magicians. They get information from Maids, Drivers, Gardeners, and of course your unknown Chowkidaars! If someone emerges at your doorstep with a gun pointed at your dear ones ... can you press the button ! ?
Prevention is better than cure. And our system works on that premise.
Question - Point 12 -- Ask a few interesting questions from the UNKNOWN self appointed Guards !
Next time if such a person comes at your doorstep, ask:
Where is your ID card, give us a copy (then check it too with NADRA website). Where do you live now, and what is your permanent address. Give us names, addresses, and phones of some of your relatives and friends. How to call you when needed. What is your responsiblity if a crime occurs. What are your work timings.Who supervises them! Where else you roam and collect money from. Give us a receipt signed by someone known to us in the Mohalla. Who is your boss. Give us two latest pictures of yours. Can you read the number plates, and can you write them for us?
You will be surprsed to know many an answers that you will get. People like them use prayers, force, and threats to extract money from you.
Question / Point 13 -- About the CPLC system, it looks like you are talking about some dreams, is this all true?
Yes, this is a dream that has come true in many places in Karachi. Its has been realized following the national and moral values provided by the Great Leader, founder of Pakistan: Unity, Faith, and Discipline.
This is a well connected, equipped with mobility and most modern communication systems. Even general police can be called upon by it in case of any emergencies.
Still You have more questions ! Or need any further clarifications and information. Just write to us on .... hashims@gmail.com ....
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