KARACHI - The commandant of the Special Security Unit (SSU) called upon the under-training assistant superintendents of police to acquire latest professional capabilities to foil the nefarious designs of the terrorists, hardened criminals and target killers.

He was speaking to 40 under-training ASPs who visited the SSU Headquarters here on Saturday. The under-training ASPs are participating in the training program at the National Police Academy, Islamabad, and are presently on a study tour of Sindh. Maqsood Ahmed said that the police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies were collectively working with devotion, sincerity, honesty, particularly in Karachi and with the result “we have successfully challenged the activities of anti-state people”.

The commandant emphasised the need for stern action against the criminal elements, terrorists without any discrimination, with high sense of responsibility and enthusiasm because the criminals were enemies of the country, residents and future of Pakistan. He said that the SSU has started working on modern lines to ensure justice to people. Common people would like to approach the police for redressal of their grievances without any hesitation.  All the commandos of SSU have been provided different professional trainings from various institutions, including army training centres, he added. The commandant informed that the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team consists of highly trained and well equipped commandos, including lady commandos. It is capable to effectively challenging and foiling any attempt of terrorists.

He said the police should improve their ability through human resources, selection, modern trainings and good ethics to meet the highest international standards of modern policing and added that ASPs are future of Pakistan and should follow the steps for the improvement of policing without corruption and try to bring police on public service.

Maqsood Ahmed informed that the SSU is Pakistan's first ISO certified Unit by the United Kingdom Accreditation System (UKAS), an international organization for maintaining international standards in the field of Counter Terrorism Operations, Provision of Foolproof Security to Important Personalities and Vital Installations. He added that a number of steps have been taken to strengthen the policing system including recruitment and psychologist tests on merit.  The recruitments are being made in the SSU through National Testing Service (NTS). The ASPs during visit to various sections of SSU were very impressed by the professional standard maintained in management, administration, counter terrorism operations and called the SSU as `world class law enforcement outfit in Sindh Police.

The ASPs also paid tributes to 28 martyred commandos of SSU who laid their lives in the line of duty.

The under training ASPs also witnessed the mock exercise conducted by the commandos of SWAT team where hostile situation is created by the terrorists.