Airport security: ineffective equipment

THE Airport Security Force (ASF) is using faulty bomb detectors – ADE 651 – classified as 'useless' by the security agencies around the world. The managing director of the company which manufactured this device has also been arrested and bailed on the suspicion of fraud in the UK. The bomb detector has been classified as 'useless' by a New York Times investigative report. The American Federal Bureau of Investigation has also released several warnings on the usage and effectiveness of the device. The device's effectiveness is often marked as a 'display of security' by international security agencies. According to a reference guide by the National Criminal Justice Reference System, the US Department of Justice, all such devices have been termed as 'bogus explosive detection equipment'. The manufacturing and export of the device is now banned by the UK government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills since January last year. But, unfortunately, there several such devices have already been exported to Pakistan at whopping rates or as a donation to the ASF to detect bomb and explosives at sensitive locations such as airports. Recently, to everyone's surprise, the metal detectors for pedestrians have also been removed and taxis are allowed at the first lane at the Jinnah International Airport. I request the government and the authorities concerned to look into the matter on an urgent basis, especially keeping in view the prevailing terror threat to our airports. M. ZEESHAN MUSTAFA Karachi