Airport security

This is about reports about bogus bomb detectors used at airports in Pakistan. James McCormick, the businessman responsible for selling this fake device – the ADE-651 – is in prison. This fake bomb detector has been banned all over the world, yet it continues to be used at all airports in Pakistan.

Pakistan’s airports have been declared red zones because of major security lapses; frequent bird hazards etc and require full focus to make them more secure. One of the major factors which facilitate security violators is easy access to all our airports by the mushrooming of residential housing societies and other commercial outlets around airports. The tragedy is that this fake ADE-651 is now being marketed by its new makers in Pakistan and used by police, security guards etc deputed to guard roads, buildings, bridges and other important locations. The sole purpose of creating these security agencies in Pakistan stands defeated if the greed of a few were to prevail.

M Tariq Ali

Lahore