have forgiven the man who shot my son dead. What has happened has happened,” Muhammad Rafiq tells me, his voice trailing off mid-sentence.

The elderly man looks visibly shaken. His younger son, MuddassirRafiq, 33, had been an office boy at a telecommunications company in Islamabad.

On March 19, MuddassirRafiq was at work when Fazle Kareem, the company guard, accidentally shot and killed him,the gun going off during amock anti-terrorism operation held near the office.

“In shooting my son, Fazle Kareem has wronged. All his colleagues who were part of the drill should be interrogated,” reads the FIR lodged by the father of the deceased following the incident.

While regional press and mainstream media were reluctant to report the incident, the details were widely circulated on social and, later, international media.

The telecommunication company did not issue an official statement about the incident. A company representative told The News on Sunday he could speak only about its products and services and maintained silence regarding the death by shooting.

ICT Police spokesperson Jawwad Baloch said that the weapon had been seized and the guard arrested. “He has been sent to jail.The police are following the standard procedure,” he said.

“The drill was undertaken without prior permission or intimation to the relevant authorities,” said Baloch. He said he could not issue a statement regarding the action taken against the company for the violation.

ProfDr Imran Sabir, who has designed the criminology courses for Quaid-i-Azam University, says it is shocking to see international businesses flouting protocols for such drills.

Outlining international protocols for anti-terrorist drills, he said, “notifyingthe concerned authorities is the first step. The local law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities have always to be informed about a planned mock drill in advance. This ensures that they are aware of the situation and can provide support if needed.”

Sabir says that clear communication was the second requirement in planning such an activity. “The organisers must ensure that all participants, including employees and security personnel, are informed about the mock drill and its objectives. They must establish a clear line of communication to avoid misunderstandings or confusion during the exercise,” he adds.

“To minimise the risk of accidents or injuries during mock drills, the participants should use only non-lethal equipment, such as training weapons and props,” says the professor.

Sabir says an anti-terror drill cannot be conducted in the absence of a designated safety office. “Asafety officer responsible for overseeing the entire exercise and ensuring that all safety protocols are followed has to be designated. This person should have the authority to halt the exercise if any safety concerns arise,” he explains.

The police and district administration were not informed about the activity in advance. Ideally, the authorities should have had a proactive approach and stopped such a tragedy from happening. However, they seem to be stretched thin due to the political trouble in the capital.

Dr Sabir says, “All security personnel involved in the exercise must have undergone proper training.The safety officer must ensure that they are familiar with the protocols and procedures to be followed during the mock drill. This includes understanding how to use non-lethal equipment and how to act in simulated scenarios.”

“The exercise has to be conducted in a controlled environment, with access restricted for unauthorised individuals. This helpsminimise the risk of accidental injury to bystanders or participants,” saidDr Sabir.

Prof Sabir says that regular review and debriefing are also necessary. He says all public and private bodies should conduct thorough debriefing sessions with all participants to identify areas of improvement and address any concerns or issues that arise during an exercise. “They must regularly review and update the protocols and procedures to ensure that they remain effective and safe,” he says.

“Psychological support must not be overlooked,” says Dr Sabir. “Provide support to employees who may be affected by the mock drill, including counselling services if necessary. This helps address any emotional or psychological concerns that may arise from participating in a high-stress simulated event,” he says.

Prof Sabir says due attention should also be paid to documentation and record-keeping. “Maintain detailed records of all mock drills conducted, including dates, participants, objectives and outcomes. This documentation can be used to assess the effectiveness of the drills and to identify areas for improvement.”

“Engage with external security experts or organisations to assist in planning and executing mock drills. This can provide valuable insights and best practices from professionals who have experience in conducting similar exercises,” he said.

“Lastly, ambulance and emergency services should be in place. Coordinate with local ambulance and emergency services in advance to ensure they are aware of the mock drill and prepared to respond in case of anunforeseen incident or injury. Establish a clear line of communication between the drill organisers and emergency services for rapid response, and have a dedicated medical team standby to address any medical needs during the exercise,” he says.

Area police and district administration say they were not informed of this activity in advance. Ideally, the authorities should have had a proactive approach and be able to prevent such a tragedy from happening.However, they seem to be stretched thin due to the political trouble in the Capital.

For Mohammad Rafiq, the fate of his son is something he has had to make peace with. He runs a small shop in the Domeli area of Sohawa, less than 100 kilometresfrom Islamabad on GT Road. Muddassir was the younger of his two sons. His other son is a motor mechanic. Muddassir had to come to Islamabad to make the two ends meet.

As he receives condolences for his young son’s death, Rafiq says he has forgiven the guard. He tells me, “What is gone is gone. It cannot be brought back. Kareem’sfamily contacted me. I allowed them to join the funeral and say their prayers.”

“They came to my place and pleaded for forgiveness. I granted their wish. It was an accident. There was no enmity. I have submitted my affidavit in the court and recorded my statement before the judge,” he says. “I had only two sons. Now I have one. May God grant us the strength to bear this loss,” he adds.

Whether the company accepts responsibility and how they propose a recompense for the bereaved family remains unclear.

The writer teaches development support communication at the International Islamic University Islamabad. He tweets @HassanShehzadZand can be reached at Hassan.shehzad @iiui.edu.pk