One of the important news of the previous week was the announcement of ban on private security services by the government. According to the statement issued by the Presidency, President Hamid Karzai had banned all the private security services. According to the sources, the step was taken after the consideration for a number of months when there were complaints against these security services. These complaints were about their illegal actions and being involved in activities which were against the public and state interests.

These security agencies were also complained of not obeying the codes provided to them by the government. Similarly, there were allegations of drug trafficking, human trafficking and other similar accusations against them. Use of drugs, alcohol and involvement in other immoral activities by the members of these agencies were also defaming and notorious.

Although these complaints were on the air from a number of years and government was also aware of them but government took its time in observation and investigation and at last, came up with this decision. It is also said that there were some strong and influential figures and politicians supporting these organizations and thus it was a hard task for the government to come up with the decision.

According to some sources, there were more than 75 such security organizations that had hired more than fifty thousand security personnel. Usually, these organizations worked to safeguard the caravans that carried the goods of ISAF and Afghan forces. These caravans were frequently attacked by Taliban and other anti-state elements and thus their security was very dangerous and crucial. Other than these, they had the duty of safeguarding the offices and residences of top government officials and international organizations functioning in the country.

There was also present a danger that these armed personnel were slowly emerging as an alternate for the national police and army and their increasing power had given rise to the emergence of a new and uncontrollable force parallel to our national security forces.

Anyhow, this decision has been praised by the critics and political experts as they had been continually alarming us about the potential threat of these agencies. Still it is feared that if the unemployed members of these agencies were not given a proper job, they might turn into gangs to carry out criminal activities for their livelihood.

Now, the government has decided to handover the responsibility of the security of caravans to the national police and army.

This decision is also worth-praising on the grounds that there should be single and disciplined force in the country and we should never give room to any other parallel arrangement because it may give birth to clash and chaos.