No more extra security for ministers, politicians

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has withdrawn additional security provided to federal ministers, leaders of different political parties and government officers, officials said on Monday.

Personnel have been pulled back from the security details of National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, and five federal ministers. The ministers will now have only two security personnel for their protocol. Three security officials, out of five, have been withdrawn from their security details. However, the security detail of Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani will remain unchanged.

Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari and Defence Minister Pervez Khatak are among several ministers who have had their security details reduced in numbers.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on July 6 had said that during a federal cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan had received a report that many governmental dignitaries were enjoying more protocol than necessary. In this regard, the premier has asked all government officials to scale back on availing protocol-related privileges, he said.

In a bid to save taxpayers’ money and to save the public from the inconvenience that comes with the protocol and security accompanying a head of state, the premier last week had announced he will be doing away with the practice when he went out to any private function.

“To save taxpayers’ money and avoid inconvenience to the public, I will not be going to any private function with protocol and security,” the prime minister twitered.

Meanwhile, the KP government’s decision to withdrawpolicesecurityfrom29personsincludingtwo former chief ministers and other political figures has stirred a controversy as Awami National Party (ANP) has termed the move an atempt to silence them.

However, the provincial government in a statement tried to dispel the impression and claimed that the move was aimed at withdrawal of guards deployed with the people, who were using them for show off.

An order issued by the elite police headquarters on July 10 stated that as per directions of competent authority, gunners and security guards were closed from officers as well public representatives with immediate effect. It said that the guards were directed to report to elite police headquarters.

Prominent among those, whose security retinue has been withdrawn, are former chief minister Ameer Haider Khan, Qaumi Watan Party chief Atab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam, ANP provincial chief Aimal Wali Khan, former minister Mian Itikhar Hussain, Asma Arbab Alamgir and former speaker of provincial assembly Kiramatullah Chagarmati.