ISLAMABAD: Thousands of officials deployed on the security of individuals without entitlement were withdrawn after Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar gave a 24-hour deadline to the inspector generals of all the provinces to implement the withdrawal orders.
In Punjab, security of 1,853 personalities was withdrawn, calling back 4,610 officials. In a report submitted in SC’s Lahore registry on Saturday, Punjab IGP Capt (r) Arif Nawaz revealed that a total of 4,610 police guards had been withdrawn from non-entitled persons. They include: 297 policemen withdrawn from the security of politicians; 527 withdrawn from civil administrative officers and police officers; 469 withdrawn from judges of lower courts; 54 officials withdrawn from security of media persons and 23 policemen withdrawn from the security of lawyers.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar praised the Punjab police chief over the action but reminded him to ensure provision of security to those persons who are entitled to it as per policy.”Lest it happens that an incident occurs tomorrow because of a lack of security,” he added.
The CJP said as per his information 7,000 policemen were assigned the security of non-entitled persons. He directed the Punjab IGP to submit a complete report regarding the withdrawal of security personnel within two weeks.
In federal capital, IGP Dr Sultan Azam Temuri issued orders for withdrawal of security from individuals not entitled to it.A total of 246 personnel of Islamabad police were withdrawn from unauthorised persons including:50 from politicians; 86 from civil judges; 33 from former IGs and police officers; 21 from officers of Islamabad administration; three from foreigners and 53 police personnel deployed for the security of bureaucrats, media representatives and civilians.
On Friday, Sindh IGP AD Khawajahad also ordered immediate withdrawalof thousands of police guards from unauthorised persons as per directions of the SC. It is expected that around 4,000 policemen would be withdrawn and deployed for policing in Karachi alone.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IGPSalahuddinMehsud had already assured the court of similar action on Thursday. He had disclosed that around 3,000 personnel had been deputed with different persons of which around 70 per cent were not entitled under rules.
Some 429 Balochistan Constabulary officials were withdrawn from the VIP deployment.The officials were deployed on the security of political leaders, tribal elders, former senators, former bureaucrats and retired policemen.In Quetta alone, 331 policemen on VIP security protocol were withdrawn.
Published in Daily Times, April 22nd 2018.
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