Expenses on security of KP MPs far higher than tax they pay

ISLAMABAD: Taxpayers’ money spent on the security of lawmakers is far higher than the annual tax they pay, if the trend emerging in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is any guide.
The budget spent on their salaries, perks and privileges is in addition to the security expenses. KP Police annually pay Rs279 million for providing police escort to influential individuals; 81% of them are sitting and former lawmakers, mostly from the opposition parties.
The News obtained information of the security expenses from the KP police using the RTI law and compared it with the taxes the politicians have paid in 2014. According to the rules governing the provision of police guard, no individual or institution can avail this facility free of cost. However, the KP police high-ups admitted that none of the political figures is paying for this service.
The average cost of the police escort provided to one politician in KP is Rs1.2 million (Rs1197146 to be precise) as the number of guard ranges from one to 35, study of the documents has found.
One constable deputed for an individual’s security costs the police Rs300,000 annually whereas 73% lawmakers of all the assemblies and Senate have paid the income tax equal to or below Rs100,000. In several cases, sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors and head-constables have also been deputed for their security.
Of 237 individuals availing police protection in KP, 219 are political figures. The News could access tax information of 190 of them and spotted 75 such politicians who either declared zero tax or didn’t file tax returns, though they had National Tax Numbers. And the taxes paid by most of them were negligible in comparison with the expenses incurred on their security.
Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, for example, has paid Rs15688 as income tax in 2014 whereas public money to the tune of Rs10.67 million was spent on his security in the corresponding year. This is the highest security expenditure on any lawmaker by the police.
His brother, Maulana Lutuf-ur-Rehman is a non-filer but the cost incurred on his security is Rs1.24 million. Emir Jama’at-e-Islami Siraj-ul-Haq and Awami National Party chief Asfand Yar Wali both have declared zero tax, however, the taxpayers’ money spent on their security is Rs1.06 million and Rs4.52 million respectively.
The KP police annual expenses on former chief minister (now a federal minister) Akram Durrani, who paid Rs18181 tax, is Rs8 million. Another former chief minister, Ameer Haider Khan Hoti’s tax is Rs31337 while money spent on his security is Rs4.70 million.
Haji Ghulam Bilour, ANP leader and former federal minister, paid Rs17271 tax and availed police escort costing Rs3.20 million.
Sikandar Sherpao, former senior minister and parliamentary leader in KP assembly of Qaumi Watan Party, paid Rs1000 tax and the police escort deputed for his protection cost the public exchequer Rs6.7 million in 2014.
Only three figures whose tax amount exceeds the expenses on their security belong to a political dynasty. They are: Saleem Saifullah, Humayun Saifullah and Usman Saifullah. Saleem paid Rs12.05 million and security cost was Rs714504. Humayun paid Rs11.74 million tax and cost of his security was Rs264732. Usman Saifullah’s tax in 2014 was 2.29 million with security cost Rs1.53 million.
The News sought information about the names, number of persons being provided security and annual expenditures per head from the ministry of interior, Islamabad Police, Punjab, KP, Balochistan and Sindh.
Comprehensive details were only shared by KP Police that has emerged the most transparent provincial force free of political interference, thanks to the PTI government.
Islamabad Police that has allocated 40% force for VIP security though admitted providing police escort to the political dignitaries without charging any penny, they didn’t share the requested details. Interior ministry, Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan refused to provide information violating their respective laws with impunity.
As for the KP politicians availing police protection, several ministers are included among them besides speaker and deputy speaker. Asad Qaiser, speaker, paid Rs1.43 million tax and availed police protection costing the exchequer Rs8.01 million. Deputy speaker Imtiaz Shahid declared zero tax and the expense on his security was Rs20.29 million.
Revenue minister, Ali Amin, paid zero tax but the expenses on his police escort were Rs1.44 million. Minister for excise and taxation, Jamshed Kakakhel is not a taxpayer but his security cost Rs600000.
Education minister Atif Khan’s tax is Rs244,191 and expenditure on his security was Rs2.89 million. Another provincial minister, Mehmood Jan, paid Rs1000 tax and availed security cover worth Rs356388. Agriculture minister, Ikramullah Gandapur paid zero tax and cost incurred on his security was Rs712776. Former minister Shaukat Yousafzai paid Rs24990 tax and availed security worth Rs712776.
MNA Imran Khattack, son-in-law of chief minister Pervez Khattack, paid Rs132502 tax and the security for him cost the exchequer Rs1.18 million. PML-N Senator Iqbal Zafar Jhagra paid zero tax and his security cost Rs358388.
Rs1.44 million were spent on the security of Shah Farman, minister for public health engineering, who declared zero tax. Ziaullah Afridi, minister for mineral development, cost police Rs1.88 million while paid Rs404560 as tax. Amjad Afridi, adviser to CM, is a non-filer but the cost on his security is Rs2.24 million.