Culture of VIP security on decline in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Police deployment at the VIP security in the federal capital has registered a decline during the PML-N government and especially after the shifting of former president General (R) Pervez Musharraf to Karachi and the retirement of two chief justices, official document reveals.
There are 745 policemen on VIP security in Islamabad guarding ministers, judges, bureaucrats, lawmakers, former presidents as well as prime ministers, ambassadors and important buildings in the current year, according to police record.
However, data of the past two years (2013-14) tabled in the Senate provides information only about the security provided to Pervez Musharraf, Supreme Court judges, ministers, top functionaries of the Senate and the National Assembly as well as three noted politicians.
As many as 282 policemen from inspector to constable were performing security duty in 2013 for Supreme Court judges, ministers, Pervez Musharraf, chairman Senate and speaker National Assembly and their number was decreased to 255 in 2014.
A comparison of 2013-14 with 2015 indicates that security for the said officials either decreased or remained the same.
The security of president and prime minister is not included in this record as they have separate arrangements. The police guard for the protection of the ministers range from one to six cops, far less in comparison with the PPP regime when they used to travel with dozens of policemen.
Interestingly, the interior secretary has more policemen for his protection than that of the interior minister. Adviser to Prime Minister Irfan Siddiqui has police guards more than any federal minister. Former senator Waseem Sajjad is a step ahead in availing state protection who is guarded by a dozen cops.
Chief Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Qazi Faez Isa have also returned police guards at their disposal, which will further cut the deployment in the current year up to 40 policemen.
Musharraf was the most guarded person in 2013 having 49 policemen at his disposal. Included among them were three inspectors, seven sub-inspectors, eight assistant sub-inspectors, seven head constables and 24 constables. Two double-cabins of the police were apart from the police contingent. Musharraf was the only retired VIP availing this security cover. His shifting to Karachi in the midst of treason trial brought a sigh of relief for the police. Nevertheless, there are still three policemen deployed to guard his farmhouse in Chak Shahzad.
His predecessor Rafique Tarar has one policeman at his disposal and successor Asif Zardari has five policemen. Former prime ministers Zafrullah Jamali and Pervaiz Asharf have one constable each.
Iftikhar Chaudhry, being chief justice, used to have 37 policemen for his security in addition to four vehicles. One inspector and sub-inspector each, three assistant sub-inspectors and head-constables each and 29 constables were deputed for his security. Justice Chaudhry’s post-retirement security still comprises of 15 policemen and two police vans. His successor in office, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani had 22 policemen first as acting chief election commissioner and retained this strength as chief justice along with two police vans.
However, the security deployment was on increase after the appointment of Justice Nasirul Mulk as chief justice who had 38 policemen, one cop more than Justice Chaudhry used to have.
Chief Election Commissioner Justice (R) Sardar Raza has 10 policemen for his protection.
The security of the NA Speaker was increased from seven policemen in 2013 to 10 policemen in 2014, whereas now-former chairman Senate Nayyer Bokhari experienced a decrease from 19 to 16 in the corresponding years. Raza Rabbani has decreased it further to 12 policemen.
The owner of the most expensive shopping mall in Islamabad, Sardar Tanvir Ilyas, stands out as the only private citizen that has three guards of Islamabad police.
Imran Khan, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Rehman Malik continue to avail police protection due to threats from militants. Imran has eight police guards, Fazlur Rehman six and Rehman Malik two police guards.
The KP police have also provided security to Fazlur Rehman and annual expenses incurred in this regard are Rs10.67 million, according to information The News had obtained through RTI request. There were more than 300 dignitaries availing police protection in the KP.