KP government’s ban on VIP protocol is an eyewash

Notification says ‘mandatory security to VVIPs and VIPs will be provided
in accordance with law and security protocol as usual’; officials say
Blue Book is a more authentic reference than Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has slapped a ban on the VIP protocol on the calling of Imran Khan but the devil is in the details of the notification as it promises no change in the present practice.

‘Security detail’ is the new name coined for protocol in all the provinces and the Centre, something which the PTI chairman either doesn’t know about or feigns ignorance of as he himself avails a police escort.

The notification issued on December 26 by the KP chief secretary announced the abandonment of protocol but stated in the closing line: “Mandatory security to VVIPs and VIPs will be provided in accordance with law and security protocol as usual.”

While the information minister was not available for comments, background discussions with KP officials privy to the details have found that nothing has changed after the issuance of the notification. What has been banned through this order was not being practiced even before, they say.

There is, however, no policy shift either through the notification or otherwise on the protocol given to influential individuals. Many politicians from the treasury and opposition benches are not only availing themselves of the police escort under the garb of security threat but are also reluctant to pay for this security service as defined by the law.

In April this year, The News did a story based on information obtained through the RTI law that the KP Police spends Rs279 million annually on providing police escorts to influential individuals; 81 pc of them are sitting lawmakers. Further analysis of individual security details found that the taxpayers’ money consumed on their security was far higher than the annual tax they pay.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, for example, paid Rs15,688 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 KP Police. As for the VVIP security, the KP officials say the Blue Book is a more authentic reference than Imran, as they are bound to follow the rules.Although, they insist that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak’s convoy is moderate in size and no traffic blockade occurs during his movement, the media reported road blockade for 10 minutes within Peshawar in wait of his convoy to pass on Monday.

A day after the issuance of notification, TV cameras captured the images of his convoy of 11 vehicles when he visited Nowshera on Sunday.

The situation is not different in the other provinces. An RTI request seeking details of Chief Minister Punjab’s protocol found an interesting answer. Shahbaz Sharif travels in his personal vehicle and pays for fuel from his pocket, the official reply said, but stopped short of answering the number of vehicles and policemen detailed on his security. “Due to security issues, it is not advisable to disclose this information,” the reply said.

In fact, a news report before the May 2013 elections had prompted this RTI request. The report published in this newspaper in April 2013 revealed quoting official documents that 716 policemen were providing VVIP security to Mian Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and family members at a time when none of them was in the government.

According to the break-up of 761 policemen who continue to provide VVIP security to the Sharifs in Lahore at the expense of taxpayers’ money, 317 belong to the Punjab Elite Force, 302 are from the Lahore Police Security Division, 108 personnel belong to the Punjab Constabulary while 34 others are from the Lahore District Police.

Contrary to these details that were about the number of policemen, the RTI request asked about the number of security vehicles that was refused to be answered.

This all is done in the name of security. Information tabled in the Senate about policemen deputed with dignitaries also included the name of Imran Khan having eight police guards. Interestingly, Fazlur Rehman, who is availing himself of KP police escort, has also six cops from Islamabad at his disposal.

Iftikhar Chaudhry, being the 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 15 policemen and two police vans.

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 himself of this security cover. His shifting to Karachi in the midst of the treason trial brought a sigh of relief for the police. Nevertheless, there are still three policemen deployed to guard his farmhouse in Chak Shahzad.

Adviser to the Prime Minister Irfan Siddiqui has police guards more than any federal minister, analysis of the information submitted to the Senate found. Former senator Waseem Sajjad is a step ahead in availing the state protection who is guarded by one dozen cops.

The secretary interior also enjoyed security. While Imran himself travels in a convoy and simultaneously preaches against the VIP culture, Nisar leads by example. His security is invisible, contrary to the pomp and show by other political figures. One may be caught in disbelief to see Nisar on the road with visible security details unbecoming of a typical VIP.

Blowing sirens and forcing ways through traffic may be essential for the egos of VIPs but it exposes them to unwanted attention, according to an official who said foreign officials in Pakistan refuse to take police security on these grounds and rely on invisible arrangements.