PHC puts KP govt on notice in security withdrawal case

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday issued a notice to the provincial government to submit its reply with regard to the withdrawal of security from former chief minister Mahmood Khan.

A two-member bench comprising Justice SM Attique Shah and Justice Syed Arshad Ali heard the writ petition of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians Chairman Mahmood Khan, who was represented by Shumail Ahmad Butt Advocate.

Justice SM Attique Shah remarked that the district and sessions judges, commissioners and deputy commissioners also needed security. Justice Arshad Ali said that the district and sessions judges faced dire threats as they made difficult decisions. He questioned the demand for the allotment of eight security personnel by the former chief minister, adding that this would put more burden on the exchequer.

Shumail Ahmad Butt appearing for the petitioner told the bench that Mahmood Khan was a former chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that the incumbent Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had ordered the withdrawal of the security detail on the plea that KP was a poor province and whoever needed protection should hire private guards. He said that previously two guards would be provided to the chief minister but later the number was raised to eight. Posing a question, Justice Arshad Ali asked wasn’t it too much to demand eight security personnel. He said that this would put more financial burden on the exchequer, calling for adopting austerity measures. However, he said that if one faced threats then it was a different matter. His lawyer requested the court that his client should be provided security as he was a former chief minister, arguing that politicians faced more threats. To this, Justice SM Attique Shah remarked that the district and sessions judges, commissioners and deputy commissioners also needed security. The lawyer requested the court to order the provision of security to his client.

The court issued a notice to the provincial government to explain its position on the matter at the next hearing and adjourned the proceedings.