KP govt claims CM not given security in Faisalabad

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government has expressed serious concerns to the Punjab government over non-provision of security to the KP chief minister during his visit to Faisalabad on Wednesday.

The Punjab chief minister was requested to initiate an inquiry into the circumstances, which caused this deviation from the set protocols and SOPs. The KP government has warned that such inaction of not providing security unilaterally may lead to a rethink.

A letter sent to the Punjab chief minister stated that the KP chief minister was scheduled to visit Faisalabad in Punjab. Proper intimation was provided by the chief security officer to the Punjab chief minister on Aug 27. This was followed by telephonic interaction with officers concerned of the SSP Operations Faisalabad.

However, no security was provided during the movement of the KP chief minister. The letter said these protocols are for the safety of all VVIPs and VIPs across Pakistan, so provided for in the Blue Book as well as the norms, and are critical to avoid any untoward incident. The security threats to the person of VIPs including, especially, the chief minister due to the incidents of terror directly impact security of such personalities and such movements.

This situation is further accentuated by the fact that the KP government provides security, escort and protocol over and above the requirements even to all dignitaries of the federal government and provinces, their VIPs, ministers, and even senior officials, including those of the Punjab government, within its jurisdiction as required in the regulatory regime as well as tradition and courtesy. Such inaction of not providing security unilaterally may lead to a rethink. The competent authority has directed to bring this fact in notice of the Punjab chief minister and to initiate an inquiry into the circumstances which caused this deviation from the set protocols and SOPs.

When contacted, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said security was provided to Gandapur as per SOPs, but protocol was not given because he was appearing in an anti terrorism court as an accused.