PHC moved against police deployment for VIPs’ security

PESHAWAR: A writ petition was filed in the Peshawar High Court on Friday against the deployment of around 5,500 policemen for security of VIPs, including government officials and elected representatives, instead of protecting the public and maintaining peace.

Local lawyer Muhammad Khurshid Khan filed the petition seeking direction from the Peshawar High Court (PHC) for the provincial government and police department to either recruit police for ensuring peace and protection to the people or impose ban on VIPs security.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government through chief secretary, secretary Home and Tribal Affairs and Inspector General of Police were made parties in the petition.

As per the information received from the provincial Police Department through the Right to Information Act, 2013, he said that he was surprised to know that 5,500 police
personnel were deployed for the security of VIPs in the province.

The petitioner pointed out that it was a matter of concern that the provincial government led by PTI, which claimed and promised to end VIP protocol, has deployed 1,529 police personnel on VIP duties in Peshawar where the police strength is 6,200.It was submitted that in Peshawar, 178 policemen were deployed on duty for 25 VIPs and 1,005 cops were protecting houses of VIPs and government officials.

He said that out of 6,200 policemen in Peshawar, only 3,000 were on duty to protect the public and their property and to foil terrorist attacks and maintain peace.

He said that 271 policemen were deployed on VIPs’ security in Malakand, 172 in Mardan, 52 in Dera Ismail Khan, 59 in Abbottabad, 38 in Kohat, 9 in Karak, 10 in Hangu and 101 in Lower Dir.

The petitioner noted that VIPs protocol and closure of roads during their movement create problems for the public as patients sometimes die in ambulances on the road, government officials and other employees are unablr to reach office in time due to the closure of roads and traffic jams.

He requested the court to direct the government to submit details about the expenses being incurred on 5,500 police personnel deployed for VIPs security. He also prayed that the list of the VIPs being provided security should be made available by the government and the money spent on their security be recovered from them.

He also requested the court to direct the government to ensure protection of the life and property of the people as it was the state’s constitutional obligation and restrict the unnecessary movement of the VIPs on roads to reduce the suffering of the miseries and end use of tinted glasses in vehicles.