close
Thursday March 28, 2024

KP govt, IGP notified over police deployment for VIP security

By Akhtar Amin
June 17, 2017

Petitioner says 5,500 cops protect VIPs in PTI-ruled KP

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday put on notice the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and inspector general of police in a writ petition filed against the deployment of around 5,500 policemen for security of the VIPs instead of protecting the public.

A division bench comprising PHC Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Abdul Shakoor sought reply from the respondents before the next the hearing.

The petition, filed by senior lawyer Muhammad Khurshid Khan, sought direction from the high court for the provincial government and Police Department to either recruit police for ensuring peace and protection to the people or impose ban on Very Important Persons (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, I am surprised to know that 5,500 policemen have been deployed for the security of VIPs,” the petitioner pointed out.

He said it was a matter of concern that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the province claimed to have ended VIP protocol, but has still deployed 1,529 police personnel on VIPs duties only in Peshawar where the police strength is 6,200.

He submitted that in Peshawar alone, 178 policemen were deployed to protect 25 VIPs and 1,005 cops guard houses of VIPs and government officials. He said that out of 6,200 policemen in Peshawar, only 3,000 are on duty to maintain public order and to foil terrorist attacks.

Khurshid Khan 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, 10 in Hangu, 101 in Lower Dir and nine in Karak.

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 and employees are unable to reach their offices in time.

He requested the court to direct the government to submit details about the expenses being incurred on the 5,500 policemen deployed for VIPs’ security. Hesaid 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 people being the state’s constitutional obligation and to restrict the unnecessary movement of the VIPs on the roads to reduce miseries of people. He also sought ban on use of tinted glass windows in vehicles.