Petition against deployment of 5,500 cops for VIPs security: PHC attaches KP police chief’s salary over non-compliance with court order

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday attached the salary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police chief for non-compliance with court order in a writ petition filed against the deployment of around 5,500 policemen for security of the Very Important Persons (VIPs) instead of protecting the public.

A division bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Muhammad Younas Thaheem directed the Auditor General office to stop salary of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Salahuddin Mahsud after he failed to submit reply in the petition despite repeated notices.

During the hearing, Additional Advocate General, Mujahid Ali Khan, again sought time for submission of the IGP’s comments. However, the court rejected his request and attached the salary of the provincial police officer.

The court again put on notice the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government through Chief Secretary, Secretary Home and IGP to submit comments in the petition.

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 VIPs security.

“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 in the province,” the petitioner pointed out.

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

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

Khurshid Khan said that 271 policemen were deployed for 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 requested the court to direct the government to submit details about the expenses being incurred on the 5,500 policemen deployed for VIPs security. He requested the court to direct the government to ensure protection of the life and property of people as it was the state’s constitutional obligation and to restrict the unnecessary movement of the VIPs on the roads to reduce miseries of people.