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Reviewing security: Proposal seeks US guards for president
Govt considering foreign guards for dignitaries in wake of Taseer’s murder.
Govt considering foreign guards for dignitaries in wake of Taseer’s murder. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD: In the backdrop of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer’s murder by his own police guard, a proposal is under consideration that will bring in special security guards from the United States for President Asif Ali Zardari, according to highly-placed sources.
While the security of President Zardari has always been cause of serious concern for the authorities, a larger proposal is also under consideration by the government to hire the services of foreign security guards for a number of VVIPs including the prime minister, provincial governors, chief ministers, and a few federal ministers, the source told The Express Tribune requesting anonymity.
The proposals come as a part of the government’s decision to review security arrangements of important personalities following the shocking assassination of Taseer, which validated fears that religious extremism had penetrated the ranks of security forces in Pakistan. “An overhaul in the present security system has been recommended as an essential requirement by the authorities responsible for the safety and well-being of the VVIPs,” the source claimed.
On a number of occasions, the president himself has been quoted to have said in the presence of US diplomats and officials that his life was in danger. He has also been quoted to have instructed his son, Bilawal, the chairman of the party, to name his sister Faryal Talpur as the president in case he was killed.
The fear about the presence of extremist ideology in the forces has long been around. It surfaced a few years ago when the involvement of personnel of the Pakistan Air Force and Army in two unsuccessful attempts on the life of the then president Gen. Pervez Musharraf came to light.
Then, a young major who had joined the Taliban in the past year after resigning from Pakistan Army was interrogated by security agencies for his alleged links with Faisal Shahzad, the man who plotted last year’s unsuccessful Times Square bombing.
Meanwhile, the police department in Islamabad has collected detailed data of its personnel after the assassination of Taseer in Islamabad. The data includes the religious leanings of its personnel and also their family background in terms of affiliations with religious organisations.
Authorities plan to ultimately purge the department of suspect elements. In this regard, it is learnt that a few police personnel have already been removed from the security set-up.
Such data collection is also being recommended for the police departments of other provinces.
At present, an army unit, the infamous 111 Brigade, is deployed at the Presidency for the security of the president, while police guards are deployed around the four boundary walls of the Aiwan-e-Sadr. However, President Zardari has engaged many private guards from Sindh for his personal security – reflecting a distrust of government-provided security arrangements. There is now a proposal to install US security guards in the inner-most security cordon, the source said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2011.
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Zardari !
Why not hand over the reigns of our country to others! what an incompetent president we have.
Mr. President how about making an elite force of 20 ( known and screened ) commandos exclusive for your protection. trust me it would be cheaper than foreign security guards who will act as magnet for attacks.Recommend
How deeply shameful….this makes it official that we’ve now joined the ranks of the banana republics. Maybe Mr Zardari would also like to appoint foreigners as Generals in our army since he trusts them more.Recommend
Mercy,
If president seek foreign Security guard for his own security then you can imagine overall security situation of whole country.
Leave Public to its own fate. It demonstrate the gravity of security situation in Pakistan.Recommend
Wow!
The head of state of Pakistan trusts and American soldier to protect his life over his own countrymen!!!
What image does this project of Pakistan abroad? Forget about so-called India – Pakistan “trust deficit”.
There is a ‘trust deficit’ between the head of state and his own country!!!Recommend
these morons need to get out of pakistan if they feel that much insecure. cause they are not worth a dime of tax payers money on their security.Recommend
I consider it a mark of great prudence in a man to abstain from threats or any contemptuous expression, for neither of these weaken the enemy, but threats makes him more cautious and the other excites his hatred and desire to revenge himself.
Can you guarantee the security of a VVIP? Sure you can. Simply place the VVIP in a cement cube with six-ft-thick walls. Don’t let anyone have access to him or her.Don’t allow the VVIP to eat, drink, or receive gifts. Don’t provide air conditioning, heat, furniture, electricity or clothing. By doing so, the VVIP cannot be shot, poisoned, electrocuted or injured accidentally. DENYING ACCESS to everything therefore is the solution. Denying access of course, is impossible except in ideal situation. THE SOLUTION TO EFFECTIVE VVIP PROTECTION LIES IN CONTROLLING ACCESS TO VVIP and not by engaging bodyguards from foreign security.Recommend
The latter Mughal Emperors were also under the protection of the Company. History being repeated?Recommend
Again US is providing the security to the terrorism. Shame on such demand.Recommend
Good move, further alienate yourself from the people, !
Inshallah will lead to a VIOLENT REVOLUTION!! like the one of France, Krygistan, Tunisia, etc!
and these people will sufferRecommend
Well, what can I say :pRecommend
Well, seeing things the way they are going one wont be surprised if President shifts his office to US and function from there.Recommend
And who will give security to the Pak Army Chief and the ISI Chief. Maybe some Indian commandos!Recommend
Well, its such a pity that our leaders have to outsource even their own security to the US. Who can expect them to secure Pakistani Citizens?Recommend
The President does not trust his own security forces ?!! Perhaps the worst indictment of the prevailing situation. This has no precedent in the history of nations. Non-religious personnel are most in demand apparently.Recommend
It is the most incumbent act that is to be taken by the this Government. This will show how much do these officials rely on the foreign trust leaving Pakistan men behind in ruins. 111 brigade has been the most trustworthy of the units ever to be in Pakistan Army, it has always been protecting our official heads and has always been lead by the best of the best in Pakistan Army. If they are to be very much worried about their life tell these idiots to start delivering what they were elected to do. Bringing the blame on the Talibans is not the solution to every thing. As the result of their actions and language our leaders have themselves brought this brute less end on themselves.Recommend
Total Crap. Army won’t approve of that.Recommend
What a splendid idea! I have been having big problems with my gardeners for a while; they just can’t seem to get the right flower and vegetable yields. Since I pay good taxes, all on honestly earned money unlike that of the Prez, I am sure the government will now provide me a team of competent and committed U.S gardeners for my garden. In case the State Department stops them from traveling to terrorist ridden Pakistan, I will gladly accept capable gardeners from Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia or even a smartly dressed one from France.Recommend
Wow so now foreigners shall protect our country’s important personalities. In short the locals are no lonmger good enough.Recommend
Zardari guarded by American Forces – I can already see the media going ‘hog wild’ with this story.
If this report is true, Zardari really needs to fire his advisers.Recommend
why dont he just go of to USA forever with his familyRecommend
Instead of making the lives of all Pakistanis safe! Lets just secure the lives of the President, and the VVIPs…………… the rest of the public can keep blowing up, who cares!……………….and we will vote for these crooks again once elections come around next time, now that is sad.Recommend
Bringing in special security guards from United States to protect President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister of Pakistan in their own land is not understandable. Tomorrow US can conveniently send it special forces to replace Pakistani security personnel at our Nuclear sites and so on. If we have no trust in us then how we can trust others?Recommend
So the bottom Line is is your own elected body of civilian Govt. & President of PAK is not believing his own security establishment what a pitty nation with pitty people, What is the fate of common men who looks for his security towards this useless govt.?
So all Pakis appoint foreigner as your security guards and, in feature you may need to replace your own army with foreign army!
God bless you allRecommend
shame on you zardari now u.s guards for your security and what about the people of pakistan ??Recommend
Why not Mr. Zardari permanently live in the USA and operate the country from there? Neither will his life be in danger nor he will require any sort of security.Recommend
Hire USA clerics also in mosques across the country.Recommend
M/s. Sqn Ldr and Abdulla are absolutely and resolutely correct. In Pakistan’s straitened economic condition we cant spend prodigiously on foreign imports be they goods or services.
The time is for introspection, investigation and inspection of what we are doing presently and hope to do in the future.
Salams for 2011.Recommend
A laghuable thing… thats all i can sayRecommend
It must be a joke folks. Let us give whole country to the foreigners.. this should be Zardari’s next aim. And why not? At least they have started to admit they are so incapable.
Poor people don’t deserve to die either in the hands of this corrupt, inefficient and poorly trained security agencies of Pakistan. So hand over the whole security and law and order system to the foreigners…. ;)Recommend
All hail to Zardari!! He has reached an epic level…Recommend
Bringing in American guards is inevitable. President Karzai has long relied on American guards. So too has the Saudi royal family. It’s not simply for immunity from being ‘turned’ but for the training, the procedures and the total package. Otherwise Chinese guards could be used.
An Indian manager of an IT company in Chennai said that if the US dollar continues to fall in value compared to the Indian Rupee, he will be able to hire an American chef and an American driver.Recommend
This ‘news’ is loughable :) LoL
I think some enemy of Zardari floated this newsRecommend
What will happen when the US guards will change their religion and becomes Muslims and then join Talibans?Recommend
Now how come i am not surprised by this headline. We know all the puppets sitting in the government. This is a puppet cabinet, run by the worst of the worst (in contrast to the best of the best). Left alone they will probably be hired as mail boys (apologies to the mail boys)Recommend
wow why not outsourse vvip security to indian army??????Recommend
The mere idea is disgusting.Recommend
its too far fethed, it can never happen, Military institutions won’t let it happen because it down plays their image as the guardians of Pakistan.Recommend
@ravi
Indian Army should focus on protecting its own country which is its main job description. Let alone trying to up-sell them for other assignments.
Naxalites have your army pretty tied up…worry about that and dont worry about what happens in our country.Recommend
This govt. will call US securities to sit on our ARMY CHIEF if the will complete their tenure for 5 years, lets pray for the change of governance.Recommend
I doubt the authenticity of this report. It is highly unlikely a head of a country will deploy foreigners for security no matter how much trust deficit.Recommend
Its true. Politicians have looted the national exchequer and now they dream about living a lavish life abroad. They can hire the top security to secure their lives. But are they going to run away from the death Angel?Recommend
please bring along entire country’s management from US as well..!!Recommend
might as well get a foreign presidentRecommend
I think there are enough “real” problems with this government for the press to be publishing speculative stories. Sure, if he DOES go and get the foreign guards, it’s news; but at present, this reads just like tabloid rumour mongering. Aren’t there enough stresses in the life of an ordinary Pakistani that deal with much larger and actual realities that are eating into our national fabric? Must you go ahead and indulge in ridiculous stories that are not even verified? I’m no supporter of Zardari or his cronies, but let’s hold them accountable on what is already happening rather than what you say “may” happen. Express Tribune is fast becoming a tabloid. I’m disappointed!!Recommend
“He has also been quoted to have instructed his son, Bilawal, the chairman of the party, to name his sister Faryal Talpur as the president in case he was killed.” This seems to be the more scary thing than getting foreign guards. I’ll reserve my comments on the security guards if and when they are actually imported. I doubt anyone even in the present government is stupid enough to do that.Recommend
When we import these ‘gora’ guards for Zardari, can we get a few extras to secure our nuclear arsenal as well? This is extremely shameful that our (s)elected President does not even trust our law enforcement agencies. If that is the case, perhaps he should fire Rehman Malik for failing to carry out his duties. I fail to understand why so much security is needed for these VVIPs when a common person does not have any security. Do they have no shame or empathy for the people of Pakistan? This is truly an autocratic regime and not a democratic one at all.Recommend
Such great people we have leading our nation. They dont trust there own people for there security. But honestly, its not Zardari or any of our great leaders fault, its our own fault.
((((((He has also been quoted to have instructed his son, Bilawal, the chairman of the party, to name his sister Faryal Talpur as the president in case he was killed.))))))
Its just sad that if our president is killed, his sister will become presindent wow, great do these people own this country. Why cant we stand up and say we will elect our own leaders. in my life time i have only seen 3 people leading the country, (Nawaz, BB, Musharaf). Why do we elect them over and over and they screw us over and over. wake up before its too late. And those who say “im just one person, what can i do” Please realize the power of one. Katre Katre nal dareya banda ay yaroRecommend
I say, why don’t we kick Zardari out of the president house? Now, that is a good proposal.Recommend
The underlying problem is that your military and ISI don’t report to the civilian government and your President doesn’t have the allegiance of either organization. Who wants a bodyguard they can’t trust?Recommend
Dear Mr Zardari
Why so much effort to call US guards to protect your life ! why don’t you go and get your self a chair beside Obama. I do not understand the political system of Pakistan. People here are dieing on the roads becoming victims of road terrorism and this guy is looking for his own protection !! I think before I become abusive I should reserve my comment .Recommend
@Brabus
a minor correction : Indian army is not involved in anti-Naxalite operations. It is being executed by the Police and Para-military ( eg BSF, CSPF, etc). There may be an army officer here and there for ‘advise’.Recommend
we are atomic power have a good army good intelligence then we are seeking a security from america.Recommend
Zardari should carry a gun and wear a suicide vest. That should scare the likes of Qadri away.Recommend
the man has lost his marbles .. total nutter giving the world another reason to laugh at us ” come to Pakistan everything is fine .. what? ohh dont mind the guards “Recommend
The problem is that Kayani is not on the same plane as PPP. Kayani is also closer to PML-N. Just like Punjab Governor was assassinated, any politician can be by using the security guards under the best possible pretext of “individual act to protect religion or nation”.
Zardari’s demise at this stage can jeopardize the whole fight against terrorism.Recommend
@Syed A. Mateen
That is ‘out of the box’ thinkingRecommend
ad nauseam
The President putting his support behind the namoos-e-rasool brigade, and asking for US security guards (most likely Christians) to protect him. Height of audacity and nerve. Just ask the namoos-e-rasool bullies and ask them to protect his life.Recommend
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.I think hopefully our leaders have forgotten it or intentionally denying this truth which Allah Almighty has clearly defined in the doubtless Holy Quran,id est,the death shall reach you even you hide yourself in the strong castles.And it seems that our corrupt leaders are forgetting this that the angel of death has complete authority to capture the souls even under the tight security blanket by foreign security guards.Thanks to Allah Almighty that the govt didn’t request Pakistan Army for president Zardari’s security.The greatest shame,curse and woe many times be on our corrupt leaders because in their eyes nation’s security is nothing and poor Pakistan’s and poor nation’s wealth now is wasted on the security of leaders,ministers,bureaucrats and VVIPs.If Zardari is feeling so much more insecure in Pakistan then why doesn’t he leave Pakistan like Altaf Hussain and use telephonic addresses from USA as Altaf Hussain addresses from UK.Definitey US security guards shall paid from Pakistan’s treasury and just for one person.How much more prodigal Pakistani leaders have been now-a-days?They don’t have right to be the leaders of Pakistan and its nation.They don’t feel any hesitation by showing such this type of greatest effrontery and meanness before the nation whereas when they beg votes then the nation is too closer to them and after being ministers and leaders they live so much far away from the nation even they address the nation behind the bullet-proof mirrors. Then why do they claim to be the sincere and honest for the Pakistan and the nation?Recommend
I would rather call the Pakistan Armed Forces to take notice of this wishful thinking of this foreign dictated indeed protected President and take action against him before it’s too late. He is the man who will invite the Americans to take over the Nuclear sites which they are after for many years. I need to mentiuon here that I am strongly against Army takeover but in such circumstances, this action becomes due because there is no other way around to get rid of him and other Zardari like minded people. Is there any difference between Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai and Asif Ali Zardari (President of a Nuclear State)? The common point is that both are protected by the Americans. Besides, our present politicians’lot look towards there western masters and not the poor masses who vote them to the presidentship and premiership. They are all corrupt, they cannot deliver. They should be sent packing to whom they call for their security for good. Confiscate their lands and allot them to the most deserving farmers who pay taxes, you will see the country’s economy start booming once again.Recommend
Did someone Imposed Zardari on Pakistan? he Is elected By her people.. So if he feels so, it’s time fpr every pakistani to look into self, there is something wrong right there.. HARD TO ACCEPT.. but truth.. Politicians in a democracy are a replica of it’s people.. like curroption in both countries..Recommend
Haha. When I had joked that Zardari and Sherry Rehman and the likes will hire CIA for their protection, never knew that would turn out to be true!
I dont care about Zardari or any one else, lets just hope the guards guarding nukes and nuke materials are not radicalized, which is a scary scenario for not only Pakistan but its neighbours as well.Recommend
@ bilal its better if the AMERICANS take over.. at least they will get rid of the MullahsRecommend
Asif ali zardari can’t belief his guards anymore. That proves pakistani’s don’t beleives pakistani’s. Pakistani president faces lot of trouble in governs the country. Will he borrow some rulers from usa to governs pakistan. The president who can’t protect himself then how he protect his country and its peoples.Recommend
…oh and another idea….Zardari should just hire a few taliban to protect him. Then he would be completely safe. Obviously he would have to clear it with the drones……:)Recommend
The overwhelming response to this speculative article shows ignorance in the societyRecommend
World is getting funnier and funnier each day.
Zardari might also like to shift USA for security purposes.Recommend
After further consideration, though I love any opportunity to trash our undeserving President, this piece is just another demonstration of the poor judgement at Express Tribune. There is no source, there are no facts, just rumors. So far ET seems to publish mostly opinions and rumors and is not a news site at all.Recommend
Well Done Express Tribune! U guys have Taken Lead from Geo! Keep it up! Importing people like Klasra has improved ur rumours producing Mechanism.Recommend
Guys why are you all looking at this negetively? It will have a very positive impact in a few ways:
1- maybe, maybe after he actually brings in foreign security our ministers will be upset for surely they will not all get foreign security, they might end up resigning from their posts which would crumble the govt…and i guess he still had ways to manage MQM and Nabeel Gabol on their resignations but if another bunch resigns he wont have much left to offer!
2- maybe if this planning is approved, our hujoom of a qaum might actually come out and say enough is enough, youve plundered enough its time for you to leave…
the only thing that worries me is that he has actually thought of this leadership as a throne/royal family that it will keep on getting passed on and that faryal talpur will step in if he is assassinated!Recommend
I don’t understand Pakistani democrats. When a majority elects a head of state, he/she is not president of their political party. They are head of state for the country. That’s the essence of democracy. They need to survive. We elected them. If we didn’t want them to survive, we shouldn’t have elected them, or those that casted ballots in his favor. It appears that we like democracy when “our guy” wins.
After losing leaders to assassinations in the past (l a khan, z. Haq, z. bhutto, b Bhutto, s taseer) and clear evidence that local law enforcement agencies have been penetrated by militants, what’s wrong with this move? And don’t start with comments around “common people’s security.” Everywhere in the world govt leaders get more security. They need to. Their harm gets more coverage and therefore more terror than a nameless person (including me), however tragic that is. You think the queen walks around unprotected in south London?Recommend
We have the world 5th largest and well equipt army in the world. they are proving security to the country at every front where any pakistani needs.
Why they are not cappable in providing security to ZARDARI? may be his is not a pakistani.
I think US will be so for, zardari should consider INDIAN security.Recommend
Zardari, as the President of this country, has the right to self protection because he can afford it. So can anyone else who can afford personal guards, whether local or foreign. In most of Muslim lands, our rulers used to have distinguished set of personal guards from far off places. Even our Salauddin Ayubi used to have foreign guards. But the main difference is that, whereas leaders like Ayubi had guards who were foreign (but always Muslim) we are not sure about Zardari guards. Will they be Muslims or foreign? I imagine that most of the American mercenaries who now protect lame-duck Karzai are Christian mercenaries who, as Mughul history has proven beyond doubt, could be dangerous in the long run. They over ran whole of India and ruled it for over 90 years. Is Zardari allowing that to happen? I think the first step was to hand over the most precious place in Karachi for the US embassy. This, then, should not come as a rude shock. If the report is right, he will surely bring in US guards.Recommend
Paid $10 billion to Musharaff. Paying few more dollars to security is no big deal. Pak runs in US money and constant non repayable loan from world bank any way. When do Pak people will demand good governance for their own prosperity? The whole thing in Pak is farce. Jinnah will role in his grave if he hears what is going on. Pak is ruled by UK residing leaders who only think of their country only when they feel like it. I see a total disconnect by the people who live there,those who comment here, Pak media, and Pak live in US and UK. US is going to be in Pak/Afg forever. That is the nature of reality. Nawaz will be in power soon, since Pak supreme court had said that Zardari has to face the charges. Hope the new supreme court is honest and sincere. Whether Nawas or Zardari or Musharaff the people who give money for Pak want security and possibly repayment of the loan. So for now Pak has to live with the sight of foreign security protecting their own leaders. That is unless the military decides to solve the problem by becoming Pak government again. It is a vicious cycle.Recommend
@ CANUCK:- Err Hello …Pakistan has always been a banana republic! In fact your british/jewish masters have had you on a downward spiral of secularisation and thus capitalistic exploitation ever since the forays of the east india company dangled their carrotts before some wayward do well sahibs of the mughal downfall,,,not to mention possibly their greatest success the secular exponent of hindustan cum urdustan-M.A JINNAH,hence as a secular state yearning for the mythic democracy,another instrument of colonial manipulation it has slumbered from one obedient lackey to another,unfortunately the brainwashing of the british co conspirators and their pseudo sufi/brelwi offshoots have caused all manner of disturbances as the vast majority of pakistanis who now want a change.an islamic change are being denied an authentic method of reform as these groups are way off cue in terms of a successful and comprehensive aqeeda and thus the few who are calling to the correct aqeeda are sidelined as extremists this of course is the colonialist objective to keep the muslim ppl of pakistan divided,weak and dependent on foreign aid,there is off course extremism when you have people who try and impose an ideology on others they themselves do not understand correctly what do you expect?The people of pakistan have a leader they deserve if they didnt they would have proof by their results and endeavours of a better situation>>>allah swt says in Quran al kareem “a people cannot change untill they change what is in themselves” and only a dishonest man can be deceived by another dishonest man! so if you want instruction and wise counsel go listen to your lord and stop killing and imprisoning his awliya and those who inherit the way of liberation.Oh People of sindh you were once conquered by a 16 year old youth from arabia who abolished that oppression in that time and bought you a golden age in your history!Today the americans british and the jews have conquered your land and have given you a dark age to dwell in…will you not then take some time to reflect on this matter!Recommend
Another red herring is the nuclear arsenal>>yes it could and should act as a deterent to aggressors but lets face it they will never be used, as under your current lackey apparatus they would probabley end up raining down on pakistan itself.
No! what the crusader alliance really fear is an authentic islamic economy based on the sunnah,that is what the taliban were on the verge of doing ..minting a currency and guess what followed _(9/11) and afghan invasion,the truth is as long as you keep propping up the imf cabala of jewish credit and debt subservience you can rule pretty much any way you like from the temples of democratic connivance and trickery.Recommend
Amazing!!!Recommend