Court seeks information on VIP protocol rules

SHC is hearing a case against the 'menace' of VIP protocol

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) granted on Monday a week's time to the petitioner to submit the laws and rules under which protocol is given to public functionaries in the country.

Headed by the SHC Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, the bench granted time to the lawyer representing a non-profile trust that approached the court last week seeking an end to the protocol given to government personalities.

Social worker Ansar Burney, who heads the Ansar Burney Trust International, had taken the President House, Prime Minister House, interior ministry, Sindh home department secretaries and the provincial chief secretary to court.

In the plea, Burney said motorcades of public functionaries, including members of parliament, ministers, MPAs and leaders of political parties routinely trampled public sentiments.

"VIP protocol has become a menace for society and its habitants, being over-defensive in approach, excessive in content and obtrusive in nature, due to which public convenience routinely suffers," Burney argued in the petition.

He said the high-speed movement of VIPs' armed convoys, with their bomb-and-bullet proof cars and tinted windows, scares the masses and causes unnecessary inconvenience to the public. The petitioner alleged that traffic is brought to a standstill and people are held 'hostage' to ensure a smooth drive for the VIPs.

The human rights activist mentioned that ambulances carrying patients get held up in traffic jams, citizens cannot reach airports or train stations on time and doors of hospitals are closed for the public, which leads to the death of patients; all due to VIP movement.

Burney stated that these moves impose an active barrier upon the free movement and liberty of the people. "The basic and fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution guarantee people the freedom of liberty and movement, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by the law," the petitioner maintained.

He argued that Articles 9, 10, 14, 15 and 25 of the Constitution specifically guarantee rights for the security, liberty, dignity, freedom of movement and equality of all citizens, thereby every person has an inalienable right to enjoy the protection of and be treated in accordance with the law.

He pleaded the court direct the respondents to ensure that roads are not blocked during any such movement.

He also sought directions for the respondents not to infringe or curtail public liberty or violate fundamental rights by closing down service centres such as airports, hospitals or suspending other routine public operations.

Public outcry over the issue has recently gained momentum following the death of an infant in Karachi last month due to VIP movement.

Ten-month-old Bisma, who was suffering from measles and a high fever, died on December 23, 2015, after her father was unable to enter Civil hospital due to security measures in place for Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who was inaugurating a trauma centre there.

The trust's lawyer, Shagufta Burney, requested a week's time to present the rules or laws, which direct for the provision of VIP protocol. The judges allowed her request and granted one week time to do so. The hearing was adjourned for a date to be later notified by the office.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2016.