10 Elite Force personnel ask to be relieved from chief justice’s security detail
10 commandoes deputed for LHC CJ security replaced after they asked to be excused from their current duties.
LAHORE:
As many as 10 commandoes of the Elite Force deputed with the Lahore High Court Chief Justice, Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, were replaced on Tuesday after they asked that they be excused from their current duties.
A total of 24 Elite Force personnel are part of the chief justice’s security detail. Some of them also guard the chief justice’s court room in plain clothes while he holds proceedings.
On Tuesday, after the security personnel escorted the CJ from his residence to the High Court, 10 of them complained to DSP, Izaz Shah, incharge of security, that they would like to be relieved from their current duties because they did not fall within the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the Elite Force. The disgruntled officials told the DSP that they were supposed to be the chief justice’s escorts but in violation of SOPs were being made to give ‘point duty’ throughout the day.
They then asked the DSP to convey their reservations to their highups. DSP Izaz discussed the matter with DSP Mahboob, the incharge of escort duty, and after deliberation they informed senior officers of the Elite Force. A few hours later, orders were issued to replace the 10 policemen with other members of the Elite Force. The orders were carried out by DSP Haji Abbas of the Elite Force.
Lahore High Court Registrar Abdul Sattar Asghar, refused to comment on the matter saying that providing security was the police’s duty.
An Elite Force officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that it was difficult for them to focus for long hours since they were not trained for it and it was not part of their job description. “Even though we aren’t supposed to perform static duty but we wouldn’t have minded that for an eight-hour shift. On this assignment, sometimes we have to perform duty round-the-clock without even being allowed breaks to have our meals!” the policemen said.
According to the head of Elite Force in Lahore, Muntazir Mehdi, Elite Force personnel had been asked to perform static duty after a plot to assassinate former chief justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif was reported. He added that the officials had conveyed their reservations to the administration of the LHC in writing, which was not the proper forum for them. “They should have talked to me if there were any problems,” Mehdi said. He said an inquiry had been initiated against the 10 cops for using an ‘improper channel’ to redress their grievances.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2011.
As many as 10 commandoes of the Elite Force deputed with the Lahore High Court Chief Justice, Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, were replaced on Tuesday after they asked that they be excused from their current duties.
A total of 24 Elite Force personnel are part of the chief justice’s security detail. Some of them also guard the chief justice’s court room in plain clothes while he holds proceedings.
On Tuesday, after the security personnel escorted the CJ from his residence to the High Court, 10 of them complained to DSP, Izaz Shah, incharge of security, that they would like to be relieved from their current duties because they did not fall within the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the Elite Force. The disgruntled officials told the DSP that they were supposed to be the chief justice’s escorts but in violation of SOPs were being made to give ‘point duty’ throughout the day.
They then asked the DSP to convey their reservations to their highups. DSP Izaz discussed the matter with DSP Mahboob, the incharge of escort duty, and after deliberation they informed senior officers of the Elite Force. A few hours later, orders were issued to replace the 10 policemen with other members of the Elite Force. The orders were carried out by DSP Haji Abbas of the Elite Force.
Lahore High Court Registrar Abdul Sattar Asghar, refused to comment on the matter saying that providing security was the police’s duty.
An Elite Force officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that it was difficult for them to focus for long hours since they were not trained for it and it was not part of their job description. “Even though we aren’t supposed to perform static duty but we wouldn’t have minded that for an eight-hour shift. On this assignment, sometimes we have to perform duty round-the-clock without even being allowed breaks to have our meals!” the policemen said.
According to the head of Elite Force in Lahore, Muntazir Mehdi, Elite Force personnel had been asked to perform static duty after a plot to assassinate former chief justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif was reported. He added that the officials had conveyed their reservations to the administration of the LHC in writing, which was not the proper forum for them. “They should have talked to me if there were any problems,” Mehdi said. He said an inquiry had been initiated against the 10 cops for using an ‘improper channel’ to redress their grievances.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2011.