PPP chairman says he will marry a girl of his sisters' choosing. PHOTO: AFP
This was stated in a report filed on behalf of the provincial government in reply to a petition by the PPP's young chairperson, who had approached the court seeking adequate police and Rangers security and permission to travel in bulletproof vehicles with tinted glass. He had named the federal interior ministry, provincial home department and provincial director-general of the Rangers as respondents.
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In its report, filed by additional advocate-general Barrister Ghulam Mustafa Mahesar, the provincial government admitted that the petitioner had been receiving threats to his life and security agencies had issued reports that established that his life was at risk. It admitted that, after the assassination of his mother, Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal and his family were under constant threat from 'undemocratic' forces in the country.
The PPP-led provincial government agreed with the party chief's apprehensions about his and his family's safety because PPP leaders had been receiving threats to their lives and property from extremists and terrorist organisations.
In his petition, Bilawal had said that he wanted to travel in bulletproof vehicles with tinted glass. He also wanted security guards possessing licensed weapons to accompany him and his family members wherever they travelled in the country.
Agreeing with such precautionary steps, the provincial government said it is ready to allow the PPP chairperson to travel in the vehicles accompanied by security weapons.
The report said the provincial government also demands that the federal government make arrangements for such security for the petitioner and his family members.
The Sindh government also agreed with the petitioner's contention that security agencies had issued reports regarding 'serious' threats to his life and, therefore, emphasised the need for security arrangements, including a 24-hour special security cover, during Bilawal's visits to any part of Sindh or other provinces of the country.
To Bilawal's allegations that the federal and provincial governments were not entertaining his requests for such security, the Sindh government claimed it was providing adequate security to him. The report said the Sindh government further demanded the federal government to provide adequate security to the petitioner.
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Therefore, he had pleaded to the court to direct the respondents, as well as all law enforcement and other agencies, to provide a 24-hour special security cover and allow him to travel in vehicles having factory-manufactured tinted glass and have his personal security guards with licensed arms at his house, during travel and while addressing public meetings.
The court took the provincial government's report on record. However, no reply was filed on behalf of the federal interior ministry, the provincial Rangers DG or Sindh IG despite notices having been issued to them on October 25.
A federal law officer requested more time to enable him to file comments of the federal government.
Allowing the request, the bench granted time to the interior ministry, the Rangers DG and Sindh IG to file their comments till November 24.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2016.
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