Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police, on the directives of provincial government, have withdrawn security from 29 politicians and government officials across the province.
They have been asked to return 58 Elite Force commandos provided by police as personal guards. This move has resulted in widespread criticism due to the security threats to most of the politicians in the province.
Talking to The Express Tribune a police official said that 29 politicians and members of provincial assembly including veteran politician Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Aimal Wali Khan, Senator Ayub Afridi, PTI MNA Malik Anwar Taj, Amir Muqam, MPA Falak Naz, MPA Salahudin, DG NAB K-P, Director Anti Corruption, DG KEPRA, former Town III Nazim Arbab Muhammad Ali, former speaker Kiramat Chargarmati, Chairman RTI, Nawab of Dir and Secretary Industries were provided security.
“These people have police commandos as guards. Around 58 commandos are deployed with them who have been asked to report back to the headquarters,” said the official.
“Amir Muqam has three police guards, Amir Haider Hoti eight, DG NAB seven, Engineer Humayun Khan three, Kiram Khan Chagarmati three, Aimal Wali three, late Begum Naseem Wali Khan three, Asma Alamgir two, Malik Anwar Taj two, Senator Auyab Afridi two, MPA Falak Naz one, Nawab of Dir has one, Dr Iftikhar two and Dr Naeem two police guards,” he said, adding that all of them have been directed to return their police guards and arrange private guards if necessary.
“IGP K-P has also returned half of his security guards. The reason behind this decision is the shortage of police personnel,” he said.
On the other hand politicians hit out at the K-P government for its decision, calling it political victimisation as most of the politicians in the province have security threats and some of them have survived attacks in the past too.
Read more: Civil services: a national security threat?
In a statement the provincial government said that the police guards had been provided to some politicians on the recommendation of Home Department and those politicians who think that they have a security threat they should ask for security which will be provided after the recommendation of the assessment committee being established at Home Department.
The statement said that some of the politicians had used their influence to get police guards despite the fact that they had no security concerns and such a practice should be discouraged.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2021.
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