Round-the-clock foolproof security sought for Imran Khan

Former PM's lawyer Azhar Siddique denies police's claim that adequate security had been provided at Zaman Park

LAHORE:

A civil miscellaneous application has been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking round-the-clock foolproof security with all allied facilities to safeguard former prime minister Imran Khan's life in a manner guaranteed in the Constitution of Pakistan, denying the claim of the police high-ups that adequate security had been provided at Lahore's Zaman Park.

On March 20, Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh of LHC directed the petitioner's counsel, advocate Azhar Siddique, and the PTI leadership to visit Zaman Park to verify the security provided to the former premier.

This came after the law officer representing the police high-ups assured the court that adequate security had been deployed, consisting of 123 police personnel, including officers and officials, in three shifts with approximately 35 officials on each shift. The law officer also stated that the physical presence of the security staff could be verified.

Read more: LHC turns down PTI request to restore Imran's 'foolproof security'

The order was passed by Justice Sheikh during the hearing of a plea filed by Imran Khan, who is a petitioner in the case. In the plea, Imran Khan had requested "foolproof security and permission to mark his attendance into court's proceedings through video link" to avoid any potential harm following an assassination attempt in Wazirabad.

On Saturday, advocate Azhar Siddique filed a plea on behalf of Imran Khan, contending that insufficient security had been deployed at the PTI chief's residence.

The plea stated that the petitioner had to make private security arrangements to safeguard his life due to the security lapses of the respondents, despite the constitutional obligation of the government and police high-ups to provide adequate security.

Siddique had also shared a list of previous and current security arrangements, saying that inadequate security had been provided to his client.

He said that Imran Khan has been left undefended against the persons/assassins who are out to murder him in cold blood.