Neighbourhood Watch: Petition filed for security at Afaq’s home

Rangers had arranged security at the prison on December 17 when Afaq was released, no security at his home.

KARACHI:

An application has been filed in the Sindh High Court over concerns for the security of Afaq Ahmed and perceived threats to his life and to the lives of workers and supporters of his party, the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM-H).

Syed Iqbal Kazmi filed the application, seeking direction to the director-general of the Pakistan Rangers to provide security at Afaq’s residence.

The petitioner relied on a November 29 judgment in which the Sindh High Court held that the security of citizens was the prime responsibility of the state.

He said that the Rangers had arranged security at the prison on December 17 when Afaq was released but no security was provided at his home. They approached the Rangers DG, informing him of the harassment by rival party workers who pelted stones and fired in the air all night long in the locality.

Maintaining that it was a dangerous situation in the neighborhood, the petitioner asked the court to direct the DG to make adequate security arrangements for the protection of Afaq Ahmed’s life.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2011.