Protection needed: Interior secretary must file comments by Jan27

The court was hearing a petition filed by PPP MNA Faryal Talpur.

KARACHI: The court gave a final notice to the interior secretary to file comments on a petition filed by MNA Faryal Talpur requesting more security.

The president’s sister, Talpur, who also heads the Pakistan Peoples Party women’s wing had gone to court earlier, complaining that she was not provided enough security.

The petition, filed by Masood Ghani, cited letters written by the Crises Management Cell to the federal interior ministry, home secretaries of all provinces, the director-generals of Sindh and Punjab Rangers, and Rawalpindi regional police officer on looming threats to Talpur’s life. All of these officials were made respondents in the petition.

Talpur asked the court to direct the respondents to make necessary security arrangements for her, and to also allow her to use a vehicle with tinted glasses and carry personal security guards with licenced weapons.

On Thursday, a federal law officer informed the judges that they have yet to receive comments from the interior ministry, and they wanted more time. Expressing annoyance, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah warned the interior ministry to file tfheir comments by January 27.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2013.