LAHORE: The security and protocol officials normally violate guidelines regarding provision of security and protocol to distinguished personalities during their movement in Punjab, a key security official told The Express Tribune.
One of the recent government decisions concerning protocol requires officials to not let the motorcade exceed the limit of seven vehicles, but this requirement is more honoured in the breach than in the observance.
On the other hand, distinguished personalities feel happy to travel in long cavalcades comprising security and protocol with politicians’ vehicles running within the formation, during their tours to any part of the country, the official added, asking not to be named.
The VVIPs and VIPs entitled to protocol include the president, prime minister, all governors and chief ministers of provinces and visiting foreign dignitaries (presidents and prime ministers).
On December 16, a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani decided that the motorcade of the president and the prime minister shall be restricted to seven vehicles, and that of governors and chief ministers, to six.
The fleet of vehicles following the president consists of designated vehicles for the head of state and vehicles of security agencies, ambulances and police escorts. But the latest cabinet decision says the police escort shall be used only where necessary.
The decision was circulated by the cabinet secretariat vide No 6-7/08-CPC dated January 2, to all the provincial governments and ministries for implementation to the letter.
The Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) of Punjab circulated the same regulations to all departments concerned, director-general protocol and inspector general of police, for strict compliance of the cabinet decision, the official said.
Normally the motorcade consists of three bulletproof heavy vehicles (one for use and two as standby) for the distinguished guests escorted with vehicles of security personnel and ambulances. The number of all such vehicles should not cross the limit of seven, according to the new cabinet decision.
The decision was taken to launch an austerity drive in the public sector to save funds from current expenditures for diversion toward development projects, the official said.
He said the decision was not being practically implemented during the visits of VVIPs and the movements of chief ministers and governors in the province. Normally the security and protocol officials use dozens of vehicles to provide security and protocol to the important personalities.
Sometimes, a number of politicians become part of the motorcade by inducting their own vehicles just to curry favour of the eminent guest, he added.
Another official responsible for providing protocol said vehicles were being provided according to the demand and the number of guests accompanying the VVIPs. He said efforts were being made to remain within the limits set by the cabinet. Often federal and provincial ministers accompany the important personality as part of their assignment, making the cavalcade bigger.
Official vehicles were being provided to the personal staff of the president and the prime minister. They are military secretary, ADCG, personal staff officer, liaison officer and press secretary, he added.
CCPO Lahore Muhammad Aslam Tareen, who is responsible for providing security to guests, the chief minister and the governor, said: “We are providing security according to the blue book. Sometimes the motorcade is large because of the vehicles of ministers and other distinguished guests which end up in the motorcade.” He added: “Sometimes we have to enhance security due to the situation in the province.”
SSP Special Branch police, Lahore, Naveed Elahi said that the prime minister and Punjab chief minister dislike long motorcades during their movement in the province. “The chief minister expressed resentment over high security many a time but security agencies always make arrangements for their own satisfaction.”
A senior police official requesting anonymity said the chief minister and the governor were being provided security vehicles according to the guidelines but sometimes because of security concerns, the police vehicles were used to tighten security.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 16th, 2010.
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