The invitation card specifies that the event on Sunday evening was a dinner hosted by the Farooqi family. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The adviser to the chief minister on media affairs and Auqaf, Farooqi told The Express Tribune on Tuesday that the broadcast and social media’s speculations that the majority of the city’s police force was assigned to protect the guests of her dinner party the night that horror struck the residents of Abbas Town are baseless.
“The rumours are absolutely ridiculous. [Private channels] are falsely stating that Sindh’s entire police force was deployed at the Mohatta Palace - just to give a sensational angle to the story,” she said, adding that Clifton and Abbas Town are overseen by their respective police jurisdictions. “Mohatta comes under district South and Abbas Town comes under district Central.”
She went on to explain that the police deputed at Mohatta Palace - the venue of her post-engagement dinner - was “normal police security arrangement and nothing out of the ordinary”, and that as soon as she heard about the blast, her aim was to wrap up the event as early as possible.
“I am a minister and am entitled to a security squad,” Farooqi said, referring to the security risks politicians face. “Just like me, the other VIPs at my dinner have their own security protocol - there were no special instructions given by me.” She also said that since the prime minister was expected to attend the event, the road to the palace was cordoned off as per his security details.
She added that she had invited 400 guests. “Even if we suppose that an exaggerated estimate of 500 policemen [including traffic policemen] were at the Mohatta at the time of my event, would they have been at Abbas Town if they were not in Clifton on Sunday night?” she asked. “Could they have stopped a remote-controlled bomb that was detonated inside a vehicle? Are all the other attacks that took place also my fault?”
Meanwhile, a police official informed The Express Tribune, on the condition of anonymity, that nearly 450 policemen were deployed around Mohatta Palace on Sunday evening, but this does not include the Rangers and FC personnel who were expected to arrive with VIP guests, including the prime minister and the chief minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2013.
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Leave this poor girl alone. Its not her fault.She is right. How is she alone responsible for this. The goons knew this party and knew that manjority of the police force and the ministers and VIPs will be busy , hence they stuck at the right time . People during the times of crisis want something to cling on to , some one to accuse and she seems to be an easy prey. I like the way she is defending herself instead of giving politically correct liners.
The issue is being clouded: “Could they have stopped a remote-controlled bomb that was detonated inside a vehicle? Are all the other attacks that took place also my fault?” The police force couldn't reasonably be expected to stop the bomb, unless they knew of it beforehand, which could be attributed to a failure of intelligence.
The true issue, according to reports, is that even hours after the blast when police officers could have been assisting with rescue and damage limitation efforts, they remained at the event protecting the 400 guests (an extravagant number on its own). That is frankly inexcusable, as is the fact that the event apparently continued despite news of the blast filtering through. Was this dinner really so important so as to ignore the pleas of the hundreds of victims?
Seriously Sharmila! There is a crisis in the city which could have done with the help of a few more policemen (certainly from other districts). But why care when their is Edhi and Chippa to deviate their resources, in cases like these. Moreover, being a minister, it would have been just a bit courteous to at least feel sorry for the victims but I think that's been overlooked by you with the need to defend yourself. And since when is Mohatta palace is allowed for private ceremonies ESP weddings but I guess ure's should be an exception with it being a 'state event'.
'Children and photography not allowed' LOL
When are these politician going to learn mhy waste so much money and police resources for dinner when so many people are dying of hunger and are having extreme problem feeding their children. These politicians need to understand the basic need of the people of pakistan . We need to provide all the police resources yo stop the terrorist attacks and the barbaric attack on the innocent people of pakistan. The politician need to stop wasting mone! We will never know how much money was spent on security
She is not 'entitled' to any security, neither are her guests any more VIP than the residents of Abbas Town. That police budget is coming out of taxes, not her coffers. The PM is not 'entitled' to cordoned avenues either. He is not doing ehsan on the people of Karachi by visiting a wedding. He should pay for his own protection when he is off-duty.