PTI chief Imran Khan's state provided security detail has been reduced to just one policeman at the gate. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: With Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan receiving threats for backing the faltering polio vaccination campaign in the militancy hit regions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, his party has requested the government to boost his security.
Imran, who is also a member of the national assembly, is liable to receive security protocol. But according to a letter to the Interior Minister, his party claims that the MNA from NA-56, has been given only one policeman by the state for his security.
According to the letter signed by PTI secretary general Jahangir Tareen, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, the party claimed that Imran’s state provided security had always been modest. However, it claimed that in recent days the security detail had shrunk to just one policeman at his gate.
The letter requested the government to insure full scale security measures for Imran, including “both at his residence as well as when he is moving about.”
“The security should be commensurate with his status as the Chairman of Pakistan’s second largest party by votes, the third largest by number of seats in Parliament and the level of the security threat such leaders are subject to.”
On Thursday, the PTI claimed that their chairman had been threatened by militants for criticising attacks on polio vaccination teams.
“Mr Khan received a threat from Ansarul Mujahideen over his remarks over anti-polio campaign,” Shireen Mazari, a senior member of PTI told AFP.
COMMENTS (46)
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Why can't Imran Khan afford his own security? In which capacity does he want "free ride" on taxpayers money??
@Jibran: "PMLN is doing the same to its opponents as Musharraf did to Benazir. I hope sense prevails and PMLN mends it’s ways. " . Musharraf warned Benazir, but she ignored it.
Hence it proves I.K is not pro TTP. what he finds right, he stands for it and whats wrong is wrong for him. Well done I.K
Security is only for member of Sharif Family in Pakistan, irrespective of the fact whether they are MNA or not
@asim:
Poor people are paying inPakistan for the rich one, this is the only state on earth where poor pay and rich enjoy... how shameful
WHO will provide security to the common-man. 1200 rangers men deployed for General Mush lets see how much Imran gets? Who will pay for the cost of this?
imran khan security was withdrawn by the government and pti is just requesting that the security that was withdrawn should be given to him
Why Imran Khan needs security? Feel the taste of insecurity.Ik will will never ask for negotiation. The whole Pakistan is insecure so provide security every individual.
@Kiran Muzammil:
I bet he is regretting all the lovey dovey stuff he said about the taliban now. On the bright side, maybe now he will finally realize taliban are cold blooded terrorists and killers who we should not waste our time trying to talk too, rather we should finish them off once and for all.
@NYC: Imran is not the leader of the opposition. Nor is his party the second largest party as far as seats go - which is what matters in parliamentary democracy. Your facts are just plain wrong.
WC15 squad
Ahmad Shahzad Sharjeel khan Younis Khan. ( vice captain ) Misbah ul haq. (captain) Asad Shafiq Umer Akmal Shahid Afridi Saeed Ajmal Umer Gul Muhammad Irfan Muhammad Amir
Martin Neimoller's historic remarks about this mindset of IK "First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Socialists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me."
Mr assad ET did the publish that security was withdrawn from imran khan by interior ministry and that demanded that security that was withdrawn earlier should be given back.
A commendable statement by Imran Khan. Finally he is realizing the tough reality of Pakistani politics as well as the real demonic face of militants.
It makes one think why IK did not see that he would receive threats when so many doctors in KPK are being kidnapped and threatened and polio administrators along with their security men are being killed. What was he thinking?
@assad: Are you mad man? He's asking for adequate security. Have you seen the protocols by the sharifs and Bhuttos? Ik had never been surrounded by officers. He's never afraid of being with the people. With a serious threat like that the government is responsible for the safety of each and every citizen. Musharraf is being accused for benazirs murder for not providing adequate security. You think we will let pmln get away if something happens to our dear leader? The world has witnessed PTIs protesting power!
Now IK is getting a taste of the real mentality of the terrorists he has been protecting from drones and hold negotiations with. Hope this is a wake up call for him to stop his ridiculous Pro-Taliban stance and understands the threats Pakistanis face everyday.
I am waiting for how IK will spin these miltants threats and blame this on America too. Because according to him all terrorist activity in Pakistan is due to American drones. So drones cause the militants to turn against polio vaccination. Hmmm.
Imran must be protected at all costs. He is our great asset which was stolen by extremists but now coming back to us.
Ok first of all everyone needs to go have a look at the govt sponsored convoys of non-parliamentarians such as Bilawal or Zardari or Mariam Nawaz. Second, Imran is not only an MNA but an opposition leader and the chairman of the 2nd largest political party in the nation . So his status is of increased significance and we all know what that means right? Increased significance = more threats . If you read closely, they dont demand a VVIP protocol. They just said that one guard is not enough. Take a look at all the KPK ministers and give me one example where a VVIP protocol is used. I mean c'mon, an average CEO of an average Pakistani company roams around with more then 5 bodyguards.... What I find funny however, is that nobody actually talks about Imran willingly walking into a threat. He knew he was going to threatened. But he still did it. He still kickstarted the polio campaign. These are called real leaders
He can afford to hire guards....tell him to hire some and set a personal example by not wasting state resources on himself.
Militant threats! And that is after all the support IK has given to these terrorists. Safest way can be to hire them for security, second thought, even that doesn't work and we have seen the end result in the shape of Salman Taasir (may his soul rest in peace). Only way is to speak the same language that they understand.
I am under threat from militants. Please provide me more security.
Signed. 190 Million Pakistanis
Aww Imran - whats wrong? I thought the taliban were your cousins? Your people? Your brothers? Why are you scared of them now? I thought you said they were the "friendly taliban" and that we should hug them, and talk to them, while they continue to kill us in our mosques, our homes and all over our country? Now that the shoe is on the other foot, its scary isent it?
In case terrorists come close to IK, he should start the 'talks'. no need to be scared. if he was going to open their offices and didnt care about the security of other people, he should really not be afraid for himself. perfect opportunity for talks.
@assad: So protecting Imran isn't vvip duty?
You are the 'negotiator' you should be safe from 'THEM'This is what IK gets for leading a anti polio campaign and getting threatened by a dangerous banned outfit of Taliban. Under what law was Nawaz Sharif getting served with 1200 policemen? Imran Khan is much more valuable then Nawaz Sharif or any politician.
Why not organize another "dharna" against drones that should help!
It is difficult to understand the security issue. The former CJ has asked enhanced security for himself- He made no controversial decisions which should threaten his life but he is entitled to foolproof security which is a pakistani terminology anyway. Here is Imran leading a nation's effort to save children from a disabling disease and he is protected by a policeman.It doesn't make sense. Let us not try to extinguish a flame of hope-
Imran should call the TTP office in N Waziristan to provide him with security. In any case he is acting like their spokesman and strengthening their hand.
Where is the Lion insafians always talk about?
@assad: "Pretty soon we won’t have any policemen out on the streets. They will all be on useless VVIP duties. So much for law enforcement!!" . That's what we have police for, to keep the voters away from the big guns.
How come he is threatened? He is all for talks with terrorists. Does it mean patronising of terrorists did not work out after all? Will he now realise that feeding milk to snakes does not work, and will change his policy towards terrorist?
Now it will be Imran Khan's fault if militants set off bomb blast in retaliation to his comments. Just applying his drones are responsible for militants bombing Pakistan logic.
Why I don't find it strange that the government withdrew security the day IK was threatened? Seems like they think that with Imran out of the way, they can do whatever they want to just like in 1998 and then we all knew what happened in 1999. This time though, if any untoward incident happened to ANYONE, any high profile figure, Mian sb would not be able to run back to Jeddah.
Better security is not the answer........better intelligence work and then follow up decisive action is needed, keeping in mind that the judicial system is paralysed as far as religious extremists are concerned.
PMLN is doing the same to its opponents as Musharraf did to Benazir. I hope sense prevails and PMLN mends it's ways.
Stakeholders on fire, now what's your opinion khan saab
You can bend all the way backward for the terrorists and be a persistent apologist for them,Mr. IK.They are and will never be your friends.
The protocol has been withdrawn from ICT (Islamabad Capital Territory) only, where even the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar himself drives his own car without any escort. Imran Khan is neither a Minister nor an Opposition Leader to demand security & protocol on taxpayers money. Imran Khan is too much obsessed with security & protocol. He already enjoys the highest protocol status in KPK, although he had withdrawn from NA-1. He has mostly been flying on Jahangir Tarin's corporate jet. http://tribune.com.pk/story/470036/corporate-governance-for-tareen-a-jet-for-political-use-household-staff-as-directors/ ET broke this news over a year ago! Charity begins at home Mr Imran Khan!!
Is Tribune the new PTI website?
@assad: You already dont have any policemen on the street, they are busy protecting bilawal and other kids of elite politicians
PPP/MQM trolls will be against this for sure, only Bilawal and other bhuttos deserve security in Pakistan and abroad
Why would militants do anything to him? Hes like their godfather!