Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: AFP
Expenditure on security for former president Pervez Musharraf have crossed the Rs100 million threshold in just nine months. Over 400 police and rangers personnel are guarding the former dictator.
Police sources say that the extraordinary security given to a single person has taken a heavy toll on the overall performance of the Islamabad Police, which are facing an acute shortage of security staff.
According to the sources, every month around Rs10 million is being spent to secure the former president and currently under-trial prisoner, who is under house arrest while facing various charges including high treason.
For comparison, every police station in the federal capital has 50 to 60 staff, but Musharraf has been given a security detail that could populate eight police stations.
The sources said that the former president had 300 regular police personnel including commandos and women police alongside 100 rangers officials.
The police sources said that for every hearing of Musharraf cases, whether or not he appears in court, security agencies have to make arrangements costing Rs100,000 per day.
A senior police officer asking not to be named said that due to the engagement of such a large number of police officials, the Islamabad Police were facing a severe staff shortage in their efforts to curb crime in the capital city.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2014.
COMMENTS (45)
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@Umar Farooq: Perhaps you need to understand that all former Presidents of Pakistan are entitled to security. The government has held him bottled up in his own residence with all these nonsense cases and then the same government complains about securing him.
If this is too expensive then let him be free and arrange for his own security which he was managing before these useless cases were brought against him.
Lastly, has anyone explored how much money has been spent by government prosecution on these useless cases? I am sure its probably close to what is being spent on Musharraf's security.
@Qabil Khan: including you! yea... who is asking to go against the law of the land.
and this Rs 100 Million spent (rather wasted) on Musharraf's security does not include Rs 100,000 per day cost of hospitalization... During the last 33 days, Rs 3.3 Million have been spent from Taxpayers money since the dictator is too ill and cannot appear in the Court! The only way to stop wastage of Taxpayers money is to put Musharraf in Adiala Jail just like all other criminals and recover the amount so far spent on his security & stay should be recovered from selling Chak Shahzad palace.
how much money being spend for protecting Riwind state.?..
And the judiciary keeps him involved in all these fake cases for which he has had to appear in the courts. The police should charge these expenses to the "independent" judiciary.
Completely biased reporting! The current media these days call him by dictator. He is the actual person who gave this industry a real boom and freedom. These journalist should be thankful to him but unfornately in our country patriotic persons are bashed and corrupt leaders are potrayed as heros!!!
At reason conviction will make it worth it.
Charge this amount to his bank account. If he does not have the money in the account, then sell his palace next to Islamabad and move him out of AFIC to a tent out side his palace.
This is biased reporting! Gosh you didnt show any figures for politicians and current ruling oligarchs who have fleeced this country under the garb of this despotic democracy. I hope you showcase the figures for the politicians of Raiwind! This news item is biased to the core! It brings into question neutrality aspect of journalistic ethics.
he should be sent to adiala jail to save money of this poor nation !
And how much is spent on "securing" Raiwind, and the sons and daughters, and wives, of the Sharifs? We should be given news in comparative terms, ET.
Musharraf is not an ordinary person. He must be given full protocol. Don't forget Nawaz's foreign trips with his whole family members, where shopping become the top priority than official matter.
and how much is being spend a day on the Nawaz,shabaz and their families per day? even when he was NOT the PM the punjab govt. used to spend a telephone No of sum on his "security"
*musharraf didnt ask for this much security. * nisar is responsible not musharraf . so get to the point people . et u should not be biased show show credible. like always block my comment .
@Truther: As per your calculation, 100 million wouldn't provide for 100,000 people / families, but a thousand. But that's still a lot of families who could benefit from 100 million rupees. Just think what Zardari's and Sharif's billions of dollars could do for the people. According to foreign analysts they looted the country of five billion dollars. With that amount, FIVE MILLION people/ families could benefit with a 100,000 loan or grant. That would transform a couple of medium sized cities in Pakistan. Instead, it's benefiting two medium sized families. What an absolute tragedy.
Bilawal House has about 300 SSU Personnel protecting just "Bilawal House" when Bilawal is himself not there. Furthermore, there are about 2 Special Branch Personal for every 10 SSU Personel who are also there. When Bilawal does reside in Bilawal House, the number is increased by two fold. Furthermore, on the outer perimeter of Bilawal House there are ordinary Sindh Police Personnel patrolling/nakabandi.
This begs the question that why should Bilawal be provided presidential security? Who is he? Does he hold any post in the Government?
Im sure even President Mamnoon Hussain is not provided with as much security.
I wonder if all these VVIPs dispense with such security and such forces actually are out catching the real criminals, will these VVIPS even require such security thereafter?
Easiest way to make money is give them sense of insecurity and charge whatever you want. Not a bad business.
@faraz: Add NS's and Zardari's properties to the list also.
How can you live soo large and leave soo little for the rest of us?!?!
@Truther: Calculation error boss
I am sure that according to LAW of Pakistan which entitles Ex Army Chief for security after the end of service same goes in the case of Ex PM and President
Just hand him to the Bugti's. Justice will then not only be quick but certainly a lot cheaper.
Can we auction his farm house please to compensate for the expenses?
God Bless you Mr. Pervez Musharraf you deserved much more than this but our so called politician and judiciary is taking revenge no one can expect justice now a days in our beloved country. Long live Pakistan.
God Bless you Mr. Pervez Musharraf you deserved more than this but our so called politician and judiciary is taking revenge no one can expect justice now a days in our beloved country. Long live Pakistan.
What a country. There is nothing in this coutry for poor. But spending millions on traitors.
Money of tax payers being wasted. Arrest this man and send him to jail. Save this money.
Lol biased people... Not to forget what he did for this country financially.. and people are complaining.. another aspect is those people who are charging musharraf for murder of benazir becuz enough security was not provided will be in the same situation if they dont provide him enough.. and its obviously overstated.
This money should be deducted from the budget of army.
What is offical and legal entitlement for ex-COAS and former president ? #Taxpayers
I seriously have no idea why the government is spending this much money on Musharraf's security. He's no more a part of the Government of Pakistan, plus he's being convicted for treason trial and he is representing a seprate individual political party. I think the his security is not governments responsibility, its his party's responsibility.
Recover the money from this under trail person who is being tried for high treason
Real traitors are the one who have rigged the elections. Both PMLN and 35Puncture creator Najam Sethi, why no sumoto on them by the court?
Why money of the nation being wasted on this person? I request the government to use money on some noble cause instead of wasting it on Musharraf.
@the Skunk: Why is it impossible?
What a terrible waste! Let him to go to Dubai and spare tax payer's money. It can spent on the poor AWAM!
"PKR 100 million in nine months to protect Musharraf?" Impossible!!! A rip-off??? Salams
That money if distributed among unemployed youth @ Rs. 100,000 per person would have changed lives of 100,000 people meaning 100,000 families but Hey in Pakistan generals are sacred, the country is made for them. This retired sacred general will never face punishment his army will save him from the "disgrace" which is a routine matter for millions of ordinary Pakistanis
Whatever it takes, please establish the writ of law, once and forever. Societies can live with poverty, but not without justice.
Rs 100 million... isn't that too much to be spent on someone who isn't afraid of anything?