Following protocol: Neighbourhood shuts down for President’s visit to AKU
President Mamnoon Hussain was visiting the policemen injured in Razzakabad attack.
President Mamnoon Hussain was visiting the policemen injured in Razzakabad attack. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
President Mamnoon Hussain visited Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) on Tuesday to check up on the policemen injured in the Razzakabad attack.
All roads leading to AKUH in Gulshan-e-Iqbal from the State Guest House located in the city’s district South remained closed as the President’s convoy made its way to the health facility. Even though the visit did not last more than 20 minutes, the entire neighbourhood and the adjoining Liaquat National Hospital were closed.
“President sahib himself did not want the closure of vehicular traffic and shops during his movement and asked us not to follow any extraordinary security measures,” admitted Aziz Bhatti DSP Nasir Lodhi. “But we cannot take a risk as it is our duty to provide complete protection to him,” he told The Express Tribune.
The President visited the injured police commandos of the Special Security Unit, who were wounded in a bomb attack at their bus near the Razzaqabad Police Training Centre last month. He reached the hospital by road from the State Guest House and later used a helicopter to reach the airport.
The patients who were present inside the hospital during his arrival were not disturbed but those who had appointments with doctors were kept away for an hour due to security reasons. The patients and attendants were not also allowed into the Liaquat National Hospital and complained that hospitals should be exempted from protocol. “I was not allowed to visit my brother who was admitted in the hospital,” complained Sadiq Rizvi. “The VIPs should keep away from hospitals.”
Meanwhile, an official of the AKU defended President Hussain. “He visits the hospital whenever he is in Karachi but he never disturbs the security of the area and all work at the hospital goes smoothly,” commented an AKU official. “The security is restricted in the area when he moves and that’s the protocol of the President.”
President Mamnoon Hussain visited Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) on Tuesday to check up on the policemen injured in the Razzakabad attack.
All roads leading to AKUH in Gulshan-e-Iqbal from the State Guest House located in the city’s district South remained closed as the President’s convoy made its way to the health facility. Even though the visit did not last more than 20 minutes, the entire neighbourhood and the adjoining Liaquat National Hospital were closed.
“President sahib himself did not want the closure of vehicular traffic and shops during his movement and asked us not to follow any extraordinary security measures,” admitted Aziz Bhatti DSP Nasir Lodhi. “But we cannot take a risk as it is our duty to provide complete protection to him,” he told The Express Tribune.
The President visited the injured police commandos of the Special Security Unit, who were wounded in a bomb attack at their bus near the Razzaqabad Police Training Centre last month. He reached the hospital by road from the State Guest House and later used a helicopter to reach the airport.
The patients who were present inside the hospital during his arrival were not disturbed but those who had appointments with doctors were kept away for an hour due to security reasons. The patients and attendants were not also allowed into the Liaquat National Hospital and complained that hospitals should be exempted from protocol. “I was not allowed to visit my brother who was admitted in the hospital,” complained Sadiq Rizvi. “The VIPs should keep away from hospitals.”
Meanwhile, an official of the AKU defended President Hussain. “He visits the hospital whenever he is in Karachi but he never disturbs the security of the area and all work at the hospital goes smoothly,” commented an AKU official. “The security is restricted in the area when he moves and that’s the protocol of the President.”