Safekeeping: Security for VIPs costs K-P a whopping Rs278.9m per year

Details submitted in provincial assembly belie govt’s claim of austerity measures.

PESHAWAR:

While many in the general public evade regular militant bombings and assaults mostly by sheer luck, politicians have a helping hand. Around 653 security personnel guard more than 250 VIPs in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) at an estimated cost of Rs278.9 million every year.

According to details submitted in the provincial assembly by the Home and Tribal Affairs department, a total of 653 security officials have been assigned to 273 politicians, MNAs, MPAs, senators and other VIPs in K-P. This costs the provincial kitty up to Rs22.23 million per month.

The document, which was submitted in response to a question raised by JUI-F lawmaker from Hangu, Mufti Syed Janan, shows that federal minister and former K-P chief minister Akram Khan Durrani has the highest number of personnel deployed for his security. As many as 35 official guards have been assigned to the minister whose security costs an estimated Rs7.96 million annually.

Incidentally, the politician with the second-highest deployment is also from Durrani’s party. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has a security detail of 33 personnel costing the provincial exchequer Rs10 million a year. Similarly, K-P Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser’s security entourage of 22 security officials costs around Rs8 million.

Keeping K-P’s lawmakers safe

Provincial ministers for education and agriculture Atif Khan and Akramullah Gandapur have eight and 11 guards each at an estimated cost of more than Rs2.8 million and Rs3.1 million, respectively.

Likewise, PTI MPA from Swat Dr Haider Ali Khan has nine security guards and their cost amounts to over Rs2 million, while another PTI MPA Ayub Khan has 11 guards costing Rs2.2 million. Adviser to the Chief Minister Amjad Afridi’s security detail comprises seven guards and costs Rs2.2 million per year, while excise minister Mian Jamsheduddin also has seven guards which drain Rs1.3 million from the provincial kitty.

Not far behind, ANP lawmaker Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour has eight guards that cost Rs3.2 million, QWP parliamentary leader Sikandar Sherpao’s 16-man security team costs the government Rs6.6 million, while ANP Senator Abdul Nabi Bangash’s seven guards cost Rs2.2 million.

MPA from Mardan Jamshed Mohmand has been provided eight security guards and it costs the government over Rs2.8 million. Incidentally, JI chief Sirajul Haq has only three people deployed for security which drains Rs1 million from the kitty per year.

Other bigwigs

MNA and former K-P chief minister Amir Haider Hoti’s security retinue of 12 personnel costs Rs4.6 million, while prime minister’s adviser Amir Muqam’s 12 guards cost more than Rs3.5 million a year. ANP secretary general and former K-P information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain’s security detail comprises 10 persons and costs the province about Rs3.5 million.

Similarly, Peshawar High Court’s former chief justice Ibne Ali’s security costs Rs2.2 million; he has 13 guards in his posse. The Afghan and Iranian consul generals in Peshawar have also been provided security by the provincial government. They both have six guards each, costing Rs2.1 and Rs2.8 million, respectively.

ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan’s security detail comprises seven personnel, costing over Rs4.5 million.

Whither austerity measures?

Speaking to The Express Tribune, JUI-F MPA Janan who sought the details said enhanced security was to some extent a result of the deteriorating law and order. However, he lashed out at PTI chief Imran Khan for not following his own mantra of austerity. “Imran Khan makes tall claims in the media to have eliminated VIP culture from K-P, but in reality provincial ministers and lawmakers are enjoying protocols that are burdening the province with millions,” said Janan.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2015.