How many legislators, VIPs are enjoying official security, police to disclose in court

Revelations come during hearing of Nabeel Gabol's plea for more security

KARACHI: The Sindh Police special branch will disclose in court how many legislators and private persons are enjoying official security escorts.

A Sindh High Court division bench, headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, gave the special branch chief two weeks to submit these details in court. The direction came on a petition filed by former legislator Nabeel Gabol, after he had taken the provincial home and police authorities to court this month over the withdrawal of his security escort. He had accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari of giving orders for the removal of his security escort.

Gabol had remained a long-time associate of the PPP until he joined the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in March 2013. During the May 2013general elections, he was elected to the National Assembly after contesting from MQM's stronghold, Azizabad. However, he resigned after a brief stint with the party earlier this year.

In his petition, Gabol claimed that he had been attacked several times in the past and is being threatened once again since he left the MQM. Due to differences with the leadership of the ruling PPP, the police escort provided to him for security was withdrawn, he said.

The petitioner argued that if Zardari's sister and legislator, Faryal Talpur, and businessman Anwar Majeed can get a high-level security escort merely due to their relations with former president Zardari, then why he can't he. He requested the court direct the Rangers director-general to provide security instead of the police.

On the last date of hearing, the bench had issued notices to the provincial home secretary, the Rangers DG and the Sindh IG to file their comments. During Wednesday's proceedings, the home authorities said that the persons, who have been named by the petitioner, were given security in accordance with the law after they filed formal requests. They contended that the petitioner had never filed any such request.

The two judges directed the head of the special branch to submit a report containing details as to how many people were given official security and under what legal criteria it was provided. After giving the police two weeks to submit these details, the judges adjourned the hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2015.