Death threats: Sarwar seeks security from federal government

Says the police had yet to return arms seized from his private guards

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) Punjab organiser Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has requested the federal government to provide security to him in view of threats to his life.

In a letter addressed to Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, he has also sought a special permit to equip his private security guards with weapons.

The letter states that the federal government and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would be responsible for any attempt at his life. It says that Sarwar had yet to receive a response from the provincial government on a letter written in September seeking provision of security arrangements.

The letter says Sarwar’s private guards had been held and their arms seized by the police on October 31 for violation of the ban on carrying weapons. It condemns the provincial administration for not returning the weapons.

“The government must realise the seriousness of the situation. My life and the life of my family members in under threat,” he says in the letter.

A copy of the letter has been sent to the offices of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Secretary Shahid Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2015.