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ISLAMABAD: The government has been spending Rs240 million annually on the security of former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan, Islamabad Inspector General of Police Dr Akbar Nasir Khan has revealed in a meeting of the Senate Standing committee on Interior.
The IGP told the committee that under the Islamabad police command, the Frontier Constabulary, Rangers, Islamabad Police, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police and Gilgit-Baltistan police, personnel from two private security companies were also performing security responsibilities of the former premier.
The IGP said the issue of security of former prime ministers was important, their security issue should not be made political issue and considering the sensitivity of the matter, it should not be discussed in the media.
He told the committee that there was a procedure to provide security and agencies were also involved in the process, and all procedures were being adopted in accordance with the law and security was being provided to former PM according to the same procedure.
The IGP said the issue of security of former prime ministers was important, their security issue should not be made political issue and considering the sensitivity of the matter, it should not be discussed in the media.
During the proceedings, IG Nasir was asked about the reasons for withdrawal of Mr Khan’s security and revoking of private security companies’ licenses that were deployed for his protection.
IG Nasir told the committee that besides the two private security companies, 266 personnel from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan police, Frontier Constabulary and Rangers have been deployed for Imran Khan’s security.
The committee was told that licenses were revoked by the interior ministry, however, they are still performing security duties.
Expressing concerns over the decision, Mr Aziz said that security agencies and the police themselves have confirmed the threats and in this situation, the orders to withdraw Mr Khan’s security was ‘unlawful and inappropriate’.
The meeting was chaired by Moshin Aziz, and attended by Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Minister of State for Law and Justice Shahadat Awan, and senators including Maula Bakhsh Chandio, Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, Faisal Javed, Dr Waseem Shahzad, Azam Swati, Ejaz Chaudhry, Saifullah Abro, Fauzia Arshad, Kamil Ali Agha and Dilawar Khan, besides the interior ministry officials.
