Mohammad Jamil
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar says no compromise will be made on provision of fundamental rights to the people despite criticism from the politicos that he is stepping into domain of the government. CJP continues with his efforts to implement provisions with regard to basic facilities vis-à-vis education, health and sanitation etc. At the same time, he has taken up the issue of security to unauthorized persons, as thousands of police were deployed on their residences of the elite. Last week, hearing different petitions at Peshawar Registry, he said bureaucracy will have to work for ensuring basic amenities to the common man. More than 13,600 police personnel deputed for the security of unauthorised persons across the country were withdrawn on Saturday in compliance with the order of Chief Justice of Paksitan Mian Saqib Nisar.
The unprecedented action taken by the federal and provincial governments will affect many politicians, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, former interior minister Aftab Sherpao, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, as well as police officials, journalists, bureaucrats, foreigners and judges. The data provided by law enforcement agencies shows that 4,610 police personnel in Punjab; 5,005 in Sindh; around 3,000 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; 829 Balochistan Constabulary and police personnel in Balochistan, 246 in Islamabad have been called back to their stations following the chief justice’s directive. Move draws sharp criticism as it affects many politicians, judges, police officers, journalists, civilians and foreigners. The CJP had asked the inspectors general police (IGPs) of the provinces and Islamabad on April 19 to withdraw security which had been provided to the persons that were not entitled.
The Punjab police withdrew a total of 4,610 police personnel provided to the non-entitled personalities, including parliamentarians, judges, journalists and police officials for their security. From Lahore alone, 2,480 policemen, including Elite force personnel, were withdrawn from the offices and houses of 441 unauthorised persons. According to the official figures obtained by Dawn, the Punjab police had “accommodated” in violation of the entitlement criteria as many as 1,853 persons across the province awarding them one or more police personnel for their protection. The statistics showed that 469 officials of the lower judiciary had been provided 626 police officials without their entitlement for the extra security. The police personnel were withdrawn from the officials of the lower judiciary on the CJP order. Besides, 3,984 policemen were called back from their security duties of politicians, civil administration/police officers and journalists etc.
In Sindh, sources said, a total of 5,005 police guards had been withdrawn from unauthorised persons till late Saturday evening. In Balochistan, some 829 security officials belonging to Balochistan Constabulary and police were withdrawn from the security of non-entitled people. In Islamabad, the 246 policemen deployed for the protection of politicians, civil judges and officials of the judiciary, retired and serving police officers, district administration, some foreigners, civilians and bureaucrats without their entitlement to keep them were asked to report back to their respective stations. Islamabad IGP Dr. Sultan Azam Taimuri said a committee headed by DIG police security and comprising officials of Nacta, security and intelligence agencies would soon be constituted to deal with the requests for police security in future.
