ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Interior held an important meeting on Wednesday at Parliament House and discussed various issues including Imran Khan security.
The meeting which was chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz was attended by senators Azam Nazir Tarar, Moula Bux Chandio, Fawzia Arshad, Saifullah Abro, Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Shahadat Awan, Kamil Ali Agha, Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti attended the meeting. Senators Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhary, Faisal Javed, Zeeshan Khanzada, Azam Khan Swati.
Inspector General of Police(IGP) Islamabad, and Chief Commissioner Islamabad were also attended the meeting on special invitation.
Senator Mohsin Aziz expressed concern and lamented the absence of the Interior Minister, Rana Sanaullah and Secretary Interior. The Chairman Committee informed the members that despite of writing letters to the Ministry they didn’t even bother to attend the meeting.
While deliberation upon the security-related matters of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chairman Committee Senator Mohsin Aziz said that Imran Khan is a Global leader, continuously speaking on the issue of Islamophobia on every platform around the globe and everyone has relished his efforts.
He said when Imran Khan talk about Islam, the whole world consider Imran Khan as their leader.
“He is the one who usually say “absolutely not” to America”, Mohsin said.He added reiterated his stance to be a “partner in peace not in War”. He stated that these steps of Imran Khan are something not liked by the West.
The chairman committee further said that the security agencies and the police themselves have said that Imran Khan’s life is in danger, so it is unlawful and inappropriate to withdraw security from him in such scenario.
Mohsin Aziz questioned the withdrawal and suspending licenses of the private security companies that were deployed with Imran Khan.He said their security licenses were revoked which was also unfitting.
Briefing the committee regarding the matter of withdrawal of Imran Khan’s security, IGP Islamabad apprised that currently apart from two private security companies, appx. 266 personnel from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Frontier Constabulary and Rangers were deployed on the security of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
He underlined that appx. 24 crores per anum were being spent on the security of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Senator Kamil Ali Agha said that in the past 2200 security personnel were deployed with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif whose annual expenditure was 4.5 billion rupees.
Earlier, the committee offered special prayers for those who lost their lives and property due to the current faash floods that hit most parts of Pakistan.
Mohsin Aziz said that the whole world awared that Imran Khan’s life was in danger – withdrawing even his inner circle security was a matter of concern.
Senator Dr Shehzad Waseem remarked that the martyrdom of Benazir was also a big incident. He pointed out that Maryam Nawaz visited and expressed her solidarity to the flood victims.He said 62 vehicles were in her convoy.
Imran Khan’s withdrawal of security was worrisome, he cautioned.
Senator Kamil Ali Agha said the matter of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s security was a sensitive issue and should be taken seriously. He underscored that today the interior minister should have come to the committee meeting because there were allegations that Imran Khan’s private security has also been revoked.
The Chairman Committee directed the IGP Islamabad for conducting a threat assessment regarding Imran Khan’s life and asked police to increase the security of the former Prime Minister.
He also asked the IGP Islamabad to restore the licenses of the two private security companies deployed with Imran Khan.
