PTI objects on Sharif’s security

Lahore: The Punjab government was dissolved on the 23th of March 2013 but the Sharif family continues to enjoy extraordinary security provided by the province’s elite police and vehicles with green license plates.

Central Information Secretary Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf, Shafqat Mahmood demanded that the Caretaker CM Punjab Najam Sethi should take immediate notice of the Sharif family’s misuse of government resources. He further added that after the provincial government was dissolved all cars, homes, protocol, security etc should have been withdrawn from previous political office holders. All orders passed in this regard by departing governments should be disregarded by the caretaker CM to establish a totally level playing field for all political parties.

Official data claims that Mr Nawaz Sharif, chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has around 100 commandoes and five special security vehicles at his disposal, around the clock. He is not entitled to this much security after the dissolution of the Punjab government. According to rules he should only have access to two security vehicles and a maximum of 12 police security personnel in the name of security. Mr Shahbaz Sharif, meanwhile, has 95 elite police commandoes and a number of elite police vehicles at his disposal, even after the completion of his provincial government’s five year tenure. The Punjab chief minister’s first wife, Nusrat Shahbaz, has 11 elite security personnel assigned to her along with one car for their transportation. His second wife, Tehmina Durrani, has access to 18 elite cops along with a vehicle – and another 18 cops for her house situated in Gulberg. Such misuse of the state’s resources is unprecedented and against all norms of morality.

There are reports that special branch officials in districts are still reporting to the Sharifs. Province wise transfer of these officials is necessary. Shafqat Mahmood warned the government officials that they would be held to account for any illegal and biased acts done during the election period. They should not be party to any misuse of state resources by political parties or serve them in any way.