Sharif’s security withdrawal is unjustified: Pervaiz Rasheed

Lahore: PML-N spokesman Senator Pervaiz Rashid said Saturday that ECP’s directive to withdraw security cover of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif was unjustified and unilateral.

“Given the prevailing security situation of the country, the level of security and its need for the Sharifs cannot be overstated,” the senator said in a statement. He added Nawaz and Shahbaz were not only former PM and CM respectively, they were also leaders of the country’s largest political party. It is, therefore, the state’s responsibility to protect them, Pervaiz said. “The fact that the PML-N president had escaped an assassination attempt in the past further highlights the need for proper security.”

The senator said that on one hand the government was extending extraordinary security to even low-profile politicians throughout the country, while on the other the ECP had maintained double standard towards the PML-N leadership. “The ECP, President Zardari and the caretaker PM shall be held responsible if any untoward incident happens because of security cut,” he warned.

He said that instead of giving priority to petty issues, the ECP should focus on holding free and impartial elections. “The ECP has failed to get its orders implemented with regard to transfers and postings in institutions such as PEMRA, NADRA, PBC, NAB, PTV and the Sindh government,” he said.