LAHORE: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Saturday dismissed a report with regard to provision of security to influential individuals, including politicians.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, who headed a bench of the apex court, remarked that security has been provided even to those who issue anti-judiciary statements.
He was hearing a case pertaining to provision of security to unauthorized persons, including politicians and former ministers.
The chief justice observed that the deployment of security guards for Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Ahsan Iqbal, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Zahid Hamid and Ahsan Iqbal makes sense but why Rana Sanaullah, Marriam Aurangzeb, Anusha Rehman, Abid Sher Ali, and the son of former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal have been provided security at the state’s expense.
“On the one hand, these people abuse the judiciary and on the other ask for security,” Justice Nisar remarked.
Addressing IG Punjab, the chief justice said he has provided official security even to those issuing statements against the judiciary. “This is public money. We won’t let it be squandered this way.”
He asked how many security guards have been deputed for his and that of Punjab chief minister’s son Hamza Shehbaz’s security.
“I tell you. You have provided security to me on par with Hamza Shehbaz. You even declined to provide security to Supreme Court judges.” Police personnel have been deputed for the security of politicians. Is their only job to provide security to individuals, Justice Nisar asked.
The court was informed that four thousand people have been provided security personnel in Sindh, while 1400 people in Balochistan and 701 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
