Additional security pulled from federal ministers following PM’s directives

The Cabinet Division and Islamabad police have pulled additional security provided to federal ministers, sources informed Geo News Sunday, days after Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed to reduce security detail off ministers.

Security personnel have been pulled back from the security details of National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, and five federal ministers, sources said.

Sources said federal ministers will now have only two security personnel for their protocol. Three security officials, out of five, have been withdrawn from the security details of the above-mentioned. 

However, the security detail of Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani will remain unchanged.

Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak are among several ministers who have had their security details reduced in numbers, sources added.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on June 6 had said that during a federal cabinet meeting, PM Imran Khan had received a report that many governmental dignitaries are enjoying more protocol than necessary.

In this regard, the premier has asked all government officials to reduce availing protocol-related privileges, he said.

In a bid to save taxpayers money and to save the public from the inconvenience that comes with the protocol and security that accompanies a head of state, Prime Minister Imran Khan last week had announced he will be doing away with the practice when he goes to any private function.

“To save taxpayer money and avoid inconvenience to the public I will not be going to any private function with protocol and security,” the prime minister wrote in a message on Twitter.

In a bid to save taxpayers money and to save the public from the inconvenience that comes with the protocol and security that accompanies a head of state, Prime Minister Imran Khan last week had announced he will be doing away with the practice when he goes to any private function.

“To save taxpayer money and avoid inconvenience to the public I will not be going to any private function with protocol and security,” the prime minister wrote in a message on Twitter.