'Police bound to provide officially notified security protocol to former PMs'

Keeping in view security threats, the security division of capital police and provincial police are bound to continue to provide officially notified security protocol to former prime ministers including Nawaz Sharif, police officials said. A senior police official told Business Recorder that following the end of tenure of the present government, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police, Punjab police and police of other provinces would continue to provide officially notified security protocol to Nawaz Sharif.
"Keeping in view the current law and order situation in the country, no compromise can be made over the security of VVIPs and VIPs," he said. On April 23, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar ordered to provide 'lawful security' to Sharif while hearing a suo moto case related to security protocol for those with no official entitlement.
The Chief Justice issued these directions following the report submitted by Islamabad and provincial police chiefs that they had withdrawn over 12,000 security personnel performing duties with non entitled persons. About the security arrangements at Sharif family's Jati Umra residence in Raiwind, he said that following the directives of Chief Justice, Punjab police had withdrawn the additional security deployed at Jati Umra and in future only lawful security arrangements would be made at Jati Umra.
He said Diplomatic Protection Department (DPD) or security division of Islamabad is responsible for security of VVIPs and VIPs. And squads of elite force are deployed with former Prime Minister Sharif during his movement in provinces, he said, adding that police provide security to all former prime ministers including Nawaz Sharif however his motorcade is large due to his private security guards.
He further said that police are providing officially notified security to Sharif as well as other former prime ministers including Raja Pervez Ashraf, Yousuf Raza Gilani, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Zafarullah Khan Jamali and former president Asif Ali Zardari. It was the responsibility of district police chiefs to provide security to VVIPs when they are travelling in their personal capacity, he said.
The official suggested that the current focus is on deploying security personnel to provide security but a more effective method would be through using the latest security technology available on the market as well as expanding the intelligence network.