ISLAMABAD: Following Prime Minister Imran Khan’s instructions to reduce security detail off ministers, the Cabinet Division and Islamabad police have pulled additional security provided to federal ministers, a private media outlet reported on Sunday.
Additional security has been pulled back from National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, and five federal ministers, the media outlet said while quoting sources.
“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.
Sources further 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 “Three security officials, out of five, have been withdrawn from the security details of the above-mentioned,” they added. However, the security detail of Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani will remain unchanged.
On June 6, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry 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.
Will not be going to any private function with protocol, security: PM Imran
On July 6, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that he would no longer be going to any private function with protocol and security in order “to save taxpayer money and avoid inconvenience to the public”.
“I am also reviewing protocol and security available to ministers, governors and chief ministers belonging to the ruling PTI to decide how we can minimise expenditure and end public inconvenience,” the Prime Minister had said in a statement.
He said the federal cabinet will decide on a comprehensive policy in this regard next week. “We will put an end to the colonial legacy of pomp and glory used to overwhelm the people,” the premier wrote.
Before coming into power, Imran Khan routinely opposed VIP movements and security protocols, and launched a campaign to adopt ‘austerity’ and lead a simple lifestyle after being elected the prime minister.
