The Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior was told by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) on Monday that it had issued a security alert for several political parties leaders.
The authority said that it had apprised the federal and provincial interior ministers and law enforcement agencies about the security alert for Imran Khan, Asfandyar Wali, Aftab Sherpao, Akram Khan Durrani, Ameer Haider Hoti, Talha Saeed and senior leadership of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN).
This was shared at a meeting of the Senate body held at the Parliament House. The meeting, chaired by Senator A Rehman Malik, was attended by Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed, interior secretary, additional interior secretary, Islamabad DIG (Security), Islamabad deputy commissioner, DIG (South) Karachi, NADRA chairman, Immigration and Passport acting DG among others.
Malik asked the Interior Ministry to ensure fool proof security in the Islamabad Capital Territory and write to the provincial home departments as well as provincial police chiefs to take cognisance of threats and take measures as required.
The DIG (South) Karachi briefed the lawmakers about stone-pelting on a PPP rally in Lyari.
The committee expressed concerns over escalating threats to political leadership of the country and added that ensuring their security was the responsibility of federal and provincial governments.
Malik directed the Ministry of Interior to share with the committee the security measures and plans it had taken for the security of heads of political parties, voters, candidates and polling vicinities.
Meanwhile, the committee expressed dissatisfaction over the police report on the incident of stone-pelting on Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s rally and directed the Sindh police chief to submit a comprehensive report in the next meeting wherein a representative of PPP would also be invited.
Published in Daily Times, July 10th 2018.
