KARACHI, Oct 3: The Sindh High Court has allowed former president Asif Ali Zardari and members of his family to travel in bullet-proof vehicles with tinted glasses and keep private armed guards at their own expense.

The court also directed federal and provincial governments to enhance security for the former president.

A two-judge bench of the court headed by Justice Faisal Arab was hearing on Thursday a petition filed by Mr Zardari seeking permission to keep armed guards and travel in bullet-proof vehicles. He also sought strengthening of his security provided by the government.

The court directed Mr Zardari to provide details of his vehicles and weapons his private guards would carry to officials concerned before his movement.

Mr Zardari, who was represented by Advocate Farooq H. Naek, said in the petition that being the PPP leader and former president he was facing security threats. He said he was commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces and presided over a military operation against Taliban in Swat, the petition said.

Mr Zardari said being a leader of a political party he had to travel across the country to maintain contacts with members of his party and the public.

He said he had grave apprehensions about his own security and that of members of his family. He cited the assassination of his wife, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, on Dec 27, 2007 in Rawalpindi.

He said he had been receiving threats and various reports of security agencies were of the opinion that his life was in danger.

Mr Naek informed the court that there were serious risks to the life and liberty of the former president who intended to travel in bullet-proof vehicles with tinted glasses and wanted permission for private security guards carrying licensed weapons for him and members of his family.

He said security provided by the government to the former president was not adequate and he did not want government funds used for the purpose which would put an unnecessary burden on the state finances.

He said Mr Zardari wanted foolproof security for himself and members of his family at their own expenses.

Mr Naek said security situation in the country was bad and people on important government posts, such as ministers, judges and bureaucrats, needed security squads for their protection and deployment of security personnel at their residences for protection of members of their families.

The petition requested the court to direct the respondents as well as law-enforcement agencies and provincial governments to provide 24-hour special security to Mr Zardari and members of his family.

The court directed federal and provincial governments to ensure security of Mr Zardari.