Acting on the directives of Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, Sindh Inspector General Police A.D Khowaja on Friday ordered the immediate withdrawal of security protocol provided to influential individuals not entitled to official security.

This order will see around 4,000 policemen returning to actual police duty in Karachi only, which to some extent will help control street crimes, officials said.

The provincial police chief directed Additional IGs of Karachi, Special Branch, CTD, Traffic, Crime Branch and DIGs of Karachi’s East, West and South Zone and CIA, DIGs of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad ranges, DIGs of SRP and SRR, the Commandant of SSU, Karachi, and all District SSPs in Sindh to withdraw the police security from those persons who are not legally entitled.

“The police security provided to all unauthorised persons shall immediately be withdrawn,” reads the order issued by Khowaja.

An officer of Karachi police told Dawn that following this order around 4,000 policemen would be withdrawn from security duty in Karachi only, “which would help police immensely in terms of overcoming the shortcoming of manpower”.

The officer further said the police department was also planning to “rationalise the security for entitled persons”.

He highlighted that there were around 150 policemen deployed for the security of one former judge of the Supreme Court, however, only 80 policemen were provided to one sitting judge of the apex court.

Besides, there were “hundreds of policemen performing ‘duty’ at homes, business ventures, relatives and villages of senior police officers”, the official said.

Earlier on Thursday, the apex court had directed the inspectors general of police of the four provinces and Islamabad to withdraw security provided to unauthorised persons by Friday.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.