GUJRAT: The district police withdrew the policemen deployed for the security of both the PML-Q and PML-N ministers, lawmakers and ex-lawmakers on merit and without any discrimination, claim officials.

Official sources say that a total of 30 policemen deployed for the security of political figures belonging to different parties have been withdrawn. However, of these, only two policemen were withdrawn from PML-N ex-MNA Chaudhry Abid Raza Kotla, whereas the rest (28) were called back from the security of PML-Q lawmakers and ministers.

The sources say that at least 12 Elite Force commandos, along with a vehicle, had been deployed for the mobile security duty of Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain, while at least four policemen were guarding his Gujrat residence on the GT Road.

They say that the one policeman performing duty with Punjab Minister for Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain was also withdrawn.

Sources say only one ex-MNA of ‘N’ deprived of security cover

Giving details, the sources say that at least three policemen deployed with PML-Q MNA Chaudhry Ilyas have also been withdrawn, whereas two each police security guards deployed with the party’s MNA Chaudhry Hussain Elahi, his brother MPA Musa Elahi and MPA Khalid Asghar Ghural have also been sent to the Police Lines for further postings.

An official of local administration told Dawn on condition of anonymity that the decision to withdraw political figures’ security was taken during a meeting of the District Intelligence Committee (DIC), as per the standard operating procedure set by the provincial home department, a couple of days ago.

He claimed that the DIC meeting reviewed the security situation and decided to withdraw the police accompanying the political figures facing no threat.

He said the security withdrawal had been made across the board, without any discrimination.

Sources privy to the development say the local authorities had decided that whenever the federal or provincial ministers would visit Gujrat, they would be provided security as per the prevailing situation.

However, the parliamentarians were not entitled to keep permanent police security, they added.

Criticising the withdrawal of the security, MPA Musa Elahi stated in a recent media talk that such a step reflected the rulers’ mentality.

The decision to withdraw the security from senior PML-Q leaders and lawmakers is being seen as an outcome of the verbal row between Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and federal minister Salik Hussain after the latter’s criticism of the Punjab government, including allegations of massive corruption in the province.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2026