Sunday, May 20, 2012

Lahore SP made OSD after brawl with PM’s guard

By Imran Chaudhry & Arsalan Haider

LAHORE: A brawl between Prime Minster Yousaf Raza Gilani’s security staff and Saddar Division police personnel led to the immediate suspension of the divisional superintendent of police (SP) who was later made an officer on special duty (OSD).

The brawl took place after the PM left the convocation of the Virtual University at Expo Centre.

According to details, the PM’s security guards were deputed in three cordons of the venue. As SP Ather Waheed and Mustafa Town SHO Muneer tries to enter the hall, Gilani’s security in-charge Talat tried to stop them because they had weapons on them, which was against security protocol. Witnesses and police officials, seeking anonymity, said that the officials were barred from entering as they were supposed to provide security outside the hall.

After an exchange of ‘harsh words’, the SP called in more contingents to get the guard arrested.

Talking to the media, SP Waheed said that the security guard abused him and other police officers. “Its our duty to proved security to the PM and other VIP personalities on the occasion,” SP Waheed said, adding that it was his duty to carry a weapon and remain close to the venue where the PM was present. He said the security in-charge was in police custody, and should apologise for his misbehaviour.

Police high-ups and government officials soon became active and started probing the matter, after which DIG (Operations) Rai Tahir ordered the police to release Talat immediately. Punjab Governor Latif Khan Khosa also ordered the Punjab home secretary and IG to submit a report, and to transfer SP Ather to Balochistan.

However, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah negated the impression that the SP was being transferred. He said that the security of a venue was the responsibility of the SP concerned. Police sources said the Punjab government was not interested in taking action against Ather and other officials. When contacted, staff at the IG Office did not confirm Ather’s transfer. However, a spokesman at the Saddar Division SP Office said SP Ather had left the office, whereas the new SP, Muhammad Sharif, had taken the charge.

It is noteworthy that Ather is considered a close ally of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and he had openly expressed his affiliation with the party on many occasions.

In 2009, when the PML-N took out the Long March for the reinstatement of judges, Ather was serving as the Gujranwala SP. When Ather was asked to crackdown on PML-N workers, he refused and tendered his resignation. Sources said that according to the Blue Book Security Plan, the venue where the PM has to arrive is checked three times by separate departments. The local police first check the venue, then the Special Branch and other agencies, whereas special commandos of the PM’s security staff give a final clearance to the venue.

Similarly, three different routes of reaching the venue are decided in the security plan of the PM. The entry point, exit point and emergency exist points are also decided before the event begins. Sources said that there are three layers of security at the venue – outer, middle and inner, and police, Special Branch and the PM’s security staff are responsible for them, respectively.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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