Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the Interior Ministry to provide ‘foolproof’ security to former prime minister Imran Khan in light of the latter’s claims about ‘threats’ to his life.
The prime minister instructed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to provide the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson with the best security arrangements. He also assigned a chief security officer to stay with Imran.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued directions to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and all provincial governments to further beef up the security of former PM Imran Khan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued directions to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah & all provincial governments to further beef up the security of former PM Imran Khan. Moreover a Chief Security Officer has also been provided to former Prime Minister on the directions of PM.
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) May 16, 2022
According to a report by Radio Pakistan, the state-run radio network, an interior ministry spokesperson has confirmed the issuance of these orders.
The spokesperson also said that police and other law enforcement agencies have been directed to ensure complete deployment of the security personnel assigned for the former prime minister, adding that 94 police Frontier Corps (FC) personnel have been stationed at Imran Khan’s house in Bani Gala.
Additionally, 35 security officials from two private security companies had also been sent to Bani Gala.
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan governments have also positioned 36 and 6 police personnel respectively, out of concern for Khan’s security.
The spokesperson said that a continuous threat assessment was underway, regarding the danger to Imran’s life, adding, “If the former Prime Minister has any specific information, he should share it with the interior ministry so that further arrangements of security could be put in place.”
The spokesperson also said that it is Imran Khan’s national responsibility as a former prime minister to share the details of any alleged threat to his life with the interior ministry so that they can examine the evidence and take necessary action.
Meanwhile, the interior minister also said in a tweet that if Imran was privy to some information regarding the alleged threat to his life, he should immediately share it with the interior ministry, instead of using it as a political stunt to leverage sympathy and support.
اگرعمران نیازی اپنی جان کو خطرے سے متعلق معلومات فراہم نہیں کرتے تو امریکی سازش کی طرح اس بیانیے کو بھی ایک پولیٹیکل سٹنٹ ہی تصور کیا جائیگا، ایک سابق وزیراعظم کا اپنی جان کے خطرے کو پولیٹیکل سٹنٹ کے طور پر پیش کرنا انتہائی افسوسناک ہے اور خطرے کا باعث ہوسکتا ہے۔
— Rana SanaUllah Khan (@RanaSanaullahPK) May 16, 2022
