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Security withdrawal: PHC directs KP govt to respond to ex-CM’s petition

Bureau report
Thursday, Jan 23, 2025

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday directed the provincial government to submit a report on the withdrawal of security from former chief minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf- Parliamentarians (PTIP) Chairman Mahmood Khan.

The court sought details of the summary sent to the cabinet recommending the withdrawal of the security from the former chief minister and the reasons behind it.

A two-member bench comprising Justice SM Atique Shah and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah heard the case.The petitioner’s counsel informed the court that Mahmood Khan, as a former chief minister, had his security withdrawn, prompting the petition seeking its restoration. During the hearing, Justice SM Atique Shah questioned whether the 2018 security policy issued by the Home Department was being uniformly implemented. He noted that while Mahmood Khan’s security was withdrawn, other VIPs continued to retain theirs.

The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the decision to withdraw security was taken during a cabinet meeting and claimed it specifically targeted the former chief minister.

He added that the cabinet retained the authority to determine security provisions but argued that such an executive order violated fundamental rights and warranted judicial intervention.

Justice Sahibzada Asadullah commented that it appeared the petitioner was the primary target of the decision, while Justice Atique Shah said that the cabinet must apply policies consistently. The additional advocate general explained that the cabinet had the prerogative to allocate security and that economic constraints had influenced the decision. He assured the court that the existing policy remained in place. Shumail Butt highlighted inconsistencies in the police and pointed out that former chief minister Akram Durrani still enjoyed protocol. He mentioned that his own security was withdrawn shortly before he was de-notified as advocate general, questioning the impartiality of such decisions.

The court, noting these concerns, instructed the government to provide a report at the next hearing.