ISLAMABAD – Law enforcement officials in the federal capital have directed politicians and religious leaders to strictly adhere to security protocols and not let terrorists take advantage of the security breach committed by none other but themselves.
According to a letter written by the DIG (Security) Islamabad on Thursday and circulated through the Ministry of Interior to all politicians and other VIPs who have been provided security cover, these people have been asked not to compromise the security guidelines and refrain from issuing unnecessary instructions that might lead to breach of security corridor, a source in the police department told Pakistan Today on Friday.
The letter explained the reasons for issuing such instructions, citing circumstances which led to the murder of federal minister Shahbaz Bhatti. The law-enforcement authority hoped that the VIPs would cooperate with the security staff and avoid hiding their movement under any circumstances. Meanwhile, a source told Pakistan Today that the even security agencies were unaware of the fact that Bhatti used to stay at his mother’s residence at night under his “self-designed” security measures. We were not taken into confidence in this regard, the source added.
He said, “Security agencies avoid chasing politicians and VIPs, especially when they are avoiding protocol themselves…we are restricted by the VIPs as they have to visit personal friends or attend secret meetings of political nature and if we continue chasing them against their will, we are scolded and in such circumstances, police personnel prefer saving their skin from the VIPs’ wrath”. To a question whether a security lapse had led to Bhatti’s murder, the source said, “Yes. The security breach committed by none other than Bhatti led to his murder.”
