As legislators unanimously condemned the withdrawal of security from the residence of National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza in Karachi, former law minister Afzal Sindhu held Interior Minister Rehman Malik responsible for the move.
Speaking on a point of order, Sindhu, a member of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), said the speaker was the third most important person in the country’s hierarchy, and that it was the federal government’s job to provide her security. He asked the prime minister to clarify the government’s position on providing security to the speaker.
“I do not hold Sindh government responsible for the lapse,” he said, adding that the interior minister was responsible to provide security.
In reply, the interior minister said he had sought a report from the Sindh inspector general of police regarding the removal of security from the speaker’s residence.
Malik acknowledged that providing security to the VIPs and members of the parliament was the responsibility of the federal government.
