ISLAMABAD: At least 40 cops, including several elite commandoes, and two vehicles of Punjab Police are delegated for round-the-clock security of Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri (pictured), who is spending about Rs2m ($20,408) a month from the provincial coffer.
His security paraphernalia consists of one sub-inspector, four head constables, 22 constables, 12 elite force commandoes, two drivers and two vehicles, a senior Punjab government official said.
This is apart from the personal guards Dr Qadri has hired from a private firm for his security and dozens of his party men, who perform similar duties with him.
Of the government security personnel, the official said, one sub-inspector, three head constables and 18 constables are deployed at the PAT chief’s Model Town residence.
One head constable and four constables are detailed at the nearby Minhajul Quran Markaz in the vicinity for Dr Qadri’s security.
Besides, there are 12 elite force commandoes on 24-hour duty having a vehicle. Another vehicle is for other policemen.
Each vehicle spends about Rs100,000 a month for this duty. The policemen are drawing monthly salaries ranging from Rs30,000 to Rs60,000 a month, the official said, giving the break-up of their pays.
He said that foolproof security was ensured for Dr Qadri immediately after his return to Pakistan last December.
He said the Punjab government had not bothered about the lethal attack the PAT chief continues to shower on the provincial administration and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
As far as the security cover for Dr Qadri is concerned, the official said, the government had made it a point not to give him an opportunity to complain and he seemed to be satisfied with it. Such kind of security, he said, is available only to VVIPs, who occupy key government offices.
He said that maximum care has been taken in view of the peculiar security situation. He said that Dr Qadri would continue to have this much security cover until the time he is in Pakistan.
He has no plan to go back to Canada and will stay in Pakistan at least until the conclusion of the forthcoming general elections.
Internews
