PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has appointed more than 3,192 personnel on the security of governors, chief minister, judges, ministers, government servants and other public office bearers.
The recent data submitted by Home Department has submitted in response to the question of Rehana Ismail, a female member of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly show that Rs1.5 billion on their security annually. The data shows that a total of Rs120 million is being spent monthly on the security of Chief Minister Mehmood Khan who has a total of 343 police personnel.
A total of 343 police personnel are deployed on security while the governor has a security of 76 police officers while different ministers have 364 for ministers and advisers have 53 security men for their security. 523 personnel have been deployed for the security of serving officers and 79 for retired officers. The data shows that a total of Rs41.79 million is being spent on the deployment of 1,194 personnel for the security of judges in the province.
The opposition has strongly criticized the chief minister and the provincial government for such high security and protocol. Opposition parties said that the PTI had promised not to take the protocols but now they have violated all their commitment with the people.
Responding to the opposition’s criticism, Minister for Labour and Culture Shaukat Ali Yousafzai said, “We found the government in a situation where the entire infrastructure of the province had been destroyed. Terrorism was on the rise and security was provided to avoid any untoward incident.” He added that 343 police personnel are not also present with Chief Minister but a squad is always ready for his security. He said that eight to ten police personnel are always present for the chief minister security.
However, the opposition said that police squad of 343 personnel is permanently stationed in CM House in Peshawar and there are some personnel stationed at his personnel residence in Swat. The opposition also criticised the security protocol of retired government officials, saying that they have become a burden on the province exchequer.
