LAHORE: The Punjab government on Thursday curtailed security at former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s Jati Umra residence as well as security protocol for certain individuals – not entitled to official security.

Chief Secretary Zahid Saeed, additional chief secretary retired Maj Azam Suleman Khan and Inspector General Arif Nawaz held a meeting after Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar’s direction to all police chiefs to withdraw in 24 hours the security protocol provided to the influential individuals not entitled to official security.

Around 500 security personnel deployed at Jati Umra were curtailed to 20 security officials. A senior official told Dawn that only essential and bare minimum security would be kept at Jati Umra in view of the threat reports for th former prime minister.

Additional security provided to Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law retired Capt Safdar as well as MNAs and MPAs from Punjab were also called back. The chief justice issued directions regarding security protocol during the hearing of a case pertaining to the security provided to individuals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2018