A Senate panel has asked the interior ministry to differentiate between protocol and security, and directed it to provide security to Prime Minister Imran Khan as per the “blue book”, even if he is hesitant.
The “blue book” is a classified document and it carries matters relating to protocol, a comprehensive security plan that is followed during VVIP movements, especially those of the president and prime minister, and steps to be taken in the event of a disaster or an emergency.
The book also contains details of sensitive installations.
During a meeting of the Senate standing committee on interior, its chairman Rehman Malik referred to the latest threat alert issued against five politicians, including the premier.
The blue book had to be properly followed, he said, directing Interior Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar to provide security to the prime minister and other politicians under threat regardless of what anyone said.
“It happens everywhere in the world. Do not bother about what the media says,” he remarked.
The Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N)’s Javed Abbasi was the only individual to oppose the idea of providing security to the prime minister, saying that “let them follow their party’s policy”.
He also criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for making certain claims and acting to the contrary.
He said that earlier President Arif Alvi was shown travelling to Karachi as an ordinary passenger without any protocol, but things were different when he reached Karachi, where dozens of vehicles were present to accord him an extraordinary protocol.
Besides discussing security measures, the Senate panel – through a unanimously adopted resolution – voiced its concern over allegations of money laundering against Pakistan.
The committee members were of the view that the drug money was being laundered by Afghanistan under the eyes of US forces, which was a source of production and supply to the world.
They said that major areas of Afghanistan were under the control of the US forces, and demanded that drug production and supply be stopped by the American forces with immediate effect and that the “baseless charges” against Pakistan be dropped.


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