The police told the Lahore High Court on Tuesday that official security could not be provided to chairman of his own faction of Pakistan Ulema Council Allama Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi. The police further told the court that as per reports of different agencies, Ashrafi was not in need of security and he could hire private security, if he deems necessary, subject to permission of the government.
On court's previous order, a police official submitted a report before the court which further submitted that the police security of Ashrafi had been withdrawn in the light of a general order passed by the Supreme Court of withdrawing all police personnel engaged for security of VIP personalities.
Ashrafi had filed a petition challenging withdrawal of his police security. The court adjourned the hearing till October 15 and directed the petitioner's counsel to come up with his counter arguments on the police report. The petitioner contended that that the police suspended his security without jurisdiction and in violation of petitioner's fundamental rights enshrined under the Constitution.
He has been facing serious life threats at the hands of terrorist organisations and the government was also aware of the situation, he pleaded. He therefore prayed the court to order the respondents to restore security squad in view of serious threat alerts from terrorist organizations.