Militant threats: PTI requests better security for Imran Khan

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ISLAMABAD: With Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan receiving threats for backing the faltering polio vaccination campaign in the militancy hit regions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, his party has requested the government to boost his security.

Imran, who is also a member of the national assembly, is liable to receive security protocol. But according to a letter to the Interior Minister, his party claims that the MNA from NA-56 has been given only one policeman by the state for his security.

According to the letter signed by PTI secretary general Jahangir Tareen, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, the party claimed that Imran’s state provided security had always been modest. However, it claimed that in recent days the security detail had shrunk to just one policeman at his gate.

The letter requested the government to insure full scale security measures for Imran, including “both at his residence as well as when he is moving about.”

“The security should be commensurate with his status as the Chairman of Pakistan’s second largest party by votes, the third largest by number of seats in Parliament and the level of the security threat such leaders are subject to.”

On Thursday, the PTI claimed that their chairman had been threatened by militants for criticizing attacks on polio vaccination teams.

“Mr. Khan received a threat from Ansarul Mujahideen over his remarks over anti-polio campaign,” Shireen Mazari, a senior member of PTI told AFP.

Imran Khan threatened over polio remarks: PTI

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has been threatened by militants after criticizing attacks on polio vaccination teams, his party said Thursday.

Imran on December 18 had declared polio workers as soldiers of Islam and said those attacking them were not doing any justice to humanity, Islam or Pakistanis.

Pakistan is one of three countries in the world where polio remains endemic and efforts to stamp it out have been badly affected by attacks on health workers inoculating children.

“Mr. Khan received a threat from Ansarul Mujahideen over his remarks over anti-polio campaign,” Shireen Mazari, a senior member of PTI told AFP.

Ansarul Mujahideen is a little-known militant group linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Last year TTP banned polio vaccinations in the tribal region of Waziristan, alleging the campaign was a cover for espionage.

Eradication efforts have also suffered due to long-standing rumours that the vaccine was part of a Western plot to sterilize Muslims.

PTI leads the government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and yesterday, Imran pledged to spearhead a fresh anti-polio drive, kicking it off by administering drops to children at a hospital himself.

“Those attacking polio workers and policemen deputed to protect them, are not doing any justice to humanity, Islam and people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan,” Imran had said.

“Polio workers are mujahid (soldiers of Islam) and we stand by them.”

Up to 2.3 million children in nine districts will be targeted in the immunization drive, local officials have said, after 62 polio cases were reported from tribal areas and K-P this year.

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