Security concerns: Police deem Punjab House unsafe for Nawaz

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD:  Owing to security concerns, police have advised incoming prime minister Nawaz Sharif against taking Punjab House as his residence.

At a party meeting on Wednesday, Nawaz had announced that he would not reside in the Prime Minister house and would reduce his protocol for travelling in order to slash expenses.
However, a senior police officer told The Express Tribune that the security branch wrote a letter to the Capital Police Office expressing fears that Punjab House – located in the Red Zone, along other provincial officials’ houses and the Chief Justice’s residence – was not secure enough for Nawaz’s stay.

“It is too elevated and close to the Margalla Hills from where it can be targeted easily by terrorists,” the letter stated, adding, “Thus, the PM house is the only secure place for him under given circumstances.”
“Moreover, it would also be at greater distance from the Prime Minister Secretariat,” maintained the police officer.
The police recently conducted a survey of the incoming premier’s proposed residence and declared that it was much difficult to maintain security at the Punjab House.
“If Nawaz were to live in the Punjab House, the police would have to deploy more personnel at the site than normally required for a high-level government facility which would be an extra burden on the understaffed police force,” said the police official.
“Besides, the entire area surrounding Punjab House including the road leading to Margalla road down the hill would have to be cordoned off.”