18 December 2004	Saturday	05 Ziqa'ad 1425

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KARACHI, Dec 17: The Sindh High Court provisionally allowed PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari on Friday to have the services of personal armed security guards and use tinted glasses in his vehicle and issued preadmission notices to the advocate-general and the home department for Dec 22.

Granting an application for interim relief moved by Mr Zardari, who appeared in person, a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad and Justice Maqbool Baqar, observed that 'in view of the extreme apprehension' expressed by the petitioner in respect of his safety and security, he is allowed to have armed guards and travel in a vehicle with coloured glasses till Dec 22, the next date of hearing.

Issuing notices to the advocate-general and the respondent home department, the bench asked them to furnish 'a complete list' of people allowed to hire private armed guards and use vehicles having coloured glasses or state whether no permission was required or given and that they were enjoying the facility without permission.

The bench noted the petitioner's contention that he was approached by a police official to acquire the services of police guards for his security. But when he moved an application, it was rejected by the home department on Dec 2. He was also asked to remove tinted glasses from his vehicle, which would render him easily identifiable by anyone who had any grudge or enmity against him.

The bench observed after perusing the impugned home department letter that while the use of tinted glasses had categorically been ruled out, the contents were not 'very clear' with regard to the provision of government/police personnel for the petitioner's safety.

Mr Zardari earlier submitted that he had been prosecuted and jailed for eight years and was still being harassed. It was because of a Supreme Court bail order that he had been set at liberty. Various government functionaries were freely enjoying the facility denied to him.

Talking to newsmen after the proceedings, he reiterated his call for dialogue for continuation of the political process and for safeguarding national sovereignty, which 'was at stake'.

Expressing satisfaction over the judiciary's role, he said the institution was becoming responsive and 'we would make it more responsive'. About the uniform issue, the PPP leader said he was bound by the position taken by the ARD.

He denied Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao's statement that he had not been refused a passport. He had to approach the court for a passport also. Asked why he appeared in person, he said he wanted to directly convey his grievance to the court.

Mr Zardari was accompanied by provincial PPP president Qaim Ali Shah, MNAs Fauzia Wahab and Sherry Rehman, Agha Siraj Durrani and Advocate Shahadat Awan. Sindh High Court Bar Association President Akhtar Hussain was also present at the hearing.