Farmhouse security enhanced as Musharraf expected to return

Published April 2, 2014
Musharraf's farm house in Islamabad. — File Photo
Musharraf's farm house in Islamabad. — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: While there are rumours that former president Pervez Musharraf might fly to Dubai to see his ailing mother if the government removes his name from the Exit Control List (ECL), security around his farmhouse in Islamabad is also being enhanced over his expected arrival there.

Officials in the capital police, interior ministry and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) said Musharraf’s personnel security in-charge visited the farmhouse on Monday night and supervised the officials of agencies and police who were combing the area with metal and explosive detectors.

Besides, deployment in and around the farmhouse was also checked which later increased too, the officials added. “Now over 110 police personnel have been deployed around the farmhouse under the supervision of an SP, who is assisted by an ASP and three inspectors.” Similarly, five vehicles have also started patrolling around the farmhouse.

Besides, a contingent of 100 personnel has been put on a standby who would be deployed around the farmhouse shortly before the arrival of the former president there.

The interior minister and police have also asked the CDA to complete the construction of a multi-million rupees security wall around the farmhouse within a week, the officials added.

Earlier, the CDA had got instructions from the interior ministry for the completion of the wall in the second week of March.

In this regard, the CDA also approached the capital police and sought its recommendations for the construction of the wall keeping in view the threats to the former president.

A police officer said the constriction of the wall would strengthen the security of the house and lessen the inconvenience the residents of the nearby areas have been facing due to the establishment of the security pickets.

The officer said: “We have been directed to get ready for the security.” But there is no specific schedule of the former president’s return to the farmhouse.

It may be mentioned that Musharraf has been hospitalised at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), Rawalpindi, for the last about three months.

In the last week of February, the interior ministry had sought the details of security provided to the former president at his farmhouse, epically when it was declared a sub-jail. The ministry had asked the central police office to give the details, including deployment of personnel, number of officers, checkpoints and security pickets, along with patrolling vehicles in and around the farmhouse.

At that time, there were five pickets around the farmhouse and two at the main road - Park Road -which were considered enough. However, the officials added that there was a need to strengthen the security rings of the police manning the pickets.

It was also suggested that trenches and bunkers should also be established around the farmhouse.

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