By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The PLMN coalition government on Monday attached an enhanced security detail to former prime minister Imran Khan, perhaps no less than what he used to enjoy when was in power, a day after the fire-breathing politician swore he was a ‘marked man’.
Khan on Sunday, while spitting venom on his political adversaries at a public rally in the Punjab’s textile industry hub, Faisalabad, spilled clues of an assassination plot against him, which got the government’s undivided attention.
“A plot is being hatched against me in Pakistan and overseas. They are conspiring to kill Imran Khan,” the former prime minister revealed to a rally in Faisalabad, on Sunday night.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wasted as little time as possible to scramble a contingent of multi-agency security personnel to Khan’s residence in Bani Gala. The securitymen have been ordered not to leave the PTI captain’s side whenever he leaves his palatial house just outside Islamabad.
The government is planning to appoint a ‘Chief Security Officer’ to lead all those government agencies protecting Imran Khan. He has not been named yet.
And it, however, is premature to say whether the former prime minister will sleep in peace under the government’s cozy security blanket or will toss and turn in his bed feeling more insecure in the presence of that much firepower.
Nobody knows exactly whose cross-hairs Khan has found himself in. But why? Maybe everybody knows. Or that’s what they would mostly have everyone believe.
Khan also said a video, identifying the plotters of his assassination, would be released to public if any hostilities or mortal harm came his way.
“I have recorded a video message and kept it in a safe place. If something happens to me, God forbid, this video will be made public, where I have exposed everyone involved in the plot,” Khan said without shedding any more light on the dark corners of this statement.
Earlier, PM Sharif sent the authorities rolling to set up unbreachable security to the former premier after he claimed his life was in danger.
Shehbaz Sharif also called Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to see to it that there were no lapses in Khan’s protection.
The sitting prime minister’s statement was aired after intelligence reports that Khan’s claims have checked out.
The government has also manned Khan estate-like lodgings with a bomb disposal squad and other special security personnel.
The provincial governments have also been asked to step up Khan’s security during his meetings and public gatherings in their provinces.
The prime minister, who lost a vote of confidence in the parliament after his allies sold him out to the opposition’s alliance, wants fresh polls, and blames Americans for recruiting his rivals to usurp his government that was over a year short of completing its five-year term.
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