KP chief minister returns Sindh Police security

KARACHI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has returned the security cover provided to him by Sindh Police, citing what he described as “misconduct” by a police officer at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi.

The decision came a day after a video went viral on social media showing a Sindh Police officer allegedly snatching a national flag from a woman near the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam.

Taking strong notice of the incident, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said he no longer required security from Sindh Police and directed the personnel deployed with him to return.

“I do not need security from Sindh Police. All police personnel should go back. Not a single vehicle should move with me,” the chief minister said.

Condemning the incident, Sohail Afridi expressed anger over the alleged treatment of the woman and said police officers should be ashamed of such behaviour. He criticised the act of taking flags away from women, particularly mothers and sisters, during a public gathering.

According to sources, the viral video showed a police official allegedly taking a Pakistani flag from a female participant during a political gathering near Mazar-e-Quaid. The footage sparked widespread criticism on social media, with several PTI leaders also reacting to the incident.

The KP chief minister said such behaviour was unacceptable and that he could not accept security from a police force whose personnel had allegedly behaved disrespectfully toward women and citizens.

Following the chief minister’s announcement, the Sindh Police personnel deployed for his security were withdrawn.

The development comes during Sohail Afridi’s visit to Sindh and has drawn attention to relations between the KP government and Sindh Police. The incident has also triggered debate on the conduct of law-enforcement personnel during political gatherings and public events.

The controversy is likely to remain a topic of discussion as questions are raised over the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident and the conduct of the police official involved.

For now, the KP chief minister has made it clear that he does not want Sindh Police personnel accompanying him during his visit, following the incident at Mazar-e-Quaid.