Islamabad - Residents of the capital have expressed alarm over the incidents of intimidation and harassment by security guards of powerful and influential figures. Security guards openly tot their guns at pedestrians and drivers on the roads, warning them not to come close to the vehicles of their powerful masters.

The blatant display of weapons is sowing insecurity among residents in the capital, with fears rising about the consequences if some trigger-happy security guard does open fire at any vehicle or person coming in the way of a VIP’s cavalcade.

Hardly any day passes when there is not a VIP movement in the capital— from government ministers to opposition members and from affluent party heads to military officials. The protocol of the elite causes immense discomfort and nuisance, locals here say. The security convoys halt public life, leading to traffic jams of miles, and in some cases causing even the deaths of the patients stuck in ambulances.

Imaan Hazir, daughter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf politician Shireen Mazari, was travelling in her car near Serena Hotel traffic signal earlier this month when she faced harassment and intimidation at the hands of a security guard of a politician from Gilgit-Baltistan.

Imaan, while talking to The Nation on Monday, said: “While crossing the Serena signal on the eve of 1st June, there was huge rush of traffic and a Gilgit-Baltistan politician’s squad was passing by. At first I thought there is an ambulance but then a security squad vehicle came in front of my car and threatened me by pointing gun towards me. The gunman threatened to open fire if I didn’t move my car away from the convoy.”

“Being a lawyer, I lodged an FIR in Secretariat police station on June 2 against them and mentioned car numbers JLT 416 and JLT 6011 in it. The SHO said we will register case tomorrow but actually he didn’t register it. By inquiring the matter repeatedly, the SHO responded you both are influential parties, it is better to reach out an agreement.”

Imaan was then forced to share her ordeal over social media and the subsequent outcry forced the police to register the FIR. However, police are using delaying tactics and not pursuing the case, Imaan claimed.

Earlier this year, a group of responsible citizens and civil society activists gathered at Islamabad’s Super Market to raise awareness for citizen rights and to send a message to VIPs to not create hurdles and problems for the citizens by blocking roads in the name of security and protocol. The initiative was part of the campaign ‘No To VIP Culture,’ and was simultaneously held at Teen Talwaar in Karachi. A group of university students also distributed car stickers outside Centaurus Mall.

Last month, Muhammad Amin was carrying his injured son in an ambulance from Rawalpindi to Islamabad via Expressway. Amin got stuck due to VIP protocol for one hour and his son died before reaching the hospital. “I didn’t ever imagine that this could happen with me and my son will die this way.” Amin said. “Compared with the politicians, the lives of ordinary citizens have no value.”