KARACHI: Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, a close legal aide of President Pervez Musharraf, has requested for full official protocol and security in Islamabad and Karachi for fear of the same reaction of the public as seen in the cases of former Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and former federal minister Dr Sher Afgan Niazi, well-placed sources in the federal government told Business Recorder.

At present, Pirzada, who once represented Maulvi Tameezuddin Khan against the dissolution of constituent assembly by governor general Ghulam Mohammad in the court in the 1950s, is ensconced at the Attorney General’s office in the Supreme Court of Pakistan instead of in the Prime Minister’s secretariat where he used to sit in the past.

Now, Pirzada and Malik Abdul Qayyum sit in one office, discuss common issues and even go to the courtroom together, said another source, who personally saw them together in the Supreme Court precincts. The sources said that Pirzada had been appointed Ambassador-at- Large in 1996 and this notification was reissued on December 11, 1999 almost two months after the dismissal of Nawaz Sharif government.

In 2002, when the PML-Q formed the government, Pirzada had been asked to continue as Ambassador-at-Large, however, after some time he had also been appointed honorary Senior Advisor on Foreign Affairs, Law and Human Rights.

On March 25, 2008 when Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani took oath, Pirzada ceased to hold office along with other Advisors and Special Assistants, but he was not de-notified from the portfolio of Ambassador-at- Large, the sources said. The concerned department has been directed to extend all facilities to him as per the notification of his appointment as Ambassador-at-Large, which has not been withdrawn so far.

The sources said some ‘influential’ circles believe that Pirzada will remain useful till such a time as the controversy over the restoration of the deposed judges continues.

The sources said the government has provided one Personal Assistant (PA) and other supporting staff to Pirzada in the Attorney General’s office but the Private Secretary who was earlier reporting to him, has been attached to the Prime Minister’s Advisor on National Security, Mahmood Ali Durrani. Pirzada could not be reached for his comments. (aaj)

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