KARACHI: The Sindh High Court once again directed the federal government to give its response to a constitutional petition of Pakistan Peoples Party chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari seeking adequate security and permission to travel with personal guards across the country.

A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah put off the hearing to Nov 24 after additional advocate general barrister Ghulam Mustafa Mahesar placed on record the comments of the home secretary on behalf of the provincial government.

The AAG submitted that that the pro-vincial authorities were providing adequate security to the PPP chief in view of threats to his life. He informed the court that the provincial government would continue to make arrangements for Mr Bhutto-Zardari`s security as it did in the past.

The home secretary in his comments stated that the provincial government had no objection to the provision of security to the PPP chairman.

He stated that the government provided security to people, especially to those receiving threats from terrorists.

The home secretary said that politicians and prominent personalities hired services of private security guards and the home department had no objection to the provision of security to the petitioner.It was further submitted by the government official that the federal and provincial governments were making sincere efforts to improve the law and order situation in the country and in the province under the National Action Plan.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari had filed the constitutional petition through his counsel advocate Akhtar Hussain seeking court`s directives for the federal and the provincial governments to ensure provision of a round-the-clock security cover as there were serious threats to his life in view of reports of the security agencies.

He asked the court to direct the authorities to allow him to carry his personal security guards with licensed arms while travelling or addressing public meetings throughout the country.The PPP chairman stated in the petition that being the chairman of the PPP he had to travel across the country to address public gatherings and discharge public duties for the welfare of the people at large.

He said the security agencies had issued reports regarding serious threats to his life. Therefore, there was a grave concern about his security, he added.

He submitted that he had apprehension about his security as he had been receiving death threats from terrorist organisations.

He also recalled that his mother Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a public gathering in Rawalpindi, whereas his father being the co-chairman of the party had been receivingthreats from extremists.

The petitioner said that the law and order situation in the country was precarious and several political leaders and important personalities had been assassinated in the past.

He submitted that in view of the law and order situation and security threats, his life and property were in serious danger, therefore, he needed adequate security.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari asked the court to direct the federal and provincial governments to provide him adequate security during his visits across the country.

He also pleaded to the court to direct the authorities concerned to allow him to take along his personal security guards and use vehicles with tinted glasses.