Security for Pompeo costing $2 million per month amid threats from Iran: report

The State Department is reportedly paying more than $2 million per month on security for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a former top aide, as the two men face “serious and credible” threats from Iran.

The Associated Press, citing a State Department report from February labeled “sensitive but unclassified,” reported on Saturday that the department has spent $13.1 million between August 2021 and February 2022 on protection for Pompeo and former Iran envoy Brian Hook. The two men have reportedly been receiving 24-hour security.

Pompeo and Hook headed the U.S. “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran during the Trump administration. The report obtained by the AP said threats from Iran have continued since former President Trump departed office.

Pompeo automatically qualified for 180 days of protection from the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security after departing office because of his high-ranking position, according to the AP.

Current Secretary of State Antony Blinken, however, has reportedly extended that security in 60-day blocks a number of times because of “a serious and credible threat from a foreign power or agent of a foreign power arising from duties performed by former Secretary Pompeo while employed by the department,” according to the report cited by the AP.

Hook was also given the special protection after leaving office for the same reason, according to the AP, and his protection has also reportedly been extended in 60-day chunks.

Pompeo announced in August 2020 that Hook was resigning from the State Department. Pompeo served as the top U.S. diplomat until Trump departed office in January 2021.

Asked for comment on the AP’s report, a State Department spokesperson told The Hill on Sunday that it does not “discuss the specifics of protective operations.”

The spokesperson did, however, say that Congress approved new terms that allow ex-State Department officials to receive protection if they face “a serious and credible threat from a foreign power or the agent of a foreign power” related to their time in office.

“Under the protective services provision, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, determines and reports to Congressional leadership and the appropriate congressional committees if a former or retired senior State Department official would receive protection,” the spokesperson added.

The State Department and Director of National Intelligence have to decide by March 16 whether or not to extend Pompeo and Hook’s protection for another 60 days, according to the AP.

The State Department created the report because its special protection budget is set to run out of funds in June unless it receives more money, the news wire noted.

"As new requirements arise and threats evolve, we will seek the necessary resources to ensure mission success," the spokesperson added to The Hill.

News of Pompeo and Hook’s protection comes as the global effort to revive a nuclear deal with Iran has been thrown into doubt amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Pompeo’s name has been tossed around as a potential Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Asked over the summer about any plans for the race, Pompeo said “I want to continue to have an impact on the things that I care about, both here and abroad.”

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CTD operation three terrorists arrested in Sukkur

Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Sunday conducted an operation in Sukkur and arrested three terrorists of a banned outfit.

According to CTD spokesperson, the arrested terrorists were identified as Rashid, Mehtab and Ajab Ali and belonged to Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA), a proscribed Sindhi militant outfit.

The spokesperson further said that the arrested terrorists were involved in various acts of terrorism. The CTD personnel also recovered explosive material from the arrested terrorists.

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Public should be ready to reach Islamabad at any moment: Fazal ur Rehman

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday has asked the public to be ready as the Opposition will summon them to Islamabad at any moment as the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan has been submitted to the National Assembly.

Talking to journalists regarding the no-trust move, Fazl said the PM has lost the majority as well as the trust of his allies.

“The matter is out of PM Khan’s hands now,” he claimed, adding that “he should gather 172 members against the Opposition in the National Assembly rather than gathering one million people for the Islamabad rally.”

The PDM chief said that the workers should reach Islamabad as soon as they are summoned.

Taking a jibe at Sheikh Rasheed, who had claimed a day prior that he is standing in support with PM Imran Khan "like a wall", Fazl said that the so-called support is nothing short of feeble.

He further criticised the interior minister and said that "he is someone who bites the hand that feeds him," adding that "no one can stop the Opposition from entering the federal capital".

Talking about the incumbent government, the JUI-F chief said that its days are numbered.

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Sheikh Rasheed retracts 'blackmail' statement against PML-Q

Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Sunday retracted his statement — which was issued in an apparent reference to PML-Q leaders who have reportedly demanded the removal of Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar — and clarified that he "did not point out any specific party."

A day ago, Rasheed had said that "I am not like those who have five seats and blackmail the premier to assume the chief minister's office."

In today's statement, the interior minister clarified that when he used the "blackmailing" reference, he did not name PML-Q or the BAP. Rasheed added that Chaudhry Shujaat "is my brother" and prayed for his good health. “I will never speak against him,” Rasheed said.

We are standing with PM Imran Khan like a brick wall, he added and reiterated that the premier will finish his five years in the office.

"After two days, Imran Khan's position will become clearer. Whoever stands with Imran Khan, the nation will respect them," he claimed.

Answering a question related to the no-confidence motion, the interior minister said that the Opposition is doing what they always do.

"I was once a part of the Opposition and we also used to make such futile claims," he said.

When asked about the National Assembly session, Rasheed said that the session has to be convened by the speaker and the decision of the speaker will be legal and constitutional.

"The speaker's decision cannot be challenged in any court. The days from March 22 to 30 are very important," he said.

Yesterday, Rasheed and Minister for Water Resources Moonis Elahi came face-to-face when Rasheed told journalists in Quetta that he isn't among those allies who "blackmail" Prime Minister Imran Khan for getting the top slot in Punjab.

In response, Elahi had said he respected the interior minister but asked Rasheed not to forget his past.

"Sheikh Rasheed might have forgotten that the leaders of [PML-Q] today are the ones who used to give money to him while he was a student," the federal minister added.

In response to the interior minister's comments, BAP President Jam Kamal Khan had also said: "Balochistan Awami Party takes its own decision, not Sheikh Rasheed."

 

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Everything will be clear" once ECP announces decision regarding PTI’s foreign funding case: Bilawal

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday has said that "everything will be clear" once the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announces a decision regarding PTI’s foreign funding case.

Addressing a press conference, Bilawal said that the Opposition has taken a democratic step to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan as it is the Opposition’s right.

He called the PM an “undemocratic” person and said: "We have challenged him democratically."

The PPP chairman claimed the PM is "hatching a plan to stop the parliamentarians from voting" but the Opposition will "not allow him to cheat."

He also said that the Opposition is moving towards "transparent elections" by bringing about the no-confidence motion.

“Imran Khan is preventing his members from voting. People should know who has received funding from India and Israel," said Bilawal while referring to PTI's foreign funding case.

The PPP chairman also said that his party has met other political parties to overthrow the "selected" prime minister.

“Meetings with our allies have been better than expected,” he added. “Only that person who has people’s mandate will be able to deal with difficult situations."

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PM was never concerned with prices of potatoes, tomatoes as he came to ruin state: Shahbaz Sharif

PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday reacted to Prime Minister Imran Khan's speech and said that it was understood that the premier was "never concerned about the prices of potatoes and tomatoes" as he had come to ruin the country.

In an official statement, the PML-N leader said that PM Imran Khan's speech in Hafizabad was a "testament to his defeat".

Shahbaz implied that since PM Imran Khan is not concerned about the poor of the country, he did not come to power to fix the prices of the basic commodities, such as potatoes and tomatoes.

Earlier today, PM Imran Khan had said that he did not join politics to know the prices of "aloo and tamatar," instead, he had become a politician for the sake of the country's youth.

"You had indeed joined politics to see the fall of Kashmir and to stop the projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)," Shahbaz said. "You came to increase Pakistan's ranking in the global corruption index, you came for destruction, you came to anger Pakistan's friends, and you came to hand over Pakistan's economic sovereignty to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)."

The PML-N president went on to say that PM Imran Khan had assumed office so that he could create "illegal construction schemes" and turn his "black money into white money." 

Further criticising the premier, Shahbaz said that the reason PM Imran came to power was to increase the price of petrol from Rs96 to Rs160.

"You have transformed Pakistan into the third-most-expensive country of the world. Under your rule, the people of Pakistan are suffering from inflation, unemployment, and economic catastrophe — all of which have turned out to be a doomsday for the masses," he said. 

Shahbaz continued: "Imran Sahib, your work is done, now go home and let the nation breathe a sigh of relief."

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Public should be ready to reach Islamabad at any moment: Fazal ur Rehman

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday has asked the public to be ready as the Opposition will summon them to Islamabad at any moment as the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan has been submitted to the National Assembly.

Talking to journalists regarding the no-trust move, Fazl said the PM has lost the majority as well as the trust of his allies.

“The matter is out of PM Khan’s hands now,” he claimed, adding that “he should gather 172 members against the Opposition in the National Assembly rather than gathering one million people for the Islamabad rally.”

The PDM chief said that the workers should reach Islamabad as soon as they are summoned.

Taking a jibe at Sheikh Rasheed, who had claimed a day prior that he is standing in support with PM Imran Khan "like a wall", Fazl said that the so-called support is nothing short of feeble.

He further criticised the interior minister and said that "he is someone who bites the hand that feeds him," adding that "no one can stop the Opposition from entering the federal capital".

Talking about the incumbent government, the JUI-F chief said that its days are numbered.

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