LAHORE In a major policy shift in the aftermath of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseers assassination by one of his security guards, the provincial government has begun proper screening and scrutiny of the officials of Elite Force to avoid any further untoward happening. Well-placed sources revealed here on Friday that ten bearded personnel of Elite Force have been withdrawn from VVIPs security as the governors killing sparked security concerns among the top politicians, particularly liberal and moderate ones. Sources close to the Joint Investigations Team (JIT) probing into the assassination of Salmaan Taseer also disclosed to this reporter that the security agencies have arrested a suspect in connection with the on-going inquiry during a successful raid carried out in Sabzazaar area late on Wednesday night. The suspect has been shifted to an unknown location for further interrogation, sources said, adding, there is a strong possibility that the suspect had links with Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, who gunned down Punjab Governor in the federal capital and later confessed the murder. Sources also revealed that the investigators traced the suspect through the cellular phone of the killer as there were specific text messages on the handset of Qadri, an official of the Elite Force, established years ago to provide security cover to the VVIPs. According to the police sources, a special team of the Elite Force comprising experienced officers have begun screening of the Elite Force officials in order to monitor their activities and religious leanings. Those policemen who are very religious will not be deployed on the security of VVIPs. A comprehensive screening and scrutiny is underway in this regard, requesting anonymity a top police officer said but did not mention any further details. At present, out of 1012 officials of Elite Force 878 policemen have been deployed on the security of VVIPs here in the provincial metropolis. According to the police record, more than 300 officials of Elite Force police are deployed for the security of PML-N leader Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif and their other family members. Hundreds of others Elite Force personnel are also providing security cover to the top politicians and their families including Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and his family, Sardar Zulifqar Khosa, Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah, American Consulate General in Lahore, top judges including Chief Justice Lahore High Court, and police hierarchy including the Inspector General of Police Punjab and Capital City Police Officer. Sources also revealed that initially all the bearded men would be withdrawn from the security fleet of VVIPs and would be deployed on general law and order duties. The special team constituted in this regard has also been tasked to collect in detail the particulars of the Elite Force personnel including their sects, religious leanings, family background and association with religious groups.