Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally rebuked two of Islamabad’s most senior officials for arriving at the Independence Day parade in a horse-drawn carriage (Geo News).
The Islamabad inspector general of police and the chief commissioner were informed in writing of the prime minister’s displeasure by the Joint Secretary (Discipline), according to official sources.
What the letter said
Issued with reference to the prime minister, the letter said such personal display was contrary to the principles of public service. It conveyed directives to civil servants to avoid such conduct and to maintain simplicity.
The rebuke followed a video of the two officials riding in the carriage at the August 14 parade, which circulated widely on social media and drew criticism.
A minister had already defended them
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi publicly said the two officials were not at fault.
That leaves the government having both defended the officials and formally recorded the prime minister’s displeasure with them — within days of each other, on the same set of facts.
Why a carriage ride became a matter of discipline
On its face this is trivial: two officials rode to a parade in a buggy.
It is being treated as more than that because of when it happened. The image circulated in a month in which Jamaat-e-Islami has been running sit-ins against the petroleum levy for a week, with its leaders arguing that “the rulers are not ready to give up luxuries and protocol”, while petrol rose to Rs341.59 a litre and diesel to Rs368.29.
A written instruction to maintain simplicity is a cheap and visible response to that criticism. Whether it extends beyond the two officials named — to the protocol, vehicles and security details that attach to senior office generally — is not addressed in the letter as reported.
Neither official has been reported as facing any further consequence.
