Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed displeasure over the Islamabad inspector general of police (IGP) and chief commissioner riding a horse-drawn carriage during the Independence Day celebrations in Islamabad on August 14.
Official sources said Joint Secretary (Discipline) formally informed the two officials in writing about the prime minister’s displeasure.
The letter said such personal displays went against the principles of public service. It also conveyed PM Shehbaz’s directions to civil servants to avoid such conduct and maintain simplicity.
The prime minister issued the directions after a video showing the two officials riding in a horse-drawn carriage at the Independence Day parade went viral on social media.
The footage showed the Islamabad IGP and chief commissioner arriving at the parade in the carriage, drawing criticism online.
However, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi later defended the officials and said they were not at fault.
In a post on X, Naqvi said the organisers had arranged the horse-drawn carriage for the chief guest. However, the officials had to use it because of unavoidable circumstances.
He said the chief guest and the minister were delayed due to a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Naqvi said officials then instructed the Islamabad IGP and chief commissioner to start the programme as people had been waiting since 5pm.
He added that both officials did not want to start the event without the chief guest and the minister, but followed the instructions “for the convenience of the public.”
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