Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed displeasure over senior Islamabad officials riding in a horse-drawn carriage during an Independence Day ceremony on August 14.
According to government sources, the prime minister took notice of the incident and conveyed his displeasure to the Inspector General of Islamabad Police and the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad.
The two officials have reportedly been formally informed of the prime minister’s concerns. Government sources said a written communication was issued to them by the Joint Secretary (Discipline), conveying the prime minister’s position regarding their conduct at the ceremony.
The incident occurred during an Independence Day event on August 14, when the Chief Commissioner and the Islamabad Inspector General reportedly arrived at the ceremony riding in a horse-drawn carriage.
According to the letter issued to the officials, the prime minister viewed such conduct as inconsistent with the principles of public service. The communication reportedly emphasized that personal display or unnecessary ceremonial prominence by civil servants does not reflect the standards expected from public officials.
The letter also conveyed the prime minister’s instructions that civil servants should avoid such behavior and maintain simplicity in their official conduct.
The prime minister’s reaction reflects an emphasis on austerity and modesty among government officials, particularly at a time when public office holders are expected to demonstrate restraint and focus on public service.
The horse-drawn carriage had been used as part of the Independence Day ceremony, but the participation of senior officials in the carriage attracted attention on social media. Following the incident, the matter was brought to the prime minister’s notice.
Government sources said the written communication specifically referred to the prime minister’s displeasure and reminded the officials of the standards expected from civil servants.
The instruction to maintain simplicity applies to the broader conduct of government officials, according to the communication. Officials have been advised to avoid forms of personal display that could be perceived as inconsistent with the principles of public service.
The incident has also generated discussion about official protocol and ceremonial traditions. While horse-drawn carriages can form part of formal state and ceremonial events, the prime minister’s office has apparently taken the view that senior civil servants should exercise restraint in their participation and avoid any appearance of personal extravagance.
The Chief Commissioner and Islamabad IGP are among the most senior officials responsible for administration and law enforcement in the federal capital. Their conduct at public events therefore attracts particular attention, and the prime minister’s reaction indicates that the government expects senior officials to set an example in terms of simplicity and discipline.
The written warning does not, according to the information available, indicate that either official has been suspended or removed from office. Rather, the officials were formally informed of the prime minister’s displeasure and his instructions regarding appropriate conduct.
The episode comes amid the government’s broader emphasis on austerity in public administration. The prime minister has previously urged government officials to avoid unnecessary expenditure and maintain a simple lifestyle while carrying out their official responsibilities.
For now, the key message conveyed to the two Islamabad officials is that public office should be associated with responsibility and service rather than personal display. The prime minister has directed civil servants to maintain simplicity and avoid conduct that could be viewed as contrary to the principles of public service.
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