ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has defended the Islamabad Police Inspector-General and the Islamabad Chief Commissioner after their appearance on a horse-drawn buggy at an Independence Day parade at D-Chowk triggered widespread criticism on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two senior officials, Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman retired Lt Sohail Ashraf and Islamabad Police Inspector General of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, were seen travelling in a buggy during the parade held on the eve of August 14, drawing criticism from social media users and journalists, who questioned the display of official privilege at a public event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Naqvi, however, said the officials were not responsible for the decision and explained that the buggy had originally been arranged for the chief guest and the interior minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know that what happened was not appropriate, but I want to clarify that it was neither the IG Islamabad\u2019s nor the Chief Commissioner Islamabad\u2019s fault,\u201d Naqvi said in a statement responding to the criticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the chief guest and he were delayed because of a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Naqvi, the public had been waiting for the Independence Day celebrations since 5pm and, by around 6pm, it had become clear that the chief guest and the minister would be further delayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe instructed the officers to start the programme because we did not want the public to wait any longer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Naqvi explained that a buggy had been arranged for the chief guest and that the two officials were supposed to accompany him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnfortunately, due to unavoidable circumstances, the buggy was used by the officers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister also said the two officials had initially been reluctant to start the programme in the absence of the chief guest and himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can say on record that both officers initially avoided starting the programme in our absence, but we specifically instructed them to start it for the convenience of the public,\u201d Naqvi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He thanked Islamabad residents for turning the August 14 celebrations into a \u201ctrue celebration\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The explanation came after videos and images of the officials travelling in the buggy circulated widely on social media, prompting a debate over the culture of official privilege and the relationship between state institutions and citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several social users criticised the optics of senior civil servants using a ceremonial carriage at a public event in a country facing serious economic challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One social media user contrasted the episode with the conduct of senior officials in wealthier countries, arguing that public office holders should see themselves as servants of citizens rather than rulers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another user said the controversy reflected what they described as a broader \u201cbuggy mindset\u201d among both rulers and sections of society, arguing that official privilege had become normalised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A third user said corruption and nepotism could not be eliminated unless citizens were treated with dignity, their rights were protected and state institutions considered themselves servants of the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The criticism also drew a strong response from members of the journalist community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anchorperson Athar Kazmi contrasted the episode with the conduct of Norway\u2019s foreign minister, who was recently seen carrying his own luggage while leaving an airport in Islamabad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kazmi argued that the issue was not limited to a single ceremony but reflected what he described as the mindset of an elite that considered the use of public resources a privilege.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The comparison gained traction online as users contrasted the images of the Norwegian official carrying his luggage with those of Pakistani officials travelling in a ceremonial buggy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PILDAT President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob also reacted to the video, saying he hoped the footage was not genuine and had instead been created using artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf, unfortunately, these are real, they reflect how unaware these officials are of the growing anger among citizens, particularly young people, against the VIP system,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anchorperson Nadia Mirza also criticised the officials, saying senior civil servants should remember that they were public servants rather than rulers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Journalist Naveed Siddiqui said the footage evoked memories of the colonial era and what he described as the \u201cviceroy mindset\u201d of officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The criticism focused largely on the symbolism of the incident rather than the practical arrangements for the parade, with many users questioning whether senior government officials should be given preferential treatment at a public event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Naqvi\u2019s clarification sought to provide context to the images and place responsibility for the buggy arrangement elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His account was that the officials were asked to begin the event because the chief guest and the minister were delayed, while the buggy had already been arranged as part of the ceremonial proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister said the officials initially did not want to proceed in the absence of the chief guest and himself, but followed instructions after being told that the programme should begin because the public had already been waiting for around an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The controversy nevertheless reignited a wider debate on VIP culture, official privilege and the manner in which senior state officials interact with citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Independence Day parade at D-Chowk was part of a series of celebrations held in Islamabad on August 14, attracting thousands of residents who attended patriotic performances, cultural displays and other activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the buggy episode generated criticism online, the wider celebrations drew large crowds, with families and visitors participating in the festivities marking Pakistan\u2019s Independence Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The controversy has since shifted from the footage itself to a broader discussion about public office, accountability and the expectations placed on civil servants in their dealings with citizens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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