ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed serious displeasure over the use of a ceremonial horse-drawn buggy by Islamabad’s Chief Commissioner and Inspector General of Police at an official function on August 14, calling the display inconsistent with the standards expected of senior public officials.
Separate advisories issued on August 17 to Islamabad IGP Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi and Chief Commissioner Sohail Ashraf said the prime minister had taken a “very serious view” of the incident, which attracted widespread public criticism.
According to the advisories, the prime minister viewed the use of the horse-drawn buggy as an unnecessary display of “pomp and show” that projected an image of “privilege, ostentation and personal aggrandisement.”
The advisories stressed that civil servants and public functionaries hold their offices in trust for the people and are expected to demonstrate “humility, restraint, dignity and sound judgment” in the performance of their duties.
The prime minister’s office also noted that such conduct could undermine public confidence in government institutions and was inconsistent with the standards of conduct expected from senior civil servants and government functionaries.
Addressing IGP Rizvi, the advisory said that, as police chief of the federal capital, he was expected to maintain the “highest standards of propriety, conduct and responsible governance.”
A similar advisory to Chief Commissioner Ashraf said that, as the administrative head of the capital, he was expected to uphold the same high standards.
Both officials were advised to exercise greater care in the performance of their duties and ensure that such conduct did not recur.
The advisories concluded that the instructions should be treated as an “advisory for strict compliance in letter and spirit.”
The documents were issued by Joint Secretary (Discipline) Syeda Shafaq Hashmi on August 17.
