Pakistan’s honourable Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Ahsan Iqbal was all fire and fury when he was refused entry into the Ehtesab Court on the morning of October 2, 2017. Strangely he was not aware that the task of ensuring that the Court was not transformed into a ‘Jalsa Gah’ (as had happened during the previous appearance of the disqualified and ‘under-trial’ Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif) had been assigned to the Rangers. Last time he had been away from the country, and his deputy Talal Chaudhry had been the organizer of the invasion of the honourable judge’s chamber by the ministers-led PMLN hooligans. The Court had this time sought and acquired the services of the Rangers to maintain order during the proceedings; and thus had deprived Chaudhry Ahsan Iqbal of an opportunity to register his loyalty to the under-trial accused.
The crux of the Interior Minister’s furious outburst was: “How the hell these rangers are here without my permission and orders? Don’t they know I am the boss here, and they can’t act as a parallel state. Whosoever has committed this gross rape of my authority will be taken to task and sorted out”.
Ironically this case happens to be labeled as The State Vs Mian Nawaz Sharif.
Meaning thereby that the Federal Minister of Interior being the custodian of law and order on behalf of the State was expected to share the Court’s satisfaction over immaculate arrangements made by the Rangers to ensure smooth court proceedings.
But what a hugely tragic paradox that not only the Federal Minister of Interior but the remaining cabinet ministers also happen to be lined up behind the ACCUSED against the State!
Who is then running a parallel State? Those who on behalf of the State are holding the trial or those who seem to be hell-bent to ensure that the State is defeated against the accused?
Chaudhry Ahsan Iqbal may have unintentionally spoken a truth. The State is unlikely to wait till long before moving to sort THEM out. THEM of this statement are those who are promoting rowdyism and revolt against the State.