Needless friction

The Rangers officers at the Federal Judicial Complex where former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif was to appear before a NAB accountably court may not have behaved subserviently towards their civilian boss, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, in refusing to let him inside, but the minister's reaction did not behoove his status, either. He didn't need to create a scene at the venue or publicly question why the Rangers were there without being asked or later make unnecessary statements, such as that a state within a state would not be allowed, even threatening to resign. Such a reaction would be understandable had he been in the opposition. As minister in charge of internal security, he should have first tried to find out why the paramilitary personnel were there, and asserted his authority via proper channels.
Consequent to the unsavoury episode, on Wednesday the paramilitary force withdrew its personnel from the Parliament House. To which, again, he responded angrily, giving the Punjab Rangers Director-General 72 hours to explain unilateral removal of his men from the Parliament House as well as deployment at the Judicial Complex. Press reports, however, suggest the first incident was the result of a misunderstanding, considering that the police had requested the paramilitary force to provide security at the place, but the plan was later changed by the district administration. The minister though claimed in a TV interview that the civil administration was not responsible for any communication that led to "this misunderstanding". He also made some insinuations against the Rangers, saying it was necessary for him to go there "since I was informed about a confrontation between civilian administration and a force which is under my command." After such expression of distrust, it is hardly surprising that the Rangers deployed at the Parliament House and other sensitive areas in the capital at the request of the police through the DC's office, decided to pull out.
The cause of the needless tensions appears to be unprofessional manner in which the two civilian departments have been carrying out their responsibilities, i.e., through verbal communication. Those familiar with the laid down procedures point out that the Rangers normally do not move without written orders except in case of terrorism-related situations. Having learnt their lesson, they are not to blame if they have decided to act only on the basis of written orders. Minister Ahsan Iqbal, as a seasoned parliamentarian and a member of the cabinet, is expected to rely on the written word to avoid any confusion and ensuing arguments in the future.