Police excesses are a routine matter and Tuesday was no different. This time the victims were two members of the parliament, yards away from the parliament house. "We have very clear instructions that when the Prime Minister is passing through the Constitution Avenue, nothing should move," the cops told parliamentarians questioned.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNA Abid Ali Omang was stunned to see two roaring Islamabad Capital Territory police constables moving toward him, asking him to stop and step down from the embankment close to the parliament's boundary wall, opposite to the parliament lodges.
"You are not important than the Prime Minister whose motorcade is passing right now," one of the constables said, pushing him backward, ignoring his 'MNA card', which he showed them without wasting a moment.
Senator Khalid Soomro, coincidentally passing by, tried to intervene but in vain. He also showed his Senate card to the abusing cops, who forced him to get down from the embankment and halt movement toward the parliament.
They were let go when constables took them to the main entry gate. The parliamentarians brought the matter to their seniors' notice.
Soomro, disgusted by the mishap, raised the issue on the floor of the Senate on a point of order and state minister Kamil Ali Agha promised to look into it. Later, the two parliamentarians forgave the constables.