Daily Times

The Chief Justice is not a man known to mince his words. He has also carved out for himself a reputation of being a public servant in the truest sense: particularly when it comes to cracking down on so-called VIIP culture.

It is disappointing, then, that some clarification is required when it comes to ‘recovering’ the more than Rs1 billion reportedly being misspent on providing state security to those who did not qualify for it. Towards this end, Justice Saqib Nisar had ordered the withdrawal of such detail; thereby impacting members of the lower judiciary as well as the opposition. This is to be welcomed. For as the country’s soft targets continue to be hit it is only right and proper that precious budgetary resources go where they are most needed.  Not to mention doing away with the tedious blocking of public thoroughways so as to accommodate additional protocol, which, of course, causes, great inconvenience to ordinary folk.

Yet no sooner had the CJP spoken than those in charge of law enforcement recalled more than 13,600 police personnel nationwide. Among those affected was former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. However, taking notice of the ensuing social media backlash — Justice Nisar ordered the provinces to come up with their own mechanism to determine just who is eligible for state security. All the while stressing that Nawaz, being a former head of government, still qualified as a VVIP. But not before backtracking somewhat by insisting that the courts had not ordered the drawing-down of anyone’s security.

Such flip-flopping is unfortunate. Especially from one in whom the citizenry has put much of its faith. As is the CJP’s violation of his own orders that VIIP protocol should not hold up traffic for more than two minutes. After all, when Justice Nisar made his way recently to the Charsaddah Judicial Complex — he was escorted by a motorcade of up to 40 vehicles, including: luxury SUVs, police detail as well as ambulances. This, too, after having boasted at the beginning of the year that he never needed anyone to close roads for him.

It is only right that the CJP be afforded security. But the growing disconnect between his actions and his words needs to be tempered a little. If he is to remain a true public servant.  *

Published in Daily Times, April 24^th 2018.