Pakistan Rangers ‘seizing’ Judicial Complex in Islamabad: Stomping by “Military Boots”?

A strange incident happened in Islamabad on the occasion of hearing of ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif before accountability court, all visitors – be they ministers, senior politicians, media persons, lawyers or litigants – were barred from entering the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) by Rangers officials on October 2, but confusion prevailed over who had deployed the paramilitary force on court premises in the first place.

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration insisted that it had not requested Rangers deployment at the court, and that capital police, which had around 1,500 personnel at the scene, was responsible for security.

According to a statement issued by the deputy commissioner’s office: “Rangers was not requisitioned by the ICT Administration for any kind of deployment in the premises of court on [Oct 2, 2017].”

The FJC houses 13 different courts including the accountability court, the Islamabad Bar Council head office and the Federal Insurance Ombudsman. But on Monday, Rangers officials did not even let litigants and court staff enters the FJC compound.

Raja Zafarul Haq, who is also a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, arrived just after 8am and managed to make his way inside the main gate. Rangers officials, however, did not allow him access to the accountability court and expelled him from the premises.

Others, such as Saad Rafique, Pervaiz Rashid, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Malik Abrar, kept waiting outside waiting for an opportune moment to get inside. Some of them even asked police officials at the scene to let them in, but to no avail.

Earlier, the accountability court registrar and district administration had finalised the standard operating procedure (SOP) that would allow journalists entry into the courtroom. But Rangers did not allow reporters to perform their duties in accordance with the SOP.

Everyone was discussing the situation when Mr Sharif arrived along with his security protocol. Rangers personnel stopped his security guards outside and only allowed the deposed PM’s vehicle inside the complex.

The only politician accompanying Mr Sharif inside the courtroom was Senator Asif Kirmani, since he was in the same vehicle as the ex-PM.

According to Police and ICT officials the SSP discussed the issue with the deputy commissioner, and both reached the conclusion that there was no need for Rangers’ presence, since the capital was already on high alert due to Ashura.

After it was established that none of the concerned authorities had called for the paramilitary force, the police contingent was told to avoid a standoff with the Rangers.

Meanwhile, the administration was seeking answers from the Rangers as to who ordered their deployment. This question remained unanswered until the conclusion of October 2 hearing.

Is army stands as “state within state”?

The “state within state” narrative sadly became very intense after this incident. Under the Constitution and law, the Rangers can’t be deployed or can’t deploy itself anywhere without orders from the civil administration with, in the instant case, the Islamabad chief commissioner being the concerned authority. 

Even if the accountability court wants security by the Rangers or any other force, it has to write to the interior ministry that will take a decision to the effect. Neither Judge Mohammad Bashir nor the court registrar made any such request. The chief commissioner also did not call the Rangers. All were bewildered over the sudden presence of the Rangers in an ominous, controlling position.

Then, a piercing question arises on whose orders the paramilitary force took over the whole affair. Nobody is naming such hands despite the fact that everyone knows who got the force detailed there. It is the same authority that managed the entire proceedings of the Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT), so that Nawaz Sharif was trapped at all costs. It is not possible that the Rangers sprang into action on its own as the force doesn’t do so.

In his pungent remarks, former information minister of Pakistan Senator Pervez Rashid commented that the trial was ‘hijacked’ which was a contempt of court, and the apex court should answer why because it was its job to ensure an open trial.

But shockingly, the judge wrote in his order on the day’s proceedings that “Rangers were deployed for security purposes. Deployment of Rangers was highly appreciable action of the government. However, some other matters such as entry of counsel/court reporters is to be regularised. The registrar of this court be directed to conduct a meeting in this regard.” What prompted him to have a second thought on what he had earlier told reporters is anybody’s guess.

The social media severely lashed at the Rangers’ deployment. One tweet said: “Whoever ordered Rangers to take over Judicial Complex today [Monday]) has defied the writ of the state, including of the COAS who asked 4 rule of law.” Another post said boot-polishers are at a loss how to defend this ‘revolt’ and ‘mai bap’ (sponsors) landed them in a deep soup.