Interior Minister orders probe over barring ministers from court entry

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Monday ordered an inquiry into the incident over the paramilitary Rangers’ barring him and other ministers from entering the accountability court at the appearance of Nawaz Sharif.

Earlier in the day, the Rangers personnel stopped Iqbal and other ministers from accompanying former prime minister Nawaz Sharif who appeared before the court in corruption cases.

Iqbal directed the interior secretary to conduct an inquiry into the incident to ascertain as to who asked the Rangers to block their entry into the court and how the personnel of the force subordinate to him stopped him from entering the premises.

He further directed the secretary to approach the Rangers director general to have his comments in this regard.

The minister has also summoned Islamabad’s chief commissioner, inspector general of police, deputy commissioner, SSP concerned to explain the situation.

Iqbal earlier told media, “I arrived at the court, but was not allowed to enter the premises,” he said and added,” when I asked for the commander of the Rangers, he was nowhere to be seen.”

He said that he will take notice of this situation and a high-level inquiry would be conducted to determine who has challenged the writ of the government and established a state within state.