MNAs Slam Red Zone Lockdown as ‘Hostage-Taking’
Nadeem Tanoli
Islamabad: Tensions flared in the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control as lawmakers sharply criticised the Interior Ministry over the four-day sealing of Parliament Lodges and the closure of Islamabad’s Red Zone.
The confrontation erupted during a meeting chaired by Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, when MNA Nabeel Ahmed Gabol questioned the absence of the Federal Interior Minister and Minister of State.
Gabol took particular aim at the Interior Minister’s dual role, noting that he also serves as Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Referring to the national cricket team’s recent performance, he remarked that the minister was “sitting in the cool breeze of Colombo” while failing to manage his core responsibilities at home.
The lawmaker alleged that after a sit-in staged by around 25 parliamentarians, authorities sealed the entire Red Zone — a move he described as excessive and humiliating. He claimed Parliament Lodges were locked down, preventing members from leaving for two days.
“When I tried to go out to buy groceries, an SHO stopped me and told me to sit comfortably in my room,” Gabol said. He added that SSP Security informed him the situation was under operational control and beyond his authority.
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The Interior Secretary told the committee that the Federal Minister was abroad and the Minister of State was on the way, but MNAs insisted the prolonged lockdown required immediate clarification.
When the Interior Minister later joined the meeting, the exchange grew more heated. Gabol directly questioned the four-day closure of the Lodges.
“For four days the gates were closed. We were not allowed to leave. I wanted to go out alone in my car and was stopped. What was the fear?” he asked.
Defending the decision, the Minister said the restrictions were imposed as a precaution after “unwanted people” and armed individuals attempted to enter sensitive areas. He said there had been scuffles between police and certain individuals, including an MNA.
“If we had not intervened, protesters could have entered your buildings and created a law and order situation. Your families live there. We acted for your safety,” he maintained.
Responding to claims that food supplies were halted, the Minister rejected the allegation, stating that meals were provided even to protest participants. “We sent parathas to the dharna participants and can provide footage,” he said, though some MNAs countered that those confined inside the Lodges did not receive food.
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The Minister further clarified that the custodians of Parliament and the Lodges are the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairman Senate, and that the Interior Ministry enforces decisions on gate closures based on their directions.
While several MNAs acknowledged the need for security, they argued that imposing blanket restrictions on all elected representatives was disproportionate.
“If there was a threat from outsiders, why were all MNAs and Senators stopped? Members should at least have been allowed to move,” one lawmaker remarked.
The discussion also highlighted infrastructure concerns. Members noted that around 68 surveillance cameras are installed in the Lodges but are outdated and fail to adequately monitor corridors. The Minister responded that internal camera installations fall under the House Committee’s jurisdiction, not the Interior Ministry or CDA.
In a separate concern, Gabol recounted an incident in which unknown individuals knocked at his door late at night inside the Lodges, raising questions about unauthorised access. “There are too many strangers inside. Families are affected. We need stricter control,” he said.
The charged exchange underscored growing friction between lawmakers and the Interior Ministry over security measures in Islamabad’s most sensitive zone. While the government insists the lockdown was necessary to ensure safety, several MNAs described it as an overreach that compromised parliamentary dignity and freedom of movement.
