In the glorious, mountainous republic of Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir, the newly elected Prime Minister, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, has wasted no time in proving that protocols are optional, but friendships are forever.
The Pakistan Peoples’ Party government is only two weeks old, yet the PM has already delivered three historic innovations that experts say “should never have happened anywhere on Earth.”
The PPP government was brought to power to address the grievances of the people after two years of sustained protests and to bridge the widening gap between the local population and rulers. Instead, in just these first two weeks, the PM has done the exact opposite - creating more distance, more crises, and giving the public more reasons to shake their heads in disbelief.
The Neelum Valley Road Trip
The PM recently travelled from Muzaffrabad to Neelum Valley in a large, official cavalcade involving a long procession of VVIP vehicles, police escorts, and security personnel, on the steep, winding mountain roads. The move, however, further alienated the people, who watched the PM and his entourage mob around in an ostentatious display while ordinary citizens continue to struggle with daily grievances.
Normally, such a journey would require trained, vetted government drivers.
But the PM, visionary that he is, decided: “Security drivers? Training? Vetting? Forget it. My friend drives fast and listens to good music.” And so, for the entire long journey back and forth, the Prime Minister’s state vehicle, the centerpiece of this large official cavalcade, was driven by his friend, who also happens to be a contractor.
A friend behind the wheel breaks every rule, written or unwritten.
Official vehicles can only be driven by government drivers trained for security risks. Insurance and safety rules do not allow private citizens behind the wheel. VVIP travel follows strict protocol. If anything goes wrong, the State is responsible. Private citizens cannot legally take that role. Yet in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, apparently, friendship outweighs protocol.
Guard of Honour
During a visit to Neelum Valley, the local police gave the PM a Guard of Honour, a formal, disciplined military protocol. But the highlight of the ceremony wasn’t the salute. It was the PM’s same friend casually standing with him on stage, observing as if it were a school function.
Guard of Honour platforms are restricted to officials. Protocol and security rules do not allow private civilians to stand with the PM. It risks safety, order, and makes the ceremony meaningless. Friends belong in the audience, not next to the national leadership during a police salute. Yet the PM declared: “If I’m being honoured, my friend should also feel honoured. Simple.”
The Family Lounge
In another striking display, the PM has allowed his brother, who holds no government position, to occupy an entire room inside the PM Secretariat. He doesn’t just get a desk. He gets a full room, complete with a big table, official-looking chairs, and two flags of Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (AJK) behind him.
His brother’s job description is famously clear. “Look into matters of the constituency” (translation: drink tea, receive visitors, and appear more official than officials).
This cannot be done.
Only appointed, legal staff can sit inside government offices. Private citizens cannot access official places, files, or authority. It is considered misuse of office space and a conflict of interest. Government buildings are not family lounges. Yet the PM insists: “If the room is empty, why not keep it in the family?”
A Revolutionary Principle of Friendship as Governance
In just two weeks, the new administration of Pakistan-administered Kashmir has established a revolutionary principle - Rules are temporary. Friends and relatives are permanent.
Road trips, government offices, and ceremonial stages all now operate like an exclusive VIP lounge, where the only membership requirement is being in the PM’s inner circle.
And as the cherry on this friendship-flavoured governance cake, the entire region is said to be celebrating the foresight of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, whose decision to appoint this PM is now being hailed with calls for a 21-gun salute, a floral shower, and perhaps even a parade led by the very friend who drives the official car.
After all, when loyalty is the only protocol, who better to honour than the leader whose appointment made all this possible?
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