LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Sunday ordered the immediate transfer of Jhang Deputy Commissioner Babar Sahib Din after a video showing a Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) vehicle accompanying a convoy of luxury vehicles in the Thal desert went viral. The clip was widely circulated as depicting “protocol squad level” arrangements linked to PML-N MPA Saqib Khan Chadhar.
Origin and Content of the Video
The video was first posted on X by user Majid Ali Bhatti on 24 October 2026 with the Punjabi caption: “گلاں دیاں گلاں، ثاقب چدھڑ دا پروٹوکول سکواڈ لیول دا ہے🔥”
In a subsequent reply, Bhatti indicated the clip originated from TikTok (“Courtesy tiktok”).
The roughly 26-second footage shows a black Toyota Hilux double-cabin pickup with clear PERA markings and blue emergency lights traveling on a dusty desert track alongside high-end SUVs (including a Lexus and other luxury vehicles). A man in a blue shirt is seen hanging from the side of the moving PERA vehicle. Later frames show a group of men, including individuals in dark clothing and what appear to be security or staff personnel, walking together in the desert area.
The video was filmed during the three-day Jhang Thal Jeep Rally (16–18 October 2026) held in the Rahmatabad area of Tehsil Athara Hazari on a approximately 95-km track prepared in the Thal desert. The event, organised with private sponsors and involving around 100 participants, had been publicly promoted by the then-DC.
Chief Minister’s Response and Official Action
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took notice of the video and posted on X:
“The video depicts a car rally in which a PERA vehicle is seen accompanying other participating vehicles. The deployment of a regulatory authority’s resources for non-serious purposes, beyond its officially prescribed mandate, constitutes a serious breach of administrative discipline and a violation of established policy. In view of this matter, the Deputy Commissioner is being removed from the post with immediate effect.”
She emphasised that security falls under the police and emergency response under Rescue 1122 — neither of which is part of PERA’s mandate.
The Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) issued a notification transferring Babar Sahib Din (BS-18, Pakistan Administrative Service) with immediate effect and directing him to report to the department (placed on the OSD list). The order was issued on the Governor’s authority.
About MPA Saqib Khan Chadhar
Muhammad Saqib Khan Chadhar is the PML-N MPA from constituency PP-97 (Chiniot-IV). Born on 6 June 1990 in Mangeni, Bhawana Tehsil, Chiniot, he comes from an agricultural background. He won the seat as an independent candidate in the 2024 elections with 42,959 votes before joining PML-N and currently serves as Parliamentary Secretary for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship.
He maintains a significant social media presence, particularly on TikTok (have over one million followers). While the Chief Minister’s statement and official notification did not name him, the original X post, multiple media reports, and social media commentary have consistently linked the PERA vehicle to protocol arrangements for Chadhar. Critics, including some journalists, have questioned why accountability has so far been limited to the civil servant.
Chadhar has previously been in the public eye due to a harassment and cyberstalking complaint filed by actress Momina Iqbal, which led to an NCCIA case. Investigation findings have varied over time.
About DC Babar Sahib Din
Babar Sahib Din is a BS-18 PAS officer who was posted as Deputy Commissioner Jhang earlier in 2026 after serving as Director General of the Suthra Punjab Authority. He is a LUMS graduate with prior private-sector experience and has held positions including Additional Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Hunza. He had actively promoted the Jhang Thal Jeep Rally before the event.
Background on PERA and Prior Warnings
PERA was established under the Punjab Enforcement and Regulation Act, 2024, as a dedicated force under CM Maryam Nawaz’s initiative to handle price control, anti-hoarding, anti-encroachment, and related regulatory enforcement. Its vehicles are meant exclusively for field operations.
On 21 October 2026 (after the rally), PERA Director General retired Capt. Farrukh Atiq Khan wrote to all Deputy Commissioners warning against the unauthorised use of PERA double-cabin vehicles and ordered the withdrawal of any such allocations, noting that some had been handed to Additional Deputy Commissioners in violation of policy.
Broader Implications
The episode has intensified debate over protocol culture in Punjab. While the Chief Minister has previously restricted permanent police escorts for ministers and MPAs and stressed that public resources must not be used for non-official purposes, questions remain about whether elected representatives who benefit from such arrangements will also face scrutiny.
The action is being viewed as part of the provincial government’s stated push for administrative discipline and merit, though some observers argue that removing only the district officer leaves the deeper issue of political protocol unaddressed.
