Disrespect at the airport

LARKANA: This letter is in response to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s response to a question by a journalist about the nature of his recent visit to the US as the PM of the country as well as his security check at the US airport.

Addressing the PM, the journalist said, “Mr Prime Minster, although you consider Nawaz Sharif your prime minister; actually, you are the elected prime minister of the country, if you are disgraced, it is equivalent to Pakistanis being disgraced.” The journalist in question asked the PM whether his visit was a private one and what exactly had happened to him at the American airport. Having referred to his visit as private in nature, Mr Abbasi stated that following rules and going through certain security checks does not make his position any less dignified.

Yet besides the appreciation for the PM and his remarks a question that arises is, whether he would actually allow himself to be checked for security purposes at our national airports in the same manner? And if American diplomats will ever be subjected to similar body checks at airports in Pakistan?

The nature of his visit is not even important here, as what has happened with the PM is undeniably disgraceful. Many of our dignitaries go through the same humiliation in the name of security checks at American airports. Some cases are not even reported in the national press and the electronic media and many others remain downplayed. Earlier, in 2017, then PM Nawaz Sharif was kept waiting at the airport like an ordinary citizen despite his scheduled meeting with President Trump. Those at the helm of county’s affairs need to know that if they do not respect their public, parliament and state institutions, they shall not be treated respectfully anywhere in the world.

Nazeer Ahmed Arijo

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2018.

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