A lady seeking help after her car broke down on the Punjab motorway while travelling from Lahore to Gujranwala was robbed and subjected to gang rape at gun point by criminals in front of her children. What can be worse than this? Unfortunately, nobody realises the life-long impact this horrific incident would have on the children, and the psychological torture the lady and her extended family will now have to suffer.
While citizens, especially women and children, face such abhorrent criminal acts, the state apparatus is too busy pursuing their egoistic agendas, covering those allegedly involved in corruption, land grabbing, sugar and wheat cartels, pilfering of state funds and other irregularities. Incidents of kidnapping are even taking place in the federal capital, according to media reports. And in the event of a sudden public outcry, the victims are released only if the matter is taken up by the high-ups. However, authorities and mafias alike fail to realise that once the faith and confidence of citizens is shattered, it will without a doubt lead to mass demonstrations and political chaos.
Where are we heading for? Does anybody realise that nobody would benefit if Pakistan suffers? The Quaid-i-Azam had warned that only the rule of law, supremacy of the Constitution and appointments on merit will guarantee the long-term survival of Pakistan and economic wellbeing of its citizens. All institutions of the state are there to serve and protect the people, not stand by while they suffer.
Malik T Ali
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2020.
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