Authority is meant to protect, guide and respond in times of danger. Sadly, in many parts of our country, authority exists more in words than in action. Roads remain unsafe, crimes go unanswered and emergencies turn into tragedies simply because of no responsible presence at the right time. This absence has created fear among citizens, forcing them to face danger on their own.
The police, who should serve as the first line of assistance, are often nowhere to be found when they are needed most. Check posts remain unattended, complaints are delayed and emergencies are treated casually. Such negligence does not merely weaken law enforcement — it destroys public trust. When authority disappears, chaos silently takes its place.
On Sunday, 18 January, while returning from my village, I personally witnessed the painful consequences of this absence. On a quiet road, far from any crowd, a man lay injured in the middle of the road. His clothes were torn, and his body was covered in blood. There was no one around him — no passersby, no officers, no ambulance.
We rushed to the nearest police check post, hoping for immediate help, only to find it completely deserted. After informing the authorities, the police arrived nearly twenty minutes later. By the time we returned to the scene with them, the injured man was gone. Perhaps someone took him to a hospital; perhaps he survived. But the delay raised a haunting question: what if no one had stopped to help?
A society cannot function on hope alone. Authority must be present, alert and responsible. Without it, citizens are left helpless, emergencies turn deadly and trust in the system slowly fades away. We do not ask for power — we ask for presence. Because when authority is absent, humanity suffers.
Sara Nabeel
Turbat
