Killer protocols

PESHAWAR: The death of 10-month-old infant Bisma, outside Karachi’s Civil Hospital is highly unfortunate. Her father tried his best to enter the hospital in time to save her but to no avail. Bisma succumbed to yet another episode of VIP culture where the timely admittance to the hospital of a critically-ill patient was prevented due to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s visit to the premises. This is not the first time that an innocent life was lost for the sake of protocol. During the 2013 general elections, a similar tragedy took place when a young girl was hit by the vehicle of a ruling party candidate.

In developed societies, people are not familiar with VIP culture because elected representatives, government servants and ordinary citizens are treated equally under the law. I recall a video clip in which the president of Argentina was strolling in a market outside his house and meeting people like a common man. He was neither surrounded by scores of vehicles nor political stooges and guards. While ensuring the security of public figures is crucial, enjoying protocols with an infinite number of vehicles following behind, inconveniencing the citizenry is shameful. Even more shocking was the justification put forward by Nisar Khuhro. It seems that in our country whenever someone becomes rich or powerful, it is in his or her nature to demand special attention and be treated as a VIP. I urge civil society and media to start a vigourous movement for the eradication of VIP culture.

Faisal Rehman

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2015.

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