In Sargodha’s Block No.12 Chowk, more than 60 people called a barber to the central round-about for the event. A large number of citizens gathered to witness the odd event , disrupting traffic for several hours.
The men who shaved their heads said that they were fed up with poverty, unemployment and skyrocketing prices and had launched the peaceful protest to express their solidarity against rising prices and prolonged power cuts. The men warned that if poverty, unemployment and price hikes continued unabated, they would launch similar campaigns in other towns and cities.
“Price hikes are forcing people to sell their own children,” said Mohammad Abid, adding that the government was taking no action to do something to end problems faced by the people. “We are in a crisis situation. There is no hope...we are all just biding our time. This is a peaceful protest, but we cannot remain this way forever,” he said.
“The situation is getting worse. The politicians talk about the budget and poor people’s rights, but they know nothing how we fare. We have no electricity and we are barely able to feed our familieis,” said Haroon Shah. “Is this the government’s version of caring for the poor? Is this their Roti, Kapra and Makan?” said Shah.
They said that there was no other way for them to protest against the government’s ‘tyranny’ and the crippling poverty that they were facing. They said that they would soon encourage others in different districts to visibly ‘wear’ their plight like they had chosen to do.
“The government does not listen to us. They do not care about the common man protesting for food and water. This is how we have decided to protest.
We will openly wear our desperation. The government cannot ignore a large number of people who are all bald to symbolise the cruel hand they have been dealt,” Shah said.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 7th, 2010.
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