‘Noticing’ and ‘mourning’ is not enough
Sad incident which took place Lahore’s Johar Town actually made me think that we as society are completely spineless.
The sad incident which took place Lahore’s Johar Town yesterday in which more than eight people of family, including women and children were killed, actually made me think that we, as a society are completely spineless. Capital City Police Officer Lahore Shafiq Gujjar says that the brutality of the murder makes it seem like an act of revenge.
Needless to say, such an incident puts a big question mark on the performance of Punjab’s police officials and other law enforcement agencies who, despite freshly increased salaries following provincial police reforms, have once again failed to provide security to the people. As always, notice was taken by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who asked to see a report of the incident and ordered the police to arrest the culprits. His measures ring just too many bells at once.
The Punjab CM believes that by merely taking notice and triggering a frenzy of ‘investigative teams’, he has done his job. But will anything tangible happen? Such incidents prove that our society is generally suffering of frustration and blood lust. Will the general level of frustration in society abate? I surely doubt it. Not only do we kill fellow human beings left right and centre, but also innocent animals. As reported by the Press Trust of India, an Indian leopard was shot dead on Monday after it crossed the border into Punjab and injured to people. We, it seems, can kill with immense ease.
Just like the society, our leaders have become heartless and believe that by forming investigative teams and taking notice of such incidents they can quickly wash their hands off such gruesome incidents which will easily erode away from people’s memories in no time. But let me remind you, my dear politicians, that people aren’t fools. They have eyes which can see and ears which can hear. They know the games you play and they are getting tired.
But, having said that, let me admit that we can’t just put all the blame on the government. This is simply because no matter how strong the government becomes, part of the solution always lies in the hands of the public. Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to instill tolerance. We hope that one day, we move beyond simply ‘mourning’ and ‘noticing’ losses.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2014.
Needless to say, such an incident puts a big question mark on the performance of Punjab’s police officials and other law enforcement agencies who, despite freshly increased salaries following provincial police reforms, have once again failed to provide security to the people. As always, notice was taken by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who asked to see a report of the incident and ordered the police to arrest the culprits. His measures ring just too many bells at once.
The Punjab CM believes that by merely taking notice and triggering a frenzy of ‘investigative teams’, he has done his job. But will anything tangible happen? Such incidents prove that our society is generally suffering of frustration and blood lust. Will the general level of frustration in society abate? I surely doubt it. Not only do we kill fellow human beings left right and centre, but also innocent animals. As reported by the Press Trust of India, an Indian leopard was shot dead on Monday after it crossed the border into Punjab and injured to people. We, it seems, can kill with immense ease.
Just like the society, our leaders have become heartless and believe that by forming investigative teams and taking notice of such incidents they can quickly wash their hands off such gruesome incidents which will easily erode away from people’s memories in no time. But let me remind you, my dear politicians, that people aren’t fools. They have eyes which can see and ears which can hear. They know the games you play and they are getting tired.
But, having said that, let me admit that we can’t just put all the blame on the government. This is simply because no matter how strong the government becomes, part of the solution always lies in the hands of the public. Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to instill tolerance. We hope that one day, we move beyond simply ‘mourning’ and ‘noticing’ losses.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2014.