Heavy-handed police action

We do not yet know what the repercussions will be from the clash between activists and security guards of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Dr Tahirul Qadri and the Punjab police in Lahore. As would be expected, PAT activists have been angrily protesting the incident which began on June 16. It occurred as the police tried to remove barriers and blockades placed for security reasons outside Qadri’s residence, on the basis that these could not be permitted. As the issue continues, the Punjab law minister has spoken out against maintaining private militias by individuals.



As a result of the clash, at least eight people have been killed and over 80 wounded and skirmishes have been continuing into June 17. City hospitals are reporting more bodies coming in while city life has been disrupted by angry protests. While the number of private militias we have in the country, in the form of private guards maintained by more and more politicians, businessmen and others is a matter of concern, we feel this matter could have been dealt with more sensitively.

For various reasons, Dr Qadri sees a threat from forces arrayed against him. He has a basic right to try and keep himself safe, given that our state has not proved particularly effective in securing the lives of its citizens. Perhaps discussing the issue of barricades on private roads could have solved the problem rather than police action. It is unclear if this was at any point attempted.

It is also true we are currently placed in a rather precarious political situation. Upsetting the apple cart at this juncture does not seem to be a very good idea. More confrontation and greater tension at this point is not something we need. We need stability and order most of all. What has happened at Lahore does not help in this at all. Indeed it only complicates matters, and this cannot help us at all given the various crises we are already dealing with on so many different fronts. At the very least those behind the deaths of the protesters must be punished.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2014.

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