Death by protocol

Malik was a victim of culture of exceptionalism no matter what ‘justification’ is offered in defence of the shooting

However much the precise circumstances of the murder of Tahir Malik by a member of Abdul Qadir Gilani’s security detail may be disputed, it is very obvious that a grave injustice has been committed and an innocent life has been lost. Mr Malik was shot in the head in the course of an interaction with the motorcade of the ex-prime minister’s son. One of Abdul Qadir Gilani’s security guards allegedly opened fire from inside a vehicle. The guard was later arrested and claimed that he suspected that Mr Malik may be a suicide bomber, or possibly, a kidnapper. He has reportedly confessed to shooting Mr Malik.



A host of questions arise. The Gilani family, as a whole, is undeniably at risk. Yousaf Raza Gilani’s younger son was kidnapped 18 months ago during the 2013 election campaign and remains missing to this day. Threats are said to have been made to Abdul Qadir Gilani that have to be taken seriously, and consequently, bodyguards are employed to protect him. In that sense, as the employer, the Gilani family bears some of the responsibility for the death of Mr Malik. It is responsible for the quality or otherwise of the guards they employ, and employing a guard who is said to have discharged an automatic weapon through the window of a car that may have been moving at the time, suggests at the very least lax employment procedures. The killer himself should face the courts. Let the judges decide whether he acted correctly, made the right deductions and assumptions based on the evidence — and find accordingly. The law must be allowed to take its course and any attempts to influence it must be resisted at all levels.

The wider questions relating to VIP culture, protocol and impunity must also remain at the surface. There is a groundswell of public opinion that is growing by the day against the pernicious culture of exceptionalism practised by our politicians and ‘influentials’. Mr Malik was a victim of that culture no matter what ‘justification’ is offered in defence of the shooting. He and his family deserve justice.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2014.

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