Really hard times for sons in law in Pakistan. The Chief Minister Punjab has ordered criminal proceedings against his son in law, Imran for thrashing a salesman of a Lahore bakery. Mr. Imran had to attend the Police Station to explain his position. Another son in law of the Sharif family, MNA Captain (r) Safdar is facing disciplinary proceedings for violating party discipline. His primary party Membership has been suspended for using harsh language against senior party cadre belonging to KPK. These decisions of Sharif Brothers should augur well for rule of law, at least in Punjab.
Terrible time for sons in law is not confined to Punjab only. According to media reports a petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court challenging a government policy favouring a son in law sitting in a towering office in Islamabad. Prime Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf should take a lesson from the action of chief minister Punjab against his son in law and withdraw the tainted policy formulated to accommodate his son in law. This step would enhance his image in the public eye.
Credit is being given to the electronic media for exposing the bakery incident which ultimately led to the decision of the chief minister to order the police to take action against his son in law for the highhandedness against a poor and defence-less employee of the bakery. Mr Shahbaz Sharif has rightly said that nobody is above the law. There is a dire need to introduce culture of respect for law in the country. Judiciary and Media are playing important role for the supremacy of rule of law. The Chief Justice of Pakistan has already taken suo motu action against his son, Arsalan. Hopefully, these developments will strengthen the rule of law in the country and the common man will feel that law is not enacted to punish the underprivileged only.
ASGHAR MAHMOOD
Islamabad
