Defending ‘devils’

And the joke of one-less-lawyer

They were all educated. And they all were being led by the educated too. It was a ‘civilised’ and organised group but they behaved like a herd. They raised a maelstrom of hooliganism then settled in their chambers while the rulers remained tight-lipped over what folks dub as ‘Wukala-Gardi’.

They came, they slapped. They came, they kicked. They came, they abused. They came, they stoned. But who were on the receiving end to bear all injuries to their bodies and souls and listen and digest to all filthy abuses and humiliation. The men from the force made hollow from within and outside in the journey of time.

The violent act of killing to two unarmed lawyers in Daska was shockingly barbaric without any room of justification. But, the violent wave of reaction across the district which instantly metastasised to the whole province was also dreadful. During this brief hysterical fit, the dignity and morale of the police force was deeply injured with no-words of solidarity and compassion from their captains – IG Punjab – and the tin god of the province.

Since its existence, an overwhelming section of the police department has been lazy, corrupt and brutal in Pakistan. It is an open secret. But who fostered and watered the evils in their souls?

Since its existence, an overwhelming section of the police department has been lazy, corrupt and brutal in Pakistan. It is an open secret. But who fostered and watered the evils in their souls? They accept bribe; we offer them, they torture innocent people; the state does not penalise them. Every successive government used the police to settle political vendettas with real or imaginary opponents. Police reforms have never ever been our priority as Patwaris and SHOs have been our rulers’ last and trustworthy stay to manipulate elections in cruel power game.

When dozens of police men were being punched in their faces, thousands of others were suffering the indignity of being helpless. One culprit’s punishment was being awarded to the whole community. Mean world syndrome was deepening in the minds of millions of Pakistanis watching the violent drama on the sensational screens. Whenever any police official commits any crime or makes some blunder, our loud-mouth-media creates a noise like the Operation Nifty Package which demoralises the whole force consequently.

You want them fighting the hydra-headed monster of terror with such injured prides? They can fight and are fighting day and night with less-sophisticated weaponry and communication gadgets but can’t with bleeding self-respect. Without any hesitation, mighty politicians rebuke them even after exploiting their sub-ordinate positions, media ridicules them painting them as devils, intelligentsia (if any) takes them as an inferior generation, society corrupts them, terrorists kill them, but in the end they even can’t stage a protest demo or pass a resolution of demands in their favour. Chiang Kai-shek once said: “War is not only a matter of equipment, artillery, group troops or air force; it is largely a matter of spirit, or morale.”

What about lawyers and other strata of society? Don’t they indulge in corrupt practices? If a police officer offers his services in exchange of money (bribe) to save a culprit, the same service to a criminal is provided by the lawyers too in exchange of hefty fees. Political parties defend such elements under the democracy-in-danger banner. Will Shahzad Warraich – the killer of two lawyers – not find any lawyer to defend his case in courts of law from the same protesting fraternity? Definitely, he will. What name will you suggest for Warraich’s would-be lawyers?

Since judges’ restoration movement, they are in a megalomaniac-mode and threaten all and sundry to test and prove their muscles. They are the victims of their own success. Blessed is he who has yet not fallen a victim of their wrath. They beat a civil judge black and blue few years back in Faisalabad. No offense but a joke better explains the prevailing mindset of Black-Coats-Brothers. A man walks into a bar. He sees a beautiful, well-dressed woman sitting on a bar stool alone. He walks up to her and says, “Hi there, how’s it going tonight?” She turns to him, looks him straight in the eyes and says, “I’ll screw anybody anytime, anywhere, anyplace, it doesn’t matter to me. The guy raises his eyebrows and says, “No kidding? What law firm do you work for?”

You want them fighting the hydra-headed monster of terror with such injured prides? They can fight and are fighting day and night with less-sophisticated weaponry and communication gadgets but can’t with bleeding self-respect

The reactionary response of Gujranwala and Sialkot police following dismissal of district DPO is a must-heard-voice for police high-ups as well as Chief Minister Sharif. The authorities, without any discrimination and procrastination, must bring the black sheep of the police department to book but also not let others shatter the morale of the force on ego-appeasing basis. Skeletons-in-the-cupboard-fear will never allow the rulers and fiery orators from the opposition benches to speak out against unjustified acts of lawyers’ fraternity. The captain – Mr Sukhera – will have to come forward to rescue his men if he has no-saying-guts remembering that ‘captain goes down with the ship.’

Respected Mr Mushtaq, you are answerable to God, then to the nation, then to your team and not to the rulers. During the Crimean war a French captain wrote to the Curé of his native place in these words: “I endeavour to regulate my affairs in such sort, that if God should address to me the call, I may be able to answer, Present!”

One less lawyer: An old man was critically ill. He called his lawyer. “I want to become a lawyer,” he said. “How much for a quickie law degree?” “About $50,000,” the lawyer said, “But why bother?” “That’s my business. Get me the course.” Four days later the lawyer delivered the new law degree. Suddenly the old man was wracked with fits of coughing, and it was clear the end was near. “Please, before it’s too late,” said the lawyer, “Tell me why you wanted a law degree now?” As he breathed his last, the old man whispered, “One less lawyer.”

The joke does not necessarily mean that the writer endorses it. I believe otherwise and hold all serious and learned lawyers in high esteem.