Nip the Kalashinkov culture

This symbol of injustice should be done away with

In a society where justice is meant to be served, the registered FIR would result in thorough investigation, and Abdul Qadir Gillani would either end in the gallows or in prison for 14 years. Last week his guard was arrested in Lahore’s posh DHA but expectedly the former Prime Minister’s son disappeared from the scene and remains untouched and protected. This is classic PM son behaviour one must admit.

Ideally, the episode should have landed Abdul Qadir Gillani behind bars. The police must consider it their personal feat to have arrested the guard, but it is imperative to know that the guard would have opened fire upon the directions and prerogative of his master only. The stance from the Gillani family regarding the young man following Abdul Qadir Gillani since a couple of days is a mere attempt to fool the concerned Pakistani public. An attempt to arrest the guard only is also a ploy to simply suppress the voices of angry protestors.

The unforgiveable shooting of the young and innocent Tahir Malik has given overnight birth to public shaming of the Zardari-led PPP, ironically just after Bilawal Bhutto’s recent defensive and derogatory speech. But this incident is not a direct problem of the PPP government only. This is the life-threatening result of gun politics that has been promoted by the two major government regimes as a constitutional right, a pompous VIP culture and — a way of elite life in Pakistan.

One wonders about the law that permits this ‘Kalashinkov culture’ to be so widespread in Pakistan’s cities and its tribal areas; what qualifies all ministers, MNAs, MPAs and even candidates for counselors for gun totting and ownership of intimidating vehicles? Legally, licensed weapons are to be carried concealed only against a special permit to facilitate VIPs. So, which law facilitates the license to kill and openly display weapons? During Prime Minister Gillani’s reign in power, almost 20,000 licenses for prohibited weapons were issued; of which 15,000 fake licenses were issued by Interior Minister Rehman Malik. It is a known fact that Abdul Qadir Gillani issued 5,000 licenses for his friends and rough boys, as highlighted by the media as well.

The likes of Abdul Qadir Qillani are able to ‘openly carry and display’ their weapons – this is an attempt to secure these officials from the public which first brought them into power. If the prevailing terrorism is an excuse for these gentlemen and their families to travel with an entourage of terrorising armed guards, isn’t this simply said terrorism? In reality, this is a strong message of terrorism, street violence, and power from those who are unequal before the law. In retrospect, this is also a message of ‘Naya Paysa’, ill-earned and new money – not ‘Naya Pakistan’, unfortunately.

In fact, fear-inducing tactic has been fairly common among Pakistani politicians during their addresses to the public. Altaf Hussain could never do without hurling open threats from British soil and now the young and inexperienced Bilawal Bhutto has followed suit. Consider this: Open threats and derogatory hate content is a form of violence, and yet officials claim they have bid to shun terrorism in Pakistan.

The lust for power is enough for our leaders to publically disseminate fear-arousing speech as a political tactic, and they must be openly criticised for manipulating the public to achieve political goals. Not only does use of propagated fear distract the public from the real social problems of Pakistan, it also helps leaders collect votes and become ‘VIPs’.

Nowadays, much talk regarding dismantling of the prevalent VIP culture is going on, but this is impossible without the rule of law. Those indulging in unlawful show of superiority, power and violence would never have the guts to do so; if it was a known fact then justice in Pakistan is never denied.

Protestors gathered outside Gillani’s family house in DHA to acquire justice and raise their voices. Many believe that the PTI’s intervention is an attempt for the party to cash in on the situation, but this must be considered as a public awakening. Finally, the public seems to have woken up and political leaders have started fearing — they know that it won’t be too long before they are brought to the streets if justice remains denied in this country.