The Right Side of Law
A couple of days ago, I went to the express expo being held in Fortress Lahore. The entry was free and like everything that is offered free in our country; it was bustling with multitude of people. A couple of Policemen were trying in vain to bring any order to that chaos. Their efforts seemed to centre at the eye of the storm : the entrance gate. Here the ‘Zinda Dilaan-e-lahore’ were trying to sneak in through the gate without catching their eye. I was in the line when a saw an apparently respectable and middle-aged man trying to cut through; when he was confronted by the Policemen. The following dialogue ensued:
Policeman: Get into the line.
Man: What line, where is the line? (Gesticulating wildly)
Crowd at the Expo.
Policeman: (His mustache quivering) Don’t make a scene here.
Man: I know where you come from. If you’d been a little educated you wouldn’t be here, Would ya.
Policeman: (giving him a scathing look) Get into the line.
Man: (giving him an equally glaring look disappears into the crowd)
I was Shocked. Not because, that an average man (supposedly educated and respectable member of a family) just tried to break the law and confronted a Policeman for stopping him- I was shocked because a Policeman (supposedly uneducated ,baton charging, heartless soul) seemed to have more regard for the all the ladies in the cue, he never lifted his hand –even though he was tempted to do so. He never uttered a profanity. Imagine slapping hitler on the face and then expecting him to apologize for his misbehavior.
After that time I kept thinking where in these 59 years we forgot our values? Where did the regard for a uniformed law enforcer go?Can we go on blaming them for corruption, misbehavior , disregard for law; While our actions are never the different.
If we have a closer look at our actions, you’ll notice that we break the law every time we are in power to do so. How many of us stop at the red light in the middle of the night, when there is no Warden? And How many of us offer a bribe first when we are apprehended for some traffic violation.
Yet all that time we have an utter disregard for these people who brave the weather and the constant bickering of people. We expect them to be smiling and courteous when they apprehend us for violating the laws. We fail to understand that they have been one of the biggest victims of the terrorist attacks. They don’t get holidays like we do. Even on Eid days they are called for duty. They have meager pays and even less respect among the people for which they are constantly shedding their sweat and blood.
Have a look around. Do you see that guy standing in the side of the road? His starched Uniform;soaked in sweat. Some Politician is coming and he us supposed to be there till he passes. The hours are getting longer and longer, yet he seems be immersed in his own thoughts. Perhaps it’s the ever looming fear of his life hanging in balance, Perhaps it’s the rising shortage of sugar, Perhaps it’s the coming birthday of his little daughter and her wish to get a new bicycle, Perhaps….
Its almost noon. His eyes are heavy, yet he dares not leave his post. He remembers the last time when he had tried to catch a nap: It was the election days, and he hasn’t had sleep for three days .Furtively he laid down under a tree. And as the fate had it, A journalist –armed with a camera- and hungry for some news, took a picture of him and published it next day with the caption: ‘Sleeping on duty’. He remember it clearly now. It had cost him his month’s salary.
He also remembers when he was called on duty for the Eid holdays. He was on guard outside the mosque. Everyone was embracing each other, and yet nobody gave him a second look. No one cared about the fact that right now when they are enjoying with their family, this man is away from his..He nearly broke into sobs that day.
It’s the end of the day now. His legs are numb and stiff. He wants to go to home before his daughter sleeps, so that he can give her the new coloring book she asked. And amazingly as if in answer to his prayers: His wireless crackles, telling him the VIP has cancelled his visit because of some security threat received by a call (or maybe it was some Pranksters idea of having a little fun). But he doesn’t care. His only worry seems to be a ride to his home. He stands on the edge of the road. Shiny vehicles pass him by, flashing their lights and Ignoring his outstretched hand. He is worried. He won’t be able to make it on time.
He finally reaches home. It’s his wife that opens the door. He asks her about his daughter, she asks him to be quiet and points to the bed where she is sleeping. He goes to the bed, silently puts the book in her stretched hand and gently kisses her cheek. The tragedy is-he knows- that tomorrow, this will start all over again.
You can reach the writer at manananwar[at]gmail.com.
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Very well written, a point which needs to be lifted. Actually moral obligations when not properly carried out, results in society like our’s. One can simply ignore this issue, considering to be of little importance, but infact it is slippery slope to all what we are facing.
Alas we are so called educated and “dressed”.