Mr. Chairman, I am writing to draw your attention towards the brutal murder of an innocent man — whose only crime in the eyes of his alleged killers was recording video of some individuals who were hunting migratory birds. Even after this murder, I would not have written this open letter to you had the police done their job by promptly filing an FIR and arresting the accused, nominated by the applicant. Instead, the police waited to hear from their higher-ups.
I would have been least bothered about this case if the police were not afraid of acting against the culprit just because he is an MPA from your party. The police officer who was responsible to act against the accused awaited orders from his bosses despite the gravity of the crime.
The way the accused was calmly sitting in the police station recording his statement has come as a shock to the people of the province. It appears as if he was sitting at his home and giving orders to a police official sitting obediently before him in plainclothes. Two armed men wearing the police uniform were seen guarding him.
Mr. Chairman, let me remind you that one of the founding slogans of the party you are leading was, “The masses are a source of political power”. I would also like to remind you of the words written by your grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to your mother, Shaheed Mohatrama Benazir Bhutto on her birthday from the prison cell. “To you, my darling daughter, I give only one message. It is the message of the morrow, the message of history. Believe only in the people, work only for their emancipation and equality. The paradise of God lies under the feet of your mother. The paradise of politics lies under the feet of the people.”
Mr. Chairman, the aforementioned statement of your grandfather makes it clear that he had full confidence in the power of people and trusted their intellect. That is why he always listened to them attentively and preferred their opinion to that of the elite. But unfortunately, with the change of leadership of your party after your mother’s death, the priorities have also changed. The masses are treated as mere puppets who can be hoarded to polling stations when needed. But, Mr. Chairman, you may have noticed that the people are now aware of their rights. It was their protest on social media that led your chief minister to take notice of the incident.
You would do well to learn a thing or two from the recent defeat of ANC in South Africa and Democrats in the US this week. Believe me, the people who voted you into power can snatch this power from you.
There is a saying: “haathi ke daant, khanae ke aur, dikhane ke aur”. Bhutto Sr. Knew that his message would be published and chose his words for public consumption. Both he and the recipient (and his grandson and the grandson’s minions) know how to manage such ‘waywardness ‘ and how to get their return on ‘forgiveness’.
The political parties rely on the influentials, the establishment and foreign donors to govern. They know extremely well that ‘jis thaali se khana hai uss mein chaid karne ka faaida nahin’. The honourable MPA from Sind is an integral part of the political mosaic and a black mark on the painting will be repaired.
Under the circumstances can you find fault with the police officer? What would you have done in his shoes (assuming you do care for your iife, limb, property or at least that your immediate and extended family