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Stay away from VIP vehicles! IN a way when it comes to VIPs and how one should deal with them, at least this Karachiite is of the considered opinion that in the long run the best option is to stay away from them. Asked why he was saying this he explained that in view of their security considerations that are now integral to these VIPs, it is a safe option to steer clear. This Karachiite is not a VIP himself and underlines the hassle and the inconvenience that he is not accustomed to, being an ordinary citizen. He refers to his VIP friends who travel with private or official security, and hence find their movement restricted. He says that when the VIPs move on the city’s roads, they create problems for others. For the VVIPs the roads get closed and blocked. That story is familiar. But for “lesser” VIPs the roads are not closed, they move with security cover in the rear and in front of them. Official and private armed security, and at times these men have their weapons in combat position, which presumably is a professional requirement. We see these lesser or small VIPs’ movement on our roads daily. Invariably, they move very swiftly under vigilant impatient and under security cover that is often intimidating and threatening. An aggression is implied. The ordinary citizen, be he a pedestrian or a motorist, is most likely to feel vulnerable. Whether this should happen is questionable. But we have become a society where the “might is right” option seems very much in evidence. Haven’t you seen the manner in which the bigger vehicle elbows out the smaller vehicles? How the truck or tanker or even the Pajero type vehicles terrorise the smaller vehicle, car or rickshaw or two-wheelers? Haven’t you seen the way in which official cars carrying ministers, bureaucrats, (civil or military at times) and diplomats are escorted by pilots and traffic signals may get closed or operated, as required? Sometimes being close to one such motorcade is what constitutes the risk that surfaced in a worrying incident that was reported in this daily during the week. In fact the story is so worrying that I have heard citizens that they have decided to stay away from all those vehicles that have diplomatic number plates. Not just the number plates of US consulate general. The incident being referred to is more than worrying. It is scaring. The Dawn report of March 23 stated “two citizens were dragged and roughed up by the security guards of some US consulate officials, and later detained for hours for slowing down their vehicle on Sharea Faisal, and thus causing inconvenience to the movement of a convoy carrying US officials.” The city police chief, Tariq Jamil, was quoted as saying “We have interrogated them and found that they were innocent. They have been cleared and I have ordered the police to let them go.” He explained, “The US officials had shown their suspicion over the two and the police interrogated them. Nothing has happened and the matter has been resolved,” he added. Resolved, how? According to reports an estate agent, Mirza Aslam Beg, with a friend was travelling on Sharea Faisal in his vehicle (Nissan Patrol). He slowed down his vehicle because of a phone call on his mobile set, unaware that vehicles carrying US consulate officials were behind his vehicle. The story details that the officials of the consulate “shouted” at the police, directing them to address those persons sitting in the Nissan. So this is what was done: Police and security guards who were with the consulate staff dragged the two men out of their vehicles, and beat them severely on the road. It didn’t end here. The two citizens were taken forcibly to the consulate where they were detained and questioned for hours, and then they were handed over to the Crime Investigation Department. After this interrogation by the local police, it was found that it was all a case of misunderstanding. Both men were described as respectable citizens, with estate business in Clifton. What is the message that comes through to the others who move on the roads of Karachi? What would happen to them if they seemed to be slowing down the movement of other diplomats? Vehicles of other consulates? One reflects on this incident, in a wider context of the way in which VIP movement takes place in our town, with armed security men, in firing position. With growing needs for security that seems to be on display so often, it makes one wonder whether these special convoys (regardless of whom they are carrying) will expect priority of movement on the roads. Should the non-VIP accept it as a fact of life and let the vehicle escorted by guards get priority and privilege? One disgusted Karachiite who has strong views on this, remarked that “the VIPs should arrange for helicopters now.” He knew this was not the answer, but it was symbolic of how upset people are, and can be on such incidents, as the one mentioned above. One also reflects on VIP vehicles that have tinted glasses and which move freely in town as against those vehicles that do not belong to VIPs. Periodically, the local police carry out campaigns against these tinted vehicles and have them removed. But the fact is that these violations continue making one speculate on why this happens. Is it because the police are unable to lay its hands on influential people with tinted glasses? One colleague observed that the traffic police are helpless, and look the other way when a traffic signal is defied by a vehicle with a government number plate. I am reminded here of a young lady driving her small car with tinted glasses and was stopped by a traffic constable near the PIDC House last month. She wore a headscarf, and spoke with confidence, and was on her way to work. She defended herself by saying that the tinted glasses enabled the inmates of her family to observe purdah. The constable wanted to challan her, and she saying that had she been a VIP she would have got away with it. She was adamant and the policeman was stubborn. The young woman was alone, and luckily there wasn’t created the crowd that usually gathers to watch the scene. I asked her whether she wanted to be challaned, or not. She answered in the affirmative. The matter was resolved promptly, but throughout the next few minutes that the process of the challan was underway, she kept saying that had she been a VIP she would have not even been stopped. I kept thinking of the way in which VIP vehicles in Karachi, either on the strength of number plates or armed private or official guards, park wrongly or drive dangerously and the traffic cops simply watch. I had thought that things would change for the better, but it seems that the powerful feel still more insecure, and therefore behave tough and arrogant? That cultural change, that brings decency, ethics and a mildness of behaviour and manners. Is that really asking for too much, too soon? Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)
