WHILE political statements are often digested with a pinch of salt, the prime minister’s deweaponisation statement of Aug 24 calls for a tablespoonful. If one is not mistaken, it is his seventh declaration on the subject.

The first came within days of his taking over as prime minister in 2013. But then he soon forgot about it. Pakistan had to lose 141 school children in December, 2014, for the PM to repeat his deweaponisation resolve.

Years of unkept promises, sleeping pills, clichés and slogans have created an aura of suspicion and cynicism. Good news is considered either ‘motivated’ or accepted with great reluctance, even when some of the news happens to be true.

What must we think of the latest statement of the prime minister? How many offerings, sacrifices, donations or lives are needed to make our rulers understand that it is their duty to protect the life and property of every citizen. This task cannot be sublet to private militias.

‘Citizens Against Weapons’, a group dedicated to a weapon-free and peaceful Pakistan demands complete withdrawal of all weapons from every citizen, regardless of his rank, status or affiliation.

The right way for the prime minister to demonstrate his sincerity is to surrender his own weapons and ask his ministers and party to do the same.

Naeem Sadiq

Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2015

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