Days are not far when the Islamabad Police corps will remind one of the popular television series CHiPs of the 70s that had officers patrolling the highways of California on heavy bikes.
It is so because the Prime Minister has promised to overhaul the Islamabad Police Department and get rid of its ugly blue uniform. Big budgets have been proposed by the concerned quarters that were given the task to develop proposals for refurbishing the Capital Police. Like ‘Parha Likha Punjab’, the ‘Parhi Likhi Police’ will soon be making headlines in the capital with heavy motorbikes cruising on newly carpeted roads and highways of Islamabad; vehicles with turbo boosters and deadly flashing lights will manoeuvre the F6 and F7 sectors. The option of uniformed men on horse backs cannot be ignored as backup, since technology can ditch you anytime and shouldn’t always be trusted.
With the load of traffic in the federal capital having increased many fold in the past few years, it had become difficult for the traffic police to handle the lawlessness. Over speeding, violating traffic signals, honking, wrong parking and use of mobile phones while driving, all have put a strain on the traffic system of the capital. Motorists, especially the young drivers for whom the traffic rules is an obsolete document, rarely follow rules or care for others rights leading to a whole mess in the capital. Lack of coordination between agencies and authorities and low traffic police strength contributes to the problem.
“The traffic police in Islamabad is not only very small in number but lacks resources to chase vehicles or catch the violators,” says Asif Khawaja, coordinator, Association of Road Users of Pakistan (ARUP). Asif, who works for legal awareness amongst commuters of the twin cities, through his organization is making efforts to improve police-public relationship by resolving grievances, inculcating traffic rules and traffic discipline to the public, especially the next generation. He hopes the change will also bring patience and tolerance among commuters. The new capital police will hopefully be on the same pattern as the Motorway Police with no underhand money exchange or rishwat accepted by the new tall dark and handsome young men for whom graduation will be the minimum qualification. If you cannot become a parliamentarian — try becoming a policeman. Either way you’ll have the opportunity of living in the capital.
Yekjehti Mela
The 17-day long artisan-at-work festival, termed as the Grand Yekjehti Mela, at Lok Virsa witnessed an unprecedented rush this year. The 250 artisans present in the mela had set up 125 stalls in their respective provincial pavilions. The stalls included 40 reserved for women. It was the first time the festival was organized in collaboration with the private sector that was given the contracts for tickets etc. Special space was given to civil society, including public organizations and NGO’s that work in the fields of citizens’ emancipation, women’s income generation, gender sensitivity, human rights and disadvantaged, marginalized and under-privileged groups.
A host of pavilions offered a wide range of antiques; curious creations in hand hammered copper, onyx, carved wood, silver and gold while food stalls served local and regional cuisines and delicacies. The chadarposhi of a local artisan, Tehmina Rafiq was honoured for her 40 years of dedication and service for the promotion of gotakari was also a part of the ceremony.
A master craftswoman, Tehmina has taught the skills to 700 children in an effort to keep the rich traditional craft alive. The hype given to the festival was due the performances by colourful traditional song and dance troupe’s theatre with a show every evening at the open air theatre by artists and performers from all the four provinces. The jhumar and leva performed on the Balochistan Night with a contingent of 89 Balochi and Mekran dancers and singers was greatly appreciated. The Frontier Night also had a great audience but unfortunately was held without the singers, who could not arrive in time. Other special events included a dance performance from Sri Lanka with fourteen young traditional classical and folk dancers in colourful costume and masks. The participation of counterparts from China, Malaysia, Bangladesh and some Central Asian Republics fostered an extraordinary display of cross cultural grandeur.
The folk festival was a forum for interaction between rural and urban areas of the country as hundreds of artisans from far flung areas of Pakistan came to the capital, giving an opportunity to residents of the twin cities to have a glimpse of the rich heritage, traditions and culture of various nations.
Days are not far when the Islamabad Police corps will remind one of the popular television series CHiPs of the 70s that had officers patrolling the highways of California on heavy bikes.
