THE collapse of a pedestrian bridge in Lahore on Thursday was not a rare instance in a country where accidents do not happen out of the blue. A pedestrian bridge had given way in Karachi in March this year on impact, it was reported. The one in Lahore collapsed under its own weight and the police say that there were flaws in the construction of the bridge and the design details had not been adhered to. These observations have yet to pass the scrutiny of construction experts and, more crucially, of the law. But given the symbolism attached to roads and bridges under his government, this is not a good election advertisement for Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The collapse has generated plenty of debate about the increasing hazards that people are faced with and, ultimately, about good and bad governance.

The chief minister believes in speed. The many bridges that have come up in Lahore are a metaphor for a commitment to fast-track progress — even when the Punjab government has been accused of ignoring many other areas where official intervention is urgently needed. With the approach of general elections, these bridges have taken on much greater significance. On the other hand, the official tone following Thursday’s collapse points towards another hallmark of the current administration. It is as if the tradition of blaming one man for an unfortunate occurrence is being perpetuated here. Unfortunately, this is typical of an administration that feels it can do no wrong and which has one person at the top wanting to take all the credit for progress. The moment calls for some reflection and of course for a thorough investigation. The overemphasis on speed is under the spotlight now and that is where the probe should begin.