THIS refers to a picture (Sept 4) which shows DSP Masood being ‘manhandled’ by four colleagues and their police guards within the premises of the Supreme Court’s Karachi registry after he won a landmark case against them for rampant ‘out - of - turn promotions’.

The news report said that the officer was apparently brandishing his official SMG which was apparently grabbed and disappeared.

According to the Mithadar ASP, deputed to inquire about the case, the weapon ‘that got misplaced was later found in the premises of the registry.’

The Supreme Court reverted a four - year - old violation of high court repeal on out - of - turn promotions. The government did not obey that directive and probably will not now since an ordinance has been hurriedly enacted essentially to counter the Supreme Court and continue the trend.

The second story from Karachi’s notorious Dalmia area has a picture (Sept 4), showing a policeman delivering a karate - type left - foot chest kick at a metal door during a search for ‘notorious elements.’

The government’s recruitment and training philosophy puts grossly unfettered power into this man. His frustrations add power and anger to his official boot. It also explains thana behaviour and mentality.

In the third story at least three persons have now borne free witness against a cleric who instigated the ‘blasphemy’ case.

When this young minority child was accused of blasphemy by a rabid mob, where were the ‘good policemen’ who waited for her to ‘confess’ or gave due diligence in ‘investigating’?

Despite ‘landmark’ verdicts, the Supreme Court has achieved little that will change the course of Pakistan because the legislating and implementing arms of the government (and much of media) either will not or, very possibly cannot, be the pillars that support the burdens of a just, equitable, progressive and democratic system that was the basis of Islam.

DR MERVYN HOSEIN Karachi