KARACHI: The citizens have unofficially been declared the least important people in Karachi. From the labourer on daily wages, to the white collar official to an ‘insignificant’ essential services worker – these people’s rights are inconsequential in the general scheme of things as they are just revenue generating tools for the centre.
Only and only do VVIPs matter. And these too are growing in number if one were to judge by the cavalcades sported by even the chiefs of staffs and organization heads for whose sake ‘time’ for the commoners must stand still – all else be damned!
The last week for Karachiites was yet another nightmarish experience as the president and the prime minister both paid a visit in tandem. The early warning signs of a VVIP movement are evident when one starts to hear the mobile sirens ringing in the distance. That’s the premonition for the impending doom about to be unleashed on 14 million people. Traffic personnel start prowling around insignificant corners, unnecessarily forcing commuters to ‘move on’.
Why wouldn’t we want to move on, do we look as if we are enjoying the circus on the roads and are simply around for amusement? The traffic department definitely feels that is so since all its officers are issued with the directive to push and shove the civilians – be it motorists, motorcyclists, pedestrians or those waiting for the bus – in any corner they can, whenever a cavalcade is expected to zoom past. And in the process if the drivers hit the pavement or the car on the side or the people miss the bus, well, too bad! Their line of duty only defines the clearing of the road for the screeching VIP entourage.
On one such frenzied occasion a driver would have easily lost his life when a motorcycled policemen suddenly zoomed in, aggressively edging the motorists going on an even pace in double lanes to move to the side to clear the area for an approaching pageant of penguins. The ‘movement’ must have been unscheduled otherwise the road would have been cleared hours earlier.
With no space available on the right where a four by four was driving and with the policemen suddenly coming in his way, the driver of the Alto had no option but to brake (silently reciting the kalima), as the fast approaching sirens from behind definitely meant that the car would be slammed hard from behind if it did not totally skid out of control before that. But with the Almighty perhaps having no need of the individual up there yet he was barely saved with the speeding cars rushing by with perhaps only a few centimetres to spare.
Now the moral of the story! The traffic police will kill you if it means compromising on VIP movement. Traffic jams due to extended road closures for VIPs are Karachiites’ condemnation for being citizens of this God forsaken city. The only explanation given to us by successive police chiefs is that VIP security cannot be compromised. And incidents like the above stated now should be taken to mean that a citizen’s life just does not matter either if it impedes the fast movement of these VIPs.
With these ‘very important’ visits becoming frequent, motorists are now routinely held up for hours on busy intersections. In fact, even in residential areas where they pay visits, residents are stopped from entering their own houses since the lanes are cordoned off. Where in the constitution does it say that civil liberties will be countermanded for the sake of the president or prime minister’s security? That the ambulances carrying patients may be stopped if the traffic police deem it necessary? That the medical store may not be reached even for urgent medical needs because of traffic closure on the DIG’s orders? These are all factual incidents.
When the last serving DIG traffic was asked about the arrangements made for the citizens in times of road blockades when the premier or president visit the city, the query was brushed of as irrelevant and the reply given inferred that none were necessary and a little wait should not be a big deal for the citizens (the taxpayers who fund the salaries of all the government officials). The present chief too holds the same view that citizens will be compromised and nothing can be done about it.
If the man in charge of the traffic for civilians is not taking on the responsibility of solving traffic issues particularly in times of VVIP movements than perhaps an appeal to the mayor of Karachi who has vowed to serve the people, is in order. Can we look to his good offices that next time the ruling members decide to visit our beleaguered city, he may counsel them against it unless it is unavoidable and truly ‘very important’.
And that he may also advise them that having coffee at leisure in a public café is a luxury which most heads of state either relinquish when they take on the reigns of power or do so incognito if they must. Closing public roads and inconveniencing citizens to meet and discuss ‘dam-ing issues’ chalking the destiny of the nation might perhaps be justified in some way, but to attend a wedding, a private function or sip a mere cup of coffee cannot be called a very important occasion for a ‘very, very important’ official for which extended road closures can in any way be justified.
It would also be advisable that a traffic plan with alternative routes for the citizens is announced beforehand. If at least an attempt to manage traffic for civilians is made, perhaps we too would feel duty bound to co-operate instead of abusing every official as we are wont to doing.