Of the Political Mileage!
By the Editor

UPPER House of Pakistan’s Parliament was faced a scenario, marked by pandemonium on Thursday over an episode — a lady doctor, Ms Shazia had to face — at Sui.

Opposition Members thrashed the Treasury Benches for showing lack of concern over the unfortunate incident. The Opposition also staged walk-out on the issue despite explanations by the Government leaders.

It is quite obvious that the Opposition is taking political mileage out of the Sui rape case.

The National Assembly is also going to meet on February-21 and the issue would certainly be agitated on the floor of that House as well.

We, however, believe that the issue should not be blown up out of proportions. First of all, it involves honor and prestige of a lady and repeated discussions, allegations and counter-allegations would be painful for the lady and — of-course for her family.

The incident is no doubt condemnable but such ugly things sometime do happen in other areas of the country — as well. Honor of every woman needs to be protected — at all costs.

Amid such a situation, where were the egalitarians or the champions of human or women rights — when a lady was forced to parade nude in bazaar after the verdict of a Jirga composed of influential and affluent in a village of the Punjab and a gang rape incident — in Sindh?

As a matter of fact, every such case needs to be probed thoroughly and severe action taken against the culprits, irrespective of status in the society — but these must not be politicized.

Yet, it is also a fact that the rape case of Dr Shazia has been mishandled by the authorities concerned.

In view of the sensitivities involved — swift and prompt action should have been taken to ensure the damage control.

Likewise, it would have been more appropriate if the President or the Prime Minister should have visited the area and assured the family of fair and impartial investigations and due punishment to the culprits.

We think that it was because of such lapse that some people — including some politicians, opposing the present government — were able to fully exploit the episode to incite sentiments of the people against the Federal Government. By all parameters of decency and logic — such a mindset is not fair.

Can anyone call it a caring and considerate approach towards the esteemed lady doctor — who is mentioned by the media, time and again — only because, she is discussed at diverse fora by the opposition almost every day — with explicit objectives, mainly to malign and censure the government.

A set of vested interests has been resorting to such a course as a tool to spread hatred against some institutions — an outlook which would never be approved by any patriotic and pragmatic mind and soul.

We would, therefore, urge the authorities to complete formalities expeditiously and take prompt and firm action to neutralize the situation by taking judicious measures — at-once.●