By Naeem Asgher Tarar
Since Pmln has won with the heavy mandate to rule as the superior party in the provincial assembly, it has gone through many setbacks and sorry state of affairs, which also attracted severe criticism. On the other hand the things to bag an accolade are few and in eyes of stern observers, none. Whether it is Model town incident or Metro train, Chotu gang or direly depressing situation of government sector hospitals, it clearly seems that whatever Punjab government intends to do end up in the opposite of the intentions and tall claims. Ministries are corrupt and successfully subterfuge the funds to their own profit.
Recently the most talked about thing in the province is kidnapping of children, which has frightened every parent who have a school going child in the family. The thing doesn’t stop here, parents have to make sure that their child spends minimum time outside the house. If he or she has to leave the house for something, an elder escort must be along as an essential precautionary measure. Every family who until now has been left with the agony of their missing child has no other option but to bellow a dirge in frustration. In case you wonder why that is, the answer is, because the concerned authorities are not paying enough attention to this matter.
Upon asking the police and other institutes who are responsible for the safety of people, a rot learned response comes promptly that we are trying our level best to see into these unfortunate matters and will reach to the conclusion soon by nabbing the kidnappers. The question arises on the efficiency of police, which according to CM Shebaz Sharief is one of the best and most dutiful. Should we assume that a gang of merely a score of people and even if they are trained can make the institutes so helpless and baffled? And that, Chotu gang was a tough nut to crack because of its size and most advance weapons but are we equally inept while dealing a street gang? And that, how skilled and alert is our police and isn’t it appropriate to give them a proper time to time training?
When these incidents started reporting and kept on culminating to a horrific figure not a single authoritative figure took any notice, later when media aired these news only then we saw condemnation pouring from certain people and that too was mild and somewhat non serious. Maybe the group of claque surrounding CM does not have interest in it or maybe it was not as serious as inaugurating a new underpass or to show more affirmation in Orange line train project by a new fiery statement.
Whatever the case is, it won’t pacify the aggrieved families. They are looking for return of their child safe and sound. The prolonged silence from the authorities and government officials has already aggravated the matter. Officials boldly claim that kidnapped children being told by media houses are much more than the original number of case registered. That is definitely not true, because the actuarial showing the actual number corresponds to that told and reported by media.
Government should not only take interest in safe return of the kidnapped children but also in curbing out this menace in a coup de grace, which should be exemplary and set a resolution that government won’t allow such heinous crimes again. Parents may find it suffice that their apple of the eye has been returned to them without any harm done, but public at large and stakeholders are more keen to see the criminals behind the bars and facing all criminals charges which they are entitled to. In Lahore few weeks ago CM launched a Dolphin force, which is equipped with fast vehicles and professional training; they can reach to a place of any traffic accident very fast and can chase any car or bike within no time by following it on a proper broad road to a narrow street. Another such force on fast bikes and with properly trained personals may help to enhance the protection of children. As soon as an incident is reported to the hotline of that force by some passerby it will alert the men on duty in that particular area. Then on their bikes they can comb the area swiftly and before the culprits escape from the spot.
Government and institutes which are directly concerned with these matters have to take quick action to save their already deteriorating image. Godspeed!