After remaining stuck in the traffic jam due to VIP movement for a long time, parents of the ailing 10-month-old Bisma finally made it to the hospital gate.
However, they were allegedly denied entry into the medical facility as part of strict security measures for the arrival of Sindh chief minister and Bilawal Bhutto, the young chairman of the PPP. Unable to receive timely medical attention, Bisma passed away in the arms of her father. The end of Bisma’s story is a familiar one. However, she will be counted as just another casualty to the shameful VIP culture that serves the country’s elite and ridicules public convenience.
Life of an ordinary man comes cheap in Pakistan — this was not the first such incident, nor will it be the last one. As Bisma’s death grabbed headlines, the Twitteratis fumed at prominent leaders of the political party, who outrageously suggested that security of their leader was more important and this was a “matter of routine.” While an impartial inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident, the unapologetic attitude and apathy shown by the ruling political elite is a clear indicator of their interest in the general public. These VIPs, who include politicians, civil servants and other influential persons, somehow feel above the law and are entitled to envious privileges from the public kitty. Flourishing all across the country, the VIP culture is marked by lengthy motorcades, heavy police deployment, separate entrances at public places and even comfortable prison cells as a symbol of status and power.
Even though there is widespread public condemnation of VIP culture and awareness about the criminal waste of public resources at the hands of these elites, why does it still exist? Why does the public still tolerate these excesses and abuse of power? The answer to these questions is simple — the VIP culture exists because ordinary citizens allow it to do so. Trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty and other basic existential problems, these defenseless and hapless citizens continue to suffer in silence.
The feudal mindset of ruling class, inherited from the colonial rule, has reinforced the belief that they are entitled to the pompous VIP culture because of their exalted stature in the society. But, it is for the people to realize that the real power rests with them. It is the people who bring these politicians to power and these public servants can be voted out of power, if they do not fulfill their constitutional obligations to the people. Despite repeated failures in governance, it is unfortunate that the same political leaders are elected year after year by people, who complain about unabated injustice in the society.
Something is clearly very wrong with the social and moral fabric of our society. This highlights the need to strengthen Pakistan’s judiciary system to ensure that rights of the general public are preserved and all public office bearers are held accountable for their actions. It is only then that law of the land will be held supreme.
The true spirit of democracy — of the people, for the people, by the people — cannot be lived by until the people are put first. It is about time that the civil society makes a decisive push against the malaise of VIP culture, otherwise the ordinary people will continue to be pushed against the wall.
