Zakk:
The Sharifs seem to be drifting back to their old habits..
Caught in a jam Dawn Editorial
DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Caught in a jam
Saturday, 22 Aug, 2009 | 08:02 AM PST | The bloody revolution that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif often warns of may indeed come about if the powerful continue to flaunt their influence in an increasingly unseemly manner. – No hurdle is too big to cross for anyone who can raise a veritable storm in officialdom by merely placing a call to the higher authorities. If this were not already a well-established fact, Wednesday’s incident near Murree unambiguously drove home the point.
After former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family got stuck in a vehicular mess on a narrow bridge connecting Murree and Patriata, things moved extraordinarily fast. Mr Sharif called the chief secretary of Punjab who in turn sent his local minions rushing over to clear the traffic jam. Soon the vehicles were moving as smoothly as ever. A day later, 30 or so traffic officials were suspended for failing to ensure a smooth passage for Mr Sharif’s cavalcade .
The fact that the ex-premier heads the ruling party in Punjab where the incident took place and his younger brother is the chief minister of the province appears to be the reason behind such speedy administrative action. Such is our culture that even a somewhat lesser mortal with connections in government could have achieved the same result, though perhaps with less immediacy and fewer penalties for the traffic officials. In fact, it all depends on the kind of influence one exerts in the world of politics and officialdom. Without that influence, Mr Sharif’s car would have been stuck indefinitely in the traffic mess.
Ordinary citizens appear to be resigned to the situation. They may be seething inside but their anger has perhaps not reached boiling point yet. Nevertheless, the bloody revolution that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif often warns of may indeed come about if the powerful continue to flaunt their influence in an increasingly unseemly manner.
Mr Shahbaz Sharif would be well advised to curb this trend and empower ordinary citizens so that their voice can be heard too.
Ahh.. typical Zardari/Salman Taseer syndrome
When** Jang **and **The News have opened up thier swords on NRO / Musharraf Trial / Cheeni Chors / Steel Mill Corruption / 17th amendment etc
**
Dawn and Daily Times are now proving loyalty to Masters as Dawn Owner Haroon brother is UNO representative at Washington and Zardari old chum
PS : Whenever US or Saudi/UK delegates / Boucher/ Halbroke/ Zardari/ PM Gilani etc visit Raiwind , Lahore , they dont take Canal Road route , they use milliitary
helicopter. At this moment a helicopter is passed over my house ( its special sound is easily heard) towards Mall Road which was gone in Raiwind direction 2 hours ago. Dawn is now playing freaky 3rd rated games !