There could be several reasons why some people from the so-called elite class in our country always keep looking for high offices. The most visible is the extraordinary protocol they expect at public places. But once they relinquish their position or are booted out, it is hard for them to reconcile with common procedures ordinary citizens face in daily life. Here, I would like to write about an unpleasant incident at the Jinnah terminal, Karachi airport. While passing through the final security check to board a flight on April 17, I found an elderly man arguing harshly with the duty officer of the Airport Security Force (ASF) over an issue of frisking and removal of shoes for which he was not prepared. He happened to be a person who has remained part and parcel of many governments, especially martial law regimes. Probably it was my mistake that I wished him by addressing him loud enough which frightened the ASF staff who withdrew a few steps back and let him go. Later, in the departure lounge, I asked him as to why he did not write a complaint in the register available with the CAA facilitation counter if he was not satisfied with the behaviour of the ASF staff. I pardoned him, he replied nonchalantly and avoided discussing the matter anymore. While leaving the airport lounge, I gave a fresh thought to the whole episode. Was the ASF staff on security check justified in sparing a person with social status? Or a person, no less than an eminent constitutional lawyer, had demanded special treatment or exemption from compliance of law? Obviously laws are made for all regardless of the position of a person. PIA pilots are searched with a hand scanner with their caps on, whereas its cabin crew is asked to remove their caps and subjected to frisking without any scanners. I expect that for the security and safety of passengers, the ASF must apply standard security rules for everybody irrespective of their social status. I also hope that people from the upper class and PIA pilots must not demand special treatment either but rather become a role model for others to follow. Such double standards, if continued, would compel people to take the matter to the court of law for evaluation/review and CCTV footage at airport security kiosks could help in proving the case. -S. S. SHAH, Bhanhote, June 5.