The purpose of a state and all its institutions is to provide security to its citizens. If all these organs, despite abundant resources, cannot provide security of life, property, health to the common citizen, as contained in the Constitution, a grave error in the working of the state has occurred. Weak governance by civil administration results in loss of life for the Armed Forces and police personnel. Half-hearted institutional efforts, prolonged military campaigns and lack of political ownership result in making us a more impoverish nation. Police contingents escort VIP politicians and bureaucrats, who sit in bomb proof cars and still feel unsafe. This leaves less police force to provide security to common citizens.
If people like Farzana, employees who died inside cold storage in the airport and the hundreds of men, women and children are not protected, is there any justification for boasting about the government’s performance? If there is no human security what is the benefit of having grand projects? The question is, do our national institutional actions lead to protection of the elite only, and insecurity and injustice for the poor remains rampant, and if that is the case, is there a need to correct our course?
BRIG ® MUHAMMAD IRFAN,
Lahore, June 12.