Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was conferred with Honorary PhD Degree in Lahore the other day. All roads leading to the venue, where Nawaz Sharif was to receive the degree were closed for public traffic, as a part of protocol. A pregnant woman was on her way to hospital to give birth to her child. The rickshaw she was traveling in was stopped by Lahore traffic police resulting in the birth of a baby girl in the rickshaw. This has not happened for the first time in our country past records show that mothers have delivered babies in taxis, ambulances, rickshaws and on roadside due to road closures for VVIP’s movement.
Our politicians have so far not learnt any lessons from their past mistakes. I wonder how the girl will remember the Prime Minister who forced her mother to suffer indignity and pain in a public place just to satisfy his ego and his need for safety, as if he is the only mortal important who needs protection, when he swore to protect his people?
M. RAFIQUE ZAKARIA,
Karachi, January 19.