The targeted attack on Mr Sher Afzal Khan, the Estate Officer of Pakistan, by some senators from Karachi during the present sitting of the Senate, is an abuse of their privilege. After all what is wrong with an officer discharging his duties honestly by objecting to irregular allotment of 3,050 houses belonging to the government in violation of rules? These houses, all of them situated in Karachi, are valued at Rs 450 Billion, which is perhaps the biggest scam in the history of Pakistan. The fact that these allotments were made on the instructions of a minister belonging to a Karachi-based political party, which enjoys the blessing of President, is proven in the investigations by NAB and other agencies. Eminent members of good standing belonging to the Senate, people like Raza Rabbani and Ishaq Dar, should stand up and protect an honest officer like Mr Sher Afzal Khan. Mr Khan is being humiliated by members with vested political motives. It is sad that the so-called independent print and electronic media has chosen to keep silent. -RIAZ CHAUDHRY, Dubai, UAE, via e-mail, May 2.