Things fall apart, centre cannot hold!

Dangerous trend of violence flourishing in country

A very dangerous trend of resorting to violence for getting the demands fulfilled is fast becoming popular in the country. No outstanding issue is resolved by the government unless citizens violently occupy roads, blocking traffic and torching the precious property.

The recent unfortunate events like anti-power outage protests in Gujranwala where angry mob torched the office of Gujranwala Electric Supply Company (GESCO) causing a loss worth Rs8 Crore as claimed by engineer Mehboob Alam Gepco, on Tuesday, besides loss of many vehicles, police vans in the city.

Violence also surfaced its ugly head in Lahore where angry mob destroyed property, attacked buses and broke the glass walls of many banks.

Rawalpindi witnessed the frenzy demonstrated by Sunni Tehreek activists who tore down posters of martyred ex-Premier Benazir Bhutto, damaging the assassination site outside Liaqaut Bagh as they protested the death penalty awarded by ATC to Mumtaz Qadri, who killed Governor Punjab, Salman Taseer, ‘in the line of faith’ when he was deputed to save the said Governor ‘in the line of duty’.

Whether the frenzy, anger and riots are justified or otherwise, is another debate; the important thing to note is the emerging increase in cases of violence to get the attention of those in power towards the problems. It is however, by no means a decent way to get the problems solved. Will we prefer damaging our own house and belongings if things are not as they should be?

The dangerous trend should be discouraged at all levels. However, the government should be more pro-active and try to mend ways before it is too late. Government should feel the pulse of the citizens and ensure measures for betterment before they have to come on roads.