This past week’s widely publicized case of a mob seeking to attack a young woman in Lahore on the suspicion of blasphemy flowing from her attire was a powerful reminder of a lingering threat to Pakistan’s daily life.
The event on Sunday in the crowded ‘Ichhra’ neighbourhood could have become ugly without the timely and brave intervention by a young police officer.
Notwithstanding the images of Assistant Police Superintendent Syeda Sheharbano Naqvi fearlessly escorting the young woman clad in a ‘burqa’ away from a charged crowd, the event said much about Pakistan’s slide on multiple fronts.
These range from a consistently compromised quality surrounding rule of law to the growing trend among the public to take the law in their hands. Ultimately, this tragic slide has brought Pakistan closer to a de facto rule by one mob or another rather than justice delivered by a well-functioning state.
In this case too, the evidence ultimately from the scene suggested that the woman who was targeted for her shirt bearing words in Arabic carried a message of love and affection crafted in calligraphy style.
While police officer Naqvi indeed qualifies for a rich commendation, her unique role does not change the character of the environment that surrounds Pakistan today.........