Adil Najam
Here is a rather gruesome ad from the Punjab Anti-Narcotics Force, warning prospective pilgrims going for Hajj to Saudi Arabia of the dangers of drug trafficking.
The painted bill board ad makes the point, rather graphically and quite clearly that anyone caught bringing drugs into Saudi Arabia will face death. One wonders, however, if that point is being made a little more graphically than necessary.
The wording on the billboard (seemingly quite large and on an outdoor public location) says:
Don’t unknowingly invite death.
By taking someone’s else luggage or unnecessary foreign or local medications do not put your own life at risk.
Taking narcotics or addictive elements to Saudi Arabia will result in a certain death penalty.
Anti-Narcotics Force (Punjab).
How, I wonder, does a parent explain to a child who sees this billboard why the Arab-looking man is beheading the Pakistani-looking man with such gusto.
One wonders who it is that really gives Muslims a ‘bad name’? The message for the prospective drug smuggler to Saudi Arabia is quite clear. But, what is the message for the rest of us? And the rest of the world?
Interesting how so many comments are about Saudi Arabia. But the billboard says a lot about Pakistan and Pakistanis. How can you have something like this is a public place. What do you say to children who see this? This is really disturbing. Do we understand no language except of violence and death?
Just looking at the poster, the man with the sword in hand and a triumphant look on his face seems to be the perpetrator and the one with his head on the chopping block a hapless victim.
If public executions could solve the problem Saudi Arabia would have been a drug-free society by now, for they have been using the chopping block for years. Intriguingly, the number of executions is not coming down but going up every year. Obviously, something else needs to be fixed.
The Pakistan Narcotic Board could have used a better message than this gruesome picture. Would anyone want his/her child to see this picture?
How are illiterates going to get the message? The pictures tells them about execution but not the reason for it.
I guess we could discuss about the laws in Saudi Arabia but this picture of the day tells how primitive, stupid, pathetic, uncultured, backward, uneducated, histrionic and narcisistic we pakistanies are.
This rule applies to Muslim brothers like us only … and not for the western passport holders…
the height of hypocrasy is immense
A relevant news from today’s dawn,
http://www.dawn.com/2006/12/07/top11.htm
I believe that most of these people are illiterate who get sucked in the web of drug Mafia. The big guys do not carry drugs with them selves but use these illiterate people to be there mules. Those big guys should get the punishment.
i have always believed that everything is fair when it comes to fighting against drugs and narcotics. This said, it is also a fact that when it comes to the Arabs, they are much more quick in putting an “Ajmi” under the sword than one of their own. The Arabs are just as much into drugs and drinking as anywhere else in any other country. I think this bill is a true statement and it is wiser to inform our people going there. What if somebody slips something into your baggage and you don’t even know what it is. Therefore, it is better to be prepared than ignorant. But on a personal level, i went for Umra about five years ago, and did not like the experience.
A question: Who will nab the NAB?
There is an expressive sheir:
Hum nay chhaaa tha kay hakam say karayengay faryaad
Woh bhi kumbakht tera chhanay-wala nikla
And as usual Faiz should have the last word:
Banay hein ahl-e-havus muddaiyi bhi munsuf bhi
Kisay vakil karein kis say munsafi chhahein