Adil Najam
Disgraceful behavior by Pakistani politicians is not restricted to our Federal Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights Chaudhry Mohammad Wasi Zafar… see the earlier ATP post accounting his ‘encounters’ with lawlessness.
It turns out that a certain Mr. Abid Ali Umang, MNA from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has similarly confused ideas about what the ‘priviliges’ of being a politician should be. This is how Dawn (16 July, 2006) describes the events under the headline ‘MNA carrying gun creates scene at airport’:
Unruly scenes were witnessed at the Islamabad airport’s VIP Rawal Lounge on Friday night when a parliamentarian belonging to the ruling coalition insisted on carrying a firearm aboard and hurled threats at the Airport Security Force (ASF) official on duty. Sources said Muttahida Qaumi
Movement (MQM) MNA Abid Ali Umang along with his colleague MNA Mohammad Pervez Qureshi arrived at the Rawal Lounge to take a PIA flight (PK-319) to Karachi. The two legislators were allowed to enter the lounge without a security check after they identified themselves as MNAs. However, when the ASF official on duty inquired about the contents of a bag carried by Mr Umang, the latter replied: “There is a pistol in the bag.� The ASI told the lawmaker that carrying firearms was strictly prohibited, therefore, he could not proceed.
This infuriated the MNA and he entered into a fiery dialogue with the ASF official. Later, the ‘protestingà¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ MNA was also joined by his colleague. As tension mounted, the ASF chief security officer rushed to the scene at around 10:30pm and settled the issue through talks. The security chief also tender an apology to the minister and transferred the ASF official to some other section of the airport. The sources also quoted the MNA as saying that he would move a privilege motion in the National Assembly if the ASI concerned was not dismissed from service.
Meanwhile, the MNAs never made it aboard the Karachi-bound flight as they were not holding confirmed tickets.
I am certainly glad that they did not board the plane with the gun. I do think that a privilege motion (or some sort of a motion) should be moved in the Assembly on this incident. But it should be against the two MNAs and to commend the ASI.
Please, don’t anyone tell me that this proves that we are not ready for real democracy. No. This does not mean that at all. It only means that we have to start electing a better set of people and it means that we still have people like the ASI in this case who are willing to stand up for law and justice; even if the Minister in-charge of that portfolio is not.
My thanks to Talha Masood (blog: My cosmos…) for altering me to this news through a post in Metroblog Islamabad.
Wow! is it for real? I definitely would like to hear the other side of the story, and i think we should take Mr. Umang up on his offer to contact and ask for clarification.
Adil, this says something about your blog also, and even if one politician gets his act together after reading people’s comment here, I’d say your hard work’s paid off.
Umang Sahab,
I am also impressed by the fact that you thought it fit to at least respond to the comment on the blog. Now would you please also care to give your version of the events?
“Specially To IMPRESSED”…..Yes there is a way to confirm this comment…..My email address is “”abidaliumang@yahoo.com””….& its your democratic right to comment, bcoz you are the people who will be the future of this country…INSHALLAH…..
“IMPRESSED”… I hope you are satisfied now…..But if there is any confusion left, YOU can contact me at my email address…..ALLAH Nigehbaan…..Abid Ali Umang-MNA
I m very gratefull to all of you that you all are fully aware of the real meaning of democracy…I m also gratefull of ur criticizm for politicians specially for me on my attitude at the rawal lounge islamabad. I don’t want to clearify the situation but i want to add that the incident reported was not as per facts….. This can be confirmed through the mentioned ASI and the staff present there. Specially the Cheif Security Officer, and the DG of ASF can verify my statement…I don’t want to open a debate but I just want to clearify the confusions in minds of my Honorable Friends. Thanks again for guiding me on the “RIGHT WAY” . Abid Ali Umang-MNA
Saad, the real thing is that WE elect them. If we had regular elections we would have the opportunity to kick them out. That is the only way they will change; if we change.