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?
I think it is a (sad) commentary on us that in discussing this we seem more concerned about Saudi Arabia’s image than then violence in the picture. People seem to be quite OK with the fact that such a violent image will be displayed in public.
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
I think if beheading a few hundred drug dealers every year saves thousands of families its well worth it.sure you can throw them in jails for life imprisonment instead but that won’t be as effective in discouraging other who might try to do such a thing.and saudia getting thousands of immigrants every year from all over the world has to impose such strict rules or risk becoming anohter karachi.
The Ad is not without context. According to a Nov. 29, 2006 Rueters report:
Quoting drpak “A few hundred drug trafficers are executed in Saudi every year.” And there is no drug problem in Saudi Arabia?
Actually there are several problems in addition to drugs in Saudi Arabia and they include alcohalism and pornography. Government has a hard time keeping them under the rug and even filtered picture does not look rosy.
Also, it will be interesting to get the statistics of the beheadings of “Arbees” compared to “Ajmees.” We all know which way the scale will tilt. In this regard, the billboard is perhaps an honest depiction of the fate of “lesser Muslims.”