Adil Najam
Many of you would already have seen this photograph.
It shows a policeman (of the Punjab Police, I believe) helping hang billboards showing the election symbol of ‘bicycle.’ The bicycle, by the way, is the electoral symbol of the ruling party PML(Q), whose supposed Prime Ministerial candidate Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is the Chief Minister of Punjab and, therefore, the direct boss of this poor cop.
By the way, from the look of it this official van is holding lots of other billboards; most likely with the same symbol. For the uninitiated we should note that the Blue Toyota Hilux vans are the vehicle of choice for the Punjab Police. Also note the word (in Urdu) ‘Police’ at the back of the van and the green number plate. Both signifying that this is an official government vehicle. The policeman, of course, is also in official uniform – duly armed – and ‘assisting’ in what is clearly political campaigning.
My first thought had been to ask people to suggest a funny title for this… maybe something like “Police ka hai farz madad aap ki!” (It’s the Police’s duty to help you) which used to be the slogan of the police service. However, there is very little about this picture that is funny. And their is plenty that is truly disturbing.
Thank you: Adil Najam + ATP, for making this blog more balanced and fair. Maybe Pakistan cannot be democratic in our lives, but alteast our blogs can be free and fair.
so freakin’what?????
if PPP or PML (N) were the kings party, this policeman would have been working for them instead!
same thieves…..different titles!
How much more transparency one would want from an election?
Incidentally, if you look at a bigger picture, you could see that the vehicle belongs to the FC College Police Chowki. It says so in the left hand side of the green registration plate.
The picture shows the level of TRANSPARENCY in upcoming elections. Following are few examples of fair elections:
Ex-speaker, ministers still enjoying official protocol:
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id =11722
Former CM ‘calling shots’
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/dec-2007/13/index7. php
Is it possible the police guy is taking the sign down.We need Geo to do investigative report :)