This was in the news today. There were six people killed in road accidents in Islamabad yesterday (reported deaths). The article talks about two girls whose car was stuck under a truck for over an hour. A friend's friend was supposed to get engaged to the elder of the two today.

 

In the end Police had to hire a private crane to lift the truck from on top of the car. That should be a crime in itself! The relevant authorities should be taken to task for this. Why do they not have the necessary equipment at hand to clear road accidents? Even if they get the equipment through private contractors, why does it take over an hour to get it to the lacation? Even after getting to the location, it took over 20 minutes to pull the car out. Why was no heavy equipoment available for the job?

 

In a country plagued by an ever-increasing defence budget, why is there no money available for civil services? Don't get me wrong. I am not anti-army rule as opposed to many I know, but even I have to wonder about our budget allocation! I know the salaries of armed personnel have been increased twice in the last few years. i agreed with the first increase (they were really not getting paid enough), but the second increase should have gone to the police, or the judiciary! There's no doubt about that.

 

I realize I tend to get off the track a lot, as I have above. I started talking about the value of life in this country as I realize there is none!

 

A family friend was murdered yesterday, right outside his house as he was leaving for work. 7 bullets found their target! I know we all hear about such news everyday, specially in Pakistan, but when it happens to a near and dear one, you tend to see things in a different light! I know, reading this, you are probably not feeling the same way I am (I wouldn't feel this way if I were just reading about somebody's death), and I hope you never get to know the feeling. But it is horrible. When you have sat down and sought help on personal problems from someone, when you have had food at the same table, visited and stayed at their house, know that they had children after 20+ years of marriage whose ages are still counted in months; and then you hear they were found dead with 7 bullets in their body, you don't know who to shout at!

 

Why are such things so common in Pakistan? Why do we not value life as much? How can trains collide killing over 200 people and nobody gets to pay for the horrible mistake? How come such things don't happen in the developed world? Why can we not value life as much as they do? Our doctors can mis-diagnose 20 people in a month and eat happily at a posh restaurant as the patients die. Our policemen savour the bribes as houses are being looted in their area... and people being killed! Our judiciary is ruling cases in favour of the highest bidder (yes, even the highest court). Our ministers own their own private armies that loot and kill at will under the protection of the people who run the government! Why? Why? WHY?