"The Shameful Slapping"

Pakistan, a nation of approximately 180 million plus people, as a society stands on crossroads of change. Not just in attitudes but also in terms of correcting many ills that its people have developed over the years which are numerous, countless and priceless in all respects! One such ill was witnessed by millions of people via television, and those who were present there; on the scene. The incident happened at Tando Muhammad Khan on Saturday (24^th February 2012, the By-election day), Polling Station No 16 at Government Girls High School, where Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Waheeda Shah lost her temper  at a polling station of PS-53, and beat the female polling staff in the face with policemen and voters among the onlookers. The two victims of this incident were; Incharge presiding officer; Habiba Memon and Assistant presiding officer, Shagufta Memon.  Publically assaulting and humiliating the polling officers, who, by profession are teachers at the local school. Teaching faculty is usually called upon by the Election Commission to cover and monitor the polls of the day, it is a formal request that teachers of that certain area put up with.  
Teachers play a cardinal role in the character building of a nation along with the parents, sharing the task of formulating a personality of future. No other entity can have an influence more profound than that of a teacher. Students are intensely affected by a teacher’s love & affection, his/her grace, character, competence, and their moral commitment.  Children take them as their ideals, in manners, costumes, etiquettes, style of conversation and his/her aura. Teachers cultivate and nurture in their students: Promotion of punctuality, truth, hard work, honesty, simplicity, hygiene, patriotism, mutual love/harmony, self-control, sincerity, civic sense, obedience to law, tolerance, in short, cultivate human virtues, grooming with tremendous excellence. Young generation can never forget their teachers ever, in every phase of life, a teacher’s guidance at that tender age, becomes a lineament till he/she is alive.
The shame, anger, humiliation and embarrassment that teacher or polling staff suffered that day is irreparable. A personal attack like that by the female PPP candidate; must have left the victims with low self worth, defeated and defective. Since shame is related to a person’s “self” this becomes a part of victim’s identity, and it follows into affecting everything that he/she does. Victimization done in such an audacious manner is despicable. 

A case has been registered against Waheeda Shah, on the directives of the Provincial Election Commissioner, Returning Officer Ali Asghar went to the police station in Tando Mohammad Khan and after an investigation the case was registered against Waheeda Shah. According to the police the case was filed under 86/3 b. Under this clause Shah will be tried for interfering with official affairs and can face a prison sentence of three months. Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Hamid Ali Mirza on Monday directed to take action against Sindh Assembly candidate Waheeda Shah for slapping the polling official as well as the police personnel for negligence of duty. He took serious notice of the incident and directed the Provincial Election Commissioner, Sindh to take necessary action under the law.

One wonders where the leadership of PPP is on this. Why there has been no collective admonishment by the party authority? Why did they not issue a show cause notice to their party candidate?  Would the PPP take onus for this or would it pass it on the ECP to decide?  What is holding them back? Who will correct this? Is thuggish behavior pivotal to remain in power for them? Where are the human rights activists? Do they not think this was an issue worth voicing for?
The most interesting thing is:: This was not the first time Ms. Shah had assaulted polling officers. A widow now while her husband Mr.Mohsin Shah (late) was alive, for his election she stormed into men’s polling station and slapped a male polling officer. No charges were put against her then too. Her husband passed away a month ago, and on her request the PPP issued a ticket. After the mayhem on Saturday, Waheeda Shah got hold of humiliated officer to speak in her favor of her in front of media. Influential Ms. Shah, a big landlord of the area, and a feudal attitude to back up her actions, forced the poor teacher Shagufta to give a statement against herself and in the former's defence. Residents from Waheeda Shah's constituency commented that the woman in Burqa was not the one who was slapped and humiliated yesterday. For the sake of argument if one does believe the woman in Burqa was Shagufta, the assaulted victim, defending the wrongdoer may lay bare the helplessness of the officer but it cannot give Ms. Shah a clean tab.

  The lady aspires to become a parliamentarian; she would have been in assembly to legislate bills for the future of Pakistan. One wonders, with such short fuse in candidates, would they be fit enough to sit in the highest house of the land? Pakistan has suffered enough, the echo of such ruthless slaps are still evident on the ailing body of the country. Politicians should have a heart and stop these hypocritical ways otherwise; the citizens of this country are on the tipping point, they will do what they have never done before: Stand up and Fight!!
 
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The above article got published on the following links:
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=142965

http://www.dailyausaf.com/edi_detail.php?id=5620&art_id=64