Published in August 1993
As the nation has just celebrated its 46th independence anniversary, let us all reflect upon the rights enjoyed by the average Pakistani.
The "right" to be arrested and tortured by police; to disappear after being picked up by a law enforcement agency; to pay a princely amount to get a F .I .R. registered.
The "right" to be killed if one is a witness in a murder trial.
The "right" to be arrested and held without trial for years; to end up in a mental hospital after being held without trial for years.
The "right" to be caught in a traffic jam for hours because some VVIP (Prime Minister, President, Chief Minister) is passing that way.
The "right" to be charged for long-distance calls made by the friend of a linesman; to have telephone disconnected if one is unable to pay the huge bill for calls he never made; to undergo hours of agony to get a telephone restored after paying the highly inflated bill which he should never have received in the first place; to pay a ten per cent penalty for not paying a bill which he never received because the postman was on leave.
The "right" to be electrocuted because of a live wire falling on him.
The "right" to be kidnapped for ransom, particularly if he happens to live in Sindh; unspeakable things being done to females by police.
The "right" to pay exorbitant water tax without receiving water.
Shakir Lakhani
Karachi
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