Abduction has both, lesson and test

Syed Ali Haider Gillani son of former PM Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani has been abducted yesterday in Multan in broad dayl ight in the presence of hundreds when he was attending a corner meeting in connection with election campaign. Complete 24 hours have passed since Ali was abducted and neither any individual nor any organization has claimed responsibility. Very much surprisingly none has come forward either placing demands or asking for any ransom money either.

Ali is contesting from constituency PP 200 in an attempt to secure a provincial assembly seat but unfortunately he has been abducted on the last day when election campaign was ending. The abductors believed to be around 8 persons who came in 2 cars and started indiscriminate firings on those who were present at the place and thereby 2 personal guards of Ali were shot at. One bodyguard was killed right at the spot while the other one shifted to hospital for necessary treatment eventually died after some hours. Being son of a prime minister he quite naturally must have aspired to enter political arena so that he too at some stage himself grabs power like his father. Why has he only been abducted is a very pertinent question? How daring are the devils abducting such a high profile target and that too at such a critical juncture when election is just a few hours away only? The abductors very well knew as to whom they are abducting which in other words very well prove that they did not feel afraid even a bit as to what dire consequences they will face when caught up for committing such a heinous crime.

This abduction could be a lesson, I guess, for his father who being former PM may have blatantly and wrongly implicated someone while occupying the throne and the aggrieved may have taken revenge alike and if it is true then there is a life remembering lesson for former PM and others to be very careful and not to cross red line while occupying throne. Many in the past have tasted such like agony and humiliation but regretfully most of those who occupied high positions just forgot others and did whatever pleased them and then once they are out of power some of them had faced worst possible situations.

This abduction is a challenge for police as well as the whole nation is waiting impatiently to hear the good news as to when Ali is reunited back with his parents. It goes without saying that Ali is not just an ordinary Pakistani and therefore not only police but all law enforcing agencies have been engaged and given the task to lay hands on the abductors and get freed Ali soonest possible. I myself being a father pray that Ali be freed immediately to enjoy rest of his life with his parents and nit abductors. However, very much regretfully one thing is very much certain that if such a high profile personality cannot be traced by our all agencies one can very well imagine what could be the fate of an ordinary Pakistani if he or she is abducted.

Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait