Circa; 29th September 2007 (AD), 16th Ramazan, 1428 (Hijri). Location; Constitution Avenue, Islamabad. Brutal, contemptible, wretched display of violence perpetrated by the police and plainclothed personnel on unarmed lawyers, journalists and civilians.
Has dissent been outlawed in the enlightened land? Do pens and cameras need to be stifled to camouflage the ground realities prevailing here? Is the regime so unsure of itself? Why?
The saddest part...All this going on while the top echelon of the ruling clique was ensconced in the ECP building just a few yards away. Couldn't they have come out and stopped the senseless violence? They deliberately stayed cocooned inside the ECP? Or were they scared? Not only were the unarmed men showered with dandas (sar phaar diye and haath tor diye), women too were not spared and were beaten and manhandled.
Cowardice at its nadir! Occasions do not make heroes or cowards; they simple unveil them in the eyes of men. And that day it was obvious who is what.