The dangers of the VIP culture

Under the Constitution, every citizen is equal in the eyes of law and has fundamental rights. But, in a country which often refers to the constitution as just “a piece of paper”, some citizens are more equal than others. There are people, and then there are the Very Important Persons (VIPs) – the untouchables.

The Blue Book, a confidential booklet meant to address security concerns, has clearly spelt out who can be a VIP or a VVIP, and the level of security that can be allotted to them. Even then, over the years some VVIPs and VIPs have begun using the security escort as protocol.

Now, even the police ignore the rules and simply follow the orders of the who's who. Pakistan has such a deep-rooted class system and feudal mindset that even urban bureaucrats consider themselves as VIPs.

So, it wasn’t surprising what happened between Fahim Zaman, a former administrator of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and a policeman, near a so-called “red zone”. The incident was unfortunate, but it was a reminder to the kind of VIP culture that exists in our society and its implications. Zaman’s reaction, he later admitted, was uncalled for. “When I saw the video, I realized that the kind of words I had used were not only indecent, but they damaged my credibility.”

While, undoubtedly, Zaman was in the wrong, did it give the policeman the right to make a video of the incident and post it on social media? He could have gone to his senior and complained first for due action. And, if Zaman persisted with the misbehaviour, the cop could have arrested him.

Fahim Zaman was an administrator of the KMC during Benazir Bhutto's government. He had a reputation, a good one, for doing much-needed work during his brief tenure of two years. Which is why this video alone has done a lot of damage to his good name.

While many of us did not expect such conduct from Zaman, what he said to the cop has been seen and heard many times: “I am so and so,” “Don’t you know who I am?”

The problem is that neither is the police trained on how to interact with a citizen, and neither is the public educated about the respect of an officer in uniform.

Regardless of how “very important” a person may be, he/she cannot break the law.

It is not very hard to spot a VIP. They have special number plates, because they want to, not because the law requires them to. Their cars have tinted windows and are followed by a security detail.

A former senior police officer, who asked not to be named, explains what an officers’ duty is keeping VIPs safe. In the past, he has been in charge of the security of several heads of the state, including General Zia ul Haq and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. “Police are only required to follow the Blue Book. The security rules and procedures are clearly laid down in it. I can not disclose those rules, but I can tell you that at times even our leaders refuse to follow them.”

Protecting Bhutto was the most difficult, he added. “She was a popular leader, which made our job very hard. She would often violate security rules and ignore warnings. We lost a great leader.”

He has noted that Prime Minister Imran Khan also flouted security orders. Recently, Khan drove a foreign guest in his own car. “He should not be allowed to do that,” the former cop added, “There are well-trained drivers who know what to do in case of any untoward incident.”

At times, such VIP foreign guests come with their own security details, which in turn creates problems for Pakistani officials. If the men, accompanying the guest, do not get proper security clearance and are not allowed into secure zones, there are heated arguments between the two sides.

Coming back to Zaman’s incident, it happened in the red-zone in District South. The area is very secure due to the location of the state guest house, chief minister house, governor house, American embassy and army and navy offices there, to name a few important buildings. Yet, in terms of security matters, it is one of the worst areas. You will only find the cops vigilant on days like the incident with Zaman. Unfortunately, this area is in the heart of the city and commuters are forced to take this route.

The area was declared a red-zone in the wake of series of bomb blasts in the city during 2002 to 2005, including two attacks near the old building of the US consulate, and the US Consul General's residence. Then, there was a suicide attack on the French Engineers bus outside a five-star hotel.

Which is why it’s important, and almost dangerous, to let an incident like Zaman’s get out of hand and carry on for long. The officer should have instead noted his car number and taken action later.

Unarguably, the VIP culture has become a mindset in Pakistan, a sort of a status symbol. But at times, as was indicative in Zaman’s case, it can be a security hazard.

Abbas is a senior columnist and analyst of GEO, The News and Jang. He tweets @MazharAbbasGEO