Decline of Pakistani society

By Mohammad Saleem
Faisalabad district had witnessed three tragic incidents on Oct 10 last as family members killed their kith and kin depicting bad examples of rapid deterioration of norms and values of our society and anxiety of people.

A man killed his father for scolding him to refrain from taking liquor, a female killed her husband over domestic dispute and a man gunned down his brother over property dispute.

In Lundianwala, Mulzam Khan had axed to death his brother Sultan over litigation of inherited property. Haleema Bibi, mother of the accused and the victim, had to get registered a case.

Nasaar Ahmad had clubbed to death his father Sardar Ahmad in Khurrianwala.

Raziya Bibi, Madina Town, had killed her husband Razzaq Ahmed over domestic dispute.

Police of Lundianwala, Khurrianwala and Madina Town registered murder cases and started investigation.

However, the incidents have panicked the policemen who said they could not stop such killings and role of society was imperative to bridle this surging trend.

Former IG Baluchistan Chaudhary Yaqoob said majority of the segments of the society had stopped to play their role of social reformers. He said value system of our country had eroded that
were earlier controlling our society.

He said rapid decline in killing of moral values and surging economic pressure was increasing sense of insecurity among the people.

“People are losing their lives on the hands of their family members because of greed. Families are up in the arms against each other’s and hell-bent to eliminate love ones because of materialism and disputes of inheritance and properties.”

He said we were following fundamentalisms and ignoring the teachings of Islam that was stressing for the wellbeing of the humanity.

“We are forcing people with the help of guns to become a Muslim, whatever the values he may carries, does not matter.”

He said without improving the issues of governance, we could not stop such killings and police had very nominal role in the entire scenario.

Lawyers say we are rapidly losing the norms and values of honouring each.

Farrukh Gulzar Awan, a lawyer, said frustration, unemployment, cable,
media and movies had been devastating the family system of our country. He said through movies and media issues were being highlighted that were leading to the deterioration of our society and family structure.

He said one could not imagine that rape cases among families were increasing with every passing day. However, such cases are not being tried in the courts because of reputation. He said once joint family system was being considered security for the entire house inmates,
however, now the females were vulnerable.

“Being lawyer, I have contested some rape cases in which family elders
are accused.”

Everyone agrees that rapid collapse of our strong family system must be stopped. But how?

Assistant professor mass communication department of the Government
College University, Faisalabad, Ashraf Iqbal Zahidi, said media was also playing a role in the deterioration of the society through its reports on crime incidents. He said although crime stories had handsome viewership, it was also attracting the people to settle their scores even with family members.

He said it was troubling that murder count across the province was rising although media had created awareness regarding human rights. He said one could put pressure on police to stop tyranny against the people, however, sudden killing could be bridled by making the family and social system stronger.

"We have to foster strong and safe family system with resolute backing of the community."

He said we had to find out the reasons that were weakening our family and community structure, being considered excellent for people across the globe.

“We have to give hope to people who are disappointed because of squeezing buying power and critical law and order situation.”

A Police Officer Sohail Habib Tajik said although police were bound to protect the lives and properties of masses, however, what role it could play to know the internal affairs of masses.

He said it was more than the police to make the family and community system stronger to stem the trend of killing people by their kith and kin.

"We can net killers, bring them to book and make strenuous efforts for severe punishments. What is alternative for the families who lost their love one(s) and seek loss of another who will be penalized over killing?"