HAVING heard a lot about Zardari's horses and the Surrey Palace, I am bewildered to read about Sharif's Siberian Tiger and the newly-constructed palatial residence at Dunga Gali, Muree.

Suleman Shahbaz Sharif, son of the Punjab chief minister, imported a tiger from Canada in July 2009 despite a ban on the private import of large cats into Pakistan. Arrangements were made to house the rare species under a very special environment on the family estate of Raiwind, a few kilometres outside Lahore.

In the scorching heat of July, the common people were suffering nationwide power shortages, so severe that daily outages lasted for 10 to 12 hours, but Sharif Junior's tiger enjoyed a ridiculously expensive air cooler, run on local electricity. Later, because of public outcry the animal was thrust on the Frontier government.

In July this year, MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, another son of Punjab chief minister, built a palatial bungalow at Donga Gali, Muree. The Punjab government modified the 2006 gas supply project to rural areas and Galyat of Murree so as to provide connection to the newly-built bungalow, denying gas supply to 26 villages along the proposed gas line.The 'Awami Khidmatgars' enjoy more than what is necessary for modest living while the common man suffers from water, power and gas crises, and food crises coupled with exorbitant prices of basic necessities for daily living. It seems like their next generation is going to break all records of arrogance.

I am glad a system that can keep a check on arrogant people and practices is taking roots in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. It took suo motu action against the planned development of an 11-foot-wide strip of land as right of way from Lower Topa to Ratti Gali traversing through valleys, felling of thousands of trees that came in the way of the execution of the multi-million-rupee gas supply project, primarily being executed for the residence of Hamza Shahbaz. However, fearing drastic action by the apex court based on the media's striking disclosure, the provincial government is said to have scrapped the project.

I pin all hopes in the apex court for the establishment of the rule of law in my beloved country.

LT COL (r ) SYED AHMED
Mississauga Canada