These days in the city things are truly moving at a ‘Punjab Speed’. There is the anti-encroachment drive, in its four districts. A relentless accountability drive is under way culminating in the arrest of the former chief minister. Illegalities and irregularities are being addressed across hospitals, educational institutions and housing societies among others.

The encroachment drive literary started off with a bang. At stake 31,687 kanals of state land, 280 acres land of the forest department, eight plots in the Walled City, 636 kanals of land that belongs to LDA, and 32 plots worth Rs2 billion of the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL).

The operation commenced by targeting a well known land-grabber, one of many known prominent figures operating within Lahore, popularly referred to as ’Mansha Bamm’. After his name and his sons was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) by the Supreme Court, the authorities razed an entire ‘timber market’ in Johar Town which belonged to him, apart from retrieving 25 showrooms and 20 commercial plots; their value running into billions. The operation has been temporarily halted with the arrest of the opposition leader.

Housing societies are particularly under the gun. No wonder, since there are over 700 illegal societies in Lahore alone. Apart from the astounding number, a majority of its beneficiaries belong to a political party. Without the requisite political patronage, these criminal elements would be hard pressed to go about their business. In any case it was a housing society; a low-income one, which ultimately led to former CM’s downfall.

Called in by NAB for investigation into the clean water or ‘Saaf Pani’ project, he was detained for irregularities in the ‘Ashiyana’ housing scheme, courtesy his former right-hand man who has turned state witness. Watching the continual live coverage on the television, over the weekend, an old ghazal kept popping into one’s head. The beginning and ending of which goes something like: dil jalane ki baat karte ho/ashiyane ki baat karte ho, your talk inflames the heart/when you talk of a building a home; hadsa tha guzar gaya hoga/kisake jane ki baat karte ho, it was an accident that must have passed/ whose departure you now talk of.

Naturally by this, no humour or malice is intended since the former CM despite his many flaws has done great service to Lahore and was a minority in the former ruling party, who always wanted to mend fences rather than recourse to politics of confrontation. Of other matters of irregularities we will not delve into, due to paucity of space.

However well-intentioned these measures, there are several factors which seem to be going against the government. A fragile economy which needs to be immediately addressed and requires many tough decisions including painful price hikes in utilities. Little time that has elapsed since it came to power. Not having fully consolidated its hold, it might be premature taking on powerful vested interests in the police, patwar and bureaucracy, which have been entrenched in power and have significant stake in the status quo.

The timing of these measures, close to the by-elections, gives the opposition a reason to cry foul. Equating this with the earlier case of the former PM’s disqualification prior to the general elections, they can clearly discern a pattern. Then there is question of some members of the government, whose past is less than spotless and have criminal inquires pending against them. Most critically, the government has too many spokespersons. With each minister espousing his own spiel, the government’s narrative is its own worst enemy. Instead of letting things reach their natural progression and logical conclusion, there is mad dash to preempt. Sometimes surprises are more pleasant than tall claims which ultimately turn out to be damp squibs.

As the tussle continues, the opposition is slowly but surely coming together to protect their privilege and power; before their very profitable shops, shutdown entirely.— AM Lahori (AmLahori@gmail.com)

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2018