Scattered Aurora

A couple of days ago I witnessed an incident which considerably changed my thoughts towards the spanking new and "competent" traffic police of Lahore. Out on all showy roads of Lahore their light blue uniforms are clearly visible on the intersections or red lights. The showy roads being Gulberg, Defence, Model town and all the other posh areas.

On Tuesday I was driving to my friend's place who happens to live at the other end of Lahore. On my way, from the airport to Walton, the police brigades in their dashing new uniforms (read sarcasm) could be seen standing attentive and alert on all roads. But further on their absence on the traffic polluted areas of Kainchi Chowk and link road was noticeable; made even more so by a middle aged man, standing on the green belt of Kainchi Chowk, with a whistle in his mouth, directing the traffic and doing a brilliant job. Maybe he was a druggie or maybe he was just plain mental but he brought the blaring irresponsibility of the traffic police to the forefront.

I have traveled on those roads a few times and I never saw a policeman there either directing traffic or even sitting around in his car enjoying a respite from the midday sun. Is the traffic police's duty limited to only the posh areas where the only vehicles are cars, bikes, vans, and rickshaws. What about the roads on which the vehicles are not only those with horsepower but those run with horses and donkeys as well.

It's quite shameful to know that a drug addict or mentally handicapped person had to stand up to make us aware of what is missing because we who have our noses so high up in the air can't deign to notice anything unless or until a scene is created.

P.S. The man with the undesignated mental status also appears on Kalma Chowk to direct the traffic, according to my friend. He wears mustard colored trousers and a green and mustard checked shirt.