The arrest of Farman Ullah, a poor ice cream cart vendor, by the authorities of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad has sparked outrage on social media and exposed the corruption and injustice in the country.
Farman Ullah was arrested by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on charges of encroachment and running a cartel of other carts in the same area. However, many netizens questioned how he could operate his cart without the permission of the CDA, which is known to be one of the most corrupt departments in Pakistan.
The chief commissioner of Islamabad, Noor ul Amin Mengal, defended the CDA’s action and accused Farman Ullah of being involved in illegal activities. He also claimed that the CDA was working to remove all encroachments from the city and improve its cleanliness and beauty.
However, many social media users expressed their disbelief and anger at the chief commissioner’s statement and demanded justice for Farman Ullah. They also pointed out the hypocrisy and double standards of the CDA, which allows illegal kiosks and other installations in front of shops to operate in exchange for bribes while arresting a poor vendor who was trying to earn a living.
The case of Farman Ullah has once again highlighted the plight of the poor and marginalized in Pakistan, who face harassment and oppression from the powerful and unaccountable bureaucracy. It has also exposed the flaws and failures of the country’s justice system, which often sides with the oppressors rather than the oppressed.