By Imran Malik
The concerning phenomenon emerging within a segment of Pakistan’s affluent class is starkly illustrated by the grievous incidents involving Zahir Jafar and Natasha Danish, both hailing from upper-class backgrounds.
Zahir Jafar, identified as a substance abuser associated with the Jafar Brothers Business Group, was involved in the heinous murder of Noor Mukadam. Similarly, Natasha Danish, linked to the Gul Ahmed Group, demonstrated a disturbing disregard for human life by recklessly striking a father and his daughter in a state of intoxication.
These instances underscore the detrimental effects of unchecked privilege and substance misuse prevalent within the upper echelons of society.
Despite possessing higher levels of education and residing in more developed nations, these individuals often return to their homeland with a sense of invincibility, often believing themselves immune to legal consequences.
Their actions not only tarnish the reputations of their families but also inflict significant harm upon innocent individuals. The accessibility of drugs further exacerbates their reckless conduct, leading to severe repercussions for the less fortunate, who are perceived as expendable.
The prevailing mindset of entitlement and diminished accountability is perpetuated by the assurance from their elders that the legal framework would safeguard them within the nation. This attitude is conducive to tragic occurrences, as exemplified by the case of Amina, a young woman endowed with aspirations for a bright future, who met a grisly end along with her father at the hands of a driver under the influence.
The narratives surrounding Zahir Jafar, Natasha Danish, and individuals akin to Shahnawaz Amir underscore the devastating impact of substance abuse and the failure of familial intervention.
Despite the advent of social media, which has facilitated the pursuit of justice in some instances, these incidents shed light on the profound issues within a system that accommodates the protection of the affluent through wealth and influential connections.
The unrestrained distribution of resources, the erosion of ethical boundaries, and the protective barrier offered by legal frameworks and institutions for the influential have engendered a society where victims such as Noor Mukadam and Shahzeb Khan are subject to the brutality of the privileged.
This pattern of injustice continues, with society seemingly in a state of inertia until the following calamity befalls us.
