Crusteez donuts Incident


The recent incident at the bakery named  Crusteez Donuts is a debate in Pakistan and beyond nowadays. It was reported in Islamabad at the beginning of this week and continues to cause disturbance both inside and outside the country. The story developed when a worker there insulted Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa instead of serving him at the counter. This particular moment was recorded and spread over social media causing a worldwide debate.

The Incident 

In the disturbing video, the Chief Justice at that time, is seen with his family, when an employee interacts with them. According to the audio in the video, the employee makes disrespectful remarks about the top judge after identifying him. It has sparked an online controversy, and many people began to take a stance; some were clarifying and praising the actions of the employee while others were criticizing the employee.

The Response of Public 

On the one hand, members of the public in this instance are said to have praised the employee for free speech in standing up to a power figure. For those people, this circumstance represented opposition to unjust hierarchies of power. And the cashier, from their perspective, was venting anger at the upper authorities and the legal system.

On the other hand, several people considered the conduct to be completely unacceptable. According to them irrespective of one’s opinions about public personalities, there would still be a minimal requirement to act with respect and decency especially when it comes to someone.

The Reaction of Crusteez Donuts 

In response to the public rage, Crusteez Donuts issued a formal apology. The bakery in their defence stated that the employee’s behavior did not reflect the value of their company. They assured that their commitment is to treat all customers with respect, no matter what their background or position is. Crusteez Donuts promised to take essential needed actions internally and announced plans to provide better training for their staff to ensure such an incident doesn’t happen again​. The bakery’s leadership emphasized that inclusivity and professionalism are core to their business, and they want to offer a welcoming environment for all their customers.

Twist in the Story 

 There is another twist in the story. An image circulated online, showed the shop being sealed by local authorities. This caused rumors that Crusteez Donuts had been shut down due to this incident. However, it was later revealed that the closure was not related to the confrontation with Chief Justice Isa. Authorities cleared that the store was temporarily closed due to health code violations concerning dengue prevention, and not because of this particular incident.

The Relevance of  this Incident with Societal Issues in Pakistan 

The incident has brought up deeper issues within Pakistani society, especially regarding freedom of speech and respect for authority figures. It raises important questions about where the line should be drawn between expressing anger and maintaining respect in public spaces. In Pakistan, a country with complex political and judicial systems, public figures like Chief Justice Isa often find themselves at the center of controversy.

This situation also highlights the challenges faced by businesses in dealing with political and social tensions. Crusteez Donuts, like many companies, must ensure a delicate balance between upholding their values, serving their customers, and responding to public incidents like this one. While the company has taken steps to address the matter, the event continues to fuel debates about the role of public figures in society, and how citizens express their opinions toward them.

Lesson From the Incident 

The lesson from this incident is how important it is to balance between free expression and decorum. On one hand, people have the right to voice their opinions. However, it also raises the question of how to use the right of speech freedom respectfully, especially when it involves a person of high standing like the Chief Justice. Moreover, it will be interesting to see how such debates evolve in Pakistan’s public discourse and how businesses handle similar situations in the future.

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