Lately no news coming out of Pakistan seem to be good news. This afternoon I started writing about Benazir’s return in lighter words focusing on hilarious statements coming out of our politicians on her return and then this horrific news of scores of people dead started coming in. My lighter mood vanished totally and now I am left wihout words and more questions like, Why? Who? what now? etc.
The headline news on CNN reads as follows right now:
An explosion near the motorcade of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto killed at least 110 people and injured 200 more, officials say. Bhutto, returning after years in exile, reportedly was unhurt.
While we are glad that she remained safe, our sincere prayers are with those innocents who lost their lives.
zabt laazim hai magar dukh hai qayamat ka
zalim ab ke bhi na roay ga to mar jaaye ga
For my mourning brothers and sisters in Pakistan, please feel free to ignore the following. I thought I needed to clarify myself.
May the souls of all who lost their lives rest in peace.
@ Anil :
“On another note - Snigdha - i am doubly appalled that you chose to use this day to raise what are untimately facetous questions.”
Anil,
a) If you had read the note with an open mind, you would see that I am just as appalled at what happened in Pakistan. Without a doubt it was a day of mourning. I mourn the day as much, and I did not expect anyone to get to the question of female leadership until much later.
(and this is exactly what has happened. People have ignored it for now, and I am totally cool with it).
b) The question I raised was on my mind way before the incident happened. Just so you don’t get the wrong idea, what happened in Pakistan did not trigger the question. But ATP is one of the best forums I could raise this question at.
This is a technical “networking” question. No emotions attached.
c) “…what are untimately facetous (sic) questions” —I wish that were true, brother, but unfortunately, it is NOT. This is a huge issue in a large part of the world (Ms Bhutto herself mentioned it in a interview on CNN before she left for Pakistan, so obviously, it is an issue).
Which is why I wasn’t really interested in what just about anyone had to say. All I wanted was references to female Muslim bloggers (particularly Pakistani and South Asian). I need to know what the ladies have to say, not you in particular.
But your suggestions are welcome.
—-
Raza Bhai,
Just read back at all your comments, I echo your fine words about mourning the dead and not playing politics with yesterday 110%.
On a different note I recently wrote my newest post titled ‘Welcome Home Benazir Zardari’ see link here http://www.otherpakistan.org/archive.html . It is worth a read.
Feimanallah
Wasim
AUK,
The short answer to your question is: as long as there remain politicians who can be co-opted to prolong the setup; plus as long as we, the citizens, continue to acquiesce to it because it is good for the stock market.
Its a tragedy of gigantic proportions. Yesterdays actions are a war crime against the Pakistani people. The innocents who lost their life are you and me, so lets not attack them, have they not suffered enough. I feared such blood and destruction would come due to Bibi’s return, but whoever did this will pay in the court of ALLAH,
Feel free to attack Bibi and others but not the shaheed whose blood is still dripping, and whose ghosts will haunt us for many days to come.
On a different note I recently wrote my newest post titled ‘Welcome Home Benazir Zardari’ see link here http://www.otherpakistan.org/archive.html . It is worth a read.
Feimanallah
Wasim
I have a solution that each and every one of us can do to help Pakistan avoid this mess again the future.
Educate one boy or a girl. I think if education is made mandatory these incidents will decrease dramatically. Hopelessness lead to such acts!!!!!
Please go to http://www.thecitizensfoundation.org/main.php
and support our future and help Pakistan not become a failed state. Unfortunately these incidents are pushing Pakistan towards full civil WAR and rampant Chaos.
Batein karna bahut aasaan hai ..we need to do something about it before radical madrassa’s fill the void created by our inept education system.
“3- not to blame victims”
Ameen suma ameen. Can we please all agree to this?
I think we should make this day a solemn day of mourning rather then hate mongering or venom spitting.
Our nation faces threat from a very poignant extremists who have emerged at different intervals in time (i.e. Kharjis/Qarmatians etc.) and have been dealt a blow on them and Inshallah we will do that again.
If you feel that this part of grand plot to gain power etc then I would say that at the least, lets stand united if not against terror then united in mourning for people whose lives have been lost.
Raza/Harris/Zainub/Edeeman: I agree with you guys
To Akif Nizam
Well said.I could not agree more with your comments.We have to think hard about this religious extremism and intolerance which exist in our society.We have to do something collectively . Few things we can do are as follows.
1- not to give excuses for extremism .
2- not to justify these brutal acts.
3- not to blame victims