Adil Najam
I have written too many depressing posts recently. I want to make this one different. Actually, I want you to help me write this post.
I have quickly jotted down my list of wishes for Pakistan for 2008. New Year Wish Lists are supposed to be short and succinct. They need not be entirely achievable - they are, after all, “wish” lists.
Here is my wish list. Seven seems like a nice number for the list. But, please add to it if you wish. And, then, please let us all work together towards turning a few of them into reality!
#1. Human Dignity. Human rights are all about dignity. So is development. Indeed, development is nothing except human dignity. Dignity comes from one’s work and worth being respected by others. Dignity comes from all of the other things I mention in this list. It is the sense that one is a full and equal member of society and also that society recognizes this fact. I wish that no Pakistani - rich or poor, but especially the poor - would even be deprived of human dignity.
#2. Living Livelihoods and Wellbeing. Economic growth, bullish stock markets, tall skyscrapers, booming highways are impressive things. But what I wish for is decent livelihoods for all Pakistanis. Livelihoods that give them the material resources that can create a decent quality of life. Livelihoods that afford them the human development and well-being that should be everyone’s right.
#3. Peace. World peace will be nice too and I do pray for peace everywhere and for everyone. But let us start at least with peace within our hearts and within our society. An end to the culture of anger and the politics of violence that has beset us.
#4. Tolerance. I wish that each one of us will be secure enough in who we are that we would not feel threatened by those who are different. I wish that we will have enough confidence in our beliefs, our identities, our values that we will neither be threatened by nor will we threaten the beliefs, identities and values of those who differ from us.
#5. Justice. The root of my name, Adil, is ‘Adl’ (meaning justice). I take my name seriously. I take justice even more seriously. You cannot have a good society until you have a society that is ‘just’ in every dimension of that word. I wish 2008 will see the restoration of the Judiciary, but I wish for deeper manifestations of economic and social justice too. Ours was not a very just society even when these judges were in office and it will take much more than their restoration to achieve a just society. But their restoration is a necessary first step we must take.
#6. Democracy. Democracy is a very simple concept. It is the proposition that if any decision is going to effect me then I have the right to effect how that decision is made and by whom. Free and fair elections do not give you democracy by itself. But while elections are not a sufficient condition for democracy, they are usually a necessary condition. So, I wish for free and fair elections and an end to military rule. Equally important is an institutionalized respect for the Constitution. So, I wish for the restoration of the Constitution - ideally to its original 1973 content. Democracy cannot come without the freedom of speech and information. So, I wish for the unshackling of the media.
#7. Jurat-i-Tehkik. When Faiz Ahmed Faiz raised his hands in prayer one of teh things he asked for was “Jurat-i-Tehkik.” A literal translation would be something like “to dare to research.” I understand the intent to be the search for knowledge. To dare to know - to find - that which we do not know. To dare to find out that which might threaten the things which we think we know. My final wish is for this quest of knowledge, even if it overturns the dogmas that imprison our intellect. Without Jurat-i-Tehkik we can never truly progress; all we can do is to slip back to the recesses of the imagined glories of the past.
(Note: The links provided above are notional and not literal; they link to posts that are generally related to the issue highlight, but may not be direct discussions on the same).
My Wish List for 2008
Pakistan and India open borders like USA and Canada and we become the best friends in the world.
Pakistan shakes hands with Israel.
Whoever wins the elections I wish them best and I wish to stand behind them to give them the opportunity to prove them self.
I wish to see Pakistan politicians less corrupt.
I wish to see Free media matured.
I wish to see that every Pakistani on earth acts in the interest of Pakistan and Pakistan becomes friendly country to the world.
I wish we muslin learn to respect others religion and there worship places.
I wish to see end to extremism and wish to see Muslim scholars going after extremists.
I pray for all the poor of Pakista to have the best year in 2008.
I wish to see our faith for all is stronger than ever.
my wish!
mullahraj murdabad - pakistan zindabad.
education and economy must evolve!
I wish I could do more for Pakistan with my actions supported by my sincere words.
My wish list is very simple
1) That childern in Pakistan wake up every morning and head for school.
I wish Pakistanis can dare to dream of a differnt future. A secure, enlightened future in which there childern will live a better life than they have.
2) That there school bus shows up on time and makes it to the school without any riots on the streets.
3) That the teachers at there schools love to teach and share - and show up for work. That the teachers give them hope and that the school is a sanctuary for learning and growing.
4) That parents can earn a decent living so that schooling is not seen as a burden and education is seen as an asset.
5) That we spend more on education that we do on guns.
6) I wish young, educated Pakistanis can find work on merit - and not on quotas or sifarish.
7) I wish Pakistanis can live without fear.
9) I wish for enlightened leadership.
10) I wish we win the next cricket world cup.
My wish list for New year:
1. If we all look beyond race, religion and tribe to treat other humans as like us if not better.
2. Pakistan get rid of mullaayiat (religious intolerance)
3. We have a democracy not de-mock-racy.
4. Our governments work for people not for thier own pockets.
I second Adil’s 7 wishes entirely but will add a few others:
1. End of Mush rule and the end of army rule forever.
2. Improved health for Ustad Mehdi Hasan and other Pakistani legends and their better treatment at the hands of government.
3. Improved health of the lion Munir A Malik.
4. The release of all our judges and lawyers especially the lions Aitzaz Ahsan, Justice Tariq Mehmood and Ali Ahmed Kurd.
5. More guest posts from ATP friends on my blog irrespective of the topic do see http://www.otherpakistan.org/guest.html
6. ATP to allow me finally to do a guest post!
7. Success for civil society and the student movement who are our greatest hope for a better Pakistan.
8. Above all peace within and without, we need to extinguish this fire, we must reconnect with ourselves and unite as a nation.
1. hai i m 21 year old lot to think abt my self n carrier but today
there is a need to make some promise!
cz to jot down words and to like the post button is very easy
i wish that every one promise to civilized frm his or her corner
check him self n make sure to to contribute towards the country
today
i promise to teach at least 3 deserving child!
i promise not to pollute my City!
and i promise to do it in my life time!
@ sir adil…. ur post is very motivating specially for generation of my
My one and foremost wish for the Pakistani people is to be united in the wake the current tumuluous times. We ought to prove this notion wrong that Pakistan is hard to survive, by filling up the gaps of hatred, descrimination and separation by that of love, affection and unity. I’m sure we can do that. Being at the lowest ebb these are perfect times for all of us to rise and not only preserve our solidarity but also take our country towards peace and prosperity.