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).
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Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah
I pray that you are in the best of health & imaan.
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May Allah bless you for your noble efforts.
Wa’salam
I wish your wishes will come true. But frankly I think things have become quite sad.
My new year wish for Pakistan is that we all just become a little less angry. Please.
My wish:
Make public, proceedings of 2nd amendment to the 1973 constitution.
Pakistani nation cannot advance successfully on the road of progress until justice is provided to every citizen. Because justice brings peace and peace brings progress. Our first step should be to correct the injustices done in the past to its citizens or some group of citizens under pressure of some other group of citizens. Unless we redress the ZULM done in past to its citizens by majority, I do NOT think Allah SWT will forgive us and we can ever progress. In my opinion there is one step that we must do, and perhaps the current government should do. Although it may not be politically savvy decision, but in principle and in morality it will be the correct decision and hopefully Allah SWT will also for give us and help us.
In affirmation of Adil’s list of wishes, I go back to the basics.
As I pick my words I mean them as actions:
1. Insaniat (humanity): We need to bring our regard for humanity back. Respect humanity beyond any religion, creed, cast, or position. Unless we respect our self and our fellow citizens, we cannot earn the respect of the world.
2. Khudi (Awareness of the Self): Focus on our capabilities and strengths, which will give us the confidence to overcome our weaknesses. Self awareness builds dignity. Enough blaming, naming, complaining and negative criticism. The change or improvement starts within and we are all capable of it.
3. Agahi (Consciousness): We belong to an emotional culture. We need to allow reason into it. If we stop to think of the impact of every action we take, we’ll be taking better actions.
4. Jehd (Struggle): We need to direct our fighting instinct inward first, to bring us above the level of humanity we are stooping down to. We must pull ourselves out of the victim-mode and take responsibility for our actions, words and thinking (or lack thereof).
5. Mohabbat (Love): Once we respect humanity, strive to be the best that we are capable of, stay true to our emotions but lead ourselves with reason, every bit of life is worth loving!
Those who think it’s aiming too high, think grade school….(Mohabbat mujhe un jawanoN se hai,
SitaroN peh jo dDaltay haiN kamand).
Dear Adil,
I beg to differ on “adl” meaning. “adl” does not mean justice. justice means insaaf, and “adl” is definatley not insaaf, even though they go side by side. I believe “adl” means equality.
I hate to burst the wishing bubble, but the time for “wishing” things is long gone. Khuda ka leye its time to ACT now - to change what one has power to change.
Along my other wishes I wish to see Asif Ali Zardari investigated. As in his news conference he admitted all the bodyguards were his jail friends. Asif Ali Zardari refused to accept any other security. As seen in the video bodyguards tucked in when the first built was fired rather than jumping on the shooter.
About Zardari read here.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopic s/people/z/asif_ali_zardari/index.html?offset=0&s= newest
Let’s break the country in four and live happily ever after. This Pakistaniat is just a hoax and is killing us…literally. At least after separation each province would be responsible for its own decisions and not for decisions made by others.
My wish list, will work for Pakistan Inshallah.
1. Make the defence of Pakistan immortal.
2. Know your real enemies.
3. Find your true friends.
3. Boost up Pakistaniat (Nationalism).
4. Let Army concentrate on securing borders and peace in the country.
5. Vote those who are less evil. (eventhough I don’t believe in elections at this stage, what we need is a leader who can unit us all).
6. Massive education reforms.
7. Anyone with anti-Pakistan slogans be punished.