Back in January 2007, I wrote about beggars on the streets of Lahore, Karachi and the growing indifference in our society towards these extremely poor and forgotten people. Hundreds of organized gangs are operating in almost every big city of Pakistan who amputate the organs of little kids, old and young people and then leave them on streets to make good money for them. But what about the unfortunate beggars themselves?
We see them every day at traffic signals and footpaths from our car windows and most of the times just throw a coin at them and try to ignore them as they don’t exist. This level of indifference in our society is sad. May be we were put on this side of the car window for a reason, to be able to help those on the other side.
Our courts are too busy solving the legal and constitutional issues, the law enforcement agencies are occupied keeping an eye on politicians or arresting and deporting them, and all of us are too busy debating all this … but, for whom? Maybe it is those who are debating the ‘big picture’ who are really missing the big picture that can only be seen in the small pictures.
The photograph above by Jawad Zakariya, once again reminded me of the miserable life of these unwanted people in our country. Society rejects them and police harshly beats them on daily basis, adding to their misery.
Jawad writes with this photograph on flickr and I can totally relate to him as many times I must have done the same:
As I was taking photos in and around Data Darbar. This old man asked me to come over.
“Will you print these photos in the newspaper?”, he asked. Before I could explain that I wasn’t affiliated with any paper, he continued. Tell them how the police brutally beat us up all the time….and he showed me the injuries on his arms and legs.
“Why do they do that?”, I asked.
“Because we sit here begging. This is Data Darbar ! where else can I go.”
… and he started crying … print this in the paper maybe then they’ll stop … then he thought for a moment …
maybe if you print it they’ll get more angry….
another pause …
print it, maybe some higher up will see it and make them stop.“They hit old crippled men”…..”shameless animals”….”Is this why we made this Pakistan”…..”Is this Why ???”………..he kept asking as he wept.
I had no answer … I got back into my Civic … turned on the AC … and started driving away.
“Is this why we made this Pakistan?” I have asked myself this questions many times and never found an answer. Can you think of an answer?
Lahore,Pakistan is probably the only major city in the world where no one goes to bed on an empty stomach.Allaoakbar.I am surprised that the photo of the begger was taken by Jawad near Data Sahib in Lahore.It is precisely this shrine which is open 24 hours and any body,rich,poor,traveller,destitute,homeless can have food and shelter.Nevermind the beggers and poverty in India,can any country of the world match this.No questions asked.In writing this I feel humbled and pray for the blessings of Allah.It revives the faith of humanity for looking and caring for the poor and needy.I wish more can be done.Masalam.
Very nice post even though some commenters are trying hard to distract discussion away from real topic into useless things. I guess it demonstrated the ‘indifference’ that the post talks about.
Theory will suggest that if the rich prosper then eventually the poor will too. Some of the economic development that is happening in IT and other areas if continued and if the stocks prosper then eventually that will help teh poor too. We need quick macro growth and that will trickle down
The beggar comparison in US to Pakistan is not right.
I honestly thing we would have been much better off under british rule and hopefully been like hong kong then this mess what we have today.
If this mess wasn’t enough we have all these Suicidal extremist maniacs acting like Muslims and enforcing their thinking on all.
We should judge scoeities by how they treat their animals. In US animals have rights also. I can bet Animals rights in US are more than human rights in Pakistan.
Why is that????
Michael Vicks incident is a proof for All that animal rights are taken seriously in US
as much as i know there are many NGOs and organization are working to help these people even though government don’t take much interest in this kind of activity. I think we need to stop labelling and feeding these people with our khayrat and help these NGOs and organization who help the people in need by making them stand on there feet. if you know what I mean. I’m qouting verse from quran which goes like this, “Even Allah will not help those people who don’t show any effort to change their own state”. Again, we will not be able to end poverty by feeding these people by our khayrat but by teaching and telling these people that you are not any different than any other pakistani…. they can join work force by learning some skill and stand on there on feets. There is an old proverb for something like this, it says that if you catch a fish for someone needy then you would feed him for one day but if you teach that same man how to catch fish then he will feed himself for rest of his life. I know it can be hard but it worth an effort.
Question is not that why we created pakistan for but are really want to work? or take peoples khayrat and live a excuse that I’m helpless and needy. think! little harder…