Adil Najam
Pakistan Day is a day of celebration. But it is also a day of reflection on what we have been through and what lies ahead of us.
In this, the second in our series of special posts to mark Pakistan Day 2009, we want to focus on what lies ahead in terms of the biggest threats to Pakistan’s future. In the next post in this series we intend to focus more on the opportunities.
It is an understatement to say that Pakistan is floating through an especially precarious time in its precarious history. Indeed, Pakistan is passing through a defining time.
There is no dearth of threats facing Pakistan. But in this special ATP Poll for Pakistan Day we would like you to think ahead and respond to the question: “What, in your opinion, is the single biggest and most important threat facing Pakistan?” THIS POLL IS NOW CLOSED.
Our ATP Poll gives you eight major options to choose from. If you think there are others that are even bigger, do let us know. Also, please comment on which of these is the most important one for you, and why? If, by any chance, you have suggestions on what to do about these threats do please share your views. That, after all, is the most important question of them all. THIS POLL IS NOW CLOSED.
The greatest threat to Pkidtan, in my view, is the crisis of identity. From Indian to Pakistani, from Est-Pakistani to Bangladeshi and from West-Pakistani to New-pakistani, our identity has al along been in a flush.
The real dilemma is that neither our Paky identity could wash out our Indian-ness and nor the Indian identity could do the same to our Pakistaniat or Muslimness.
So we have al along been trying to sove this dilemma like Bulleh Shah who had said:
“Ki jaana mein koun o, Bulleha, ki jaana mein koun”
(Who I am, I am?)
The answer to this question depends on how we view “problems” in the world, let alone Pakistan. Are they solved by looking externally for someone or something to blame? Or are the roots of these so-called problems, in our human heart? If the root is the latter, as I believe it is, then what in our hearts needs to change? Is Pakistan a Muslim state, that allows no dissent and gives token approval to other religions, or is it a pluralistic society that allows true freedom of belief, the freedom to practice whatever faith you wish to practice? And for that matter is Islam a religion that is between God and his follower or one which needs to be politicized and interpreted by some outside authority?
The biggest threat to Pakistan is not the extremists. It is the stubbornness at the top which fails to understand the potential and real power of people and and they fail to tend to the problems of the masses. Channelize the power of the people in right directions and see the wonders. With the landlord mentality, they rule us, think we are useless creatures at the face of the earth, use us to their and their master’s benefits and leave to enjoy in their London, Paris, Dubai and USA (summer vacation houses). Our masters fail to understand that “zara nam ho to yeh mitti bari zarkhaiz hai saqi” So its the people at the helm of affair who are the biggest threat to the country.
I am very happy that the people answering thsi poll have recognized that the greatest threat to Pakistan are the extremists who are killing Pakistanis every other day. They are the ones fighting a war against Pakistan and Islam and have been murdering Pakistanis, They are our biggest threat today.
The greatest threat to Pakistan is the religious extremists. But also the silent support they sometimes get from rest of us because they use religious ideology. So, it is not only that these extremists have to be rooted out but we all must have teh moral courage to speak out against them.