Arsalan Ali Faheem
I am not prepared to accept the pessimism that characterizes our current national mindset, and neither should you be. One of Quaid-e-Azam’s best sayings was ‘Mussalmaan museebat mein, ghabraya nahin karta!’
It should be a source of motivation and strength for everyone in Pakistan, even our non-Muslim brethren, who should be confident that as Pakistanis they will enjoy freedom from injustice and be treated equally. Were not the odds stacked against our country in 1947? Were not our state’s coffers empty, our army poorly equipped and our infrastructure non-existent? What was it then, which motivated millions to forsake everything and place their trust in a land with no visible future? It was hope and the power of ideas and dreams. What we did have in ample supply were large hearts, optimism, and belief, instilled by the Quaid, in our ability to forge a great nation out of pathetic conditions.
Look around you. How would those Pakistanis (some of them are still around) feel if they saw us in our present state? Did we obtain independence to fight over our various versions of Islam? It was not without reason that Quaid-e-Azam ruled out the possibility of Pakistan becoming a theocracy. Yet foolish men still make impassioned statements about bringing an ‘Islamic’ system to Pakistan. In reality, no one knows what such a system entails, how it would be implemented and how it would be run. It is a useless exercise, repeated because it makes us feel more ‘pious.’ What did this approach lead to? It led to our only Nobel Laureate person dying a maltreated and disappointed man. It led to the bombing of mosques, shrines and schools. It led to Pakistanis throats being cut and filmed for all to see. Throats being cut? Can we pause for a minute and think about that? Better yet, think about it at the next Qurbani at your home. Imagine a human being’s neck being put under the knife, and perhaps then we will come to realize the brutality of the barbarism that must be cleansed from our society.
Do we not have the capacity to accept each other’s viewpoints that we may coexist peacefully? Wake up Pakistan! Look around you. We once fought for the creation of this country, now we must make every effort to ensure its survival. Our country is not without its flaws and has committed more than its fair share of mistakes, but we must move swiftly to correct ourselves. We have to keep moving forward. The oppressive sun hangs low in the sky, demoralizing our people. Vultures circle over head, their crooked beaks menacing. Be prepared to defend what you love, or watch it being taken away.
At this moment, we must make a firm vow to safeguard our country. The time has come to fight; stand in unison to defend Pakistan. Fight not in the literal sense, but in the sense of daily struggle. It is our everyday lives where we have to change our behaviour. Work hard in our professions, do well at school, be good parents, kind to servants, charitable to the needy and considerate of fellow citizens. Let’s give each other the breathing space we need to exist. Must we really be concerned with who is performing their religious duties and in what way? Has not God promised to dispense justice at the end? How about we wait a little, the day is probably not too far off.
The external threats to Pakistan are very serious as we live in a dangerous neighbourhood. However, presently there are internal dangers which we must deal with. There is no way Pakistan can survive as a sovereign state if there is disunity at home. Is the hegemony of others an acceptable option? It is not and never will be. Make a vow, yes do it right now by putting your right hand on your heart, to love every Baluchi, Sindhi, Pushtun, Kashmiri, Punjabi, and every Pakistani regardless of religion and socioeconomic status. All for one and one for all! Our beautiful provinces complement each other perfectly and have complete capacity to sustain and provide for all of us. We have a youthful population that should believe that we can change as we want, to become what we want. Confused about what Pakistan means? Well it is about time that you started trying to figure it out! No more apathy, please. The road to success lies through social justice and economic progress. Both require toil and we should embark upon the journey without delay.
No country will come to rescue us in the hour of need and we must provide for ourselves. We need neither billions nor twisted criticisms to find our way. We need perseverance, courage, and love. Those who are dark of heart and turban creep upon us. They threaten from the valleys above. They ridicule our way of life and they have no concern for the dignity and property of our people. They are illiterate and intolerant. They are not us. They do not belong here. For a moment, think of Muhammad Ali and Fatima Jinnah. They were well educated, respected professionals. They should be our role models. Would these extremists allow a Fatima Jinnah to exist today? What punishment would she have received under their primitive code? Keeping in mind the examples set by our founding family, we must work to create a Pakistan with equal rights and respect for all men and women. Wake up tomorrow morning and make an effort to change. Stop at the red light, refuse to pay a bribe, help the old woman cross the street, speak the truth, solve your exam honestly, read a history book, pick up a wrapper, take a stand for the oppressed and respect a different opinion. Smile. For you are lucky and have much to be grateful for.
It is only Pakistan which offers boundless potential, and we should aim to realize it. Please, let us forget prejudices and cleanse our minds of negativity. Then prepare to be surprised at the dexterity and genius of our own people. I am not ready to accept a defeatist approach towards Pakistan and I hope by now, neither are you. Say this out aloud, “Never again will we be subjugated, we will guard our Azadi with our sweat, blood and skill!†Chin up Pakistan! Rise and be counted as a great nation! Peace, prosperity and love for every man and woman.
“Waqt ke andhairon mein, apna aap pehchano.â€- Mehdi Hassan
Pakistan Zindabad.
Indian Cow,
You’re not alone. I’m Pakistani Cow. We’re both cows – what my schoolmates used to call me – COW for “Citizen Of the World” because of my non-nationalistic views.
I’ve been calling for this for a while. Maybe not reunification of the PakoHind sovereign nation right now, but some form of loose federation or alliance to grow into something more united.
Other advanced nations of the world are making strategic alliances while we are splitting within our country at the instructions of the outsiders who WANT to see us splintered.
Not-so-great Britain wanted to see us separated, and we got separated. Now the United-against-uS America is dividing us further.
When Iraq and Iran (both sides Muslim) fought in the ’80’s, wasn’t US secy of state Kissinger saying: I hope they kill each other? And kill each other we did, big time! Now we’re fighting and they’re probably laughing at us. We’re being paid to kill each other. I wouldn’t be surprised if the revelation is made later that the US was secretly supporting the Taliban behind the scenes just while she was urging the Pak military to kill and put an end to them. Then that information will go under that rug made of molten lead, like the one under which the prison abuse photos went tonight.
I hope that the security forces put an end to the Taliban insurgency, but I’ll have to give one compliment to the Taliban – they do have resolve and do not show Ghabrahat like the chickens the rest of us have become, and they maintain their identity while we Pakistanis (mainstream) are dying to look like, talk like, and walk like, the Western masters. Watch Pakistani TV and name me one person who can still speak Urdu:
Baat ACTUALLY yeh hai THAT ham TRY kar rahay hain keh COMPLETELY WEST ko IMITATE kartay rahain UNTIL donon main DISTINCTION karna DIFFICULT sa APPEAR honay lagay, aap AGREE karain gay ya OPPOSE karain gay iss OPINION say ?
I’m sometimes impressed by scholars like Ghamdi on Geo, etc., but there are very few like him who maintain our ghairat and Pakistaniat.
Sometimes relatively minor events bubble up to become revolutions. According to Ahmad Rashid’s ‘Taliban’ book, the concrete events which lead to the rise of the Talibans in Afghanistan of the mid-90s was perhaps one case of abduction and rape. But that one event was built upon many, many injustices.
Today the Talibans themselves–whether funded by ‘foreign’ forces or not–are out to declare the Supreme Court, the Parliament, and indeed the democracy of Pakistan as ‘Un-Islamic’. What will stir up a counter-revolution?
This article’s optimism is good. But I think there needs to be a campaign of ‘Support the Troops’ by hoisting Pakistan’s flag on cars, houses, hilltops, farmfields. The expats may want to organize demos in a few weeks with placard saying: ‘Help Pakistan fight the menace of AlQaida and Talibans’. Stop drone attacks and instead fund the IDPs in Pakistan and Pakistani Military to fight the miltancy.
Finally! A voice of reason and passion. I fully and completely agree with the author: No Pakistan, no Pakistani. So I pledge today that I will do whatever is possible, Insha Allah, to our dear Motherland out of this quagmire. We owe it to Pakistan. Pakistan Zindabad!!
The problem is that “Taliban bhi apne aap ko musalman samajtha hai aur wo bhi nahin ghabrate”
Whats the solution then???
Muslim on Muslim fight and see who has a stronger resolve????
Sunni vs Shia have been doing that for the last 1400 years +
Time for Islamic Reformation period and keep mosque and state separate.
Thanks Indian COW. I think these extremists be it RSS or Taliban are a threat to humanity. RSS is not as extreme but their ideology is and with time they will act like taliban if given a chance.