Adil Najam
Ms. Asiya Nasir – Christian Member National Assembly (MNA), elected on a reserved seat from NA-322 (Balochistan-III) on an MMA (Mutihada Majlis i Amal; a coalition of religious parties) ticket, interestingly with JUI(F) affiliation – made this hard-hitting and courageous speech on the floor of the Pakistan National Assembly on March 4 before leading a token walk-out of minority and other members from the Assembly on the issue of Shahbaz Bhatti’s assassination.
The speech should be listened in full, not just for its heartfelt passion and its cry of pain, but also because no matter how much you think you know about Pakistan, you are bound to learn things you did not know. Asiya Nasir speaks to us not simply as a Minority or Christian MNA, but as a Pakistani. And it is as a Pakistanis that we must respond.
The 30 year old Asiya Nasir – wife of Nasir Masih and mother of a son and two daughters – has much to say and ask that we really have no response or answers to. But we should all be grateful to her for raising her voice as a Pakistani and asking questions that we have ignored – indeed, hidden – for too long. We are better off today because these questions have been asked.
Excellent speech. Inspiring, tough and yet very patriotic. Proud of you Madam,
MQ, I couldn’t help but smile at your Naseem Hijaazi comment (NOT at AHsan). A couple of my extremely sharp high school friends were into his novels and the dig gets deeper when I think of them.. :) On an unrelated note, any quip on the crowd that every now and then quotes “zara num ho to ye mutti..” line here on ATP and then tacitly seeks wah wah.. :)
Its a sad situation.
Dear MQ,
There is no need of going through the books of Naseem Hijazi or any other religious authority. Look at the flag of Saudi Arabia the guardian of K’aba and Islam.
You will find that a sword and the Holy Book are the emblems of Islam. So, I insist that a Mujaahid should have a talwaar in one hand and QurA^n in the other hand and not shamsheer –o- sanaaN as you (or Iqbal!) have been claiming.