There’s a 9/11, 26/11 and 7/7. Then there’s Everyday in Pakistan.

Posted on May 24, 2011
Filed Under >Adil Najam, Law & Justice, Media Matters, Society
36 Comments
Total Views: 76740

Adil Najam

The headline is actually a tweet that has been floating around since the attack on Mehran Naval Aviation Base in Karachi two days ago. As far as I can tell it originated from @thekarachikid. Short. Pithy. Poignant. Depicting a truth that Pakistanis can feel in their bones.

The power of the statement is that the sentiment requires no elaboration. However, it does invite introspection. And, maybe, one question: Everyday in Pakistan does now feel like 9/11. 26/11 and 7/7; but what about the day after everyday? Do Pakistanis react to the day after everyday, the way others reacted to 9/11. 26/11 and 7/7? If not, then why not?

36 responses to “There’s a 9/11, 26/11 and 7/7. Then there’s Everyday in Pakistan.”

  1. Khuram Khan says:

    Shez,
    I am not sure about this but you can expect anything from this PM.I am sure he would’nt know what NH stands for.
    Sadly but apparently this officer lost his life by not following, if there was any, S.O.P for such emergencies.He was an aeronautical engineer and should have nothing to do with the Security Troops.If he was appointed in charge security then this also reflects on the pathetic system in the Navy.May Allah bless his soul.

  2. Anwer says:

    احمد فراز

    برباد کر کے بصرہ و بغداد کا جمال

    اب چشم بد ہے جانب خیبر لگی ہوئی

    غیروں سے کیا گلہ ہو کہ اپنوں کے ہاتھ سے

    ہے دوسروں کی آگ مرے گھر لگی ہوئی

  3. readinglord says:

    @Shez

    Well said!

    Nishan-e-Haider is perhaps awarded to one who dies in fighting than can it be granted to a ‘Shaheed’ who cannot even be called dead according to a Quranic injunction. I think the Orians, destroyed by the terrorists and, of course, Sharmila Farooqi, deserved it more but I cannot say why.

    Have we not become a joke of the world, utterly a ‘Baatil’ entity in Quranic words?

  4. Zareen says:

    Do Pakistanis react to the day after everyday, the way others reacted to 9/11. 26/11 and 7/7? If not, then why not?

    To answer your question, I think,
    1. The majority of Pakistanis are not reacting because they are worried about their next meal. A malnourished and hungry person can protest only so much. The middle class is disappearing slowly – majority are falling into poverty. The other side, is a very small percentage – who are very rich. This includes our leadership, media etc.
    2. In the events of 9/11, 26/11 and 7/7, the governments were the first ones to take actions; in our case, our government is our biggest problem.
    3. For mass movements, people need a leader to follow. We, as a nation, are unfortunate in this respect. Real dearth of honest and sincere leaders!
    4. We the educated class, are not motivated enough to take this hard road. Or they are not living in Pakistan and therefore, like to discuss but not to be part of the action.

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