A while ago I started making a concious effort to stop commenting on whats going on in Pakistan as per the ever worsening security situation here. I did this because I thought since there are several people more commited then I in this effort I should focus on more positive things, things like art culture, society and such. However what has happened in Lahore yesterday has seemingly shook me out of my sleep so as to speak, but before I say something on this, I would like to thank the judges and the jury of the blogawards held yesterday here in Regent plaza and for them honoring mine and Dr Awab’s podcast with an award. For me however the evening was totally ruined not because of the lack of any effort by the organizers, they did a splendid job, but by what had occured. Atleast we were human enough to take a minute of silence and that felt good for a minute, before the horror returned.
Later on as I got to know the full extent of damage I started thinking, why is it that when bombs go off in places away from us we block them off mentally. For instance the way I feel right now would not be so if say 3 people had died? So then this means I am so used to and immune to death and destruction that its only if the volume is sufficient enough do I feel something? A friend with a talk show feels the same way, he thinks he fights alone because the youth of this nation does not raise their voices. Well we are all alone…and I have no clue why.
In other more civilized countries people come out on the roads if even 3 members of their community are targeted. We do it too but only when it suits us? Right now I have people telling me on twitter that they are scared to stand with those who suffered as it can lead to labelling and then a security issue. Although I know there are people out there who would like nothing better then to go after someone who talks about peace in times of war, could someone please enlighten me as to what we would be labelled as if we condemned these attacks in every possible way? If we came out and held vigils which we all did for a lawyers movement who gave us what in return once they came into power?
There was a temendous hue and cry raised by us the members of the so called intellectual body of Pakistan when facebook was shut. People think it was all over the media in Pakistan, but I was sitting somewhere in the U.S last week and watched it unfold on every major news channel there as well. Such was the uproar…but who gives a shit about facebook? Why are things like facebook so important and why is the killing of about a 100 Pakistani’s not important enough? Please do not give me the civil liberties crap and its restriction when the rallies organized for and against this issue were done so on the very social media platform nobody had access too!!
I will tell you why, its because the victems were members of the Ahmedi community and while many of us think they were wronged there are many of us out there who think that they are kaffirs and thus wajib ul qatal. How horrifying is that? We think fellow Pakistani’s are wajib ul qatal because of their religious beliefs. How long will it be before someone deems that we are wajib ul qatal? How long will it be when the attack comes on my mosque in friday prayers…when will all this stop?
Do we even know that we are responsible each one of us for not standing up to protect the rights of our fellow Pakistanis? Do we as a nation realize that the world is fast becoming so scared of us that we are getting more and more isolated every day. I just read a news report that says the U.S is considering unilateral action on our nation if something happens on their soil and leads back to us once again?
Forget the americans whom we tend to blame for all our faults and then ask them for aid as well. If we continue on the path that we are, we will soon take care of each other by our own hands, no one need send the joes in …really. Do we realize that at this point those who questioned our very existance in 47 will be sitting back and laughing saying “this is what happens when you form a country on the basis of religion”
No we do not give a damn, we don’t feel no more not unless our little bubble of existance is threatened. Well guess what…it aint gonna be long now and when that day comes and nobody makes any noise or expresses outrage at our demise, we should remember that as our religion says “you shall reap what you sow”
