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”
Why are we reaping what our ‘elders’ have sowed?
Thanks for voicing your concern. It was indeed shocking and very sad.
Belonging to a majority in this country easy, try being a Shia or an Ahmedi in Pakistan. There are madrassahs spread all across Karachi that are spewing venom against them and injecting it into the minds of countless young men who have nowhere else to go and who only know one way of life, in the service of God (or so they believe). This goes on unabated to this day
This helplessness of a minority community is heart breaking … http://youtu.be/fnYFx8awE_A
We are kidding ourselves if we do not believe that we are all victims of terrorism…the psychological impacts, we cannot deny!!!
Some cannot be more equal…yet, time and again, we face that in the face of the worst terrorism….if it is a city in KP, it is easy to ignore even by the media; if it is a major city we are all scared–yet, when it is a minority within the ‘heart of Pakistan’ we are not sure if we should condemn it??? indeed shame of on us for even having to think twice…we are condemnable if we pause….this even just as all terrosits acts in all parts of our country should be condemned and we all should get up and raise our voice agianst them…
Hated how the commisoner lahore was hounded by journalist to elicit ‘ you know for whom 28 may is a threat’ and then have it flash over and voer again!!! oh for God’s sake, get a reality check, media people!(exceptions are always there ofc, so please not be taken as a blanket statement)
on the note of every little helps..there was a cndlelight vigil on 29 may in Islamabad in solidarity with all victims of terrorism after the Lahore attacks…however, how much was that reproted in the media is a question I leave to ponder on? we can spend hours on the pigeon but not go talk to one person who showed up at the vigil to show solidarity??? Please we also are a voice form within this society and we would like for the conduits to reach out and so that the sane voices can also heard!
the news come to me when i reached the blog award venue, and i was really excited for the fact that i was about to meet you all. The initial reaction of mine was exactly the same which always happen to me, i was shocked and i was more shocked because one of the incident took place near my house. Well believe me till that day g never know that this place of worship which looks like a mosque belongs to Ahmadis.
being a human being and muslim i m sad at what happened but the kind of society i an living in i an confused on what to say, every one of us know that what happened was not good but no one will openly condemn it. If this land was taken in the name of religion then the same religion talks about the right of minorities and religious harmoney. Te time we are going through demands unity but we as always standing beside our 2.5 brick mosque. Ahmadis are wrong and kafirs Okay i accept it but i also have to accept that the people died were human and Pakistani. I am ashamed at my frame of mind which prevent of to call a spade a spade
Belonging to a majority in this country easy, try being a Shia or an Ahmedi in Pakistan. There are madrassahs spread all across Karachi that are spewing venom against them and injecting it into the minds of countless young men who have nowhere else to go and who only know one way of life, in the service of God (or so they believe). This goes on unabated to this day
FK your blogpost is a stark reminder of the sad state of affairs we are in….we would get up and create havoc at cartoon controversy and the media would highlight facebook ban, but there would be a muted response to the killings of minority in the homeland. I was thinking of that famous quotation of that anti-nazi activist… ‘…then they came for me and by that time no one was left to speak up’.
As somebody said up there, try being a Minority in this country and this quotation would echo more in your thoughts….
During this time, we really have to focus on positive things. Have faith.
Why are we reaping what our ‘elders’ have sowed?
Thanks for voicing your concern. It was indeed shocking and very sad.
Really enjoyed this post.Really thank you! Want more.
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It’s high time the moderate masses stopped sticking their heads in the sand, everytime there is injustice in the name of religion. Fanatics will be what they are, extreme to the core. But, it is the masses that make a country, or allow it to perish. It is disgusting to see them actually siding with extreme thought, and/or remaining silent in an effort to prove they are worthy of a religion.
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