27th December: When Democracy was silenced‏

It was a normal day, full of political activities. PPP and PML-N had their rallies. Political temperature of the federal capital was at its peak when suddenly a news channel broke the news about suicide attack in PPP’s jalsa in Liaqat Bagh hurting Benzir Bhutto seriously. Later the news of her demise appeared on television and it changed everything in moments. Apparently a politician passed away. Chairperson of a political party died. Felt like we have lost our voice, a window has been shut that let the light in, leaving behind darkness. But it doesn’t end here.

Late Benazir Bhutto, who was once referred to as “Daughter of the East” was murdered, that surely isn’t the way we treat our daughters. There were threats as she herself and other leaders of PPP have talked about and similar attacks on her convoy in Karachi earlier in October when she returned to Pakistan from exile. 

Everything was halted, this country kept on burning for three four days, something she might never have approved of in her life. It was a big loss for everyone for sure; all this corruption by current government is a by-product loss of that (she’d be so ashamed in her grave on her political successors). Politicians however encashed it well. There will be many seminars, memorials and tributes whole day tomorrow for her. Frankly I don’t think she need any of this, you can’t tell a moon what beauty is, and, for where she is, her deeds and our prayers can only do something for her. In my opinion, instead of talking about what happened and crying over it, we should better do what she was aimed to do, take her vision a step ahead and make things happen rather than ‘promising’ only. 

Now that everything is back on track as per governments’ reporting, I as a common man still have some questions. What happened exactly? Why only she was targeted? How could it happen? If our security forces can’t protect her from such an organized attack how can they protect a common man?  What progress is made in this case? If PPP leadership can’t get justice for their leader how can we expect it? They got elected in her name but doing exact opposite of what she hinted she’ll do. When she came back she sounded different, a mature and understanding politician with an aim of real change, but now all we see in incompetence, arrogance and corruption. What happened to that agenda she introduced? What happened to that charter of democracy? It is the same judiciary she fought for, but now we see ministers and PPP’s office bearers trolling judiciary. She believed in transparency but currently all we see is under-the-table deals. Every step is being taken for personal benefit and Pakistan is long forgotten. She gave the idea of a healthy economy, equality, justice, public access to basic necessities and education but all we see is exact opposite of that.

Dear PPP leadership and Bhutto family, we all know it’s a great loss for you. But so is for us all. You lost a leader, so did we. You lost a mother, so did we. You lost a voice, so did we. It’s about time to get back to her agenda and make things get better. If can’t deliver, at least try, she gave her life trying, a precious life. May her soul rest in peace and she gets all the blessings of Allah Almighty in her eternal life hereafter. 

Tsunami and Pakistan

So the much talked about tsunami finally hit the ground. As expected there were a huge crowd boys, girls, old people, families groups and what not. The zest and conviction was worth-watching. I wasn’t there; I watched it all over television. But it felt like some kind of remaking of that Manto Park rally in Lahore, 1940. Something that’s going to change the history, or will become history itself, amazing feeling it was. Felt as if I am witnessing a historical event. These emotions aren’t out of love for Imran Khan or PTI. It’s all about the public. It’s all about the participants that were present there with all their enthusiasm and courage and the faith that they have in the party and its leadership. I have never been a supporter of PTI, I have my own reasons. As Justice (Rtd) Wajih ud Din mentioned today our grandparents used to share with us their memories of that Rally at Manto Park in 1940 or memories of how Pakistan came into being. Now witnessing this so called tsunami we’ll tell our children or grandchildren that we witnessed making of a new Pakistan. Today I noticed some good things that I would like to share. 

Unity, Faith, Discipline:

Our beloved Quaid gave us the above lesson. I witnessed this in today’s rally. All the leaders individually mentioned it too. There were people from various ethnic backgrounds, social backgrounds, provinces races etc but all of them were united in their cause. There were Muslims, Hindus and Christians for one cause. This is what Pakistan always wanted. Unity: acceptance of other’s existence and respecting it. Faith, in their own-selves, faith of capacity to make something happen, faith that people had back in 1947. This nation was so undermined and cornered that they nearly lost all their self-confidence which is now backing into play. Thirdly, the discipline and the organization, it was so well disciplined. These are the same Pakistanis you’d see on streets and think they could never behave or they could never make a queue etc. As Imran Khan said “an idea, whose time has come”. It’s power of that very idea that made people to unite under one flag on a single platform. If I am not mistaken, that’s what the real change is. That long-lost “Pakistaniat” is returning back.

Concept of Equality:

When you claim to be against status quo, the first and foremost thing you need to ensure is equality, and that’s what we witnessed today. Different people from different social, economic, ethnic and religious backgrounds were equally treated. There were daily wagers and billionaires sitting in the same row. Then there were illiterate and PhD scholars, secular minded to religious ones. Everyone represented a different class and a different thought but all were equally welcomed and treated by PTI. This reminds me of Iqbal’s famous shair:

Aik hi suff mein kharay hogaye mahmood-o-ayyaz

Na koi banda raha aur na koi banda Nawaz

Zest, Enthusiam:

The enthusiasm and zeal & zest that were depicted at the site both by public and the leaders are infect the good news. Pakistani nation that everyone was predicting have lost the thrust of life hit back at large. It felt like Pakistan have won a world cup or have beaten India in a cricket match or that we’ve just had test nuclear explosions or that everyone has got surety of no-CNG/electricity load-shedding. Karachi, as rightly stated by Javed Hashmi, is in actual a Pakistan. It’s like a prototype of Pakistan. There was bloodshed, street crimes and what not but still people looked happy, they were full of energy and their body language conveyed a very positive message to everyone else in the country. If Karachi is smiling, we all will.

Public involvement in national matters:

People were so dis-connected with politics and all this idea of a revolution that they never really cared. But this credit goes to PTI that they’ve made people reconsider their options. People have started to care about national matters and are involving and engaging themselves in every possible way as if it’s not a national issue but their household issue. This is another positive sign; now people are ready change and accept the change. It’s about time to unleash the real agenda and take people into confidence, which Imran khan did during his address.

Innovation:

PTI has introduced innovation and gave a teaser of how un-orthodox its approach is. It can think out-of-the-box and can come-up with solutions yet unknown or unacceptable to public and politicians. The way PTI campaigned for this rally online and how the rally-site was well-equipped with latest technology was in itself a commendable organization also PTI’s belief in employing technology for its aid.

Empowerment and Accountability:

The concept of public empowerment and system that offers accountability is the need of time. Imran khan referred to ameer-ul-momineen’s style of governing. If he succeeds in pulling it off, Pakistan will be back on track in no time. They are empowering people now let’s see what do they do about accountability.

Conclusion:

I have always been criticizing PTI. But I was right in my opinion; I had my own questions that I got answered one by one.  Now that Imran Khan has got seasoned politicians on board and lot of public support, I would like to say that agencies or invisible hand can finance a rally, can make politicians join the party but they cannot make people love nor have faith in someone, they cannot make people to leave their homes for a cause. So, be it an agency’s idea but now it has become our national emotion, a national idea, a point of unification, people have chosen this and now Imran Khan and other leaders in the party aren’t left with any other option but to deliver.  So let’s look forward to it. Long live Pakistan.

President Zardari, Veena Malik and Pakistan

Today I woke up with a new energy, vision and passion. Woke up with no burden on my head, not any pending national issues, peace all around, everything under control and weather just being super nice, to my amusement when I turned on the heater the flame was as low as it could (due to smooth supply of gas), same happened while taking bath, but who cares if you take bath with chilling water in this freezing weather when you’ve got your “beloved” president back in the country.  Switched the television on to find out its ‘load-shedding hour’ but absolutely felt nothing bad about it and why should I? President’s back! That’s hell of an achievement for whole nation and load shedding is of no importance in comparison to the president.

Moving along with the day, found CNG load shedding and petrol shortage at a nearby petrol pump, but I can understand petrol must have been consumed searching Veena Malik. So I hired a cab to my further amusement the fare was almost double the cost of petrol might have been consumed taking a round trip of whole city. But now that we have democracy prevailing in the country you cannot challenge or question anyone. Reached the destination, while on way we passed 3 check posts, it felt like moving in a war zone. Had to visit a friend’s family member admitted in a government hospital. Ward was “astonishing” you can bet anything if you find hygiene there. But again that’s perfectly alright when our high-ups have to undergo treatment in American hospitals outside the country why should we waste our time and energy in renovating or cleaning up government hospitals.

Anyhow, as the day passed I continued focusing on the fact that there’s no unsolved problem in this country anymore. Everyone seems so contended with the recent developments. President’s back, Veena Malik found, memogate case almost wrapped up, democracy back into business with PM Gillani questioning armed forces. That is just perfect. Quaid-e-Azam, ZAB and BB would be so happy in their graves!

But life doesn’t end here, media/news channels have nothing to talk about, talk shows would become so boring, there would be no interesting trends on twitter and no “cross commenting” on Facebook. And life goes on,  by the way I forgot to mention, husband of our maid passed away due to expired medicines, a friend’s car stolen, fake pir-baba’s continued looting innocents and it goes on, but none of these is of least important when we have solved the most critical issue of all!

Woh leader hai, dharna de ga, jalsa kre ga

Ghareeb phir lutay ga, pitay ga aur maray ga

Respected politicians, media people/reporters/anchors, pls have a look at Pakistan's poor class who are dying out of hunger, poverty, diseases. May Allah guide us to the right direction