There are certain issues that are beyond discussion in this country. And anyone who is stupid enough to broach on them is instantly banned as either a threat to the security and sovereignty (yes! that much maligned word) of the country or is an enemy of God. In both cases its not an ideal position to find yourself in this most liberal of all liberal countries. Actually, what is liberalism in Pakistan? Is it being tilted towards the west of course with the right amount of angle in the tilt, neither too much nor too little, or is it keeping on the fence that is not taking a strong position on any points that actually matter. We have a plethora of advisers and analysts, and columnists, and experts strewn all over the country, in every city that can be reached by the anchors on TV by phone or satellite and what have you, their expertise and pertinent analysis and diagnostics and explanations giving us a myriad of conspiracy theories to ponder on and tons of gibberish to mull over. But, none of these so called experts ever have the balls to come and say what they actually feel or believe about any thing of importance that happens in this country. They may take an antagonistic view to that of the governments but that is only when quite a few of them are doing it and also when it is perfectly clear that it would be accepted within the tolerated criteria of criticisms.
Now, I'm no expert on the affairs of the country, but I'm a citizen of this state and with that I have certain inalienable rights, amongst the foremost of them is the right to free speech. In invoking these rights, I may be also invoking quite a few other laws that have hither to fore come into existence to reign in my rights for the sake of the country as well, but I'll take my chances and list the areas that are literally no go in Pakistan.
Kashmir is a part of Pakistan.
hmmmmm, like a parrot for over six decades we have been uttering and regurgitating this rubbish, and of course like a dodo are unable to see the ridiculousness of the claim. The fact that the indigenous Kashmiris do not want to be a part of Pakistan is never an issue, we decide for them or at least we think that we must and can do. Moreover, we have felt it our right to fight India in Kashmir, to undermine their hold and their authority by supporting an insurgency. How many Pakistanis want Kashmir to be a part of Pakistan eventually? probably 95% if I'm right, which goes to show how deluded we are as a nation, for I haven't heard one statement by any Kashmiri Independence leader that their aim is to unite with Pakistan, and pray why should their ambition be such? do we take them to be such bloody fools as we are? So the ceaseless gurgling and mumblings continue and we all like parrots keep repeating the mantra without taking a minute to think it through.
Ahmedis are non-muslims.
Why and under what authority did the bhutto government declare the Ahmedis outside the pale of Islam? And from that black day the whole nation as if like a crazed blood-thirsty mob which has hence forth lost its power to think is let loose on the poor ahmedis. Why? They may profess whatever, why does it become the duty of a secular state, as that was what Pakistan originally was, to interfere in the religious beliefs of its citizens. And, even if for arguments sake they are another minor community with beliefs other than mainstream Islam, Then where does it become our manifest duty to injure them and hate them so much so that even in case of bomb blast at their prayer house the rescue services and police action be severely delayed? We are appallingly short sighted and hard hearted as people.
Blasphemy laws.
To say that the blasphemy laws can be misused or are against the true spirit of Islam is courting murder. Look at what happened to Salman Tasseer, but then also look at what his own people did or rather did not do for him. The sheer silence of the Government in condemning the murder, the hero worshiping of the killer by the masses, the inability of the other policeman to stop the killer form going ahead with his proclaimed intentions! what is it but collective murder? and where please show me does this kind of intolerance exist in any of the Prophet's (pbuh) actions. He was a leader par excellence, he never harbored grudge or believed in revenge, he set examples of immense forgiveness, so where is this hatred this medieval concept come into the clean surface of Islam. And, why is it that these laws cannot be debated upon?
to be contd......
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