Everyday we kill ourselves and others like us in 'pursuit of happiness'. Under a skewed mindset some of us have come to believe in creating a 'utopia', a perfect society, composed of perfect people who ideally possess the perfect qualities 'we' predefine as 'perfect'. Any 'other', any 'outsider', anyone else who happens to fall outside this group of the chosen ones, the elect and the select must remain there, i-e on the outside, and dare not venture to come in. This is xenophobia to the max. Pakistan today is a polarized society, there are strong elements who are hardliners, they propose 'fundamentalism'. {a stern and strict observance to the sharia law of Islam as interpreted by certain scholars which may or may not be true to the spirit of Islam itself} They believe by ridding the tolerant elements within the Pakistani society we would find that elusive of all things - happiness, nirvana, and what have you. They advocate social suppression of women (how original?) and hark back to the time of errr.. I don't know what perhaps the cave man? They reject all things western but for western women (think russian blondes), and western gadgetry (think mobile phones, SUVs, bombs, computers, guns etc.) They have one agenda and that is to spread hate; by maiming, killing, and blowing bombs.
The religious Zealots not only outcast those who don't follow their dictates they also on their own decide on behalf of GOD as to which sect is following the right path, and which ought to be eradicated - literally and metaphorically. Hence, we have an all out war against Shias especially the Hazara community of Quetta, which has seen multiple attacks on its members in the past months. The Ahmedis are a victim of the same closed mind thinking rather arrogant I would say where one set of people starts to dictate over another. Interestingly so the Ismailis community is left alone, for politically and financially they are sound, they have the money and they have the backing of the west, therefore, their brand of Islam (excuse me) is very much acceptable by the state and the hardliners. (not that I'm advocating it's opposite).
Besides the religious crazies we have the ethnic freaks who are in search of the 'true sons of the soil!' To whom does this piece of land that we call Pakistan belong to and that to rightly so - assuming that it must, no it ought to belong to someone or the other, for everything in this part of the world is one's father's legacy or ought to be!. Therefore, Karachi is personal property of people whose parents migrated from India at the eve of Independence from the British in 1947 that is the 'muhajirs'. Punjab of course is for Punjabis, Balochistan for Baluchis, Sindh for Sindhis and KP for Pathans. If one looks at it this way it sounds pretty simple and quite logical, the fact is it is neither. The people are intermarried, live in different parts of the country, work away from where they were born, not necessarily speak their mother-tongue, or vote on the basis of region. So why the obsession with all things regional? we managed to lose half our country in 1971 by making the Bengalis feel alienated, something we are doing to the Baloch today. And, if things continue the way the they are results will be grim.
The country is seeking happiness, a place amongst the nations, a stance and a position amongst countries of the world , but by killing itself, by spilling its own blood, by feeding on its own innards it cannot hope to find happiness ever.
Comments
Post a Comment