Another bomb attack in Lahore. What to expect from the PMLN government in the Punjab? Lip service condemning terrorism, of course. But, as usual, keeping in mind the Punjab government’s past record, the condemnation will be general and vague.
Even as the PPP-led coalition government in Islamabad will not hesitate to take names – they’ll point to the Taliban or the many sectarian organisations working as Al Qaeda’s foot soldiers – it is expected that the Punjab government under the PMLN will not.
Determining which forces are hell-bent on mutilating the country is not rocket science. But brace yourself (yet again) to be bombarded by the PMLN leadership and the usual intransigent suspects on TV channels talking generalised nonsense about terrorism and the ubiquitous ‘foreign hand,’ consequently drowning out the obvious involvement of any of the many extremist organisations running amok in Pakistan’s largest province.
But why the Punjab? Although it has been ravaged and broken by extremist terrorism for over two years now, political parties strong in the Punjab (such as the PMLN), the Punjabi-dominant electronic media, and fringe Punjab-based politicos such as Imran Khan have simply refused to acknowledge reality.
Still operating from the fanciful high pedestal of a superiority complex, a bulk of urban Punjab and its leadership continues to live in a stunning, air-tight state of denial.
Whereas in Karachi one can find a majority of common men and women unafraid to air their distaste for the extremists, and walls can be seen adorned with slogans such as ‘Taliban raj namanzoor’ (Taliban regime not acceptable), ‘Taliban sey hoshiar’ (beware of the Taliban), and, my favourite, a slogan found scribbled in a thick coat of black on a wall in a rundown lower-middle-class area of the city, ‘Mulla Omar dajjal’ (Mulla Omar the devil), one just cannot expect such voices and scenes in the Punjab, at least not in Lahore.
Why not? How can a province and a city (Lahore), devastated over and again and plunged into the depths of chaos and fear perpetrated by monsters such as the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and the province’s many clandestine sectarian organisations, simply refuse to face its most ubiquitous tormenters and demons? Why the fearful silence by its people, and why the spin, the vagueness, and ultimate derailing of the issue by the electronic media?
Punjab is suffering. And it is not only from extremist terrorism. It is as if every time its leadership and people attempt to awkwardly repress the obvious lashings of fear and confusion that cut viciously across the province whenever there is a terrorist attack, they become more vocal in their condemnation of the present government at the centre, incredibly investing more emotional and intellectual energy on abstract issues such as corruption, judiciary, and ‘good governance’ through passionate displays of TV studio and drawing-room nobility, rather than directly tackling their greatest enemy.
Funny thing is, they would readily accuse the president of corruption and the US and India for having nefarious designs on Pakistan without offering an iota of evidence, but would get into a long navel-gazing exercise asking for proof of militant involvement in a terrorist attack.
Again, why? Why in the Punjab? Are the Sindhis and Karachiites more enlightened, liberal, moderate or whatever? Some of my most intelligent friends are from the Punjab, as was my father. And so I keep asking these friends, why isn’t the Punjab fighting back this menace of extremism? Why have most of this province’s brightest minds allowed themselves to be pushed in the background by this new breed of neoconservative ‘intellectuals’ in the shape of TV talk show hosts, ‘journalists,’ ‘analysts,’ et al?
I will continue by relating two small but relevant incidents that may help clarify what I am rambling about.
In a province that has been witnessing nauseating bloodshed perpetrated by those who have a painfully narrow view of Islam and are least hesitant to slaughter innocent men, women and children in their pursuit of both heaven and the shariah, one of the Punjab’s leading politicians and ministers did not find anything wrong in accompanying the leader of a banned sectarian organisation during a recent election campaign.
The minister was PMLN’s Rana Sanaullah, who proudly stood beside a notorious leader of a banned sectarian organisation during a by-election rally in Jhang. This organisation openly sympathises with the Taliban.
Only in the Punjab can such an episode take place. Only in the Punjab can a minister can get away with holding hands with a myopic violent fanatic and, in the process, openly mocking and insulting the feelings of hundreds of Punjabis whose loved ones were brutally slaughtered by the extremists that the fanatic sympathises with. Only in the Punjab can his party then go around and ask for votes from the same people. Yes, only in the Punjab.
One can also mention a recent incident that involves Zaid Hamid to hit home the point I am trying to make.
Mr. Hamid, a hyperbolic TV personality who is an animated cross between a foaming televangelist and an impassionate right-wing drawing room revolutionary, has been on a ‘speaking tour’ of various colleges and universities of the country.
Known for openly holding (and advocating) gun-loving militarist hogwash, Hamid has turned distorting history and dishing out the most twisted conspiracy theories not only into an attractive art form, but a lucrative undertaking as well.
Hailed as a modern Saladin (of the armchair variety, I’m afraid) by his mostly urban, middle-class fans, and flogged as a hate-monger with links to the most rabidly anti-India and reactionary sections of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies by his many detractors, it has been very easy for Hamid to speak at Lahore’s private universities and colleges.
This included a visit to the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) that only two years ago was the scene of a lively students’ movement against the dictatorship of General Pervez Musharraf.
If the student body of the prestigious university found Musharraf’s action of dismissing a chief justice unbearable, I wonder what was so bearable about a man who is not only a self-claimed supporter of the ex-dictator, but also a proud war monger whose fans are famous of uttering insightful gems such as “if the Pakistan Army was really guilty of raping Bengali women in former East Pakistan, then they had every right to because Bengalis were traitors!”
Nonetheless, after smoothly completing his ‘Wake up, Pakistan’ speaking tour of Punjab’s campuses, Hamid and his entourage of trendy, designer reactionaries, made their way towards the country’s most ravaged province, the Pakhtunkhwa.
Faced by an insane spate of suicide and bomb attacks by extremists and the military’s war against the Taliban, the youth of the Pakhtunkwa province have shown great resolve to fight back. Student organisations in various state-run universities and colleges of the province have gone on to organise cultural functions that the extremists would term ‘haraam’ and ‘unIslamic.’
Just like the Baloch Students Organisation (BSO) in Balochistan, the Peoples Students Federation (PSF), and the All Pakistan Muttahidda Students Organisation (APMSO) in Sindh, students’ organizations of the Pakhtunkhwa have continued to fight a cultural war against extremism, even when a recent cultural function organised at a university by the BSO in Balochistan’s Khuzdar area was bombed by extremists.
So when Hamid and his army of patriots reached Peshawar University, he was confronted by loud groups of protesting students who wanted him banished from the campus.
The protest, perhaps the first of its kind faced by the likes of Hamid, was organised by the Peoples Students Federation (the student-wing of the Pakistan Peoples Party), the Pakhtun Students Federation (the student-wing of the Awami National Party), and the independent collection of liberal students under the Aman Tehreek umbrella. What’s more, also joining in the protest was the Islami Jamiat Taliba, a student organisation whose mother party, the Jamaat-i-Islami, ironically sympathises with the Taliban.
As the students threw stones at Hamid’s entourage and tried to chase him off the campus, the Aman Tehreek explained exactly why democratic student organisations had joined hands to throw him out.
“We have already suffered a lot due to the suicide bombers and militants and do not want people (in our city and campuses) who promote the extremists,” said an Aman Tehreek activist talking to Dawn.
In light of this example, it seems Punjab’s political leadership is out of sync with the prevailing psyche in Sindh, Balochistan, and the Pakhtunkhwa regarding Pakistan’s war against extremism.
The people and politicians of Punjab need to contemplate difficult questions before they can rid their province of the violence that it has had to face. More so, the confused mindset that is causing violence to be bred and sustained in the Punjab must be eliminated.
Nadeem F. Paracha is a cultural critic and senior columnist for Dawn Newspaper and Dawn.com.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
I love reading Nadeem’s writings. Keep up the good work!!
Yet another misguided analysis by a confused writer. Why are you so against Imran Khan and certain parties? It’s time to grow up and start to be an objective journalist. Terrorists and criminals are being defeated throughout the country. Sure there will be the invariable backlash from the criminals still operating but overall they are being defeated by Pakistan. A great part of that effort to defeat the criminals has come from the very Punjab government you seem to accuse of apathy. Why are the majority of people of Punjab happy with their elected representatives? They work and provide results.
Talk to anyone outside of Punjab province and they envy the level of responsibility given by Shahbaz Sharif. If he stays in the Punjab government for another 3 years, you will see the Punjab modernize further.
People like Z.H. will destroy Pakistan, all he knows is hate and lies. He is not doing any good to the situation in the country. Good work Nadeem, people like Z.H should be exposed.
Regardless who we blame for these continuous string of attacks and tragedies, in the end, it is the responsibility of the leadership to protect their citizens, but they are too weak to have a grip on it unfortunately. Also unfortunately, it shows how weak and unsafe the democratic rule is in Pakistan. Nothing to be proud of. It has for sure compromised it’s security and the lives, well being and dignity of it’s people.
A great article indeed. But all is not lost. But before we can cure our ills, we must know what ails us. There is an insightful article on the current situation in the latest issue of the Newsweek of dated March 15, titled Terror Has a New Name. And this new and rising international terror outfit, according to the author, is the Lashkar-e-Taiba that perpetrated the Mumbai attack. According to the author, this group is emerging as an international threat far more dangerous then al Quada. They add that the leadership of this group and the followers live and thrive openly right under the very noses of the state and Federal Governments in the Punjab. So we have a dangerous situation that people in power are bent an encouraging in the belief that such groups are part of their strategic assets in their hostility towards India, home to more Muslims than the entire population of Pakistan. As far as India is concerned, set on course of economic development and experiencing currently a growth of phenomenal and unprecedented level, the last thing she wants is a confrontation with Pakistan that could only hurt such growth, one that is so badly needed by its starving millions. The Indians are also not so foolish as to think that they can conquer Pakistan. So let us all work for the poor on both sides of the divide. Let us get rid of hate and hate mongers and extremists. This realization is what is needed as a first step if we are to cure our ills. Incidentally, the current leadership in the Punjab, let us not forget, was planning on making Nawaz Sharif the Amir through a constitutional amendment before he was thrown out by the last dictator. Now that Sharif and his group are back in power, in Punjab is It is any surprise that all these religious extremists find a friendly soil in that state? Will the people of Punjab ever wake up?
I am sorry to say this but Pakistan was created on the basis of religion. Bad idea to begin with. Pakistan elite mixed religion with the business of state in its constitution. Again very bad idea. Pakistan is facing problems with extremism due to this mixing of religion and state. When Pakistani Elite understand this and change its constitution away from religion, Pakistan will become truly free country with chance to be peaceful and prosperous. Until then Pakistan will remain failed state with many problems.
Pakistan was created on the basis of religion but not terrorism. Terrorism appeared on the scene in early 80s. Please do not talk of things that you are not aware of. Visit Pakistan before jumping to the conclusion that Pakistan if a failed state!
Shifting blame is very easy – be it India or Pakistan. Finding solution to the problems may not be that easy. All poor countries of the world have these problems. My parents (who were born in Pakistan and settled in India) always said – British raj was better, there was some discipline and order.
I pray for the lost lives. For no fault of theirs they are gone. I have realized that you can never have a calm ocean. These problems will not completely go away from our countries. Education may be the key to solving these issues as it empowers people to see what is good and bad for them. Politicians are deciding what is good and bad for us and most of the politicians are not that good.
People of Punjab have full right to live happily. Their mothers have a full right to see their children prosperous. Though, the Pak army is fighting the extremist, but I have no clue why the politicians belonging to Punjab are so reluctant to condemn Taliban?
Speaking of ‘democratic’ student organizations that pelted stones at Zaid Hamid’s entourage, is this a democratic way to encounter someone whom you don’t agree with? Anyone can disagree with Zaid Hamid, but he has the right to speak his mind.
Outside Pakistan I am Pakistani, inside Pakistan I am Punjabi, in Punjab I am Lahori, In Lahore I am chaudhary/butt/iraein……..
I wish people could start treating me like a human being.
Peace.
Awesome point..
Here again I am a proud student of Peshawar University and Baluchistan University for keeping people like Zaid Hamid out of the valuable educational places.
We are in a strange situation in Pakistan because we are starting to have an active civil society in the country backed intelligently by the judicial institutions of the land, but strangely the political leadership at the center and in the regions goes on with a total feudal mindset unable or unwilling to see the general interests and needs of the land and the people who suffer the daily misery of hardships and violence amongst and around them.
There are no good or bad terrorists. Let’s bring all of them to justice.
I am originally from Punjab now living and working in UK. I don’t know if we Punjabi’s’ are hardwired in this way – we have a zealous belief in conspiracy theory. Every time something happens it is the outsider. always in denial never self examining.
Nadeem,
I am almost always in agreement with what you write.
I am confused what the author is trying to imply. “Wake up Punjab”– OK how and for what? Sir! what is “State of Denial”? Nothing but a cliche. Who is in state of denial? We have been bleeding and we know that and all we want is the end of it.
Nadeem! Thank you for identifying the true problems of Lahore Punjab. It is sad that most of the time we analyze things based on our affiliations and loyalties to our parties. That is why we divide ourselves into groups of for and against. It is our country. We can solve our problems together. We can only do so by identifying our problems with sincerity, impartiality and open minds. When it comes to why the people from other provinces like Karachi and Peshawar are able to open their minds and say no to the promoters of the hate and religious extremism? because the mother of all problems (religious conservative parties) in those provinces, specially in Sindh have been rooted out by the people and their open minded political parties who transferred the power to real people which is the key of success for a balanced society. I commend MQM for this achievement of empowering the middle class. By the way I am not a member of MQM party. Where as in Punjab the never ending culture of Mian and Mazaaray, the corrupt political lords and their religious masters have manged to maintain their strong footings with the help of looted national wealth and their exclusive media agents (Right Wing Echo Chamber) who are busy misleading, exploiting and steering our masses against moderation and democratization efforts. I strongly believe that PMLN, JI and alike parties do not want the terrorism go away because it helps them hit their political opponents effectively when the religious terrorism and sectarianism market is high. None of these parties have ever condemned the terrorism and suicidal bombing openly and loudly but the promotion of mob politics has been their best political shot in my opinion. This process will continue in my opinion till the Zia era is brought back in power in form of PMLN and then every thing will be calmed down, including the law and order situation in our country, the executive branch will not be forced to mind their existence instead of concentrating on their task for which they are elected.
I believe until and unless the people of Punjab are not able to differentiate, this problem will never go away. Remaining in state of denial and blaming the outsiders is not the solution.
Yes , every time anything happens then its India or Israel . Do you guys think we are fools to send ‘ Made in India ” stamped weapons to Pakistan ? India will no way trade its credibility for attacking civilian targets in Pakistan. Its just that Rehman Malik has no clue on whats happening under his nose . For us he always looked like a very confusing guy who some how wants to fix the blame not the problem. India has no interest in Pakistan. You will not have any Indian arrested anywhere in the world for plotting attack on another country.
Dear Asif, well said….You have clearly stated how we Indians are different from the Pakistanis. I hope the Pakistanis understand this.
Dear Asif and Sunjoy, there are people of Indian origin who have been called for questioning internationally.
Second, Punjab province of Pakistan is not yet as touched by the Taliban as others. Let them solve their problem. We hope they realize there IS ONE and do something for themselves. We are no one to judge them.
I guess they are smarter than us ? No trace, like in 1971, divided the country by training Muktibahini’s traitros?
True!
Thanks.
Asif, most fair minded Pakistanis already know that, but the problem is that these fair minded people happen to be in a great minority in Pakistan.
Its sad to see what is happening in Pakistan.
The death toll is now 14 in the Lahore blast. But the sad part is our Int. Min. Rehman Malik has as usual put the blame on India and Israel, mentioning the Indian spy agency RAW. He said weapons bearing Indian marking were found and he concluded that they may have been smuggled from Afghanistan. Does he think that our literate public are fools? Does he take our intelligence for granted. The Taliban itself has come forward for this blast in revenge for their top leaders who were killed on Monday.
Afghanistan has also blamed LET operating from our land for the killing of 12 Indians in Kabul last week. But Malik has said that Taliban were to blame. Now we are further losing our credibility in the world. No one in their right frame of mind believes our For. Min Qureshi, Rehman Malik and our For. Sec Bashir.
Our govt. should ensure security and stop blaming all disasters on India. It wont be long before someone says our PM Zardari works for INDIA!!
Daily we observe the Americans are putting pressure to do more on the war on terror .YA ALLAH!!
Well said Sadiq. Politicians and mainstream media continue to live in a world of delusions and lies. This is pathetic.
Fully agreed, apart from the wall chalkings in Karachi you mentioned is mainly used to prop up hate against the Pukhtoons living in the city by labeling them as Taliban. I am a student of government engineering university in Punjab. Recently, I discovered a latest issue of magazine called ‘Afghan jihad’ in library which openly praised TTP, gave a record of the number of US soldiers killed in recent months and also came up with ridiculous news items such as ‘Taliban have acquired ability to hack drones’. So what can you expect for our future?. Pakistan studies and Islamiat is compulsory even at this level whose textbooks preach hate particularly against India and are written during Zia era, also suggest that whole concept of democracy is non Islamic. We are living in denial. Once i complete my undergrad i am moving out.
It appears from what you said that you do genuinely care about about pakistan and its problems (like rest of us) but you just don’t know it yet. I am equally frustrated as you are but that doesnt mean one should leave their homeland, their beloved country on basis of these temporary problems. Identifying problems and finding solutions is good but finding a way out never helps. And leaving your own home burning? no sensible person does that. Take it from me, I am living in US but there isnt a single moment i dont miss lahore, pakistan and my people. Its not just me … atleast all south asian (indain, pakistanis etc) share very strong feelings towards their homeland. Leave your country if you have to but with right motivations (educations, experience etc) because even when you are thousands of miles away, you leave a part of your soul behind and that connection..that feeling is always there..
Life has taught me one lesson and Its true for current situation in pakistan as well. When you see no hope and no light at the end of the tunnel, close your eyes take a deep breath and know this shall pass too. We have so many problems in pakistan but there are more good things happening than bad ones. Stay focused on good stuff and calmly try to find solution for bad ones. Take one thing at a time and I am sure we’ll eventually get out of this mess.
I disagree with you that all south asians have similar feelings as you about their ancestral land, wherby they miss it all the time. I don’t think that is the right attitude and I for one certainly don’t feel that way even though I spent most of my childhood in Pakistan. I am very lucky to live in the States as well and I certainly wish well for Pakistan but my “homeland” is my country, not Pakistan. I am American first and foremost and I owe all my educational and economic success to America. I am saying this because those of us in the diaspora should count our blessings instead of feeling nostalgic all the time about some other country.
I live in San Francisco and know a lot of Pakistani Americans out here who either spent few years or have parents from Pakistan – and everybody feel an emotional attachment to her – albeit in varying degrees. It’s a bit odd that you don’t but hey it’s your life. Just to be clear I have the highest esteem for American society, their work ethics and their attitude towards life. I love my life here and thankful for all the opportunities I got but part of my identity is Pakistani and I have nothing but great memories of her. So if you think that feeling concerned on what’s happening there translates into feeling nostalgic all the time about some other country – I would disagree too.
But to be fair my earlier comment was bit poignant in tone, so It might have given you a wrong impression. I was only commenting on the morality of his reason to leave the country. And that even holds true in American society. Ask any sensible American (born and bred in US) about how he/she feels about leaving her if things start to go haywire and you at least wont get a similar response or something along the lines: let’s get the hell out of here since we are done getting our piece of the pie. And just to give you an example, a large majority of negative comments from Indians (some of them rightful) on Pakistan comes from Indian Americans.. so based on your theory, how come they don’t forget about India?
Dear Yasir,
I left Pakistan for similar reasons as you four years ago. I am finishing my undergrad in the US this year. Living in such a wonderful society makes me feel sorry for Pakistanis. I have decided to move back and serve my country, try to make a difference to the lives of its people. I didn’t use to give a damn. I think America did this to me.
There are very few of us who understand what requires to be fixed in Pakistan. You clearly are one of them. Therefore you are direly needed. If we all pack up and leave, what will become of the country? We will be directly responsible for leaving the ship to sink.
You can leave, that’s fine. I understand because I did. But I hope you realize someday that it feels better to feed others than to be fed yourself. Besides, trust me, it feels better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in the big pond. In Pakistan people like you are a rarity. Therefore it is easier to make a difference and be noticed.
Best wishes.
Do move out Pakistan does not need people like you. We hate Taliban but that does not mean we should hate Pakistan.
“Once I complete my undergrad I am moving out.”
That is strong, unfortunate statement. But, I don’t blame you.
I can understand and support your feelings.
Have another thousand drones ….arrest and kill another 1000 terrorists. You will simply will not be able to stop terrorism. Lahore is a glaring warning for this. Its very easy for the militants to pick up any civilian target . You cannot blame government for that. Its impossible to secure each and every corner of the country. What Pakistan needs is a policy change. A realization that the society is radicalizing in a very fast pace due to the resentment towards engaging the foreign forces in the country to fight local people. Peace will remain a big question mark as long as we continue this efforts in this direction. While the west is looking for a short term strategy of “quashing the militants ” by force and leave. All the so called ” leaders ” can condemn terrorism in their well guarded mansions,and the common people suffers. We need a shift in our mindset and policy to fight terror, knowing that terror is in minds of the people .
Well said SQ Khan. Pakistan needs a change in mindset. This could only be started by abolishing feudalism from Pakistan.
Well said SQ Khan. This is what the citizens and government of Pakistan need – ‘Change in mindset’ and not only towards terrorism. The first step to achieve this would be to abolish the feudalism system from Pakistan.
Well said Mr. SQ Khan. The whole country is suffering from this terrorist menace, but we are not fighting it out as a war is fought though it is called ‘war on terror’. There should be a state of emergency where the whole nation must be mobilized against the terrorists, whoever and wherever they are.
So what are you suggesting? If you pay attention you will notice that NFP is also talking about changing the mentality of Punjab’s politicians. When was the last time Sharif brothers condemned the Taliban?? Politician should really wake up come to the fact terrorism is not America’s problem but Pakistan’s.
Excellent NFP! May be your articles are changing views (at least of 200 to 400 people who read your blogs). May be more will join and support your efforts. It took at least a generation to reach this low and may take a few more to get back. Bless you and keep writing.
The self-constructed eschatology of Hamid remains unchallenged in every TV channel. He does hate speech and intimidate everybody who contradicts his opinions. If he don’t believe in the free speech for people he despise he don’t believe in them at all.
Mr Nadeem has hit the bull’s eye in this article. He is completely correct. The leadership in Punjab has still not matured enough as compared to other provinces. We don’t want the Punjabi politicians standing by the extremists and Taliban sympathizers. We hate to see our so called leaders running their election campaign side by side with such organizations. For God’s sake, the people of Punjab, please wake up, mature up and shake up the system. Reject extremism, reject the self proclaimed experts like Zaid Hamid. Purge our Province from religious extremists and Taliban sympathizers.
I agree completely with you. And it is an excellent article by NFP, better in fact than his usual writing. Somehow it reminds me of poetry of Iqbal about the need to wake up from slumber. I guess a hundred or so years after he wrote, we are confronted with yet another situation, more grave than ever before, where Pakistanis need to wake up. Punjab needs to act decisively against the menace facing the province and the leadership must show some courage in confronting the situation instead of living in denial.
Really shoddy piece of writing, I’m afraid. If the author of this piece took the trouble of underscoring his hypothesis, not once but thrice over (ref: paras 4, 7 and 10 on this page), he really should have gone the extra mile (!) and either proven it or dispelled it.
Instead of telling us why, oh ever why, the Punjabi populace and government refuses to tackle its terrorist problems head on, the writer wastes precious space (and this annoyed reader’s even more precious time) providing us more evidence of the fact.
If you have a point, make it sir!
I would urge you to reread the article. Nadeem has a point. And has made his point very well. When was the last time some of those pseudo-intellectuals of Punjab and PML-N condemned the acts of Islamic militants instead of blaming the violence on as-of-yet invisible “foreign hand?”
NFP has a point, Sara. He’s very subtle with it, though. Just as he loves to point out the conspiracy theory loving Pakistanis who blame India and Israel for every terrorist attack in Pakistan, NFP is demonstrating how he does EXACTLY the same thing: blames every terrorist act on the so-called misguided Punjab government and Punjabi people. See, everyone likes to pin the blame on others and not take responsibility.
Your sarcasm on Nadeem is as sharp as his sarcasm on Punjab government. The only difference is he is able to back up his sarcasm by facts and data.
I agree with you Nadeem, PML(N) badly needs to correct their approach toward the philosophy of terrorism & the terrorist organizations. I myself have seen pictures of Punjab law minister standing beside the banned Sipah-e-sahaba leader in the election rally in Jhung. I ask what action has been taken against him by the top leadership of the party. Of course no action was taken. How come they can take an action when in the last PML(N) government, Shahbaz Sharif himself had taken a minister in the cabinet from siphah-e-sahaba, By that time also that organization was the biggest hate monger in the country.
Unfortunately, behind all this terrorism/bloodshed and negative environment, particularly in Punjab some powerful politicians have their hidden role. It is about time to be on ‘Sirat-e-mustaqeem”.
When will we talk about Pakistan? Why are we so obsessed with ethnicity? The whole Pakistan has suffered with this evil of terrorism, name a single city and province which has not been hit. Let’s just stop this Punjab, Sindh, Baloch, or Frontier rubbish.
I don’t quite agree with this article. As I’m an educated Punjabi living in Lahore and so are all of my relatives. And none of us are in denial about the fact that Taliban or other extremist groups are behind these atrocious attacks. Your article is only fueling fire to the already existent ethnic divide (sadly); but rest assure that Punjabis are as aware of the extremists responsible for these attacks as people in other parts of the country. Also, Punjabis feel the pain for attacks anywhere on the soil of Pakistan; whether it be Sindh, Balochistan, or NWFP.
As far as the govt. leaders are concerned, they are all in it for their own good regardless of which province they are in.
Well said Ali.
Sadly your article picks on the ethnic divide which has already messed up this great land. I don’t blame Punjab or Sindh or any other other province for that matter, our leadership is simply WEAK and not ABLE to take a stand. Our so called leaders have simply failed to run the country as needed. When will we start respecting ourselves. If we cannot then why will others?
@ NFK …Why don’t you call your next article… WAKE UP, Pakistan!
NFP – some points of your articles do make sense at times … BUT … WHY WHY WHY … does every thing that you start (at times quite logically) has to conclude with Zaid Hamid … If you think he is an extremist then by the same definition you are one as well … If he is extreme Right-wing then I am afraid you are an extreme Left wing!
NFP, Keep it up.
This is a very well written piece. The following paragraph alone, not only written superbly, consists several points that we should, all of us, pause and reflect upon:
“It is as if every time its leadership and people attempt to awkwardly repress the obvious lashings of fear and confusion that cut viciously across the province whenever there is a terrorist attack, they become more vocal in their condemnation of the present government at the center, incredibly investing more emotional and intellectual energy on abstract issues such as corruption, judiciary, and ‘good governance’ through passionate displays of TV studio and drawing-room nobility, rather than directly tackling their greatest enemy.”