Pakistan is
a very unique place on earth where peoples protest against political government
with support and guidance of other “politicians” and destroy public service
facilities by thinking that it will punish government to accept their demands. Our
political history is full of these lively jokes and as a nation we embrace this
kind of situation and called it “politics” and our own way of “freedom of
expression and protest”.
This madness
has no limit, no ideology, no political base, no religious affiliation and can
be widely proved by situations aroused after death sentence of Zulfiqal Ali
Bhutto, murder of Benazir Bhutto, arrest of Iltaf Hussain in London, publishing
of blasphemous caricatures in Denmark, attack on Afghanistan, imposition of
governor rule, national team defeat in cricket world cup semi-final and many
more to count on.
Recently
Tahir-ul-Qadri, Canadian-Pakistani National, along with his supporter arrived
to Islamabad with the mission “to punish the government for its bad governance
and lack of interest in public welfare”. But basically this mission was to relive
our Pakistani definition of “Politics, freedoms of expression and protest”. The
missions were planned to be completed by taking over national buildings,
disrupting social life, damaging public properties and restricting access to
economic well beings. This mission has
resulted violent clashes in the country capital resulting death of three
“Pakistanis” through the hands of “Pakistani” while demanding rights for
“Pakistani”.
Disgraceful
episodes were staged by politicians and media to “discuss” the protest and
start pointing responsibilities but with some vested business interest. But
apart from this political and business game did we ever think about these protesting
peoples with the notation of being Pakistani? No! Never!! As a matter of fact
all these peoples dying in the shadow of politicians or political parties are
never even consider as human being. They are “used” as tissue paper till it
serves its purpose and goes back to the place from where it belongs.
Yesterday
Canadian-Pakistani national announced his retreat from the capital with promise
of more “fun and drama” in every big city of Pakistan. Unfortunately we don’t
have any system in the country to make him accountable for what he has done in
the capital regardless of going into discussion of sitting government
legitimacy. He should be trialed for loss of national income, restricting
social life in the capital, damaging public property, reticulating national image
and demise of “Pakistani” nationals.
This madness
will be repeated now in all cities of Pakistan on the name of playing politics
and exercising their right of assembly and speech. Is it not possible to define
limits for the protest? Provide an equal space for the protesting population
and those who wants to carry their ordinary life? Make political leaders
accountable for every damage of public property? Bound the administration to
provide an adequate security and movement plan for the marching peoples? Or
should we wait for some “Aladdin” to take over the power and address all the
issues at once.
Is not the
time come to stop protesting through “illegal means” against “illegal regimes?”
