Daily Times

“Honest, honourable and
innocent men, who died without a reason…They leave behind…a question mark as to the value of life in this country.” This was conveyed to me by someone who experienced the recent deadly attack in Mardan. We are paying a high cost for the declining value of life in Pakistan. There is an overall environment of helplessness on the part of both the state and citizens. Perhaps no one in these conflict zones has escaped from the impact of prevailing terrorism. We have no answer to the question and we are looking at each other for solutions. The response from the government and its functionaries is always the usual: a statement of condemnation and financial assistance to those killed or injured. We have become immune to these incidents as little or no concern is shown for the loss of life. We keep the flag at half-mast on the day when the Ziarat Residency was destroyed, but are the lives of citizens worth such a consideration?

Meanwhile, in another part of the world, the Taliban have opened an office in Qatar as part of the negotiations that are to take place among the US, Taliban and Afghan government. Pakistan also seems to be pursuing the same strategy of dialogue. The opening of the Taliban office in Qatar was accompanied with all the fanfare, official presence and comprehensive media coverage, which is perhaps unprecedented for them. Although the spokesperson did show intent for dialogue but did not promise any end to violence. This was evident in the attack on a military base in Afghanistan the very same day. On this side of the fence, we find a similar chain of events where there is a push towards dialogue, but that is also followed with incidents such as in Mardan. Why do we have to be reminded that the people offering peace talks are the same who have achieved their power by the massacre of countless citizens?

We used to once take pride in our family and cultural values, where women and children were beyond any personal enmities and conflicts. What we now see is the bombing of a girls’ bus in Quetta, where scores of innocent youth lost their lives. In other places we find that a four-year-old girl’s maternal uncle unleashes savage dogs upon her, or a vendor stabs a ten-year-old child for just taking a small piece of ice in the scorching heat. While the value of a human body is estimated to be in millions of dollars, the cost of human life is even cheaper than a chunk of ice. Our values have not just declined, rather they have plummeted to a great depth. We witness transgressions against innocents being committed but we are in some cases afraid or in some instances least concerned to raise our voice.

Our society is now falling apart from within, where minority groups are facing increased violence and are being pushed into a corner. The situation being that entire families are now emigrating to other countries. They are no more considered fellow citizens, rather they are identified by their faith or their ethnicity. In recent years, the targeting of minorities has increased, where not only individuals but entire communities have faced the wrath. Whether it is Abbas Town or Badami Bagh, the innocent citizens of Pakistan are paying the cost of devalued human life with their blood. This was again highlighted in the recent killing of an Ahmadi youth in Lahore by unknown assailants. He had been receiving threats based on his faith. There was no consideration shown for his family, his five-year-old girl or his five month old son by the perpetrators of this act.

It is the survival of the fittest or the law of the jungle that is now applicable in our society. We are now least concerned about the problems and tragedies faced by others. We do not consider that tomorrow it can be us in the very same position, and perhaps no one will come to our aid. I did not witness the flag at half-mast when the boy was killed for a piece of ice, nor was there any condemnation from official circles when the youth was killed in Lahore for his faith.

The writer is a development consultant. She tweets at @GulminaBilal and can be reached at coordinator@individualland.com