Daily Times

Pakistan is the most gullible nation in the world where rumors and conspiracy theories are accepted as facts. We believe in stories that talk about Americans efforts to flood the entire planet earth and other irrational efforts to change the world’s climate.

We also believe that no one ever landed on the Moon and that it was only a Photoshop trick. We also argue in the favor that Western nations have been filling the polio drops with some drugs to make Muslim males impotent. The list goes on and on. However, the most ridiculous ‘conspiracy theory’ from all has been that Malala was a Western agent and her entire existence is a ploy.

To begin with, one should this question: why was a 14-year old girl from Swat attacked in the first place? She was critically injured and fought a prolonged battle for life, first at the Army Hospital in Rawalpindi and then in British hospitals. Her survival and eventual recovery was nothing less than a miracle.

A Taliban group smugly took responsibility for the attack and promised to attack her again. The Taliban’s hatred for the Swati teenager who dared to blog about her life under their rule can be understood from the fact that she was becoming a role model for the Swati girls and was beginning to inspire girls from other regions. What is surprising to me is the fact that why educated people, belonging to fairly liberal backgrounds, continue to show their hatred toward a young girl.

The best we can do is to admire her courage and take pride in her achievements. Hate breeds negativity while love breeds tolerance, dialogue, understanding, and wisdom. It is time we stop believing in fantasies, rumor mills, and conspiracy theories

Why have they been so hostile, willing to believe in any rumor, any fantastic story about the ‘Gul Makay’ girl? It would have perfectly made sense if they had been inspired by her, felt proud of her achievements. Upon her arrival back to Pakistan, Social media was filled with loathing, hatred and unknown jealousy. I have personally come across comments like ‘Why have they awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to her, she is just a young girl? Why not give the same prize to Edhi or Asma Jahangir?’

A group of fifty leading Muslim scholars issued a Fatwa against her attackers. But that was just a drop in the oceans of fatwas, issued perhaps due to the Army’s nudging. The ulema then got busy in issuing fatwas against blaspheming bloggers, Ahmadi saboteurs, Hindu enemy agents or even kaafir Shias.

We are a nation that conveniently and deliberately failed to celebrate and honor our first-ever Nobel Laureate, (perhaps the only Pakistani Scientist of international stature) Dr Salam. Now we have found another enemy in our heroes: once again, we disown the efforts of a young woman who have only highlighted the image of a Pakistan which is resilient and full of potential.

Malala is the recipient of Pakistan’s first National Youth Peace Prize, she won Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award, made apace in the Times World’s 100 Most Influential People and in 2014 she won the Nobel Peace Laureate award.

Moreover, she is the youngest person to address the Canadian House of Commons. The list is growing as she grows from a child to an accomplished young woman. She is also the founder of the Malala Fund, which has contributed to the promotion of education of girls in Pakistan and other countries globally. No other Pakistani woman, with the exception of Benazir Bhutto, has brought so much honor and praise for Pakistan. At a time when we desperately need role models, we are willing to believe that she doesn’t exist at all. Moreover, one of the ridiculous comments targeting Malala’s achievements which I heard from a young Pakistani girl was this: “So many girls have been shot by the Taliban, why was Malala given so much importance? There must be some conspiracy!”

It is like saying: ‘There were so many prisoners in South Africa, why was Nelson Mandela given so much adulation?’ or ‘There was so many black Americans shot, why did they make a hero out of Martin Luther King?’

Fame and recognition sometimes come uninvited, and it may surprise those on whom it is showered. I am sure Malala never wanted to get shot. She didn’t choose the life she lives now. One thing she did was to fight for the rights of underprovided girls. The world saw a hero in her struggle; we only see a conspiracy. She not only survived but went on to launch her mission globally. She has become a symbol of resistance and peace, a representative of young Muslim women all over the globe.

Nobody expected her to return to Pakistan, but against all odds, she did. She has proven time and time again that she is not part of any conspiracy to malign Islam or Pakistan. Her efforts only show that she is doing what is right. As she said during an interview, she doesn’t have any political ambitions or other vested interests beyond her efforts in the field of education.

Even if she had any political ambitions, what would she gain from it? She is already an international celebrity, a Nobel Laureate. She is not another Reham Khan or Ayesha Gulalai. The best we can do is to admire her courage and take pride in her achievements. Hate breeds negativity while love breeds understanding and tolerance, dialogue, understanding, and wisdom. It is time we stop believing in fantasies, rumor mills, and conspiracy theories.

As Malala said, “Traditions are not sent from Heaven, they are not sent from God. It is we, who make cultures, and we have the right to change it and we should change it.”

My social media friends, Malala is real. You become real, too!

The writer is a director/actor; and a core member of Ajoka Theatre Pakistan. He has been involved in spreading awareness on socio-political issues through theatre

Published in Daily Times, April 11^th 2018.