Daily Times

Are we living in the age of modern liberal democracy or the dark ages? Each day in Pakistan brings a new kind of darkness, as people continue to die. The blame can be placed in several different directions, but the silence of the civil society is the most criminal aspect of this issue.

It is extremely sad to see the criminal silence of the Pakistani state machinery, and especially the civil society, over several brutal and barbaric incidents that have taken place recently. There has been no action against the atrocities we see every day, apart from the few voices that have been raised through print and electronic media — which is infact, playing the role of the fourth pillar of the state.

Recently, a prominent social activist was murdered in Peshawar. Sardar Charanjit Singh’s senseless death needs to be questioned, along with the brutal killings and police torture of people that belong to minorities.

The people of this country have no right to talk about the violence in Jammu and Kashmir, the atrocities being inflicted on the Rohingya Muslims, or the plight of the Palestinians. When it’s our own people, all we do is stay silent

Unfortunately, the Pakistani federation was unable to promote the concept of an equal citizenship. In reality, this country was supposed to promote national integration of all people, regardless of their colour, cast or creed. This was the true vision of the father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

We need constitutional amendments and need to revisit the Objectives Resolution of 1949 for political, economic and cultural harmony among different communities in Pakistan.

The people of this country have no right to talk about the violence in Jammu and Kashmir, the atrocities being inflicted on the Rohingya Muslims, or the plight of the Palestinians. We stay silent when we see our own people being discriminated against, killed, raped, and more. But we love to talk about people dying in other countries, and even organise rallies and protests to show our support.

I have hardly seen any voices being raised in support of Sindh, who lost his life despite the exceptional work he was doing.

Actually we do not know the meaning of a federation. The federal constitution or the law of the land binds together all the religious and ethnic groups and in fact, empowers them through constitutional law.

It’s important to know that people of all communities have given their lives for the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan. In 1960s, no one could even think that an African American will someday become the president of USA but the majority decided to vote for Barrack Obama

This sense of insecurity among different ethnic groups,especially among the Hazara community and in the people of Balochistan is a serious threat to the Pakistani Federation. This sense of division encourages anti-state elements to interfere.

It’s important to know that people of all communities have given their lives for the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan. In 1960s, no one could even think that an African American will someday become the president of USA but the majority decided to vote for Barrack Obama.

The people of Pakistan, regardless of colour, caste, creed, and religion gave their lives in the wars of 1948, 1965, 1971. Christian and other minority officers of the Pakistan Army fought for the sovereignty of Pakistan. We will not be able to see a change in our society if our so-called civil society decides to remain silent over brutalities against minorities.

The conclusion is this that we cannot afford extremism, radicalism fundamentalism in any form and for that we need to take practical steps in the right direction and need to find out the cause of this hatred.

The country needs drastic political, economic, social and constitutional reforms for national unification, which can leads us towards becoming one nation regardless of our differences. Criminal silence will lead us towards complete destruction. We should not live in a fool’s paradise.

The writer is Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, FC College University

Published in Daily Times, June 10^th 2018.