Two things cannot be expressed in simple words. One is to narrate the intensity, serenity and blessing of love. Love that gives meaning to life, love that kindles an inextinguishable light of wisdom, goodness, forbearance, tenderness, courage and sacrifice in human beings. Love is God, which creates, sustains and drives our life. Without love, there is no man, faith and life in this world.
The second thing that cannot be described in words is the volcanic passion of hate. Hate breeds greed, ignites anger, nourishes prejudice, incites pride, whets lust, eclipses virtue, instigates manipulations, triggers a spree of killings and fans the flames of war. Hate turns man into a veritable devil of destruction, exploitation and death.
Every society tries to cultivate the feelings of love and tame the devilish passion of hate among its people through political, social, judicial, educational and economic systems. If these systems are based on equality, there is every possibility that a majority of the people would have a loving, caring and affectionate attitude towards other people of the community. Even ethics are nurtured, preserved and practised happily by the people in a society based on equality. Inequality brings exploitation, ignorance, poverty, extremism, corruption and decay to society.
Unfortunately, Pakistan, the land of the pure, has turned into a land of inequality. Resultantly, corruption, extremism, exploitation and all kinds of social ills have not only given a deathblow to all the institutions of our state, but also these ills have choked the currents of love among the people. There are many news stories and reports that shed light on this tragic truth.
What is the most beautiful and loving thing in our world of pain? The answer is very simple: a child. The angelic face of a child can melt the heart of the most evil and criminal person. But in our society, children are becoming victims of brutality.
Imagine that a child of three years is shrieking helplessly under the sky. She is in an acute pain of loneliness and fear. She is crying for her mother and father. But there is no one to listen to her heart-melting shrieks. There is the scorching heat of the sun. She wants to move towards some shady place. She looks towards the sky. While uttering the words Ammi (mommy), Abu (daddy), she once again tries to move towards the door, but she falls on the ground and a shriek of pain rises in the air. Her beautiful hands try to free her shackled leg. She begins to faint with hunger and pain but her quivering lips are still trying to utter the words Ammi, Abu. Her tearful eyes are looking towards the closed door. There is no one to give her solace. There are no birds to give her company and she faints on the ground.
The name of the three-year-old girl is Amina, and her father, Faisal, has enchained her on the roof of her house because she disturbs other family members with her innocent talk and naughty demands. After getting information, the Faisalabad police freed the child and arrested her father and four uncles on October 26. The father, Faisal, who was raising three children after divorcing his wife, said he would chain Amina in the morning while going to work and release her when he would return home. But, believe me, no person can now release Amina from the agony of this horrible experience throughout her life.
Many parents are even killing their children due to family quarrels and poverty. Six-month-old Fatima was killed allegedly by her mother in Lahore due to a family quarrel. A young man killed his parents and six siblings in Gujranwala because of poverty.
Hundreds of people have committed suicide due to financial and social stresses. A young man, Raja Rindh Khan, has burned himself to death in front of parliament in Islamabad, due to unemployment. Acute hunger and widespread illiteracy have forced 170,000 innocent children to lead their lives miserably on the roads and footpaths across the country.
The report, prepared by London-based research organisation, Legatum Institute, says: “Pakistan stands at 107, fourth from the bottom. The three countries that are ranked lower than Pakistan are Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and the Central African Republic.”
The Human Development Index compiled by the UN has also put Pakistan in the category of Low Human Development. Pakistan stands at 145 out of 187 countries. Last year, Pakistan was ranked 125 out of 169 countries.
Pakistan Railways, PIA, Pakistan Steel Mills and WAPDA are about to collapse. The stories of corruption been told in the Supreme Court in the Rental Power Plants (RPPs) and the Pakistan Railways are enough to bring tears to the eyes of the common people. The entire nation is feeling ashamed and betrayed by the corrupt cricketers Salman, Asif and Amir.
The so-called war on terror has cost Pakistan around 36,000 civilians and $ 68 billion. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the US drone attacks are turning many children, boys and girls, into suicide bombers. Even the US-led NATO forces have killed our army soldiers without any reason.
The PML-N government in Punjab has failed to control the dengue epidemic in timely fashion. It has claimed the lives of around 369 people in Lahore, while more than 33,800 people have been affected by this disease in Punjab. The Lahore Board has ruined the educational careers of thousands of young students by showing its criminal negligence in announcing faulty results. The affected students’ belief in the educational system has been shattered forever.
Millions of people are still waiting for help in flood-affected areas. Aid groups, Oxfam, Save the Children and Care, have already warned that around five million people could face acute problems, because of a shortfall in foreign donations. Killings of the Hindus in Sindh, sectarian clashes, lootings of banks and buses in Karachi are routine matters. The kill and dump policy continues unabated in Balochistan. The militants are blowing up schools and targeting security forces continuously in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In Pakistani society, the poor and honest people — the dead souls — are digging the graves of their tender dreams, unfulfilled hopes and promises daily, while our ruling class is busy in protecting its partisan interests through corruption and slogans of sovereignty, democracy and national interests. This small class, as Senator Mohammad Ali Durrani’s petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan says, has shifted around $ 500 billion to their secret accounts in Swiss, Spanish, British and American banks. This venal class is, in fact, ruling over the poor people — the dead souls — in a society that has turned into a graveyard because of its wrong policies.
Every cloud has a silver lining. Our media is educating, informing and guiding the people well and if the Supreme Court gets success in bringing back the looted money, then Pakistan’s weak economy will get a tremendous boost and the people, dying with hunger and hopelessness, will find some bread and hope. Pakistan needs a miracle to extricate itself from the present mess. Miracles do occur but they require the force of love, work and justice.
The writer is a staff member. He can be reached at [email protected]