Another year has come to an end. For the poverty stricken people of Pakistan it was a supposed to be a year of hope. However, it turned out to be another mundane year with some events that will remain registered in the minds of people for years to come. ForChinese, it was the year of the Pig, a zodiac sign considered to be a positive one, generally indicating wealth and fortune for those born in the year. For Chinese, a pig represents luck, overall good fortune, wealth and general prosperity. But for us, it is the most disgusting animal. People in Pakistan refer the title of pig to those who are unpleasant in some way, especially when they are greedy or unkind.
The year started with the gruesome Sahiwal incident when a couple and their young daughter lost their life to the bullets purchased from tax payer’s money. Hue and cry, inquiries, promises and eventually nothing came out of the entire episode. Police personnel who conducted the operation in a highly unprofessional and brusquely manner escaped any punitive action. Those who spoke vehemently supporting the incident and those who politicized the event to their best, soon lost their interest and now no longer seem to be interested in the fate ofthe surviving children who are left with an irreparable scar on their minds and souls for rest of their lives.
The year saw outbreak of HIV virus in Sindh which almost went un-noticed for quite some time. The government as well as the civil society woke up from slumber of indifference whenWorld Health Organization (WHO) declared as a Grade II Emergencyin Sindh. By mid-year the alarming statistics of this outbreak started to appear on charts.By June 2019, at least 798 people including more than 650 children were confirmed through tests for HIV. By October 2019, this figure rose to approximately 1,100 people. Unfortunately majority of those infected were children. 80 percent of these were children under age of 12.
The actual figures were much worse since the majority of the population could not screened.Besides probability remained that many of those tested might not be detected accurately since the standards for testing could not be implemented due to unavailability of the WHO recommended test kits. Amongst those identified with HIV, only 40-45% people could receive the treatment. Remaining were ignored as usual due to insufficient stock of drugs in the country.
The year has ended but it will take many more years for our difficulties as a nation, to end
The Monsoon rains of 2019 saw much of country inundated challenging the good governance claims by the government. The havoc was visible particularly in Karachi, the city of 20 million people. Seventeen people lost their lives. Ou of these seven fell victim to poor governance and got electrocuted. As always, military had to be called in to assist the civil administration. Same situation was seen in Lahore where Chief Minister was seen picking up people from roadsides in very benevolent gesture. However Usman Buzdar’s benevolence was seen limited to people stuck in rain only since later in November, Buzdar got a local poet arrested for criticizing him during a book launch at Taunsa.
India-Pakistan border Skirmishes were main highlights of the year. The heightened military activity was triggered subsequent to a Vehicle Borne IED (improvised explosive device) that struck about 40 Indian security personnel. Thereafter,blame game started and India threatened a robust response. India media anchors were seen spewing poisonous froth of anger on talk shows whileIndian air force responded by conducting poorly planned and unsuccessful air strikes in Balakot area. Pakistan retaliated to the unsuccessfulpreemptive strike by Indian Air force aggressively shooting down two war planes including MiG-21 Bison piloted by Wing Commander AbhinandanVarthaman. Abhinandan fell as a prisoner. He was rescued, entertained with a cup of tea and sent back to India. He left his country’s honor, his jump-suit, weapon and aircraft wreckage on this side of the border. The story of plane and fantastic cup of tea will be remembered for long in Pakistan’s military history.
Like the previous years, dengue continued with its unforgiving onslaught. During the year, the outbreak was first reported in second week of July by the Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar. Thereafter the disease sprouted everywhere and continued to claim lives in the three other provinces (Punjab, Balochistan, and Sindh). Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) also reported cases of dengue fever in multiple figures. From 8 July to 12 November 2019, a total of 47,120 confirmed cases of dengue fever, were reported. 75 people amongst the reported cases succumbed to the disease. As expected, dengue became one of the important political issue discussed on media against the government.
Since unfortunate happens with the unfortunate only, a tragic fire incident in a train also happened near Multan this year. About 73 people were burnt to death while about 50 travelling in three train coaches were badly injured. The bodies were so burnt that DNA tests were conducted to identify 57 passengers. As witnesses saw, the train did not stop until about 20 minutes after the fire broke out. Despite the incident, the Railways Minister did not budge an inch to the demands of resignations from the opposition parties.
So with these events the year came an end. Well, one may notice that I have not yet mentioned the most important events that occurred in the year. Annexation of Kashmir by India, release of Nawaz Sharif, attack on Punjab Cardiology Institute, extension of Chief of Army Staff, Musharraf’s death sentence and most recently introduced ordinance on National Accountability Bureau have being ignored. To be honest, it would be better to pend these topics for a later time since what so ever I may write might not be as per the readers expectations or may be honest views about these events might never get inked.Let this column be the last one for the year but there will be more in coming year. The year has ended but it will take many more years for our difficulties as a nation, to end.
Writer is a versatile analyst and a speaker on contemporary issues