I Am Pakistan!

(These are my own views and anyone has a right to disagree. Not intended to offend any person/ organization/ country.)1

The history of Pakistan does not portray a good image for the politics. Regardless of whether a person is good or not, we tend to judge his leadership skills by the history of bad leaders we’ve had. We have no trust and confidence in our leaders now, since they have failed us a many too times. Our present President has his fair share of wrong doings in his record. He might have changed but I, for one, see the negativity in one way or the other. It’s there; it’s just embedded in our minds now. 2

I recently joined a youth awareness society by the name of Pakistan Youth Alliance. I joined it majorly because I can’t hear comments like: 3

"a failed state"4

"a terrorist state"5

"a puppet government"6

I am a Pakistani and I am proud of being one. Being a proud Pakistani demands much more than just hanging "jhandian"(flags) or displaying driving skills on the 14th of August.7

Over the period of time my nation has forgotten the principles on which this country was made. If we were to live without Islam and being ruled by a few like is being done nowadays, we could’ve very well remained un-partitioned. 8

But NO! Our grandfathers, the youth of then, decided to change the way they lived and took on an empire on which the sun never set. And we got ‘Pakistan’. The question is: how? It was one mans’ wish, one mans’ dream, one mans’ continuous work and the zeal of the masses of that time that made this possible. 9

But then the glorious work slowly changed into a misery... personal preferences and lust for power has landed us in a black hole from where no one can see a way out. 10

What no one realizes is that there is no darkness in this universe which a ray of light cannot pierce. I am quite selfish in saying that I want the Pakistan that our ancestors fought for. I need the equality, the liberty that the Islamic state had promised. I want justice that the Islamic Republic of Pakistan had pledged. And I know for sure everyone in my country wants the same prosperous future. But the difference is that I am adamant enough to project my point of view to mere strangers who don’t know me, to friends who support me and to those won’t, to my family who'll not allow me to jump in the tide of never ending resistance and struggles.11

True, there are ills in every society, in every community, in every culture. But there are remedies too. Was cancer curable? Well, it is now… and as I speak, doctors are looking for a cure for AIDS (“the un-curable”) as well. Yes, I speak of ills but I speak of remedies too. We have to live the dream of a ‘better Pakistan’.12

But how do we achieve this dream? Our leaders are too busy filling up there bank accounts to reply this question. The answer is quite simple – right down to the basis of the creation for Pakistan. 13

The Iranians, the Syrians, the Egyptians, the Afghanis etc, will ‘all’ remain Iranian, Syrian, Egyptian and Afghani even if their country decides to abandon Islam... but, in the case of Pakistan, if ‘we’ quit Islam; we cease to remain Pakistanis and their remains no reason for us to continue being a state anymore if the basis on which we were established is removed.14

The Islam I can imagine is the one with equal rights, amongst people, the provinces, and the state. Where there is an equal distribution of resources, so that no one can create hue about inequality. There should be autonomous bodies. Not only by the size of their population. Punjab has a population of 81,845,433 people (estimate 2008). This is more than 60% population of the entire Pakistan, but this in no way entitles the Punjabi’s to take decisions on behalf of all the provinces. This does not warrant that what ever Punjab says in the assembly will be implemented in Pakistan. There should be equal distribution of populace.15

I speak of an Islam, where there is justice which means no one can challenge the judiciary because they know that it is being run under the true Islamic laws.16

I dream of Islam, where every one has the right to pursue happiness. Regardless of their religion: Catholic, Hindu or Muslim. Regardless of their status: rich or poor. A right to education and health should be provided to all and sundry. A welfare state should be maintained; a state where welfare is not just limited to a selected segment of the society, a state which is working for the well being of its’ people.17

I converse of Islam enlightening people to sacrifice. Letting go of the petite issues of where to build a new hotel or what should be the percentage of return, Understanding and unifying on issues of national importance like the dams.18

I believe in an Islam which abhors empirical rule, which supports democracy; not the sort we are having at the moment. Pakistan was free of any civilian or military dictatorship or any family politics. Our founder had empowered every segment of our society. We have to re-enact ourselves to the roots; to the beginning.19

I can’t offer you shortcuts to achieve what we all dream about – for a transformation - but are afraid to put in action. I have no Bhutto or Sharif attached to my name. I am a singular person representing the youth of Pakistan and having the zeal to change my country for the better. I believe that living in an independent country, every per-son has a right to exercise independent decisions. But, I will gladly be a part of those who chose to become the future of the country; a group of people who won’t sit like hermits when issues of national importance are being decided and imposed upon them. 20

Why try for less when we can try for the best. When I am in my final slumber, God will ask me, “My child, what did you do with your life?”, and I will proudly declare: I helped the nation, my nation. I revolutionized! 21

A life spent purposeless is far worst than a life spent in agony but with a purpose.22