Disclaimer: This post was originally published in TechNews Sept 27, 2013
Life is really unpredictable and at times it gets really harsh as well, especially when your loved ones are in a situation of life and death. You feel really guilty to be safe, and helpless because you really want to help them, but still you can’t. My heart goes out for my country, as everyday my soil is being painted red with the blood of innocent people. All I could think of is “Pakistan ka matlab kya?” (What is the meaning of Pakistan?) Does it mean brutal killing of innocent people or genocide on minorities? Does it mean disaster after disaster or a long road of hopelessness? Because, as far as I remember, Pakistan was created to stop violence against it people and to end fear of being among the minors. But now the situation is worse than the situation that we had during War of Independence.
Two weeks back, there was a twin-suicide bombing outside a church in Peshawar in Pakistan that killed at least 80 people. This is one of the worst attacks on Christians in the country. I don’t understand where the humanity has gone in my country. Before everyone was complaining that it’s all because of President Asif Ali Zardari’s government, but now I ask all those people who voted for the new government of Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif, where is the peace for which you voted? Where is the security that you were promised to give after your victory?
The relatives of the victims gathered at the scene to protest the government's failure to protect them. Protesters shouted abusive slogans against the cricketer turned politician, including chants of “Imran is a dog”. This is exactly what they use to say for President Zaradari. I wonder who can actually make a better Pakistan, because anyone who is in power is acting the same. We lack good leaders like Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Martin Luther King who brought a difference for their people. They didn’t fear anything in fact they had blind trust over their dream that’s why they were able to make a difference.
Christians make up about 4 percent of Pakistan's population. They generally maintain a low profile, but are sometimes targeted by Islamist extremists who view them as heretics. In the Quran, Christians are often referred to as the "People of the Book," i.e. people who have received and believed in previous revelation from God's prophets. There are verses that highlight the commonalities between Christians and Muslims, so why are they seen as heretics by the extremists.
"Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians—whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord. And there will be no fear for them, nor shall they grieve" (2:62, 5:69, and many other verses).
I pity the followers of Islam; just because of few fanatics, we all have to suffer, especially when you live outside Pakistan. People look at us as a sign of disgrace, which really hurts. My religion never taught me to kill anyone, for any reason. We were always taught to be equal, equal in every sense. We are not allowed to discriminate on any basis. But I don’t know where the Islam of Muhammad (PBUH) and Ali (RA) went, where people were taught to live peacefully and treat everyone equally.
Link to original post: Bomb blasts target Christians in Pakistan
Life is really unpredictable and at times it gets really harsh as well, especially when your loved ones are in a situation of life and death. You feel really guilty to be safe, and helpless because you really want to help them, but still you can’t. My heart goes out for my country, as everyday my soil is being painted red with the blood of innocent people. All I could think of is “Pakistan ka matlab kya?” (What is the meaning of Pakistan?) Does it mean brutal killing of innocent people or genocide on minorities? Does it mean disaster after disaster or a long road of hopelessness? Because, as far as I remember, Pakistan was created to stop violence against it people and to end fear of being among the minors. But now the situation is worse than the situation that we had during War of Independence.
Two weeks back, there was a twin-suicide bombing outside a church in Peshawar in Pakistan that killed at least 80 people. This is one of the worst attacks on Christians in the country. I don’t understand where the humanity has gone in my country. Before everyone was complaining that it’s all because of President Asif Ali Zardari’s government, but now I ask all those people who voted for the new government of Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif, where is the peace for which you voted? Where is the security that you were promised to give after your victory?
The relatives of the victims gathered at the scene to protest the government's failure to protect them. Protesters shouted abusive slogans against the cricketer turned politician, including chants of “Imran is a dog”. This is exactly what they use to say for President Zaradari. I wonder who can actually make a better Pakistan, because anyone who is in power is acting the same. We lack good leaders like Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Martin Luther King who brought a difference for their people. They didn’t fear anything in fact they had blind trust over their dream that’s why they were able to make a difference.
Christians make up about 4 percent of Pakistan's population. They generally maintain a low profile, but are sometimes targeted by Islamist extremists who view them as heretics. In the Quran, Christians are often referred to as the "People of the Book," i.e. people who have received and believed in previous revelation from God's prophets. There are verses that highlight the commonalities between Christians and Muslims, so why are they seen as heretics by the extremists.
"Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians—whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord. And there will be no fear for them, nor shall they grieve" (2:62, 5:69, and many other verses).
I pity the followers of Islam; just because of few fanatics, we all have to suffer, especially when you live outside Pakistan. People look at us as a sign of disgrace, which really hurts. My religion never taught me to kill anyone, for any reason. We were always taught to be equal, equal in every sense. We are not allowed to discriminate on any basis. But I don’t know where the Islam of Muhammad (PBUH) and Ali (RA) went, where people were taught to live peacefully and treat everyone equally.
Link to original post: Bomb blasts target Christians in Pakistan
No comments:
Post a Comment