Confessions of a ‘Patriot’
Photo illustration by Hasaan Haider / Dawn.com
How many of you feel closer to personally knowing senior-minister-not-anymore Zulfiqar Mirza after his confessions yesterday? We now know about how much faith he has in the Holy Quran. We know how many siblings he has, their marital status and we know he’s got a healthy blend of relatives from various ethnic backgrounds. No reason to think that’s too much information – or too unnecessary for that matter. After all Mirza was trying to make a point – that he’s such an open, genuine guy – he couldn’t help but roll off completely irrelevant information before he got to the juicy bits.
Countless Pakistanis went through (and some still are) temporary amnesia ever since the self-proclaimed Patriot spoke yesterday. The praise and glory being bestowed upon Mirza is a classic example of the saying “chal, kaha suna maaf”. All of a sudden we forget he’s the man behind countless irresponsible statements made in the recent past, we forget his excess energy and love for the spotlight that got him so carried away that he ended up flaring a gunbattle in Karachi only last month.
Statements are a plenty in Pakistan. Outcomes are often murky. Where some question if the fiery Patriot would have still launched his tirade if there was no Lyari operation, others wonder what was the final push to the awakening of the great conscience. But before the son-of-the-soil Patriot finally said the magic words against those-who-must-not-be-named, he chose to attack Google Satellite Maestro Rehman Malik first.
Mirza breathed fire as he swore over the Quran that Malik is “hand-in-glove” with terrorists, he is a “compulsive liar” and is embarrassed to admit he eats apples. The clever Patriot knew there is no going wrong when it comes to involving the Holy Book. So that’s what he did. He swore on it, exposed the liars while vowing to speak nothing but the truth and then in case someone missed the patriotic hand lying on the Quran, he also put it on his head – he meant business.
Knowing Karachi burns at the slightest rift between political parties, the impulsive Patriot still took a chance and went ahead with his outburst. He was on a mission – a mission to save Pakistan from all the enemies, liars and fruit-eaters. But why now? Did you stop and think? No, of course not. All Pakistan needs is a hero anyway.
The short-sighted Patriot took a chance and said the magic words which almost turned his reputation around overnight. The Patriot took a shot at MQM, calling it a “terrorist organisation” – and immediately his bravery was celebrated. Other not-so-important patriots have often claimed “we need someone to call a spade, a spade etc. etc.”, but then when a Patriot comes galloping across the city to speak this truth, the city burns and bleeds. But perhaps Mirza the Patriot had had enough. He was not going to let any kind of pressure dictate him anymore, and for that if the city bled again, so be it!
Now as he simmers, a lot of things are coming to light. For starters, what will the Patriot’s “brother and friend” President Zardari do? He along with the apple of his eye Rehman Malik had been working hard to engage MQM in talks… Oops? How does that pan out now? Also, how does PPP continue to hold a façade of solidarity when such statements are being hurled across by its senior party members and there comes along such an evident gap between stances within the party?
Is “brother and friend” Zardari going to call Mirza again for a scolding? Malik has already forgiven him by dismissing his outburst and calling Mirza his younger brother. Like all families, here too, we see the younger brother’s carelessness being dismissed (so what if it has mass-scale violent reactions)… “chota bhai hai aakhair”. And then they say Pakistan lacks brotherhood!
But the most important question that comes now is: who benefits? The Patriot? The Brotherhood? Those-who-must-not-be-named? Alas, the show must go on.
The writer is the Deputy Editor at Dawn.com
Z.M can see faults in MQM only !!! What about other political parties? Are the rest of the parties free from errors?
The other parties are either truly patriotic or they must be having good terms with the Dr.
ZM leaks were 100% rite.i salute to ZM to tell the truth .he is brave man.its doesn't matter why he did now?man can come any time on rite path.
Is this guy for real? I am amazed at his outburst, I wold love to read his CV, doubt has any education beyond kindergarten. He says he is a doctor! Of what? Amazing!
Good point Chaigram,
God help Pakistan. We do not deserve people like him in politics and in power.Thankfully he has quit politics.Hope he does not make a comeback. I can imagine how founders of Pakistan and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for Pakistan would have responded to his behaviour!
Isn't he the same man who said 'Pakistan na khappey'? He beats up a journalist if he does not like the question. He divided a nation into races and sects. And he does all his politics in Karachi, hoping to get elected from Lyari. Its so obvious. The common man of Pakistan should have some common sense.
and yet brutus says ''he was ambitious''……
pakistani politics at record low, giv them some lessons of maturity. they need to learn from american politics, i know politics is dirty but they need a little charisma. I no longer goto stand-up comedies, instead i log on to youtube.
one thing one must realise is that peace cannot be made hostage to lawlessness and criminal behaviour,if peace is to be bought at the cost of criminal behaviour then it will forever remain hostage to criminal behaviour…thus not only is the price too high but such peace is always very transient
i dont understand pakistani people, they like to moan and never get satisfied with any thing. Now if someone has raise the voice at least pay attention to it and he declared that he has facts so have a go and do inquiry … i don't wish Pakistan win some honest and loyal government besides i pray that people of Pakistan should bring some change in their attitudes.
if he talks, you have a problem, if he doesn't, you have a problem. if he resigns, you think it's deceit, if he doesn't you think he has no shame.
i really appreciate the braveness of Mirza against MQM who really misguide people in name of minority or mahajir etc, now time has come to identify who is right or wrong.
I think right or wrong , if and but, yes or no , true or false , have or have not , corruption or honesty we all should now focus on fundamental change in our political lot. ZM as a person does not matter but issues he has touched had profound meaning and trust me this lot don't care what he says.
Unless the law takes it's course of action and inflict punishment no one would bother over all this.
Nation should stand behind strong justice system which is currently heavily relying on one person, if I knew I will be negus bars for violating law never will try and this is very simple thing nation does not understand
Well spoken Dr.Mirza. Pakistani people need to be told the facts. Karachi only belongs to patriotic Pakistanis and it's time MQM needs to be put in it's proper corner.
His blames should be proved in court and the culprits should be brought to book indiscriminately without delay
Long Live Mirza….Geo Mirza……..Mirza sada shar hay baqi hair phair hay
'Past performance is not a guarantee of the future. Your shares can go up or down'. Stock Market. same as Pakistani politics.
Dr. Mirza while pleasing President Zardari, being an insider has blown the whistle, very tqactfully. He thinks with the support of the holy Quran, he has come out an honest person and would be admired. He should have stopped here. He should not have gone on and opened many venues inside and outside. This is a damaging for him. God save Pakistan.
I don't know what Mirza's past is and I really don't care but he is the first person in the 65 years of Pakistan's existence who had the guts to tell the truth which is that Pakistan has been ruled by religious hypocrites and totally corrupt individuals for the past 63 years and why Christians like me had to leave family as well as the city of Karachi which most of us still love. My sincere advise is that if the country has to have any future at all get rid of religious hypocrisy first because it is religion that has always been used to mask all political evils in the country
Sheyma, Shame on you and the Dawn news group who are only publishing comments in support of Zulfiqar Mirza!! I think you should be neutral when selecting comments.
Go mirza go. u r the best. sar utha k geo
Mirza speaks, we have the verdict from brave man. I believe Mirza gonna fetch all the lost votes from Interior Sindh, because every day I see on roads people chanting "Mirza Mirza Hero Hero" right now I'm in interior Sindh "Larkana" City of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. I salute Mirza Sahab, he had heroic end in politics like a Super hero in movie kills the Boss. Nobody can talk against "MQM" because they are in majority in Karachi and Hyderabad and almost every Mahajir caste vote for MQM without any 1 buy 1 free offer. I also want to clear the press conference scenario and resignation its not because of Layari operation, he don't even care about it. Whoever doubt that why he spoked all the truth so late? Kindly watch again and listen to his press conference carefully he said that I was always dragged from main screen and and dropped somewhere in Russia/Euro/US for vacations. Its time to support the right person so MQM supporters without using gloves, shake your hands with Mirza sahab he's patriotic person and hero with apple for Pakistan. Good luck yall!
Well said brother. Mirza is our hero in his crusade against the extortionists.
We simply need to stop calling us Sindhi,Mohajir,Pathan,Baloch or Saraiki.Every one in Pakistan should consider himself and all living in Pakistan as "Pakistani".We need to develope a spirit of love and brotherhood towards each other.Pakistan was created for all to live in peace and harmony and not to hurt each other.We have toatally lost our way and need to remind ourselves why Pakistan was created and why millions gave the ultimate sacrifice for its creation.
Shame on people who still think that a politician like Zulfiqar Mirza has suddenly turned into a honest man. Remember they are politicians first and anything else later. All comments made by them are based on some hidden agenda. Please WAKE UP PAKISTAN!!!!