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Today marks the celebration of human rights around the world, but for us there’s much to mourn and little to celebrate. The scourge of discrimination lies at the root of our most pressing problems, faced with prejudice we fall silent and complacent.
In the conclusion of its State of Human Rights in 2010 annual report, the Human rights commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed “serious concern at the aggravation of the crisis of the state, caused primarily by a confrontation between institutions driven by insecurity or by self-righteousness”.
It further noted that the state seemed to suffer a paralysis at a challenging time. Notably the crisis of internal displacement due to floods and the war on terror, prioritising the economy and target killings in Balochistan amongst many other human rights issues.
As many as 12,580 people were killed across Pakistan in 2010, there were 581 kidnappings for ransom and 16,977 cases of abductions across the country. Faith based violence claimed the lives of 99 Ahmadis, while 64 people were charged with blasphemy. Violence against various Muslim sects claimed the lives of 418 people and injured 963. 1,159 people were killed in 67 suicide attacks and US drones strikes were responsible for 957 extra-legal killings. 2,903 women were raped and 791 women were killed in the name of honour.
Yet these are just mere stats that will unfortunately reappear scribbled in human rights reports, the numbers will undoubtedly increase but there’s little hope that this would dampen the state’s apathy.
These stats should be a source of embarrassment for the nation, the extra-judicial killings, illegal detentions, faith based violence, rape, torture – the list is all too familiar and endless. Yet every step taken by any institution of the state has been thwarted by another, delayed, obstructed or lapsed due to lack of governance and political will.
But are we willing to speak out?
Perhaps it’s not only the government that seem to suffer from insecurity and self-righteousness, the kind that blinds you in the face of atrocities, it’s the people too. A mainstream debate on human rights abuses is marred with either this or that logic.
Drone versus suicide bombings, Sympathy for Kashmir versus negligence of Balochistan, Aasia versus Afia or more commonly our foreign policy versus the rest of our problems. A rational possibility that one could condemn suicide bombings and be outraged by drone attacks seem to fail upon many. The space for public consensus on our most pressing issues continues to shrink.
I am eager to ask: What is the difference between mutilated bodies of innocent civilians blown into bits by suicide bombings and those charred by drone attacks? Why should we let rightful criticism of other countries be an excuse to undermine our own shortfalls? Why shouldn’t we be outraged (if not more than at all) at the extra judicial killings in Balochistan as we are by human rights abuses in Kashmir?
These are issues that need to be spoken of outside the realms of NGO meetings and human rights reports but with in our homes. The human rights violations should be sneering at our leaders, making their space amongst the top priorities on their mandates, there should be no qualms about the facts that our rights and liberties should be protected. Yet there’s a void, a painful indifference that shuns us into silence and makes us all equally complacent.
As people we stand painfully divided and unless we break free from our passivity and apathy and mobilise to take back our rights, there’s little hope for the future.
Selective outrage and partial morality only weaken the cause of humanity, there’s no glory in humanity that is political more than it is human.
Sana Saleem blogs at Global Voices, Asian Correspondent, The Guardian and her personal blog Mystified Justice. She recently won the Best Activist Blogger award by CIO & Google at the Pakistan Blogger Awards. She can be found on Facebook and Twitter.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Good one
Oh come on Sana ..the world celebrates Human Rights but is a long way from practising it … if you done your homework you would find America, Europe and Estern Europe have an endless list of human rights violations they are never made accountable for …. yes Pakistan has a lot to answer for in that area but in relaity it is no worse than many other countries ….. there is still a lot of human kindness in Pakistan but it can shine through while it's journalists are always bashing it over the head without also highlighting the violations in the rest of the world
Justice delayed is justice denied. If we correct the system of judiciary then we don't require any thing else.
Dear Sana,
Its an unspoken truth and you did a good job and their are hundreds of true stories which are still tobe screened on the media, but unfortunately in this country when we speak surroundings make us silent…
the bottom line is if their is a unity their is a change…
A wonderful thought process from the writer, Sana. If majority of Pakistani people (not only government) will understand this, their problem will be solved automatically. But, I also know that there are very few takers for such idea and thinking process. They like to take the pill of blame on other countries such as US and sleep over the real causes. They will be keeping quite till the problem knocks on their door and hardliners would shut their (moderates) life. But, by then everything will be finished.
Worth reading article Salma!
Well written..nice to see you back Sana…God bless you
An excellent point, it should be posted in all the leading papers everyday,posted on billboards all over the country and it should be asked from the government but most of all we should ask ourselves. Till a satisfactory answer is given and steps taken to stop all this nonesense we should not stop. Hats off to Sana and i could not have said it better Shafiq. As a nation we are being slaughtered for other peoples follies. Lets wake up and put a STOP to this nonesense.
We Pakistanis are so busy being holier-than-thou Muslims that we have forgotten about being members of the human race. We believe fervently in God and yet do not trust him to take care of those who , in our esteemed opinion, do not worship him the way we deem correct. We teach our kids religion but not humanity and kindness. There will be no hope for us until we once again join the human race.
pak has more number of analysts than any other country. all freelancers.
You are absolutely right. You rightly pointed out the underlying reasons behind Pakistan massive failure on all levels. Unfortunately Pakistanis do not get it because their ability to think and comprehend has been diminished to the lowest . It is not that the average Pakistani do not know how to read and write but do not know what thinking is. This goes to the heart of their education system.
Deeds on the basis of humanitarian causes should seldom be compromised on political ground consisting vested interest.
excellent piece Sana!
How long will the people withstand this trails and tribulations that create nothing but pain, fear poverty and distrust. I fear they may soon vent their anger by a most violent demonstration which will create chaos. It is time saner heads prevail. The problem is that you have enmashed religion, culture and local beliefs into one. With no clear law and order situation self proclaimed warlords rule.
Thank you for your brilliant report . Of course there is a point in saying it again and again. How would you help wake up the sleeping government unless you bang the drum loud enough. This state of affairs is strangling the Pakistani society.
We are silent on issues that disturb our inner peace, the stat given above are not numbers these are the horrific hurtful unnecessary acts against the citizens of Pakistan,the government had an unambiguous duty to protect them. All of it need to be said, because this unchecked brutality and carnage numbs the sensibility of the people unless they are reminded of it time and again, that only a nation with dead conscience can allow the state of affairs that prevail. It is the paramount duty of the government to provide law and order, it is time to address the burning question of the day.
Is it right or wrong for one group of citizens to kill another?
Is it right for a Muslim to kill another Muslim because he feels aggrieved by his point of view?
What does the head of the government say to those who march through the streets to support a murderer ?
It is the duty of the state to say it loud and clear that those who support the extra judicial killings are not right whatever their grievance may be.
Why is the government so silent about the issue? Why was not there, a big Parliament debate to address the question?
In the civilised countries the parliament at the start of every session of the Parliament bow their heads, name the soldier and his regiment , in tribute to each and every soldier killed in action, what do our parliamentarians do?
What was the reason for the judges, who apply the law, to go into hiding?
Did they have trust in the law enforcement authorities to provide protection? If not, why not? How do the government propose to address the issue? Where is the proof of the governments sincerity?
Those responsible for the law and order in the country must respond and tell the society where they stand. At the moment the leaders of the government are running away from their duty.
Taking your family out of the country and going abroad for medical attention is not the answer, what should the rest of the people do while you are in the foreign country with your family.
Yes, shout as loud as you can and as often as you can so some one should address the problems that are strangling the nation.
Shafiq
We have been on this beaten track Oh so many times before. What is the point over repeating the same over and over agin.
Plus, you conclude "there's little hope for future" You have summed it up correctly since there is no ray of light at the end of the tunnel.
Sana,
I must congratulate you for writing the truth. I believe if rulers follow what Mr. Jinnah has said in his address to the nation Pakistan will be a great country. Unfortunately they swear by the constitution and have his photographs right above their chair from where they indulge in all those things which are against his philosophy and against the constitution even.
People need not follow Jinnah, they need to exercise judgement, be tolerant, and be rational. Jinnah said many things that could be construed as contradictory. Leave him alone. Thinking people should be able to reason, and be rational.
My brother was brutally murdered in Larkana city on Shab-e-Qadar (27th Aughust) this year after breaking his 26th Fast of Ramadan. Police is well aware of the killer(s) but not making any arrest. I have to written to all concerned including Supreme Court of Pakistan, Sindh High Court, HRCP and other human rights NGOs, national newspapers, TV channels' crime related program but no avail. Here in our country murder of one person has no affect until and unless there is hype in electronic/print media. We have lost identity as human being. "Kash hamaray mulk main Jungle hi ka qanoon hota"