Salam Sahab, we have failed you
Illutration by Faraz Aamer Khan
Yesterday marked the 85th Birthday of Dr.Abdus Salam, theoretical physicist and the only Pakistani Nobel Laureate. He is not our national hero, his name is rarely ever mentioned, in his life the only befitting ‘honour’ we could provide him was a life in self exile, in his death however we went a step ahead by blanking out the term ‘Muslim’ from his epitaph. A member of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, a member of the Scientific Commission of Pakistan and the Chief Scientific Adviser to the President, Salam was one of the most prolific researchers in theoretical elementary particle physics. No minister or high government official attended his funeral.
He was an Ahmadi.
Happy Birthday Salam Sahab, we have failed you.
Over 5,000 gathered in Rawalpindi yesterday, blaring witness to the systematic hate, prejudice that has been curtailed by a whole series of ordinances, acts and constitutional amendments against the Ahmadiyya community, that had been the cause of Salaam’s self exile four decades ago. Nothing has changed since, for the Ahmadis it has only gotten worse.
The rally called out by traders’ associations was attended by activists of Jamaatud Dawa, Jamaat-i-Islami, Sipah Sahaba (banned organisation) and Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat in Rawalpindi, claimed that a ‘worship place’ belonging to the Ahmadiya community was built without permission, The irony of protest on land encroachments by parties who themselves have been involved in extortion and land encroachments is immeasurable. But it was not long until the real incentive became clear. A few weeks ago anti-Ahmadi banners had appeared in the same area, threatening the residents to leave, claiming their existence was unconstitutional and any restraint from them could lead to ‘repercussions’.
Terrified, no one spoke.
If you are Pakistani passport holder chances are you have signed a declaration claiming Qadianis as non-Muslims, this means that you declare them prohibited from calling themselves ‘Muslim’, to call their ‘places of worship’ mosques, to pray in ‘Muslim mosques’ or ‘public prayer areas’, to give azaan, to greet others with salaam, to publicly quote from the Quran – these amongst others could get one up to three years in prison.
Now they want to take away their right to worship. Through intimidation and hate mongering, speakers at the conference yesterday blatantly announced that there will be a 100,000 Qadri’s raging against the Ahmadis, issuing an ultimatum to the Ahmadiyya community to stop praying.
If they do and if the authorities fail to take action against the open call for aggression and violence, you and I will be responsible for authorising prejudice, for remaining silent in the face of aggression, for letting the hatred breed within our society, for not standing up for one of our own and for allowing men driven by their convoluted faith kill in the name of God.
If being party to vigilantism burdens your conscience, voice your concern, stand up and be counted.
Our state reminds me of Faiz’s words that he had scribbled in Dr. Abdus Salam’s diary when they met at an airport.
‘Nisar mein teri galiyon kay aye watan kay jahan
Chali hai rasm kay koi na sar utha kay chaley’
(My salutations to thy sacred streets, O beloved nation!
Where a tradition has been invented- that none shall walk with his head held high)
jo koii chaahanewaalaa tawaaf ko nikale
nazar churaa ke chale, jism-o-jaan bachaa ke chale
(If at all one takes a walk, a pilgrimage
One must walk, eyes lowered, the body crouched in fear)
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 tweets at twitter.com/sanasaleem.
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.
nice article…
honored to have attended his funeral….
Excellent article by Sana Saleem.
Let us not forget the famous Pakistani Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, first Foreign Minister of Pakistan (1947–54), President of the UN General Assembly (1962–64), President of the International Court of Justice (1970–73), who was an Ahmadi. No one ever questioned his religious belief to over-shadow his great services.
For the person who above commenting that his community has forgotten, please check your research. He is honored thru various scholarships the community gives studentsnotto mention that his accomplishments are a motivation for every Ahmadi student.
A very well written artice but again all this does nothing as all the pakistanis just turn away AS THEY THINK IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM. Try what egypt and other nations did STAND UP FOR EQUALITY AND SEE THE RESULTS
Not honoring Prof Salam is minor compared to the real, imminent and grave issue of clear threat of bloodshed given to this minority. They mention Qadri which implies that they are planning a bloodbath on a vast scale. Where is the interior minister and PM and why have they not spoken up against this threat immediately? They are keeping Justice Iftikhar Chaudry involved in petty matters so they can have afield day with human blood. May Allah protect all innocent minorities from these vultures.
Ms. Saleem,
This crowd of Pakistanis need people like you in great urgency. God bless you and keep on writing with the same courage and keep ur pen blunt like this always.
He was a great man happy birthday sir.
My grandfather worked with him and they were really good friends. I salute him .
Very well said Sanah.. Keep up the good work.. Goodluck!
Thanks Sana, Very well written. Truth loaded, couragiously worded article. We need open minded journalist like you. More power to your pen. Kalimullah Khan-USA
A great article in the era where there is no one try to pick the topics like this. salute TO Dr. Salam , great effort aal the time in his life neglecting what others thinknig of him. he worked just for the country.
Salam not a person he was a important pillar of Pakistan history. He showed utmost love to his country and his life was very passionate about Muslims to lead. However, when it comes to lead the pack he was color blind, non Muslim and Muslims were his friends and he loved by all. Please be clear and honest it is not only Pakistan governments then and now forgotten him, his own Ahnadiyya community also completely forgotten him.
That is a nice tribute to Dr Salaam. May Allah rest his soul in peace. Pakistan has been very unlucky to loose gems like him. This is not new, is happening in real time and will happen in the future..unfortunate to Pakistan, but then its our choice since our elected? leaders have always failed to deliver whats good for the country.
We need to learn how to face the truth. how to do cleansing of the society and law from extremism. Any workable suggestions.
we need more and more openness and acknowledgement of the ills our society finds itself in…. well written and thought provoking..