Greetings from Pakistan on World Peace Day
Greetings from Pakistan on World Peace Day. We have a lot of events and activities planned for today; unfortunately none of them will be sending across the message of peace. Our children, through whom we could portray a peaceful message using crayons and doves, are at home today and could not go to school. Those who don’t go to school anyway are being coerced by their adult relatives to spend the day out on the streets with them to burn tyres.
Our parks and other public locations where we could have held some nice peace rallies and shown off our creative skills through artistic placards have all been sealed shut due to violent protests which we are currently being conducted to show our love for our Holy Prophet. Sounds complicated? Shouldn’t be – almost everyone is catching up to our unique Pakistani mentality now.
No peace concerts planned here either because music wouldn’t be an appropriate indulgence on this day and also because we may get killed on our way there by a stray bullet. Sorry, to explain this better: yes, our policemen are firing stray shots right now to ensure there is peace in the cities.
While expressing love for our Holy Prophet some people in Peshawar got carried away and set fire to some cinemas, so the families planning to go to the movies on this peaceful day can do so no more as the seats will be charred and the screens burnt.
Moreover, our leaders cannot come out to address the public on World Peace Day because there is too much violence on the streets so they have instead given the adventurers of Pakistan a field day so that they can do whatever they want. This freedom given by the government today is being enjoyed by thousands who have taken the country hostage because they are angry at the foreign filmmaker who disrespected the Holy Prophet and portrayed Muslims as violent people.
Burning candles and having vigils is too modest a gesture to share with the world so instead you will see my countrymen setting their own property on fire because this will teach the horrid filmmaker a lesson never to mess with us again. We are capable of setting this whole country on fire and so what if it only damages and destroys our own assets – at least the whole world will know that peace can not be taken for granted.
Speaking of peace, most crowds seem to be thronging towards the US Consulates today. This may be because the US President had been the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and what better activity on World Peace Day than to pay respects to the peace prize winner – but then again, this could also be because of the horrid filmmaker who has given us another reason to say ‘Go America Go’ (note: this may sound contradictory but this slogan is actually not chanted in a complimentary way).
Our children are missing school day after day, our businesses are suffering losses worth billions, our healthcare is in shambles and our security situation is deteriorating every hour, but our faith remains strong – turn on your television and you’ll be able to see that not even a distraction like World Peace Day can turn us away from our first and foremost duty – although, I do believe Pakistan playing a cricket match today would have altered the situation quite a lot … unless the cricketers would decide to wear black armbands in protest and hence inspire the crowds watching to react Pakistani style.
Alas, all is not lost for tucked away from the madness of the country I imagine our president releasing a dove or two of his own … you know, just to emphasise his agenda for peace.
The writer is the Deputy Editor at Dawn.com
Really Sad.
I was really moved by the expressions of intense grief, anger and uncontrolllable rage on the faces of the children in the picture…
Please do not piece the peace
Pity we do not get more articles like this in our Western media. Showing us that not everybody in Pakistan is an extremist, message from Belgium
This was a good opportunity for the unemployed have-nots to to vent their frustrations towards the wealthy and for kids to have fun.
As Pogo said: “We have met the enemy and it is us.”
Govt is responsible for this anarchy. it utterly failed in its basic duty i.e. to protect the life and property of the people, FIR should be registered against Govt for all the losses i.e human & material. Also leaders of the fanatics parties should be put into bar who are constantly damaging image of Islam in the name of protecting it. These fanatics are increasing market value of those who are insulting our religion.
Sheikh: Bravo, I fully agree with you. Let the country bring the leaders to justice for the deaths of 20 poor Pakistani citizens . These politicians were aware that the mass demonstration will get out of control. But they did not care.
“This may be because the US President had been the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and what better activity on World Peace Day than to pay respects to the peace prize winner”
They must’ve thought they too could get the Nobel Peace Prize. Wouldn’t blame them, since drone terror and increased violence by the US during Barack’s regime didn’t faze the Nobel Prize Committee.
Shyema: My hats off and respect you for this article. People are destroying their own property and inflicting further damage to a country already engulfed by violence.Peaceful and firm demonstrations are more effective than anarchy. What has shown that Pakistan is a hard bed of violent people and Islam is a violent religion. Islam supposed to be a peaceful, tolerant religion. Prove to non Muslims by deeds, writing, debates and research that they are wrong about their projection of Islam and the prophet. Then and only then, these ignorant non Muslim fanatics could be brought under control. Otherwise,the clash of religions, civilizations will go on for generations to come until one group is subdued.
our protest was against the teaching of our beloved PROPHET HAZRAT MUHAMMAD (P.B.U.H)
I am just amazed how quick the Indians are to lecturing Pakistanis on rioting. How conveniently they forget their own riots in Assam or Gujrat or Bombay. Assam riots were only a month ago.
And I am amazed how Pakistanis never learn a lesson and pick out months and yeas old rioting incidents. If ever you need to see the mirror.
Don’t bring India into this now. Lets call spade a spade. What is wrong is wrong, and anyone can point that out. It is not just India but the whole world community of nations is condemning Pakistan for its mob rule, weak government and a weaker military! As an ex-pakistani and a Muslim I am ashamed of the pakistanis. They are a blot on the fair name of islam and a disgrace to the human community!!
By their insane actions ,Pakistanis have proved that they do not need enemies to fight .They are self sufficient in this.They have also proved with evidence that Islam is a religion of peace by their actions.No further proof is required.Just imagine the future that lies in store for such people.A failed state may be a mild title.
The person who made the movie must now be saying “ha ha .. My point proven – I rest my case !”
How true. and sad.
Many people say the movie and cartoons portray Muslims wrongly as violent and mad people. With all that is happening, can any Muslim now say these cartoonists were wrong (about typical Muslims) ?!
Peace in pieces!
Go Pakistanis go. This is the way to do it. Loot,plunder,destroy,kill all to show love.
i wonder if these trucks ,cinema buildings belongs to the guy who made the film or americans. if NO, these people are biting their own tail. somebody swear at u and u start hitting ur self in anger. Lol..
Yes ALL Americans where involved in making this film so ALL Americans should be guilty of it’s school of thought. Sounds like people are just looking for any thing to get violent about. Pakistan has so many problems to over come and all people see is xenophobic rage, religous hatred, and violence as the answer to EVERYTHING.