The negligent Pakistani
On October 9, 2012, Malala Yousafzai, at 14-years-old, was shot in the head and neck. This changed a lot of grey in Pakistan to an unwavering black and white. A wave of introspection began to take its course. People began to realise that there was a choice: the future Malala wanted, or something else (whatever that something else was).
For most, this came as a mix of shock, resentment and disgust, all directed towards the incident itself. For me, it was a source of sorrow and disdain – because we let this incident take place.
They say that the Taliban are to blame for this, but to me that seems like the easy answer. Easy because it’s obvious; easy because it’s convenient. This vast oversimplification of who’s at fault is blatantly indicative of who is really responsible. Upon this, my sorrow solidifies to frustration, my disdain to anger.
An atmosphere of fear has pervaded its way into every breath of being Pakistani, and I am disturbed that we have allowed it to do so. When 27 bullets claimed Salmaan Taseer because he spoke out against the misuse of a law used to persecute minorities, Pakistan was quiet. Before his death, there was an influx of articles, of people charged with emotion, ready to struggle to amend the law for a better Pakistan. After his death, politicians were silenced. People stood dumbly as the threat of death become so much more real. I blame the Pakistani society for allowing this fear to perpetuate.
Pakistanis have shown that they, collectively or individually, are not ready to stand for causes that they believe in. But Malala is different. And her perseverance, her dedication should make us all ashamed. She is not a product of the Pakistani society or the Pakistani mentality. She started writing at 11 – not in a comparatively safe haven like Karachi or Lahore, but in Swat; not from a privileged background with no security threat and generous wealth, but from a modest one. She didn’t grow up with the opportunities that you and I grew up with, or the access to information or knowledge that you and I had thrown at us, yet she grew up stronger. She grew up better.
Now, once the damage has been done, we acquire a voice. Incidents like this spark passionate responses from us Pakistanis. We champion such causes as our own, though always when it’s too late. But what’s worse is our half-hardheartedness; what’s worse is how minimally we contribute, how ineffectively we help.
People took to Facebook and Twitter to vent their frustration. But history suggests that this is going to be just another link shared, another disapproving status written, or, if one were very generous, another profile picture changed. We did this for the Blasphemy Law. We did this for the flood. We did this for Shahbaz Taseer. We did this for the Ahmadis. We did this, and we forgot. We moved on.
We often ask in dejection: What can our one voice do. Turn to Malala; look at what it can do. It gets arguably the most feared faction in the world to dread a 14-year-old girl. She stood alone and defended her cause because she knew that if she wouldn’t, no one would. She was – is – “scared of no one”.
Malala stood for her cause from the tender age of 11 – something we cannot, and should not forget. She stood for her cause and did not let herself get distracted. We are slowly doing the opposite. News of her health and condition flooded media outlets. Politicians, policymakers and people ran to her defense, condemning the act as one of cowardice, one of terror. But few condemned the Taliban. This was treated as an incident, not the manifestation of a mindset.
People now argue whether Madonna’s tribute in the form of a striptease was too scandalous, or why the media doesn’t focus on the innocent 14-year-old girls killed by drone strikes. But this is not relevant. I blame the people who deflect the attention from where it should be, and the ones who allow this deflection.
I blame said messiahs like Imran Khan who say that the war against extremism is “not our war”, and I blame the educated elite who allow that mentality to flourish. That belief is a form of indirect sympathy for the Taliban, and direct ignorance towards a mindset that claims the minds of an overwhelming number of Pakistanis. The declaration that this war is not our duty is harmful beyond words. It sheds us from all responsibility of creating a monster on our territory, a monster that is fighting our people. If this is not something that we have the duty to fight, then we are being apathetic towards causes like Malala’s. Malala did not believe that this war is not ours; she fought it single-highhandedly and refused to surrender.
The Taliban have vowed to kill Malala if she survives, and have vowed to kill her father, who is as heroic as she. Our fear, our apathy and our ignorance gave way for an incident we regret. But now, the same fear, the same apathy, and the same ignorance can lead to her death, to her father’s death. We have been given another chance, and I fear it is our last.
People say that the Taliban did this to Malala, but I think that we did. I think our silence causes and continues to cause our future to darken. People say that Malala represents Pakistan and its struggles, but I don’t think she does. I think she is one of the few who struggled for change, that she is one of the few that fought for a voice, that she is one – in one hundred and eighty million.
S. Azam Mahmood is an undergraduate studying Cognitive Science and Neuroscience.
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.
Very well written article. What happened to our analytical minds? Why can we see things objectively and subjectively? Why do we have so short lived memory? Why our so called think tank and great religious leaders silence on this topic? What we are scared of?? To die for a cause is something rather than to die for nothing…..but than again who defines the causes, our Generals, our political parties our religious leaders….. Let us open ours eyes for god sake…..
good article, there we have it in a nutshell. In Pakistan there are people who may defend Taliban rule, but those who grow up under Taliban rule see the barbaric unjust reality. I think the author is correct to show that the blasphemy law must be changed for to do so would be to accept Taliban dictat. We must protect not only the name of the prophet but also its spirit. Spirit means true justice, not licence to persecute minorities.
Malala you have shown yourself to be a true inheritor of the Quaid-e-azam’s dream. Let us make sure we turn this into reality, and not be dissuaded by fear.
The author’s conclusion is correct. Most readers of Dawn will concur with that. But what is most important is how to direct the society in the positive direction. And, that cannot happen till the society owns and corrects its past mistakes. Nothing good can be expected to happen to people with mistaken identity and roots. Kids even today are made to believe that their history links them to Ottoman Empire and not to the much older Indian culture. Kids are made to believe that Pakistan has been victimised by every country except China without mentioning all the aid the world has given to Pakistan. They are made to believe that the other countries are responsible for where Pakistan stands today…. No, god is not going to help – he helps those who help themselves.
Fearless Azam Mahmood’s truly unbiased article is testament that there exist 21st century-sane people in Pakistan even today. His thoughts are so true to life in Pakistan today, and the manner in which he has describes his yearnings towards his beloved country’s future shuddered me into fearing that Azam may be the next Shahbaz Taseer. Regarding brave Malaala, it has already been said that she and/or her family would ultimately be killed. As they say, “a good idea can be defeated only by a better idea,” not by silencing the sayer!
I believe that america is fully responsible for malala attack by killing millions of innocent Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan,tribal area of Pakistan and elsewhere.The writer should also write about the misery of people living in tribal area and facing drone attacks,about the movie,cruelty in Guantanamo bay.
Earlier sufi saints led Islam by love and harmony, now Talibans are doing the same job but in different manner i.e. by killing and hunting.
good article. i have just one comment regarding your assertion in the article that IK says that it is not our war. please be a little more judicious when attributing such statements to a public figure (who could possibly be the only one out of the crop of current leaders capable of preventing the pakistani ship from sinking). IK basically says that ‘currently’ this is not our war and he is right because this war is being fought by the americans (pakistan is only a collaborator). IK points to the fact that we must make this our war and only then do we have a chance of winning it. most people already are confused about IKs stance due to various reasons (beyond Imran’s control) and misrepresentations such as the one in this article further fuel that confusion.
Pakistan has made an unchecked descent into facism. This theology driven phenomenon was rightly identified by Bush era neocons as Islamo-facism.
This is the best piece of writing I have read on this subject. Kudos!
very nice article…..what I learnt from it is……PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE……so have every citizen of Pakistan……to live in fear and let your daughters slaughtered….OR to be a hero in the eyes of your children, your family, your relatives, your community, your country………in my veiw……if Malala is legend……her father is proud…..hats off to him.
Mr Azam Mahmood is so right, Malala does not represent Pakistan because Pakistan remained silent and she was brave and spoke out. Malala
is what Pakistan should be
Heard Malala is recovering well. God is great!
It is not Pakistan’s fault that Malala Yusufzai was shot point blank at her forehead by a Taliban — it is Taliban’s fault that a 14 years old child girl was in coma for almost 2 weeks. The Talibans did it — the Talibans MUST be punished — Imran Khan or no Imran Khan.
Somehow, I knew all along that even when an interntional figure, IK would express extremist views that should have died with past ages. Decades ago when they asked him what should the cricketing world do with those cricketers who fixed matches, his reply straightaway was, “hang them!” In what manner of speaking, someone may like to advise me, this ideology is different from an extremist’s ideology.
Only way to get out this mess is to wipe out the past, clean the slate and start again. Together. There no point in plaing blame games on “who did what in the past”.
In pakistan, I am wondering how many people are honet like this writer ?
To be fair, it looks like this writer does not live in Pakistan. If I were a Pakistan resident, I would think twice writing a piece like this. I saw the Malala interview years ago – the one that infuriated the Taliban. At the time, the thought did cross my mind that they could attack her (they had killed a Swat politician who was also progressive). So it is not easy to be honest in Pakistan. But now Pakistan is fighting for its own identity: is it a modern Islamic state or is it a Taliban state? So easy or not, more Pakistanis have to become honest for the sake of your country.
Education for girls is absolutely essential and no reasonable person would dispute that, however, the fact that some men think it is not, means that their education is also sadly lacking. Since most of the positions of power are held by men, perhaps we should be focussing on educating the males to appreciate and respect the importance of women in society, and the value of education of both genders.
I don’t understand why Taliban hate education.. Why they never talk openly and only live behind shadows. They attack when you don’t see them, when you attack them they flee. I don’t understand why Middle East countries have invested so much on Taliban. I don’t understand how Taliban are still funded. I don’t understand why politicians like Imran Khan or Nawaz Shareef have a soft corner for them. I don’t understand how they can pray 5 times a day, fast in the month of Ramazan and yet shamelessly kill people. I don’t understand why tableeghi jamaats are still allowed to knock at doors and convert more innocent souls to Taliban. I don’t understand why our education system does not include it part of it’s curriculum how to avoid the Taliban school of thought. I don’t understand why if Taliban kill innocent souls, the Alims of the world stay quiet, but if the army decides to launch an attack on them, they revolt about it. I don’t understand why if you challenge their alims, their only defense is that we can’t understand Islam. I don’t understand why the Taliban were so quiet when the movie of the prophet was put on youtube. I don’t understand why they want to enforce sharia on us, but they themselves never prosecute their own followers if caught in adultery or homosexuality or stealing. I don’t understand why their focus is so much on namaz and fasting and not in building good society and moral values. I don’t understand why Osama Bin Ladin named people working abroad as slaves of dollars, yet he advised his own children to live peacefully in the west, get a proper education and live peacefully. I request all Taliban and Taliban apologists to sincerely pray to Allah to guide them and not keep asking for forgiveness for their sins because Allah is Raheem Kareem and forgiving. But ask Allah that if you are wrong, then may His wrath fall upon you as proof for your misdoings so that your Aakhirat (life after death) has a place in heaven. Stop hiding behind shadows. Come out in the open! If you give me a thumbs down give me a reason why. Don’t be shy, I won’t bomb you, I’ll only ask you what you don’t understand and we can discuss matters peacefully!
It is time for us to decide. Do we want a Malala’s Pakistan or a Taliban’s Pakistan?
I do’nt want Malala Pakistan it is just like say that i want veena malik pakistan if u have any rifft with taliban go afghanistan and help the Nato against Taliban
All I can say regarding your post Rana is
The most violent element in society is ignorance.
A sensible beginning would be to stop being the keeper of the other persons’ conscience. Respect everyone’s independent thinking. If a person wishes to be beyond the restraints of faith, let them be so, or the country will surely be left lingering behind the fast advancing world.
Excellent analysis. It is time that the people wake up and stand up for ensuring that Pakistan survives. Every day the situation is worse than the previous day. Very few people of Pakistan have the courage to stand up and side with the truth. Today it is Malala, tomorrow it will be our own near and dear ones. We are allowing these un-educated tyrants who call themselves as guardians of Islam to create havoc in our lives. We all keep quiet. That encourages them to repeat such actions. Judiciary which appears to be the strongest force in Pakistan today, has to show a way by not releasing the militants caught by the security forces at great risk to their lives. At present the unsocial elements do not have any fear. I am surprises that a person of Imran Khan’s calibre has not found it proper to come out strongly against the Taliban in the Malala case. If this is his stand today, how can there be a hope for Pakistan.
Is the mullah is too powerful or govt.is too weak
Yes Mullah is Power ful because he is not Involved in Rental power , swiss cases and Hajj corruption.
I have a question. Did any of the religious parties in Pakistan had any rallies to protest attack on Malala?
God Bless you sister. Keep fight for good.All Indians , entire world is proud of you.
what the taliban have done is right and wrong! wrong bcoz as obvious the world knows and right because atleast due to them pakistanis are already in stone age and cant think of competing great pwers like india and china!
Thank you for this peice. We need to get over this learned helplessness and do something before Pakistan goes the way of Afghanistan.
Best article I have read to date….
The Malala incident is a reflection on Pakistan and more importantly on Islam. Both are big losers and have been for some time
this is a great piece from the young guy…we need such youth…best sentence..”I blame said messiahs like Imran Khan who say that the war against extremism is “not our war”, and I blame the educated elite who allow that mentality to flourish.”