THE recent blast in Peshawar has once again reminded us all how cheap life of the common man is in Pakistan. It is unfortunate, but that is what the actual worth of human life is in the country, and has been for a long time.

Regardless of who happens to be running the affairs of the country, the government of Pakistan, as an institution, does not care one bit. Keeping or regaining power seems to be the sole concern of all political parties in the country.

Right now, it seems everything is on an auto mode. Once a tragedy happens, there is a plethora of condemnations and promises, followed by no action worth its name.

Nobody wants to be a martyr by choice. Calling the dead martyrs does no one any good. To keep talking of the ‘brave’ nation does not at all help the ones left behind.

Touqeer W. Chishty
Lahore

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2023