At what age did you lose your sovereignty?

Hasaan Haider Published May 15, 2011
Karachi, already facing a daily dose of traffic jams is troubled yet again by a jam due to traders demonstrating against excessive loadshedding on May 12.Control yourself people, control yourself.
Karachi, already facing a daily dose of traffic jams is troubled yet again by a jam due to traders demonstrating against excessive loadshedding on May 12.Control yourself people, control yourself.
Really, do we have so much water to waste? I guess that's how the barren land is flourishing with greenery.
Really, do we have so much water to waste? I guess that's how the barren land is flourishing with greenery.
It's the simple yet shocking things like why this woman is working in such conditions and why and how her child is sleeping next to her?
It's the simple yet shocking things like why this woman is working in such conditions and why and how her child is sleeping next to her?
Only in Pakistan will one see electrical wires held up with bamboo poles.
Only in Pakistan will one see electrical wires held up with bamboo poles.
Even art in Pakistan is beginning to be infused with the premise of terror?and I thought that was one area which I could rely on to have a peace of mind.
Even art in Pakistan is beginning to be infused with the premise of terror?and I thought that was one area which I could rely on to have a peace of mind.
Yes, ?adding fuel to the fire? is something that can be said every now and then.
Yes, ?adding fuel to the fire? is something that can be said every now and then.
Come Friday, a colossal blast kills over 80 people.These people certainly do not want to stand in fear all the time, but have we really given them any choice?
Come Friday, a colossal blast kills over 80 people.These people certainly do not want to stand in fear all the time, but have we really given them any choice?
?and then another blast not only kills several passengers, it rips apart nearly every bit of a Pakistani pride called truck art.
?and then another blast not only kills several passengers, it rips apart nearly every bit of a Pakistani pride called truck art.
Then there is people like this. Same thing, different day, and a different person to hold up high.
Then there is people like this. Same thing, different day, and a different person to hold up high.
?while they are the angry ones letting off steam against security officials outside the Pakistan Parliament.
?while they are the angry ones letting off steam against security officials outside the Pakistan Parliament.
I couldn?t believe my eyes when I saw this one.Can anybody explain to me what in the world is going on? Someone actually got folk dancers to indulge in and provoke merry-making outside the Pakistan Parliament?
I couldn?t believe my eyes when I saw this one.Can anybody explain to me what in the world is going on? Someone actually got folk dancers to indulge in and provoke merry-making outside the Pakistan Parliament?
Not that we didn?t have our hands already full, who could have known that on the same day as the so called ?in camera? briefing, another man far away asked for some camera time too to announce his return to the country in just a few months. Good going!
Not that we didn?t have our hands already full, who could have known that on the same day as the so called ?in camera? briefing, another man far away asked for some camera time too to announce his return to the country in just a few months. Good going!
Are you serious? Yet another marvelous huge smile ? in Moscow that is.You know, I didn?t really get the point of my senior most supervisor to keep writing blog-letters to Mr President complaining how he's always away?until NOW.
Are you serious? Yet another marvelous huge smile ? in Moscow that is.You know, I didn?t really get the point of my senior most supervisor to keep writing blog-letters to Mr President complaining how he's always away?until NOW.
Coming back to a very significant photo of daily life in Pakistan, illustrating beautifully the status of women as well as minorities in our country.Martha Mughar, 62, stands in her vegetable stall waiting for customers in an alley of a Christian neighborhood in Islamabad.
Coming back to a very significant photo of daily life in Pakistan, illustrating beautifully the status of women as well as minorities in our country.Martha Mughar, 62, stands in her vegetable stall waiting for customers in an alley of a Christian neighborhood in Islamabad.
?and so finally we reach the picture my boss pointed out. A police post being dismantled during an anti-encroachment operation. You have to love the irony of not only this but the next photo as well.
?and so finally we reach the picture my boss pointed out. A police post being dismantled during an anti-encroachment operation. You have to love the irony of not only this but the next photo as well.
(This photo is self explanatory)
(This photo is self explanatory)
After 16 photographs I landed upon this one.Unlike the other word that could have been used in the title for this gallery, this girl collecting fallen wheat at a grain market gave me the hope that Pakistan can regain what it has lost. There will surely be a better day.
After 16 photographs I landed upon this one.Unlike the other word that could have been used in the title for this gallery, this girl collecting fallen wheat at a grain market gave me the hope that Pakistan can regain what it has lost. There will surely be a better day.

So my boss had been after me since a couple of days to enlighten our readers and viewers visually, what in all reality the word ‘sovereignty’ for Pakistan means now.

First things first I made one hundred per cent sure that I got the meaning right myself. After that was confirmed I pondered for hours frantically on how to get this task done. Although he had as a reference shown me a photo in the Dawn Newspaper which appears at number 15. Of course it would make more sense if you browse through all the photos to get to it.

Several hours later I discovered that by going through just a few photographs depicting life in Pakistan, it was simply right there in front of me…and for a moment, I had lost all hope that we might not regain what our country seemed to have lost some time ago… – Text and captions by Hasaan Haider/Dawn.com. Photos by agencies.

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Comments (24) Closed
shivshankar
May 15, 2011 08:21am
The collection of photos and its caption is really outstanding. We really miss such type of outlook and differeness in indian print media. I regularly read two pakistan papers. I do not about other fields, but pakistan print media is much ahead of india's print media. This could be becoz of affluent class reading enlish papers in india whereas due to huge problems, people involved in pak media are expressing from the bottom of their heart. Salute to you all.
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Reality
May 15, 2011 09:32am
Outstanding! Simply outstanding and very impressionable! Great job!
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Chak
May 15, 2011 09:38am
Couldn't help but notice the earthmover brand. Chinese are taking over boss, the chinese are taking over everything in Pakistan!!
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Tahir Naseer
May 15, 2011 10:05am
Great collection ! The pictures have surely said more than thousand words. I wish that this message could be reach and understood by all who are supposed be concerned.
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Nageen
May 15, 2011 11:37am
This collection of photographs in conjunction with your thought-provoking captions is wonderful. Though I have been born and raised in the U.S., I have always been proud of my Pakistani heritage. It breaks my heart to see the current conditions and the negative portrayals by the media. As a college student, I still have an idealistic mindset that somehow, the light at the end of the tunnel is closer than it may appear at the moment.
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sirsied blvd
May 15, 2011 01:53pm
@dawn: great pictorial journey !!!!! Surly the golden days will return ,iA w/o any doubt. @shivshanker reader: appreciate your encouragement from the other side of the spectrum !!!!!! ;))
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Metal
May 15, 2011 03:24pm
great work. Loved the last pic - if only decisions could be made based upon what the girl in the last pic thinks or wants - half the problems could be solved.
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Majida Tufail
May 15, 2011 05:38pm
outstanding- simple and precise- eyeopener!! Thanx
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Tamilselvan
May 15, 2011 07:12pm
Good photos. Sad but true. Pakistan needs to do some internal cleansing and get away from mullah rulers and come to terms with reality of it citizens suffering. First, let the leaders get away from the attitude of destroy India as it is only destroying Pakistan. Wake up and stop meddling in Kashmir and use the resources to develop your home. God Bless your country
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Naeem Iqbal
May 16, 2011 12:35am
It is one of the best way of sharing with the world a larger picture of Pakistan, I have come across. I wish more Indians like myself would learn to see it this way. Thank you Hasaan!
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Hamza
May 16, 2011 05:20am
This. This is just what we have become.
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Ahmed Pasha
May 16, 2011 08:48am
Pakistan lost sovereignity the day it became "Islamic Republic". The day we mixed religion and politics. This is a deadly cocktail which is consuming every Pakistani. This has given ample opportunity for politicians to exploit religion and use it as tool. This has been used to generate hate. You want to settle score with someone else, ...then there is no better way than to live better than other person. Let's make our people live comfortable. Isn't this should be the top priority?
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Vijai Agarwal
May 16, 2011 09:29am
I really like the words " can regain what it has lost". All Photographs are excellent and even better are the captions. Best I like are 15,16 & 17.
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Afaque
May 16, 2011 10:21am
Indeed a picture which speaks words... but i would disagree on the last line... Why control.... "Still" ????
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Omer
May 16, 2011 10:56am
Great Work!!
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Mayur
May 16, 2011 11:02am
Excellent work. Thank you for giving meaningful insight of pakistan
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Nazia
May 16, 2011 12:26pm
Great work!! which left me with only question '' when will actually our conscience grow''?
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Serendippp
May 16, 2011 12:39pm
Absolutely brilliant! It is eloquent testimony to the art of callous indifference about everything a the day to day life of a common man that the authorities have perfected. If the pictures were not so captioned, it could have been anywhere in the world, where governance has failed the people. Kudos.
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Ib
May 16, 2011 03:22pm
there will surely be a better day.....i certainly hope so !!!!
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straight talker
May 16, 2011 03:46pm
pakistan lost its sovereignty the day ex president musharaf sided with the american after the 09/11.
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Satya Issar
May 16, 2011 03:47pm
An excellent depiction of life where greedy and uncaring politicians are UNAWARE of what they are bringing to their own countries. Dependence on others as "ALL WEATHER FRIENDS" will bring more misery to Pakistan. In spite of all it's failings USA has more rational people to be objective. Will China with it's Communistic ideology and an unrecognisable language be the same? Please do not sign away your future yet again.
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Azad..
May 16, 2011 05:07pm
Pakistan lost its sovereignty at the age of 16 as mostly done..when Ayub khan entered US block..
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Ghairat
May 16, 2011 09:17pm
Felt Sad on seeing the little Girl picking up the fallen grain and also, the little girl sleeping in the floor in the Onion market.. Feel Really sad. & angry too.. The Govt`s in Asia spend billions on Arms, while they care a damn towards Health, wealth & prosperity of their citizens.
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Jules
May 16, 2011 11:36pm
Awesome shots that speak to the many issues facing Pakistan. Pakistan's golden era has long gone.....perhaps it will come back with time, honest leaders, and international support. Sadly it is now and has now been for awhile in a "on life support" situation. Those who can leave Pakistan for anywhere do so, those who cant, suffer the consequences. But as someone once said ...:" the show must go on"....lately the Pakistani show has been anything but entertaining for Pakistanis. Greetings from Canada.
Recommend 0

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