While both of you are still busy fighting over who won the elections, we are anxious for the safety of our children
ISLAMABAD: While both of you are still busy fighting over who won the elections, we are anxious, day in and day out, for the safety of our children. Rarely do I ever voice a strong opinion but today when my innocent four-year-old came home from school and naively told me about how they were taught a new ‘game’ in class where the kids needed to lie on the floor and cover their ears when a loud bell rang — it literally broke my heart. I was speechless. While my child was excited about this new game that he played at school, all I could think about and lament over was how I have failed as a parent to protect him, and how both of you have failed as leaders of this country to provide protection and employ adequate security measures for the sake of our children, who are, in fact, the future of Pakistan. Am I not justified in demanding the protection of my child while he’s pursuing an education?
While you are busy building metro stations and hospitals which cost billions, I want to question why you don’t have the money or manpower to ensure the safety of our children. Is it because it’s not profitable in your eyes? What could be more important than protecting the children of this country?
While you roam around in your bullet-proof cars chaperoned by a fleet of armed vehicles and guards, we are forced to send our children to schools that offer absolutely no guarantee of their safety. Can you imagine how disturbing this is for parents?
I am sorry to say this but you have failed as leaders of Pakistan, for a true leader is copiously aware of his priorities and there should be no higher priority than protecting the lives of our kids. I would really appreciate it if both of you stepped out of your bullet-proof cars and took immediate action to ensure that the lives of all Pakistani kids are safe from harm in schools and universities.
Sabeen Bilal
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2016.
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