In Pakistan, we are Muslims first, then we are Pakistanis.
ISLAMABAD: This is with reference to Aakar Patel’s article of May 25, titled “Pakistan surreal Urdu media – I”. He has correctly described the nature of the bubble in which our Urdu ghairatmand media operates. It’s a pleasant surprise to know that an Indian analyst follows our Urdu press so keenly that he is well aware of these so-called columnists’ psychology and thinking patterns. Most of the people mentioned by him write columns based on emotions rather than facts, rationality and common sense. Most of them are not highly educated, have little or no foreign exposure and little formal training in journalism.
They have been raised on a lot of Naseem Hijazi’s biased historical novels. By being anti-American and anti-Indian, they skilfully brand themselves in order to gain a firm foothold in an ultra-competitive columnists’ market. Also, going by their columns, it seems that many a story that these columnists break is fed to them by those who know everything about everyone.
Our education system teaches us to hate all non-Muslims. I have been educated in a state-owned school where, though the education was free, it was full of propaganda and jihadi values. About 10 years ago, I was in middle school and I vividly remember how our Islamic Studies and Arabic teachers tried to brainwash us into joining jihad in Kashmir. The charm and fascination of a jihadi culture was so dominant that I seriously thought about doing just that.
In Pakistan, we are Muslims first, then we are Pakistanis. While in India, they are Indians first, then, they are Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs or others. This is the difference which sums up the dire situation in which we find ourselves these days.
I Hussain
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2011.
