I believe that after Pakistan was created, Pakistanis lacked commonality of interest, similar vision and goals.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA: This is with reference to AH Nayyar’s piece “Stop distorting Jinnah’s words” (August 14). Is it not time to get over what Jinnah, Gandhi or Bacha Khan said? Political personalities will say whatever they have to say today and quite the opposite tomorrow.
Jinnah created a country and his job was done. The kind of country a people want to have is their wish and doing. I believe that after Pakistan was created, Pakistanis lacked commonality of interest, similar vision and goals. It was thought that the glue of religion would overcome all differences. This did not happen but what did happen is that Pakistan lost its culture, minorities and diversity, with democracy being destroyed and the country breaking up.
To build a country, what is needed are wisdom, foresight and perseverance to have a vision and common goals that can motivate, with any achievement being rewarded in an appropriate manner. When the goals of the rulers and citizens are divergent, fear and oppression will be resorted to retain control. A narrative will also be created that misery is a result of external forces out to destroy the country. To face the truth, what is needed are strength and courage, which are sorely lacking at this juncture in Pakistan’s history.
Feroze Daruwala
Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2013.
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