Will this country ever learn?

The 147 martyrs of Army Public School, Peshawar became the face of that one day when Pakistan saw the worst, the most horrific, most terrifying attack in its history. The December 16, 2014 massacre changed Pakistan in a way never seen before, as the country mourned its children, school staff and army personnel. The tragedy of APS defies words, defies comprehension: to watch humanity sink, so low that one is at a loss of words… why do human beings do what they do?

Much has been said, and much has been done after the December 16, 2014 tragedy. Pakistan stood stunned beyond belief, but united as it saw its heart being broken, its soul being attacked. The 147 graves of the APS martyrs jolted Pakistan out of its apathetic existence, as the sheer enormity of what had happened sank in, with the wails of 147 families piercing minds that had become accustomed to reading reports of guns and bombs wreaking terror all over Pakistan. The National Action Plan, endorsed by the civilian and military leaderships, came into implementation, as the security dynamics were strengthened, military courts were formed with parliamentary agreement, the moratorium on capital punishment was lifted, and vows were made to eliminate terrorism at all costs. So far, so good.

December 16, 2015 came around, and the whole of Pakistan observed the first anniversary of the APS tragedy. As Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif attended the memorial at APS Peshawar, throughout Pakistan, prayers, vigils and memorial ceremonies were held and there was non-stop media coverage. We will not forget and we will not forgive. The collective emotion of Pakistanis on December 16, 2015 was reflected in sombre expressions and very solemn words. The vow to fight terrorism was reiterated, as photographs of the young martyrs of APS were seen all over Pakistan, with heavy hearts and moistened eyes.

While the hangings of convicted terrorists continue — some labelling this a kneejerk reaction to a very complex issue, also raising concerns among anti-capital punishment organisations — incidents of terror are on the decline, a very positive development. Also heard is the constant reiteration of vows to destroy the funding, training and movement of militants throughout Pakistan. There is no distinction of good or bad terrorism: another much-uttered statement from the civilian and military leaderships. The massacre of children and unarmed adults is taken as a sacrifice that jolted an apathetic nation to sit up. While much has changed after December 16, 2014, not much has changed in Pakistan circa December 16, 2015.

The fundamental issue remains unchallenged: that of indoctrination; that of radicalisation; that of incitement of hatred against the ‘wrong kind of Muslims’ and non-Muslims; that of the lesson of extremism; and that of training the young to become killing machines. Nothing will change in the fight against terrorism unless there is enough courage, enough pragmatism, and enough far-sightedness to look at the real picture — the picture of a Pakistan where madrassas are used as institutions to impart lessons of hate, narrow-mindedness and bigotry. Where mosque pulpits are used to incite violence against ‘infidels’ — be they within Pakistan or outside. Where religion is used as a weapon to wage ‘holy war’ on Hindus, Jews and all who appear to be in opposition to the extremist. Where banned organisations rebrand themselves, avowing annihilation of the ‘enemy’, using young Pakistanis for their purpose of creating mayhem outside of Pakistan. Where the indoctrinated youth turn rogue and kill their own. Where religion is used to wage wars to perpetuate vested interests and agendas of hegemony. Where the Hindu population has dwindled to almost being non-existent in most parts of the country. Where Christians live under perpetual fear of persecution, camouflaged under legal injunctions. Where Ahmadis are labelled pariahs by the Constitution, their places of worship and workplaces torched, their entry into shopping arcades banned. Where doctors, social workers, human rights activists, polio vaccination teams, teachers and journalists are killed in the name of doing good for Pakistan. Where no rules of engagement exist, and no life is sacred. Where people are killed as they kneel to pray in mosques, churches and imambargahs. And where children are shot in the head at point-blank range.

There is no closure for those who lose their loved ones to an act of terror; there is no commiseration that balms the pain. Whether it is New York, London, Paris, Nairobi, Bali, Bangkok, Kabul, Mumbai or Peshawar, the pain of losing a loved one to terror is the same. Then why the differentiation between ‘their’ pain and ‘ours’? Till how long will we continue to compartmentalise terror? Till how long will we continue to employ selective justice? The 147 martyrs of APS will only really rest in peace if we do the following: look within. And act. Now. And save Pakistan from… Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th,  2015.

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