Law of the jungle

Have you ever watched those documentaries aired on the National Geographic channel that show the endless struggle between the predator and the prey for the sake of survival? I am sure we all have.

One such documentary showed a lion’s pride that repeatedly ambushes animals — especially those that don't have the ability to cause any harm in return. The lion, as we know, is the ‘king’ of the jungle and considered to be the strongest among all its competitors.

Not that the mother of the prey wouldn't want to retaliate and bring their child back; it’s just that she’s innately incapable of fighting that beast single-handedly. All the lessons of survival she taught her infants prove inefficient. Every moment she spent with her child is taken away.

While watching the documentary, I was appallingly able to relate to it — though at a subconscious level. Repeated instances of terrorism have left us and our mothers absolutely helpless.

Children have been killed in front of their mothers almost on a daily basis. We all have seen our mothers becoming obsessed with our security after every terrorist attack. They have become as uncertain about our lives as those living in jungles, nurturing animals.

It all started after the Army Public School attack in Peshawar, a day that will remain forever etched in the memory of every Pakistani mother. The loss of 147 innocent lives to extremism shook not just the mothers of those killed but every mother in the land.

But we seem to have learnt nothing from that horrific assault. That is proved by the attack on Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, where 21 innocent souls, mostly students, lost their lives when four unidentified gunmen entered the premises and opened fire on students and faculty members.

For how long will our mothers have to keep fearing for our lives day in and day out? This is a question that needs to be asked from those in power.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th,  2016.