Our collective failure

RAWALPINDI: George Fulton’s article of two parts titled “George ka khuda hafiz” is simply devastating and so very well put. He has an astonishing clarity of mind, a powerful pen and a soft heart. We failed him just as we have failed those who struggled and died for Pakistan. A nation which is not at peace with itself is not at peace with anyone. We have gone a step further, we have taken murder and mayhem to their doors and that too in the name of Islam.

The heartless murder of Salmaan Taseer and the beastly killing of Shahbaz Bhatti are not one-off incidents but speak of a horribly deep and widespread malaise that has gripped our nation. We have lost all sense of morality, justness and civility. We are devouring ourselves and relishing it. Our dark sectarian and uncompromising biases have replaced thousands of years old human values. We have become jury, judge and executioner all in one and do not give those accused of, say, blasphemy the right to defend themselves. What a pity, how irreversibly we have degenerated.

One regrets to have failed George by mercilessly destroying his romance with our country. We will be sorrier to have failed ourselves and there will be no one around to even lament that failure.

Brig (r) Mehboob Qadir

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2011.