![murderous decisions murderous decisions](https://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/213699-SamiShahNew-1311172694.jpg)
It’s not a traditional approach to meditation, I will grant them that much. And I am forced to wonder whether it was the first method they tried or was there a lot of fruitless searching for empty roads to drive on and lighting of scented candles before finally realising that mass murder was the key to attaining true clarity. Also, what is it exactly about the killing of scores of people in a short time span that gives them the required focus? Is it the concentration needed to organise a cull on such a large scale? Maybe the rat-a-tat-tat of machine gun fire and the following thud of a body hitting the floor creates a sort of hypnotic trance. Regardless, the 100 people who were killed last week in the violence that resulted in a return to the status quo have died knowing that at least their lives were sacrificed for a worthy cause. Without their senseless murders, the parties could never have split so dramatically with angry pronouncements and then reconciled their differences in such a short time. Many have said that their eventual reunion was a foregone conclusion. That the PPP and MQM are like that married couple who fight every six months and the breaking of furniture, tossing of crockery and killing of bystanders is just a part of the process they need to work through to stay together (okay maybe I’m the only one who says that). Nevertheless, we may all know the way the story ends, but that doesn’t mean the participants don’t require the predetermined performances to reach their goal. So if it took 100 murders at the hands of political parties and roving gangs of disgruntled wives and girlfriends that Rehman Malik is trying to warn us about, for that final major decision to get back to exactly where we were two weeks ago to be made, then so be it.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2011.
COMMENTS (13)
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Great article! just when you put political news in this way they become readable, otherwise they are so sad that after a few lines u know what the author is going to rant on and on about.keep writing x
Grotesque Sense of Humor.
Death of an innocent is too final to be banal about.Hard hitting all the same.
Great stuff. You've said a lot without saying a lot.
Article was great. Very funny, on the mark and very effective.
i have always adored the way you write it!
Mr. Shah, i usually enjoy reading your work, but this one, sadly was in bad taste. Satire should not be used for every situation.
A good article and a good analysis; but it is not as simple as we observe or made to believe. So many hidden hands may be working in the country to create confusions and hatred in the society through our own people. Now, killing seems to be easiest solution of all disputes as human blood is cheapest product in the country as normally killers are not traceable. Who is responsible and who will control this culture/tradition is not yet known------government, police or any other law enforcing agency? Are they so capable and sincere to the cause of maintaining law and order. Hatred and killing is part of our culture now and who is responsible and who will control it, by bringing change in thinking of common man. In the present existing system it is sardar, peer, big land lords, Madarsahs, Mullahs, preachers, Imams of mosques and teachers can play an important role and bring a change in society, if they feel their responsibility and make proper efforts; otherwise they will also suffer at the end.. Because culture of hatred is spreading like cancer in the country rather it has already prevailed.
Brilliantly put...I love the part about Rahman Malik..laughed out quite loud
Very well written article!
This is one of the finest op-ed piece I have read on this paper so far.
sadly life is the cheapest thing to toss around in pakistan,
Where is that girl now?