We are not a separate nation

KARACHI: This is with reference to Lovita Pearl’s article “We are not a separate nation” (August 5). Our country is not living up to its ideals. Citizens belonging to faiths other than Islam, and citizens belonging to different communities within Islam, are under attack. At this time, we cannot be proud to be Pakistanis. We have not worked together to ensure that we build our country. We have not stood unified against those that seek to destroy it. Yet it is still our country. The ideals based on which it was created, amongst others, that we will secure equal opportunity and protection to citizens of all faiths - Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs - still stand. We have just failed to realise them.

But we cannot give up hope. Other countries that were created based on clear ideals, such as the US, seeking "equality, liberty and the pursuit of happiness", have struggled long and hard to realise them. Slavery was abolished more than 100 years after independence; women won the right to vote almost 200 years later. We cannot be complacent. We do not have a moment to lose. But even in these dark times, relinquishing our country is not an option. It is too dear, and it holds too much promise.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2010.