Using a donkey

Its seemingly impossible to ask for concern for wildlife when state cannot even offer protection, rights to people.

Oftentimes, in order to draw a contrast on the malignant actions of a person or group, we compare them with animals by saying that the person is worse than an animal. However, one must disagree with this comparison because most animals are quite loving and only act in a hostile manner because they fear danger. In the latest news story out of Hangu, in central Orakzai, a bomb strapped to an innocent donkey claimed six innocent human lives. The bomb which blew up in a small marketplace also injured over 20 other people and damaged shops and property.

It is seemingly impossible to ask for concern for our wildlife when our state cannot even offer protection and rights to our people as is evidenced by the innumerable terror incidents that take place regularly. Year after year, we wait for new hopes that elevate us and convince us to believe that this might be the year we get rid of the Taliban. The killing of Osama bin Laden last year did just this; however, the country is still ever ridden with evil forces that not only kill innocent people, but now it appears will not even spare harmless animals. These forces are ruining the lives of families, orphaning children, widowing wives and rendering male widowers.

Upon the bombing, a police official said, “After causing much harm to human life, these militants have not even spared animals.” Sadly, nothing better can be expected from this evil force. On August 11, a bomb strapped to the back of another animal exploded in the Ferozkhel Mela area of Orakzai Agency though, thankfully, no loss of human life was reported. Day after day, the public watches the soap operas of our politicians and local and foreign armed forces. False promises are frequently made and important issues deliberately get delayed week after week. There is a long way to go before we receive our basic human rights to life and security, and an even longer way to go before animal rights can be sought. However, expressing concern and speaking out is a start.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2012.