![the writer heads the centre for education and development in bahrain swat zubair torwali tribune com pk the writer heads the centre for education and development in bahrain swat zubair torwali tribune com pk](https://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/577709-ZubairTorwaliNew-1373993641.jpg)
On the societal level, all kinds of conspiracy theories were linked with Malala’s plight and growing popularity, especially on the international stage. Meanwhile, at the government level a marked indifference was seen. The new PML-N government didn’t deem it fit to even send a representative to the recent UN special assembly held last week on Malala’s sixteenth birthday.
Even the Obama Administration kept itself away from the celebration and didn’t send any official representative, perhaps because it is itself in talks with the Taliban. One could say the same about the Pakistan government as well, which seems eager to want to establish a dialogue with the Taliban in Pakistan. The Pakistani state is virtually on the defensive while the militants have over time become more organised and aggressive. The latter has happened in large part due to the inaction and confusion among mainstream political parties over the issue of terrorism and how to deal with it.
At the social level, Taliban apologists have quite successfully managed to spread a warped mindset among ordinary Pakistanis, which sees the militants as pious people striving to establish an Islamic state, and their opponents as Western-educated liberal heathens. The apologists have grown more powerful with the emergence of Imran Khan’s PTI, whose main argument with regard to militancy in Pakistan is that it is a reaction to drone strikes.
The conspiracy theories regarding Malala are most unfortunate and they are many. One posits that she is a tool in the hands of the American/Jewish lobby. This line of “reasoning” says that her ‘abrupt fame’ has been fuelled and guided by elements out to conspire against Pakistan. These conspiracy theorists, however, conveniently ignore the fact that the TTP has usually claimed responsibility for the attacks it carries out on Pakistani civilians and on mosques and imambargahs in Pakistan, including the one on Malala. They rationalise their warped way of thinking by “reasoning” that the TTP is actually an American plant as well — again forgetting the fact that the Americans have been at war with the Taliban. The conspiracy theorists are particularly dominant on social media — especially Facebook and Twitter — with many people apparently believing that a young innocent girl either got herself deliberately shot in the head or wasn’t shot at all and that it was all a drama!
It is interesting to note that another icon for women in Pakistan, indeed the entire world, Benazir Bhutto, was also — initially at least — seen as an Indian agent, a Jewish agent and even labelled a security risk. Let’s not forget that when Ms Bhutto first became prime minister of Pakistan, there were many people who couldn’t deal with seeing a woman in charge of running the country and said that a woman’s rule was against religion. Later on, it was revealed that on whose behalf this campaign against Ms Bhutto was conducted.
Thank God, Malala is alive and will be a piercing thorn in the sides of all barbaric forces and their apologists. She is now 16 and has a long life before her. Those who oppose her and call her an “agent” need to open their eyes and listen to the Taliban, who have said repeatedly that they will target her again.
Those who are with Malala Yousufzai stand for peace, harmony, for a pluralistic society and to a future where people can live a life free of violence and militancy. Those who are against her want to take Pakistan back to the Dark Ages.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (60)
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Even a great leader can not dare like Mala. She is the daughter of nation we should own her.
@ Hasan Mehmood
Bro I applaud your spirit of intellectual discourse towards a common purpose of enlightenment and acceptance.
Unless you have come across this before, I am providing a link below which should motivate genuine Muslims like you to remain steadfast in their Faith God willing we shall meet in person some day as well.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151469002676644
Sincerely
@excalibur: {My feet await your head there. Lets see HOW MUCH OF A MAN ARE YOU ?}
You have bowled me all ends up. One can find proponents of conspiracy theory at every nook and corner but when pressed to proceed logically to next step i.e unconditional call for their elimination, they suddenly get cold feet and revert to misguided brothers / drone reaction theme. Although I don't agree with your theory but we are certainly on one page regarding what needs to be done with these terrorists (doesn't matter if home grown or sponsored). I wish your fearless conviction was shared by political elite / establishment / security agencies and media (particularly URDU medium. We are long past halfway measures stage.
And YES, I stand by my words. You may provide your contact / location so I may offer my ultimate regards at your feet.
@Nasir Aman: OMG....What is it with you? Why so much negativity? Jealous of a little girl or is it that you are a nobody. Honestly I fail to understand the mindset of people like you. She has inspired millions with her courage,levelheadedness, her composure in the face of life threatening situations. And what is She asking for? A simple right for education for herself ,your's and my children. Not for the throne of Islamabad or Kabul. For God sake....
@ the dee cee /hassan mehmood mutual admiration club
Pity that you do not understand the difference between the Afghan Taleban and the Punjabi Taleban (TTP ) Afghan Taleban never are against education for girls THEY ONLY DISCOURAGE CO EDUCATION the TTP on the other hand are monsters created and funded by the nexus of RAW / Mossad/CIA The TTP also are declared affiliates of PML N/PTI and JUF /JI and take them as their Guarantors
TTP ;s epicentre is in Punjab and they are holed up in Kunar province of Afghanistan . NATO /AFGHAN forces never go after them even after they claim responsibility for all their dastardly attacks.
Malala and her father Zia ur rehman prostrated before Richard Holbrooke instead of reaching out within Pakistan.and were duly rewarded as mascots for the West in demonising Pakistan/Muslims much like Mukhtaran mai was feted internationally after her fake gang rape was exposed as fake first by LHC and then the SC
As for CIA/RAW /Mossad nexus to destabilise Pakistan just read the Times of India July 14 headline news how Pakistan is being targeted by false flag operations
Grow up and see reality !
@ Hassan Mehmood
Absolutely
{ I Excalibur hereby demand from security agencies to ruthlessly eliminate these religious barbarians who are in fact sponsored / funded / supported by CIA / MOSSAD / RAW etc. I also condemn unconditionally all those who provide moral / logistic / financial support to these mindless killers doing their overseas masters bidding. They being confirmed Enemy of State, anyone found supporting them be declared guilty of treason}
My feet await your head there. Lets see HOW MUCH OF A MAN ARE YOU ?
mr administrator
if you choose to censor and eliminate my right of reply please do so . I am not interested in wasting my time on such a biased attitude
@Dee Cee: Excellent analysis with logical basis. But the majority of people are not looking for rationality or logic so your effort and mine is most likely to be wasted. I had similarly posted once as to how can Taliban be foreign assets with joint sponsorship of CIA / MOSSAD / RAW and our misguided brothers (who need to be educated, not killed) at the same time. Needless to say no one replied. Similarly when asked as to what could be the broad parameters of dialogue / peace negotiations as so fervently demanded by JUI(F), PML(N), PTI etc there was deathly silence.
I have gone through lot of Malala bashing articles and the only plausible / apparently logical reason I found was the reference to West's obsession to wash off its sins of omission and commission and deflect the attention from the atrocities it has committed in the Muslim lands. Fair enough. But then have we or even our esteemed Arab brethren asked USA to first wash its hands of innocent Palestine blood (spilled by its supplied weapons and at the hands of its puppet) before offering us any AID. We consider verbal praise of a 16 year old girl (no party, NGO or movement, just a lower middle class girl) as an affront to the memory of hundreds of thousands killed in Iraq / Afghanistan but have no qualms in accepting USA controlled IMF / World Bank loans, grants, military equipment and even soybean oil on one hand and selling majority of our cotton and cotton products to the WEST being portrayed as eternal enemies of Muslims in general and Pakistanis in particular. Lets bang our heads against the wall.
@Hasan Mehmood: Thanks for the nice comment, but I'll try to simplify it for some. Praising Malala = Criticism of her attackers (TTP). Some say Criticism of TTP = Conspiracy against Pakistan. Then is TTP = Pakistan? No, right? Because TTP = CIA/RAW sponsored Foreign Agents. Then TTP is not equal to Misguided brothers or Soldiers of Islam. Then Criticism of TTP = Support for Pakistan = Support for Malala. Then what is the reason behind Criticism of Malala? Criticism of Malala = Criticism of the recognition she got from West (because West is axiomatically bad). Also, Criticism of Malala = Disbelief in how a little girl can be so much praised by the West when they are not praising anybody else = Lack of understanding of courage and integrity according to Western perspective (because courage in traditional narrative is reserved for Male Religious / Military leaders). So, Criticism of Malala does not equal to support for TTP. Then Criticism of Malala = Heartburn of Male Religious / Military leaders (and of the people who think Pakistan will become world leader through religion / military and not through education and democratic rights.) Would love to hear from people about the variables I might have missed. Peace!
@drsaviour In which clinic/hospital do you practice? Please share so I can avoid visiting you, thanks.
I salute Malala Yousufzai for her courage to fight the evil forces for a noble cause. Her seventeen minutes maiden speech left everyone spellbound, and I am sure she will address the UN Assembly as a top Pak leader one day. Most of the Pakistanis are caught up between choosing secularism and fanaticism, whereas TTP and sectarian forces are taking full advantage of this confusion in dividing the society and using violence as a tool to implement their twisted ideology. All sections of people need to unite against these barbarians and compel the Govt and military to take decisive action so that peace and prosperity to return back to Pakistan.
Akin to Abbottabad - Malala reminds the World that Pakistan is a country where terrorist run around free and face little justice. It's not Malala's fault that the govt of Pakistan didn't protect her or hasn't made meaningful efforts to bring her attackers to justice. It maybe embarrassing to Pakistan but blaming Malala is inappropriate.
@excalibur: I really feel pity for Malala Bashers / closet Taliban sympathizers like you who tie themselves in all sorts of knots. You say Malala is being used for insulting Pakistan whereas its the opposite. She is being held up as a third world icon who has successfully defied the stereo type week / meek / backward women. Not many countries can boast of producing such courageous ladies in face of such brutal threats. The only ones being insulted are TTP which in any case are CIA assets as per your warped mindset. As for Afghan Taliban reference its totally out of place. Nevertheless you need some education regarding Afghan Taliban's women education policy. Coming back to your claim of TTP being CIA assets and the fact that we all love to hate anything western, would you care to repeat on oath the following statement { I Excalibur hereby demand from security agencies to ruthlessly eliminate these religious barbarians who are in fact sponsored / funded / supported by CIA / MOSSAD / RAW etc. I also condemn unconditionally all those who provide moral / logistic / financial support to these mindless killers doing their overseas masters bidding. They being confirmed Enemy of State, anyone found supporting them be declared guilty of treason}
Please do that and not only I will switch over to your side but literally place my head in your feet. ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH?
I have read two columns of the same nature in English and two in Urdu. While agreeing totally with their sentiments, I ask: why don't the mention any names or quote from specific columns? What is so difficult about it? I fairly regularly read the columns in Jang, Express, and Dunya in Urdu, and Express Tribune, Daily Times, and The News in English. I cannot recall seeing any column that would fit the descriptions above. A brief scrutiny in Nawa-i-Waqt did not turn up any either.
This is not to deny the prevalence of conspiracy theories in the Pakistani media, but it would be helpful and more effective if actual references are made available.
U.N.O seems a joke some time.
@bigsaf Listen M Ishaq of Faisalabad for your refreshment of faith.
To all correspondents here ,please go on the following link to see another angle on Malala case.
Be open minded not gullible to propaganda. Malala is being used to insult Pakistan. Also undersand that Afghan Taleban are different and only oppose co education not education for girls. The Punjabi Taleban TTP are different and CIA assets in Pakistan Please wakeup
http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/3592165
Remember how Mukhtaran Mai wsa lionised and feted allover the world only to discover that her case was all fabricated and thrown out by the High Court and the appeal by the SC
A very well-netted and balanced article by Zubair. Usama, Mullah Omer, Waliurehman, Mumtaz Qadri which are forces of Evil and dark could be our HEROES but people like Malala and Dr Abdul Salam who are for the light and progress, are usually termed as foreign agents. Our collective mindset has become so much negative that we are not ready to accept anything positive.
@bigsaf: Well said and keep gunning. Anyway don't expect a rational / cogent / to the point counter reply.
Indeed, a well penned article Mr. Torwali sb. I do agree that Malala is the symbol of peace and harmony. But one thing drives me in pell-mell that there were two other innocent girls who became victim of Talibans, not only these two but number of innocent children had become and are being prey of war and drone attacks. Why don't UN and other so called sympathetic elements ask for them? I and definitely you too never have read or heard any statement to condemn or give sympathy from their side.
@BS: You copied my comment from Time World, eh? I can't believe people can actually steal others' comments too. lol
Brilliant article - loved these lines "Those who are with Malala Yousufzai stand for peace, harmony, for a pluralistic society and to a future where people can live a life free of violence and militancy. Those who are against her want to take Pakistan back to the Dark Ages". Hats off to you sir
Brilliant article - loves these lines "Those who are with Malala Yousufzai stand for peace, harmony, for a pluralistic society and to a future where people can live a life free of violence and militancy. Those who are against her want to take Pakistan back to the Dark Ages". Hats off to you sir
Proof is all over here of what the writer asserts. Case closed
Malala might be for Female education, but even she had to sign a document while applying for a passport calling Ahmadis as non-Muslim. If she hasn't, then the question is: Will she?
There is just one reason for an outsider to be hopeful for Pakistan - some very brave women of the country. Even as the men blow themselves up, kill people of other faiths and plot the 'endgame', brave women are getting shot for giving polio drops to children, and now we have another brave girl who was shot for going to school. Yet, instead of holding her as the icon, there is the spectacle of pathetic idiots with internet dismissing a 16 year old as a CIA agent and the whole thing as a drama. Amazing.
@drsaviour Where were you when Malala was being used against Taliban by the Pakistani government and Army? Where were you when she decided to come out and speak against Taliban? Where were you when Taliban had taken over Swat and thousands had to leave their houses? Where were you when Pakistani Army launched an operation to free Swat? She has survived an assassination attempt and I wish her a happy and long life.
malala missed an opportunity to say that it is shameful that the US now wants to negotiate with the talibans, who would want nothing more to completely dominate the women once they realize that even the world's superpower needs them.
It is warped thinking and its time to call out the majority right-wing religious nationalist fanatics and hypocritical apologists on it, who are sympathetic, if not out right supportive, of these Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni militants. Their conspiracist delusions and derrangement is just so insincere and dishonest, and a deliberate time waster in identifying the problem while giving the culprits criminal cover. Its beyond ignorance and ideological bias. Its almost vile and insane, highlighting a mental crisis in Pakistan, and shouldn't be surprising that it is still mired in extremism and violence, if not promoting it.
@drsaviour:
If this is the quality of critical thinking among Pak's educated medical profession, then I fear for Pak's future in their hands. Both Pak army medics, and UK Birmingham doctors confirmed the extent of her injuries. Not grasping the nature of her injury, which turned out to be non-fatal due to the lucky circumstances and trajectory of the bullet, is your own shortcoming in medical analysis. I can understand someone afar being skeptical, maybe even in denial, but to instead delve into conspiracy mongering highlights an irrational, paranoid and prejudiced mindset.
The Taliban and their fellow Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni extremist militants have maligned Islam quite often all over Pakistan, not just in Swat. Wouldn't call getting shot in the head 'being privileged'.
Malala became famous as a young girl who documented the takeover of Swat by religious extremists for the BBC. They shut-down her school and she spoke out against them, while under threat, promoting education for all children, especially girls. And you want to compare her with the victimhood of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui? Its funny how many Al Qaeda and Taliban militants also tend to ask about Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in their ransoms. So what is it about her that appeals to you as a hero? The fact that she was arrested by the hated US? Or the appeal is that she squandered the opportunity of her incredible education for extremist terrorism instead? Or both?
@ drsaviour: dear Dr please have a look at this video after her surgery and recovery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLAHJwD_eB4
Hope you can see her facial paralysis and the wig over her head. Compare this with her older videos and make out for yourself.
I am amazed to see that columnists are wasting their time on Malala, as if it is the only issue to be discussed in this country! The masses are facing severe problems and they need to highlight their plight! And with Malala the the sacrifices rendered by Swatis is forgotten. Thousands of un-sung heroes goes un-noticed which is indeed pathetic!
@ drsaviour: "Being a doctor however me and my colleagues all across medical community are amazed By Malalas surgery, her video coverage, at all point sof her first aid, neurosurgery without shaving hair"
Nothing amazed me so much as this one and that too coming from a doctor. Right here in this paper there the latest picture of Malala. Have a closer look at her hairs and see if its a wig or original hairs. How about getting her CT scan and finding the truth if Titanium plates have been used to correct her scalp bone ? As a doctor can't you see the traces of facial paralysis ? For God sake have some mercy on this child. Pakistan might have produced talented ladies in millions, but not a bold girl like Malala.
",,,,,,,, want to take Pakistan back to the Dark Ages.,,,,,, ?"
Oh I see. I thought we have already reached there.... No?
Had to engage in heated arguments with people who compared Malala to kids dying in drone attacks, some equating her to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, some comparing Malala to the girls who were exterminated in the Lal Masjid episode. Others tried bringing in how the Taliban are deliberately misinterpreted and quoted Yvonne Ridley's example to prove that the Taliban are Islam's and Pakistan's only savior. The most disturbing part was to see educated, and seemingly liberal lot using abusive language and hurling derogatory remarks on the kid. I guess it is not only the anti-Western sentiments that has engendered such mass disapproval for Malala's fight for education, but the intrinsic chauvinistic and patriarchal, Pakistani mindset that feels insecure and threatened with the idea of female education --and emancipation.
THE MAlala fiasco was the second attempt at maligning Islam after the Swat lashes video... PAkistan has many educated ladies to its name, who dont enjoy similar privileges as malala, namely aafia siddique...Being a doctor however me and my colleagues all across medical community are amazed By Malalas surgery, her video coverage, at all point sof her first aid, neurosurgery without shaving hair... All in all this was again CIAs poor show. I request the writer to come forth with a similar touching column on the plight of aafia siddique.
If 21 comments posted here are taken as a sort of survey of Pakistani population's views on Malala, one can see how confused the Pakistanis are even on a simple straightforward issue. Girls like Malala are not born often. I will categories her in the league of "Jhansi ki Rani" who fought with British for justice. Malala is the best thing which has happened in Pakistan after 1947. I can not think of a single Pakistan who stands as tall. If people are divided on Malala, fault is not her. Its the tragedy of Pakistan. If am the jury, I will award her the Nobel Prize for peace straight away. Human history has not produced many malalas.
brave girl.
@qazi muhammad luqman: Dear Sir you take the cake for the most senseless comment. Imagine linking a poor girl standing up for education (and absolutely nothing else) to British Imperialism through trade way back in 1857. WOW What an imagination?
@qazi muhammad luqman
Britain came to the sub-continent long before 1857,,,learn your history first before talking garbage against heroines like Malala Yousafzai.
@qazi muhammad luqman: would you like to explain the connection between the above article and the 1857 war? i dont think so, just give me a break yaar
A nation that gets intimidated by a 16-year old girl asking for the right to education surely has a bright future.
@qazi muhammad luqma: You should be ashamed by your drivel! While you are propagating bigotry you might want to check your history as well.
it is a Excellent piece which is giving insight of balance arguments to prove Malala as Icon of Hope and Icon of Courage and Icon of Education and Icon of Women Rights. The conspiracy theorist didn't forgive anyone here in this unfortunate country who did best for humanitarian cause because they feel threat against their hegemony over the state which is largely Mullah-Military Alliance and also some rightist and Islamist political parties.It is time to bell the cat to work out and formulate a wise policy against the terrorism to make Pakistan a peace loving democratic country.
The debate around Malala has its root mainly in the divide between Secular and Liberal and those of fundamentalists or more profoundly among the left and right. With the current situation of global village the rightest are no more able to express their narrow ideology due its rejection by the masses all over the world, be it the rightest of east or west and look for alternative discourse. The conspiracy theories are the most feasible option left.
The tragedy is that our heroes are our heretics. Its not something new from the patient of loser's syndrome. It started from AL Razi, Avicenna, Averroes and reaches to Salam, Benazir and now Malala. For the conspiracy theorists they were either heretics or agents, and for us they are liberator and heroes. In Pakistan, the issue of Malala has made a clear bifurcation. Those in favor has a very clear stance from the ist day of the incident, but those who are against have made an unending stream of conspiracy theories which sometimes contradict with each other.
@Nadir: words really matter, we can not ignore the worth of words when spoken by influential persons.
@qazi muhammad luqman: I do not agree with it, Americans are already in the region, they are playing their game in your and brotherly afghan war fields, why they need this drama then?
very clear and straight forward narrative, we the readers are habitual of conspiracies rather than scholarly articles.
As a whole a good article, informative and a sincere effort to promote education and peace. Let me add a few point to the article. Malala as symbol of resistance has no real significance as long as we realize Malala as symbol of girl’s education. Unfortunately, rather than internalizing this vision we are engaged in an ideological war which forces us to prove the other wrong and prove ourselves right. I agree that this ideological war is natural and it is started by Malala haters. To me both Malala’s supporter and her haters on this ideological divide share the same symbiotic relation in which one gets strength from the other's forceful position. While I normally take side with people like Zubair but sometimes I wonder what will be result of this polarization. When the liberals support something once, the opposing forces disapprove the thing twice. I will request Zubair saib to please write in future about this ideological divide. Are we missing something? Shouldn’t we restrict ourselves to Malala’s cause for education and ignore the opposition by not making an ideological war of it? I mean this is something which dear Zubair could better analyze. Regards,
Malala we love you, we stand with you!
The writer has shown another side of the issue. It's appreciable.
Agree.
Malala did not mention drones or sing Pakistani anthem in UN, therefore, she is US agent. Will, the Coalition Support Fund, IMF & aids money we receieve from US, makes us all US agents. The Doha office for Taliban is also paid for by US, so it means we are all in the same boat. General Pasha says that we have to have drones & then ask people to hate the drones. Such strong & starnge people.
This world is full of conspiracy theorists, Pakistan is no exception. We've had a ex-secretary in India tell media a 'conspiracy theory' he heard from a CBI officer that Mumbai & parliament attacks were 'orchestrated' by govt. of India.
Sure, that's very logical and credible. A govt. would encourage an attack on itself to show itself to be foolish, incompetent & ineffective against terror.
Same goes for Malala theorists. Why won't malala speak of drones? Why should she? She always spoke for education, and she continues. Others are welcome to pick up other issues.
And west finds Malala to reflect their ideals. Modernity, Equality, value for education, and most importantly rejection of obscurantists. That's the extent of 'agenda' that west has.
If people sitting in small villages of India have come to admire a Pakistani girl, it is not because they have an agenda - it is just because such eloquence is un-common. Such spunk and courage is rarely found in our sub-continent (boys or girls).
My daughters go to the best of schools in Bangalore and are marginally younger than Malala. They can barely speak confidently in front of school assembly - extempore or with a cue-card for speech. And here was Malala, delivering a speach in UN, with world cameras focused on her, without a flinch, without a mis-step or visible nervousness!
That's uncommon. That's what world has come to appreciate about this young leader.
To the point, We, especially the people of Swat should own Malala as our Heroine....
In 1857 the britin came to sub-continent for trade, but then what happend only rade & paraide and the drama remain years... Malala is another episode of same drama started in1857.... May Allah unit us...amen amen. Amen..
what was the SAT score of baynazeer bhutto, who was killed in power struggle,
Speeches are allways good whether it union address by American president, Nawaz sharif addres to the nation, Malala speech, Khumaini speech, even usama speech but realties are different on the ground.
What an embarrassing few days. The despicable rape threats, people calling for her to be shot again, misogynistic statements, conspiracy theories, all to prove what? That a 16 year old demanding female education is a conniving CIA/Mossad temptress?