The recent collision between Israel and Gaza has struck a nerve in various parts of the world, causing people far and wide to religiously follow the crisis. They are eager to know every tragic detail of a war that has turned into a vicious cycle of repeated mistakes and mounting grievances. Nowadays, Twitter and Facebook newsfeeds are being inundated with horrifying images of weeping Palestinian families embracing a deceased child, parent or friend. We are aware that the world is becoming a hurtful place. The rising death toll in Gaza is devastating. The unresolvable differences between Israel and Gaza are infuriating. However, it is easy to lose sight of predicaments at home while intensely focusing on controversial disputes abroad.
Pakistan, for instance, is grappling with sectarian violence, limited electricity, belligerent political gangs and inadequate governance. Militants are besieging the country’s foundation and infrastructure. Many Pakistanis are grieving over the loss of innocent lives in Gaza, and rightfully so. Yet, it is important to remember the murderous rampages and human rights violations being perpetrated within our own borders. It is essential to mourn for our own men, women, children and soldiers who are dying in multitudes.
On July 28, 2014, two minors and one woman were killed after their house was set on fire by an angry mob. The mob was initially pursuing a man who was accused of sharing a blasphemous picture, but managed to douse another house in flames during their fit of rage.
On June 8, 2014, 10 militants infiltrated Jinnah International Airport with the intent to create havoc. Several people were killed on site, including security personnel who gave their lives to defend the bustling terminal. Another unpleasant recollection from that restless night was the government owned channel, PTV, airing footage of PM Nawaz Sharif’s Metro train project while news was breaking about the attack on Jinnah International Airport on other channels. PTV’s blatant disregard for the turmoil at the Karachi airport plays a role in signifying the government’s indifferent approach to tackling the widespread militant activity in Pakistan. In addition to mismanaging the armed extremist groups, the current government, which is also the supposed exemplar of a budding democracy, has succeeded in conducting poorly orchestrated negotiations with a group of people who are least interested in our country’s welfare.
On April 3, 2014, the government announced the release of 16 TTP prisoners in an attempt to encourage peace talks with the militant group. Another 100 prisoners on the Taliban’s list were being prepared for release in the following days. This is an appalling example of a productive negotiation process. Even though the government is trying to boost reconciliation efforts, it should have also asked for the return of kidnapped civilians in exchange for the discharged Taliban prisoners. Negotiations should not be focused on constantly giving without receiving any concessions in return, which is how the government seems to be proceeding with its diplomatic efforts.
These are just a few examples of the local concerns that need to be addressed on an immediate basis. Our PM recently announced his solidarity with the Palestinians, gallantly proclaiming that he is “saddened and disappointed to note the silence of the international community.” He also added that, “The world must stop Israel from this naked and brutal aggression.” It would make more sense if he voiced a similar degree of fury against the radical militants who are threatening and killing individuals in a country he was elected to lead. It is easy to use external struggles as a scapegoat to distract us from the rampant mayhem at home. The fact of the matter is that our government has been unable to protect us, the Taliban are still a threat, minority communities are still abused and electricity prices are still doubling. Enraged social media updates centered on Gaza and Israel are expected to trend. However, we are Pakistanis at the end of the day. Our country needs an equal amount of attention and devotion, if not more.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2014.
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COMMENTS (31)
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@Afghan Maihan,
Then why you are in this website?
We have a proverb in Pashto: Awal dzan bia jahan, which translates to, worry about yourself first and then the world. Charity begins at home. Start practicing humanity at home and stand up for all human persecution regardless of race, color and creed.
@ Asim
You are only saying that because your nationality is suspect. Afghans, Iranians and Turks don't feel that way. Pan-Islam was a defense mechanism for Muslims during colonialism and the only country still married to that concept is Pakistan for obvious reasons.
Pan-Islam has died a thousand deaths since colonial times and the rise of nation states and power politics will keep it in the margins where it belongs.
Dipak@asim: Never ever. It's time to get out of Stone Age.
It seems to me like the Pakistani's elite wants the rest of Pakistanis to prioritize issues according to their taste. They do it cunningly: by using the bodies of minorities and victims of Taliban to lecture the rest of Pakistanis where Pakistan's priority should be.
This begets another question: while Pakistanis as a whole have been vocal against Taliban, our elite, on the other hand, seems to be quite about Gaza and Kashmir. Why?
the people of Pakistan and many Muslim countries are just shouting " foul"......about gaza.. no one is interested in really doing something about it urgently. its as if you all are watching a soccer match happening and while you are taking popcorn you are commenting o that team is not doing well, or that teams players are rough they are doing lot of fouls.... people understand and wake up... this is not a soccer match lives are getting lost as we speak... children getting killed.. brothers and sisters wiped out.. where is your conscience??? where is it? don't you fear that your situation will be made the same? don't you think you deserve the same for keeping quiet soooo long and watching people die in front of your eyes mercilessly... where is your conscience...
@asim: this misconception is at the root of all the problems Pakistan faces today
Pak to start investing in moderneducation especially girl children. Realign resources from warfare of interference(learnt from friends in US n China) to infrastructure education medical n many problems will be controllable. Needs vision, commitment to Nation of govt. Unfortunately hungry stomach n decadence will breed animosity, wasted time on religion! World is moving ahead irrespective of Pak.
@numbersnumbers: We only have Israeli statistics to back up your argument and we know they steal land and obfuscate the truth.
@SK5: Really! Just what does "humanity" have to do with pointing out absurd fatality statistic comparisons in comments! BTW, do you consider the actions of Hamas, in launching thousand plus of military grade surface to surface rockets directly into Israeli cities (without distinction and precaution, as the UNHCR states!) to ALSO be a war crime???? Just asking of course to see your "humanity"!!!!
I see Selective Humanity.
For example, you see a lot of articles on Gaza nowadays, because the victim is Muslim and the oppressor is a non-Muslim and more importantly geopolitical and ideological rival.
Compare this to the plight of Kashmiri Pandits, who are non-Muslims. How many articles do you see?
China banned Ramzan. They banned the celebration of the holiest month in Islam! But, Sania Mirza crying and a man being force bed by some thugs was trending in ET. Even though China is non Muslim and victims are Muslim, China being Pakistan's sugar daddy is exempted from criticism.
Whereas India and Israel fit the bill. Who cares if Uighur Muslims are barred from celebrating Ramzan, Sania Mirza is crying in India!
Selective Humanity. Or, you can call it Opportunistic Humanity.
@numbersnumbers
Dear numbers, We do not really know the full implications of what happened during WW!! from 70 years ago, because nobody is allowed to question Zionist statistics. However, we know exactly what is happening in Gaza at the moment and if the murder of several hundred children does not bother you I cannot help you. However, and for example, the current Gaza situation appears to be making the Warsaw Ghetto disaster, as bad as it was, appear to be a Sunday school picnic. Obviously, the current Israeli Government did not learn a thing from WWII. All we ever seem to get is Zionist bleating that started over a century or two ago
There is a misconception that the birth place of current terrorist groups is soviet era Afghanistan. Reality is these groups ( remember alqaeda originally is Arab group not afghan or pak) were born during intifada against Israel in 70s and 80s. They were merely diverted to Afghanistan to keep Israel safe. Eventually 60000 Pakistanis got killed to keep Israel safe. So dear author Gaza is our problem as long as Israel is occupying Palestine Pakistanis will be killed one way or other militants will be diverted here.
For 12 months of an entire year, we talk and express concern/criticism about problems in Pakistan. Then, for less than a month we focus on the Palestinian plight in wake of the war in Gaza, and it becomes problematic. If we broaden our time horizon to more than just 3 weeks, for the purpose of ascertaining how much total time we devote to Palestine vs. local issues, you will notice that the vast majority of our time is spent fretting about issues at home.
I also dispute the assumption that is imbedded in your article that issues that are geographically/ ethnically proximate to us should occupy the greater part of our attention. Why is geographic/ethnic proximity a better standard for determining the allocation of our attention than, say, the seriousness of human rights violation?
Really? What you dont realise is that while Pakistan has countless problems at least we have an identity, our children are not being bombed day and night and people like you are able to write articles like this on a forum like this. Gaza and Pakistan are two completely different situations. One cannot be compared to the other and to feel for Gaza doesn't mean one is overlooking what is happening in your own country. It is simply, human. I dont understand people who feel that to feel for Gaza and the atrocities being committed there is not our problem. This has nothing to do with religion, it is based on humanity and it is only natural. As humans we need to stand up for any sort of atrocity carried out whether it be in Gaza or the killing of Ahmedis and Shias in Pakistan. It is all the same. To stand up for one cause doesn't mean you've forgotten the other.
The writer does not seem to realize that, leaving aside Nawaz Sharif's words which come mostly from lips and not from the heart, a decent, thinking and feeling soul will have a mind and heart large enough to think and worry about his own problems and grieve over his own tragedies and yet be able to spare a thought, and shed a tear over the suffring of others. Put simply, feeling for others does not come at the cost of ignoring own problems and suffering.
Karachi
We are Pakistanis only ........islam or other religion can stay home
There is difference between the 2....war between Palestinian and Israel are based on 2 different ideology and problem, while in Pakistan we are fighting between Muslim, each one of us are killing each Muslim brothers.....
@numbersnumbers:
So where going to start comparing human lives in numbers now?? do you have any humanity in you????
What the Israelis are doing in Gaza is absolutely disgraceful with major human rights violations. If you want to discuss Pakistan's problems then discuss them separately, I don't see the point mixing the two problems together. At the end of the day we Pakistani's are very well informed of our countries problems, it doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned about others!.
@Author: THANK YOU for stating the bleeding obvious! I am bemused to see my fellow Pakistanis crying over Gaza, people who have never shed a tear for the plight of minorities in our own country, and who have been giving tacit support to the enemies of the state. People who are supposed to be educated and well-off but still showing the same sense as a tree branch, who jump at the chance to follow xenophobes such as Zaid Hamid or Imran Khan.
While the situation in Gaza is not good, this is not the only war going on, there is a conflict and brutality in Africa, in Syria, in Iraq (usually Muslims slaughtering Muslims on sectarian grounds), and Ukraine. Let us fix Pakistan first before worrying about others. If anyone should help the Arabs of Palestine it should be there Arab neighbors. What most Pakistanis don't realize is that the Arabs don't care at all about us and are in fact mostly racist toward Pakistanis. So let them sort out there own problems and we'll sort out ours (without becoming the doormat beggars we are to the rich Arab states).
Also, I am appalled and horrified to see so many Pakistanis praising Hitler on facebook for his genocide of the Jews. First, praising such evil is utterly despicable and betrays an evil mindset. Second, these people are not just evil but pathetically ignorant, if they read a bit more on the subject they'd know that Hitler hated all non-whites and would have done the same genocide on us brown-skinned people given the chance.
There is nothing wrong in condemning atrocities committed anywhere and everywhere. It definitely does not mean we have to be blind to atrocities committed in our own country. Such hypocrisy is bound to attract criticism.
@Sexton Blake: Wow, So you say that the 6 million plus Jews slaughtered in the Holocaust (among the 30 plus million who died) in WW2 somehow pales in comparison to the 1300 plus Palestinians killed in this latest Gaza conflict!
Many pakistani governments done worse in Karachi what Isreal is doing in gaza.
Very good points. Thanks for the article. Our ignorant public who are provoked in the name of Islam will be shocked if they are taken to Gaza and West Bank. They will be shocked to learn the Palestinians are well fed, less poor than most Pakistanis and have much higher standard of living.
Perhaps you have no knowledge about how militants and criminals responsible for a lot of the violence in Pakistan are getting a sound thrashing. The brazen attack on the Karachi airport was launched by Uzbek foreigners living in the tribal regions but these cowards are already shaving their beards and hiding among women and children. Despite the horror of the Karachi airport attack, security forces did a commendable job of limiting the attackers and ending the incident without harm to any passengers or aircraft. Frankly that would be difficult to do in any city in the world. There is a lot of work to defeat extremism which has festered for the last decades but at least there seems to be some tangible work and victories. The energy crisis is being tackled and the economy seems to be picking up according to international observers and market analysts. That's why Moody's upgraded Pakistan's ranking this year. While there is a lot of work to do and all may not be rosy, why doesn't an elected Prime Minister not have a right to express concern about world events? Do you mean to say that only when all the challenges that have festered for decades are solved that Pakistan's government can comment on world events?
''Our PM recently announced his solidarity with the Palestinians, gallantly proclaiming that he is “saddened and disappointed to note the silence of the international community.” He also added that, “The world must stop Israel from this naked and brutal aggression.” It would make more sense if he voiced a similar degree of fury against the radical militants who are threatening and killing individuals in a country he was elected to lead. '' Most Pakistanis have a habit of pulling punches much above their weight.
There are two brothers,..Nawaz and Shahbaz, who run this country. They want to make sure all their assets, which are in Punjabistan are safe and protected. They are willing to make any deals with the terrorists, that keeps them and theirs safe. They have provided safe to terrorists in the past. And still protect terrorists in Punjabistan.
Obviously Pakistan has problems. However, Ms Anan Khan missed the point that unlike the responsible Pakistan Government the Israeli Government is carrying out brutal genocide unlike anything seen before with one of the main targets being children. The current IDF brutality in Gaza is making WWII incidents appear to be Sunday afternoon picnics in comparison.
Its not yet time to write Pakistan obituaruy!! The course that pakistan took turned out full of thorns.and in the word of Metallica , 'sad but true '...
We are muslims first, nationality comes second to Islam.