Are we resilient or just forgetful?

The devastating attack on Peshawar’s army-run school has left a deep gash in our country’s history. Many of us have been told that time heals, and I’ve noticed that life in Pakistan has the tendency to keep moving. The record-breaking wedding season is continuing at an optimal pace. Mehndis still welcome us to streams of colour, lively dances and ample quantities of food. Wedding ceremonies are still jubilant social occasions that are beginning to strongly resemble marathons as people race to multiple events. In some cases, New Year’s Eve was celebrated with the utmost vigour, complete with blaring music and flashing strobe lights.

People still want to go out for coffee, visit new restaurants and enjoy the cities they reside in. When we walk into a restaurant, coffee shop or wedding, are we necessarily disconnecting ourselves from the world outside? There have been ongoing debates about how the Peshawar attack will soon feel like a distant memory. The anger and hurt that consumed us weeks ago will slowly dissipate. Are we extremely resilient or utterly forgetful? Are we already done mourning? Maybe these questions do not have to demand a staunch ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer.



From sectarian violence to ruthless honour killings and heinous attacks on innocent minority groups, Pakistan is a country that has witnessed a great deal of pain. Since 2003, approximately 55,000 people, including security forces’ personnel, have lost their lives at the hands of terrorist violence. The death of more than 130 children in Peshawar must not be treated like another string of fatalities that Pakistan will, as always, face resiliently. Tahira Qazi, who fearlessly risked her life for the children in her school, should not have died in vain. However, at the same time, people should not be judged for trying to carry on with their lives. Considering Pakistan’s turbulent past, having the ability to fall back into a normal routine can be helpful since hearts and minds that remain continuously distraught might not possess the strength to endure future ordeals. One should find a gratifying balance in which the country’s plight is not left behind in the midst of an increasingly busy lifestyle.

How can this be done? We should consistently remain vigilant of the promises being made to us instead of turning numb in the wake of mounting difficulties. We need to see initiatives moving beyond committees, subcommittees and press conferences. People should not be wary of challenging elected leaders under the presumption that our institutions will be destabilised. At the end of the day, the Constitution is supposed to protect the people. The great effort politicians are making to preserve Pakistan’s fragile democracy should filter down to the security and safety of the country they are leading. If we are being told that the presence of terrorism in the country will no longer be tolerated, then the government should be clamping down on the epicentres of these hate spewing radical ideologies that continue to thrive. Arrest warrants should not merely be issued, but legitimately acted upon. Guests speaking on news outlets cannot, under any circumstances, be given airtime to overtly criticise minority groups that are already suffocating under the weight of misconstrued beliefs. This reflects poorly on an organisation’s personal values and ethics.

Verbal and written pressure on our governing bodies should prevail. Ideally, life can still go on without us forgetting. If the Peshawar incident does not wake us up, then nothing will.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2015.

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