I thought alot about whether I should post about the current crisis in Pakistan. The situation of Karachi has gone from bad to worse, and few expects things to get even worse in the coming days if the problem isn't resolved immediately. My posting is going to be one of the million out there, but it's something I am supposed to do. It's my duty. Till now the blog has solely revolved around me and a few other selected people whom I consider important. But this post isn't just about me, it's about the whole nation. If I am incorrect on any account, by all means set me right. So here we go!
Just last week, we suffered an immense loss when the Airblue Flight 202 heading from Karachi to Islamabad crashed in Margalla Hills killing everyone on board. While the rescue operation began immediately, due to the inaccessibility of the area where the air-craft crashed the operations were severely hindered. Amidst the already very chaotic atmosphere, a huge controversy generated when several channels ran a new strip announcing that the Flight Recorder had been found. However later several operatives of aviation said that it has yet to be salvaged. The incident had the whole nation mourning. Clearly while we may have gotten used to all the suicide bombings and violent shootings, these incidents prove to be the most hurtful. As if that had not been enough to be scorn about, the process of handing back the deceased to their loved ones was shocking.
Officials from the crash site reported that the rescue team was just dumping the body parts into the body bags and there was no way to tell how many bodies were their in total. The handing back was a completely different story, quoting the words of the unlucky mad who lost his daughter in the horrific incident, "Their work is sloppy and improperly planned. Our President and Prime Minister left the building after stating that they deeply mourn for the loss of lives and the awarding of the compensation money. No government official actually came down to help out at the crash-site or the hospital or the morgue. To say that this was a devastating moment, would be an understatement.
Flash forward to Monday evening, as many children excitedly told their parents about their first day back to school, news channel across the country ran a strip announcing the assassination of Raza Haider in a target killing. Three armed men infiltrated a masjid and opened fire which resulted in Raza Haider being killed along with his body guard.
What followed this horrific incident was not only directly injurious to the nation but also unfair to the common man. It seemed as if a hell hole had opened in Karachi and vomited forth demons who's only purpose was to bring chaos and destruction. Unknown men opened fire on public transport, public places and even private dwellings. What sense lies in setting fire to public and private property. Mourning is necessary but all these villainous acts seemed more like revenge. By Monday night, a total of 30 people were killed around the city which increased in 45 on Tuesday and 80 on Wednesday, and about 150 people injured.
Needless to say the entire city remained shut-down and silent on Tuesday. Nobody dated to open for business and hospitals with morning clinics had zero turn-ups. It was ghost city. People were too scared to step out of their own homes. Who was responsible for the killing of the Raza Haider still remains vague, with fingers being pointed everywhere from opposing political parties to religious extremist groups. I'm all for finding out the culprits, but what about the other 80 people who died?, who's going to be blamed for their death. Law Enforcement? Government? Supernatural Forces?, as far as I believe nobody high up is going to give a damn.
Shops remained closed or only partially open as there were reports of businesses being set on fire in the riot. To everybody's surprise, the government has yet to make any statement about these unfortunate bloody incidents. Our Prime Minister is ignoring these happenings completely. In a press conference that happened for disaster management, the recent events on Karachi were completely over-looked.
With Monsoon season on our head and heavy rainfall that occurred in the past few weeks, there is a flood in Punjab which has grown to an apocalyptic scale. Thousands dead, millions displaced from their homes with no food or shelter to appease them and the loss of a billion dollar worth crop. Everyday the news covers the flood but nothing is said about the relief efforts. People are complaining about having no helps from the government. Thankfully the army arrived immediately on the scene and have been working hard in clearing the areas suspected to be hit by flood in the coming week and providing safety to people in the areas already struck by the flood. Their help limited though is better than burning fuel in a helicopter and just flying over the effect areas.
I'm a Pakistani, while I may not get excited when our Cricket Team wins a match or feel down when a certain Pakistan flick doesn't air due to unknown reasons, but seeing this happen in my country is painful and saddening. Our President is off on his tour of the Europe and literally seems to be unaware of all that is happening in the country. Everyday the news flashes him staying in the finest, eating the finest, wearing the finest and smiling with absolutely no care of the world. My thoughts aren't any different from many other around Pakistan. Why couldn't the tour wait? Knowing that his country and people are in trouble, he can post-pone the tour, can't he? Are International Relations more important than Public Relations?
I'm not a very political person, but I do know when something wrong is happening. Ignoring the problem won't make it go away, making claims won't make the problem go away. Acting on those claims is the only possible way to solve these issues. Watching the news is necessary but nowadays it's so irritating and depressing to watch the news. I never used to pray for the well-being of Pakistan at the end of the Namaz, I never really considered it necessary. But lately I've started doing so, because right now prayers seem to be the only thing I can be hopeful about.
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