1.

How can you not allow us to wear clothes according to our faith in your country?

Would your country allow me to wear clothes according to our culture in your country?

But your country is a democracy!

Why isn’t yours?

We are trying to make it a democracy.

When you do, will I be able to wear my kind of clothes there?

Actually, your kind of clothes are contrary to our values and beliefs.

I can say the same about your kind of clothes. They are contrary to our values.

But you are a democracy!

But, you just said, even if your country was a democracy, I won’t be allowed to wear my kind of clothes there.

One has to respect the culture and traditions of the country they are visiting.

Exactly!

But your culture and tradition allows all kinds of things. So why not our kind of clothes?

How can you assume that we allow all kinds of things?

I have seen it myself.

So you are okay with this kind of culture here, but not in your own country?

We are not a democracy.

What when you do become one?

Our democracy will be slightly different.

What does that mean?

Our democracy will not be western.

How so?

It will be more spiritual.

Spiritual democracy?

Yes.

What does that even mean?

You won’t understand.

Try me.

Well, the state will be the soul of the nation and only pious wise men will be elected to the parliament.

What about pious wise women?

See, I told you won’t understand. You are looking at it from a Western point of view.

Just like I am looking at your clothes?

Yes.

But I am a Westerner. How else should I look at things?

Like a true Western democrat.

So you are okay with Western democracy then?

Parts of it, yes.

The part which allows you to wear your kind of clothes here?

Yes, that part too.

Yet you won’t allow that part to become a part of your country’s culture.

Our culture is very different.

Yet you came here to become part of a culture which is different from yours. Why not just embrace our culture?

My culture and values won’t allow it.

Then why come here at all?

To make a better living.

So it’s okay to make a living in a culture which is contrary to your values, traditions and beliefs?

What’s wrong with my values, traditions and beliefs?

What’s wrong with mine?

Just answer this: why have you become so against what my people choose to wear?

Such clothes are contrary to our values and culture.

But they’re just clothes!

What if I wear my kind of clothes and walk around the streets of your country?

One must respect the traditions of the country they are visiting.

But they’re just clothes!

But you’re a democracy!

Why aren’t you?

We will be.

But a spiritual democracy.

Yes.

Which won’t allow my kind of clothes.

Yes.

But our democracy should allow your kind of clothes?

Yes.

You are not making sense.

I will.

When?

When you too become a spiritual democracy.

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2.

You did not condemn that terror attack, so I will not condemn this one.

But this is more condemnable than that.

No, that one was more condemnable.

No, this one.

That one.

This.

That.

This.

That.

This one, your people did.

That one, your people instigated.

Islamofascist!

Islamophobe!

Apologist.

Racist.

This.

That.

This.

That.

Boom!

What the...?

A blast.

Where?

Here.

No, it was there.

Here.

There.

Here.

There.

Boom!

Another blast.

Where?

There.

No, here. Condemn the one here.

First you condemn the one there.

No, you first.

First you.

You.

You.

I'm bleeding.

So am I.

I'm dead.

So am I.

We are both dead.

Yes.

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3.

All these suggested reforms are an obvious attack on the true ideology of our country.

These reforms are an attempt to correct the course this ideology has taken.

What’s wrong with the course of this ideology?

It has ended being used as a tool to exhibit bigotry, bullying, discrimination, violence.

Where?

Here, of course.

Where?

Here! Can’t you see it?

Where’s the proof?

It’s all around us!

What you are referring to is not due to this ideology. It’s due to our sinful ways and the fact that this ideology was never fully implemented.

So you do agree that there is violence, bigotry, bullying...?

Yes, but not due to this ideology.

But those doing it say they are doing it for this ideology.

They are misguided.

Absolutely. So what to do about them then?

Stop those demanding to reform the ideology.

But they are not the ones exhibiting bigotry and violence.

How do you know that?

How do you not know that?

Because I believe in the ideology.

So do I. But I also believe it has become a destructive tool in the hands of many people who are misusing it. Reforms are needed to change this.

It’s not the fault of the ideology.

It’s no more the ideology that the founders made this country on. It has mutated.

What do you know about the founders?

What do you?

More than you.

Then please enlighten me.

I don’t like that word.

Which word? Enlighten?

Yes. A dictator use to use it. Musharraf.

But you are okay with the words which another dictator use to use? Zia.

He was good for the ideology.

How so?

He was an honest man who defeated all of Soviet Union.

With US and Saudi money and weapons.

No, with his heart, mind and guts!

Soviet Union defeated itself. Its ideology ate itself up.

Why do you have such a problem with ideologies?

I don’t. I just think they eventually become dogmatic and a stone around the necks of nations.

So you think our ideology has become a stone around our nation’s neck?

Yes. It needs to be liberated from dogma and exploitation. It needs to become flexible — enough for it to absorb the needs of today and the echoes of the aspirations of the founders.

What founders?

Mainly Mr Jinnah.

Who?

Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Never heard of him.

Are you serious?

Yes. And I am surprised you do not know the name of the founder of our country.

What are you talking about? It was Muhammad Ali Jinnah. An astute politician and lawyer who wanted a pluralistic Pakistan!

Our founder was a pious man who wanted to make Pakistan a bastion and fortress of our faith. And his name was not Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Then what was his name?

Quaid-e-Azam.