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I dream of peace
Karachi, the city of lights, is a city where millions of people have their abodes. Karachi used to be a city where people once enjoyed each and every moment of their lives. Whether it be a Maulvi visiting a religious place (mosque, local madrasas) or a musician visiting relatively entertaining spots. Whether it be a sportsman or a businessman, almost every citizen or visitor enjoyed and experienced the true essence of Karachi. This “City of Lights” offers so much to all groups of people in its own special way. It indeed is a place of various outstanding qualities... and yet, it lacks one basic necessity that humans need most. That necessity is purely known as tranquillity.
May 2004 has turned out to be one of the most disastrous months in the history of Pakistan, when terrorists selfishly targeted the major city of Pakistan. Karachi suffered five deadly bomb blasts in May. These bomb blasts caused more than fifty deaths and have left hundreds of people terribly injured. May God forbid... thoughts of further possible mishaps in this city frighten me. It seems to me as if the security forces, including the intelligence agencies are sitting idle and are totally relentless. But then I realize the fact that it is not within the capabilities of these forces to “immediately” halt such terrorist activities.
Karachi is a huge city with a lot of public places and mosques. We have seen that the main target of terrorists have been mosques. I suggest that the government should immediately provide all mosques of the city with high alert security systems. People who go to mosques need to pray with peace of mind. Special security checks should be placed in these mosques, which should carefully inspect each and every person entering the mosque.
I believe many of you have been to places like the stock exchange, haven’t you? Don’t a group of fully armed men check you with their metal detectors and hands before letting you inside? This similar security check can be conducted outside mosques, and it can actually reduce the risk of further calculated tragedies.
I would like to give another important advice to all readers for their own good. If you ever feel that a car parked near you is mysterious or questionable, you perhaps should inform the police as soon as possible. Please do not hesitate in doing so! Thoughts like “What if this car isn’t a terrorist based subject?” or “What would be the reaction of the security forces in case of a false alarm?” may discourage you from doing so. But please do not stop investigating such mysterious cars, as they really can turn out to be dangerous!
People living in Karachi from now on should stand up on their own and start taking maximum possible safety measures. We should step forward and get united. We should rise upon fears of death, and fight such violence for ourselves. People in Karachi should equally feel the pain of every single life lost of a mother’s son, a daughter’s father, a sister’s brother and all the so many other precious innocent people.
All of this can only be possible when for once, all the residents of Karachi, irrespective of cast, creed and colour, get united and stand up for themselves against all given challenges. We can only generate peace and harmony by putting a full stop to terrorism. You can stop being terrorized if your faith and will is strong. Your strength will indeed be blessed with courage: He who has courage can overcome any difficulty, pain and terror because he is strong from deep inside.
The day when such practice begins would indeed be a new beginning from where we, the Karachiites, will once again start dreaming for peace and tranquillity. As Ann Landers once said, “If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity, it would be: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life, and when it comes, hold your head high. Look it squarely in the eye, and say, ‘I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me’”.
May God Bless Karachi. Amen.
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