August 11, 2007

Somewhere during the middle of the 20 century, some of the greatest leaders that the world has ever seen fought for a common cause. These leaders were educated and non-violent people who fought for a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent against the British and the Hindus and finally they gave us a gift called Pakistan.

Today I am really very happy and I guess every one of us is because it has been 60 years since our independence. Probably what we see today happening in Pakistan is perhaps not even close to what we want for the country. This is not the Pakistan our Quaid wanted, not a dream that Allama Iqbal saw. We should ask ourselves: are we doing justice to the sacrifices that were made by millions of our people. A sad but hard fact is no; no justice is being done to their sacrifices.

Suicide bombings, thefts, rapes that’s all the news that flashes on our television these days; child labour and beggary is one of the most common things we see daily all around us, whether going to work or school. Pakistan is a Muslim state, yet the new generation is busy copying the styles of the West and the Indian media than promoting their own culture. I hardly see a child today who has good knowledge of the history of Pakistan — that’s a subject they find the most boring amongst all.

Funny isn’t it, that rather than knowing our history on our fingertips we know what’s happening in Hollywood or which movie is being released this week. I surely don’t say that there is anything wrong in knowing about what happens in the film world but what I am trying to say is that we should also pay heed to this topic as well.

I do not object to walking with the modern world and fashion but with all that let’s remember to hold on to the rich traditions of our land and religion. Because that is something I feel we will all be passing to generations to come. So Happy Birthday my beloved land! PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!