On the 66th birthday of Pakistan, I call time-out. Let’s stop battering out country with criticism for a day. Pakistan is not just the land, the trees, the mountains and the rivers. Pakistan, more than anything else, means the people of Pakistan, the common man as well as the politicians, the soldiers, the bureaucrats, the artists, the professionals, the feudal lords, the tribals. We are all Pakistan. And we might not have done as well as we would have wanted but please remember, we have not done as poorly as each one of us seems to believe either. In 1947, most of the world believed that Pakistan would not survive for more than a few years. But I hope all of you have noticed that it has. Let’s stop repeating that Pakistan is a failing (or in the view of the more pessimistic analysts, a failed) state and just for its birthday, let’s give Pakistan the credit for 1. Surviving as a country despite all the differences between the Punjabis, Balochis, Pathans, Sindhis, Mohajirs and numerous other peoples living in it. 2. Surviving despite threats from all sorts of enemies all around it and within it. 3. Succeeding in achieving a fair degree of success in creating a democratic system, something that very few third-world nations can claim. 4. Having an independent judiciary which can question governments and even summon and convict a sitting Prime Minister. 5. Creating a political atmosphere where a new party can rise, spread its message to the people and contest elections freely. 6. Creating and maintaining one of the best armed forces in the world by any standards. 7. Producing highest quality artists including Sadiquain, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Gulgee, Noor Jehan, Shoaib Mansoor, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to name just a few. 8. Producing world-beaters like Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Shahid Afridi, Hassan Sardar, Shahbaz, Muhammad Yousaf, Sami Ullah and many more, too numerous to name here. 9. Having as free a media as anywhere in the world which has the power to represent its people and even bring down governments with no restrictions and complete freedom of expression. 10. Boasting a nation that is already more aware than most developing countries and is constantly becoming more so, with the freedom to criticize the government and say anything they like. Yes, I know that we have a long way to go. I have not forgotten the terrorism, the electricity shortage or the problems we have with how the media, judiciary, military, bureaucracy, politicians and the common man are not doing as well as they should. But, for one day, let’s concentrate on what Pakistan has achieved. I think it deserves it. Happy Birthday Pakistan! You have done well.
Posted on: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 07:10:25 +0000
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