South Asia Citizens Web

The symbolism of what the outrageous attack on Malala Yousafzai represents cannot be overstated. Malala on deathbed is really Pakistan’s soul on a ventilator. And why is that so? Barely half of us 180m Pakistanis are literate. Even those who are literate are generally a superstitious lot allowing themselves to be hostage to all manner of dodgy dogmas and primal ideologies. A staggering 25 million children are out of school. Barely four out of ten girls have ever been to schools. The Taliban have blown up over 2,000 schools in the last 5 years alone — that’s an astonishing average of 400 every year and more than one school atomised daily. The state doesn’t consider this a priority, sparing money to re-build these old schools, let alone build new ones to outstrip the pace of those being destroyed. That we have dug in our pockets deeper in the same period to find money to conduct over a dozen nuclear missile tests is telling.

Monks when they deliver a sermon at funerals quote this stanza to enable all those present to reflect on the impermanence of life. But, our political leaders and others in positions of authority seem to have no time for such reflections. They obviously think they have a permanent divine right to rule and nobody should have the audacity to challenge their actions. Woe betide the person – journalist, cartoonist, trade unionist, rights activist, legislator, judicial officer or an ordinary citizen – who dares to raise the voice of dissent. Such ‘traitors’ or ‘pawns of foreign conspirators’ will receive their just desserts. Wimal Weerawansa, who sees conspiracies under every bush, has this week told a group of public officials that the attack on Judge Manjula Tillakaratne, Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, was a result of a political conspiracy. "A premeditated political conspiracy is being hatched in many countries to tarnish the image of the government in the eyes of the people. This type of situation is prevalent in countries governed by patriotic and liberal minded rulers. Certain NGOs, Western missions and separatist forces are drafting the agendas of these conspiracies. These elements are behind the FUTA strike too", this "true patriot" has said.

Victims and survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy have extended their support to Pakistani teenager Malala Yousufzai who has stood up for women’s education.

my friend was mad once
and he said what have they done
to my painting, this
is not mine anymore, why
do you want to poison me and my painting
you will murder me, I know
where is the night, I want to sit by the shore
eat one last meal, and walk into the sea

They just can’t say it straight, our blessed holy fathers, champions of righteousness and clear winners of an international hypocrisy prize if one was on offer. On supposed insults to the faith, insults real or imagined, their fists go up and angry foam flecks their outraged lips. Rallies are mounted across the country and the pillars of the republic, far from sturdy at the best of times, are shaken. But come a Taliban-staged event like the shooting of Malala and tongues begin to twist, churning out a fog of doubt-laced ambiguity. To every crocodile tear shed is added a comparison with drone strikes and the American war in Afghanistan.