independence day – My Bit for Change

Our Shackled Patriotism

So, August arrives again. Like every year, channel logos change to green. Youth begins placing flags on their roof tops, buying badges and flags only to find them on the floor beneath our feet the next day. More deceitful promises and more lies by dearly loved leaders; more national songs and a load of new revolutions.

No one really understands the importance and the privilege of being free. We all jump on the bandwagon because everyone else is, everyone else is because the entire world is hence joining the trend. We are all consumed by a false sense of freedom and independence. We are all living in oblivion celebrating a few days in a year convincing ourselves that we’re “Independent” and we’re “free” but our minds and hearts are chained and we’re probably the most naïve nation there could possibly exist. What exactly are we celebrating? – False sense of freedom? Our deceptive “brotherhood” where no one is willing to help none but himself? As someone who has lived abroad all her life, something that pinched me the most when I shifted to Pakistan for education is the reluctance to help others. What exactly are you celebrating and what exactly are you wishing and praying for with all that calling out to Allah on your religious transmissions and morning shows if you’re unaware of the basic courtesies that make up a stable society? Let alone a stable society we’re not even a society yet. A society that is hell bent on discrimination between different cultures and different religions, a society that thinks its own interpretation of religion from a sea of misunderstood interpretations bewilderingly mixed up with culture is above the genuine religion this country’s creation was based upon? What are we celebrating? Sure every country has its flaws but societies work towards making them right which unfortunately is a mere fantasy in our case. Ours, sadly, is a society of miserable fools looking for a reason to celebrate and it could be anything. Don’t blame my fellow countrymen since Pakistan is one of those countries that have seen the worse of worst yet the people try to remain buoyant but is it really strength or is it just being numb and immune? It won’t be wrong to say that the general public has run out of energy to outrage. So numb that we’re not even bothered about the rulers who rule us in the name of democracy. No, not anti-democratic but certainly not pro-make-a-fool-out-of-me-again. Remember the phrase “Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me” we’ve been shamed so many times, probably lost count.

Don’t mistake this for cynicism. I used to be insanely Patriotic but I didn’t actually understand what patriotism truly was. Patriotism isn’t chanting slogans it’s not hollow rhetoric and meaningless emotions you exhibit on the social networking sites. Patriotism is much more than that; it’s about owning what you have. People who change their profile pictures and statues are the same people who are likely to abandon their homeland for a foreign land and an overseas passport. One wonders where all this patriotism vanishes then? Your patriotism is not living in oblivion about the state of your country. It’s not ignoring the wrong doings of your people. I’m sorry but I cannot call myself a “proud” Pakistani right now. I do call myself and Pakistani, always had and always will but not a proud one. I choose to be conscious rather than living in denial.

Chanting slogans doesn’t help. Singing national songs is nothing but pretense if you’re a greedy leech oppressing the ones below you, seizing someone’s right, misusing your authority you’re nothing but a hypocrite lying to yourself. It’ll be clichéd to write a long list of things we all ought to do as we all know our role, so I won’t go there. I’ll just hope and pray, because that’s what I can do. I hope that one day, hopefully one day we’ll have a country that Jinnah would be proud of. Not a society where people merely live, or rather survive, because they have to but because they want to, thankfully. Not a society that survives on the basis of corruption, wealth and power but a society that accommodates all the caste religions and statuses peacefully. And I hope that someday, soon hopefully, someone like me does not sit down and think about their independence in the manner I have.

Independence Day – Why Must I Celebrate?

My home, my country is 66 years old today. Come August and we start gearing up to celebrate Pakistan’s birthday, if we can call it that. The emotional patriot that I am, the whole “green” thing works for me. It is my time to re-visit the qaumi taraanaas (patriotic songs) and hoist a flag on my roof and go all teary when I see Quaid e Azam on the TV screen. In August, basically, I am having a crash course in patriotism. Like a 2nd or 8th or 16th honeymoon of a couple who over the years have forgotten what they mean to each other. So they take a trip down memory lane and sit and watch their shaadi movie and leave the kids with the grandparents and take a trip together to rekindle what’s left.

In most cases, this stuff works. As in the case of me and Pakistan.

But one minor issue. Let’s go back to the weird example about the couple. So imagine this. They have a great “re-kindle the romance” tryst at a far-eastern island resort, have spent a week together, and love is in the air. But then reality sets in once they return. The honeymoon fever starts subsiding. They slide back into the old pattern. The wife nags, the husband is indifferent and insensitive. She’s obsessed with her clothes and her family, he is a workaholic who gives her no time. Honeymoon goes down the drain.

That might be, sadly, the problem with how we look at 14th August, or any ritual in any relationship for that matter, whether it is our relationship with a person, a country, an idea or even God. When we indulge into something without thinking and without reflection and introspection, all that remains is hollow and outward expressions of a love that is shallow.

In a love that is deeper and more real (and most of us claim to love Pakistan), we must give back in return. The truest relationships are those that stand the tests of time. Relationships in which you feel an urge to do for your beloved anything that makes him/her happy. What can I do that would make Pakistan happy, I wonder?

For sure, Pakistan LOOKS happy today. Celebration’s in the air. Fireworks marked the grand entry of the 66th birthday of my homeland at midnight. Everyone will be dressed in green (yes, me too, I confess!). Flags, songs, chants, slogans of hope, of better tomorrow.

So yeah, sure, Pakistan looks all happy. Just like that couple looks happy in the 2nd honeymoon pictuers they post on facebook. But are they, really? And is Pakistan happy? Really?

A REGISTERED 23% (almost) living below the poverty line, a dismal literacy rate, a non-existent state emphasis on health and education when compared to what we spend on defense, ethnic prejudice and violence, killing in the name of caste and creed, extremism, huge economic disparity, an increasing tendency of polarization in society; a society divided between liberal extremists and religious extremists, persecution of minorities; the list is endless. Poverty in the land of the pure forces people to commit suicide. Women are raped and silenced. Our government’s corruption has assumed legendary proportions. While minorities are persecuted, we, the Muslim majority (with all due respect) is essentially clueless about the true nature of Islam. We have not yet met Islam one on one, most of us. A reflection of us not knowing Islam is evident in tiny things like breaking the traffic signal and littering and losing tempers in Ramadan and also in bigger things like killing our fellow Muslims and Pakistanis.

In a nutshell, Pakistan is not happy, really.

Like a cynical but forthright friend’s tweet said, “I am not a proud Pakistani. With this mess I can’t be. Seriously. But I promise to work towards it.”

Yet, I still DO celebrate the 14th of August. Not just because I am an emotionally labile person who reaches out for her tissue to wipe tears when she hears “Khayal Rakhna” by Alamgir and the Benjamin Sisters. Not just because I am in the 14tn August honeymoon zone. No. I have given it careful thought.

And the reason lies in the last part of my friend’s tweet:”….I promise to work towards it”.

With all the mess that it is in, when I look at that white-haired old man called Dr Adeeb Rizvi serving at SIUT, and I see people believing in him, I know there is something worth celebrating. When I look at the work Imran Khan has done at Shaukat Khanum and the work Edhi has done, I know there is hope. And not just the very known heroes. At grass root level, I meet a woman in Heera Mandi Lahore, running a school for literacy of her children. In the dangerous Lyari, a man is teaching children peace-skills in his school. My nephew is working with his group of friends as a small initiative to spread literacy among under-privileged children. At an even smaller level, my mother always would teach the children of domestic staff to read and write. She was a member of the National Women’s Guard in the years around independence, a fierce patriot, who still in spite of her dementia sings patriotic songs and tells stories of how she saw Quaid e Azam. History repeats itself when my daughter teaches an underprivileged child in her summer holidays. I land at Jinnah International and with all the negatives, the positive is that the chivalrous men of my nation will still help me with my luggage, and the poor fruit vendor may give me an extra banana free of charge. We still cherish good values. We are a poor nation (not talking about the ruling elite right now!) but one of the most charitable nations in the world. We have been through hell and Pakistan is a dangerous country to live in, but we are resilient, and all this “mess” is bringing out the best in us in art, literature, and very importantly in humour – yes, Pakistanis know how to have a good laugh at themselves.

Deep down, somewhere, Pakistan is happy.

But the emotionally charged paragraph I have written above still does not fully justify why I celebrate 14th of August. For me, the reason is multifold. Patriotism, unless ill-founded and leading to anger and an “us versus them” psyche, can be and is a positive force if used correctly. It re-kindles the spirit of volunteerism, a sense of responsibility towards one’s country and one’s nation. If coupled with a bit of reflection and awareness, it can remind us of important lessons long-forgotten. A small example would be that if we take a careful look at the flag of Pakistan, the white reminds us of the presence of minorities as equal citizens of the state. Disrespecting or persecuting innocent minorities is tantamount to disrespecting the basic ideology on which this nation was formed. Celebrating this day, as my daughter has made me understand, is important to her generation who have sadly grown up in a time where most of what they hear about their country is negative, skeptic and disillusioned. The new generation must thrive on a sense of hope and a sense of pride.

So let’s give a careful thought today, each one of us, to what we are doing to make Pakistan happy. If we are positive contributors to the well-being of this nation, we have every right to celebrate the Independence Day, sing the national anthem and say Pakistan Zindabad.

🙂 If you’ll excuse me, I gotta go iron my green dress now.

Loving Pakistan Against the Odds

Pakistan- a word I’ve been hearing since my first day but every single time I hear it and interpret it, the familiar sense of belonging and feeling of love is rejuvenated. I’ve heard it under muffled voices as my grandparents would narrate their childhood stories; we would squeeze beside them under the blankets and awe at the thrilling events of 1947 while we munched peanuts and walnuts. I, then grew up and with time the voices spelling out Pakistan changed as well. I remember the gasp which would travel around the class every time our teacher shared an unusual fact regarding Pakistan. Then, I heard some people pronouncing it spitefully, executing particular stress on it during their heated debates. At times, the word reflected hopelessness and despair while at others it spoke of elation, pride, enthusiasm and determination. The tones and speakers were of great variety but a single thing remained unimpeded- the name never ceased to leave an impact on my heart. Either I speak of it in a mediocre manner or chant “Pakistan Zindabad”. I speak of it as one would speak of a cherished family member.

It wasn’t I who chose Pakistan as an identity, culture, lifestyle or a possession. Instead, Pakistan chose me to breathe in its air and walk upon its soil; I was invited to experience the feeling of being at home and being loved at this part of the world.

Since my young days I have been witnessing argument about Pakistan and its issues but all along I’ve been no more than a reticent listener. People are prepared to alienate their homeland and consider a single ticket, a single flight to be their key to success because it’s hard for them to see this country prosper. However, amidst this devastation I see a smile. I see it beaming through the tears and scars and just when I have been disheartened enough to turn around and join the crowd I see a glisten in those sorrowful eyes. The eyes have put behind the grievances as they stare at me hopefully. I see trust and belief in them, an unhampered belief that if not this time then the next or maybe some other time Allah would help and heal those scars. And, despite the disappointments it has had to face it still believes the people are worthy enough to be relied upon. I cannot abandon my idealism after finding life beneath the dead.

It will be hard to believe if you claim to have never lost anything because of Pakistan or to Pakistan. There were times when I stumbled and I, too lost my confidence in this country but when I stood up I had even greater zest because I realized it were my hopes which still give the green-white flag a reason to stand tall. It’s your ideology and vision which will help Pakistan to overcome the tribulations, thrive and rise to the long forgotten glory, it’s actual destination.

Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said,

“And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship.” (Tirmidhi-Saheeh)

Partition, Pakistan and Purpose

On 14 of August 1947 and 27th Ramadan the holiest month in Islamic calendar in Indian-Subcontinent a new country came into being on the map of the world; Pakistan; founded on the basis of ‘Two-Nation Theory’ that Muslims and Hindus of India are two separate nations. The Idea of a separate Muslim country in North-West of Indian-Subcontinent was presented by Allama Iqbal, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah led the Pakistan movement through the platform of Muslim League, a political party which was representative of Muslims in India. It would be absolutely illogical not to believe that partition of India was based on religion and the foundation of a new country Pakistan was based on Islam as there would have been be no reason for partition and no need for sacrificing thousands of lives and migration of millions of Muslims to the new state.

Pakistan was not founded on secular concepts such as language, ethnicity or regional nationalism. In fact, it negated all those concepts. The idea of Pakistan’s creation was that Muslims are separate nation because of their religion and they need a separate homeland in Muslim majority states of India for creation of an Islamic state where they can practice Islam in private and public sphere.

Vast majority of Muslims in Indian-Subcontinent supported the Pakistan movement and in 1946 elections, 76% Muslims voted for Muslim League and the Muslim league got more Muslim votes from the states where Muslims were a small minority, now part of India. Muslims living in Bombay, Madras, UP, CP and other States knew that they will never be able become citizens of Pakistan and they would not enjoy the independence but they voted for Muslim League and supported the creation of Pakistan despite the fact that they will also have to suffer the wrath of Hindus and Indian Congress. They made this great sacrifice for Islam hoping that Pakistan will become an Islamic State and thus lead the revival of Ummah of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

After 65 years of its creation, let alone making Pakistan a Modern Islamic State we are still debating or a secular elite fringe has drawn us to debate whether the country was made to be a secular state or an Islamic State. Looking at purpose and basis of Pakistan’s creation this may sound like debating at night, whether earlier in the morning the sun rose from the east or west. The country which had clear vision, real purpose, sacred mission behind its creation, blood and sacrifices of millions of Muslims for Islam sadly has been forced into stagnation with confusion, denial, hypocrisy and betrayal.

65 years on our judicial system is still Anglo-Saxon penal code, policing system is also the same which has miserably failed to provide justice and maintain law & order in the country. The economic system is utterly fraudulent, corrupt and oppressive capitalism which is based on interest/usury. The rulers are cruel and corrupt who do not believe in the very purpose this country was created for they are guardians of the status quo and don’t even fill the Islamic criteria to be the candidates for positions which they are holding. The constitution is full of contradictions on one side its says no legislation can be made repugnant to Quran and Sunnah on the other side gives immunity to (the corruption of) the President which is against the Quran. Laws which were against Quran & Sunnah had not only been presented, but also passed by the Parliament. At social level our society is full of contradictions, media is misusing its freedom by making mockery of Islam and even insulting Islam in one way or another, it is spreading a wannabe attitude by promoting Western and Indian culture, whereas the land of the pure was found to rid Muslims of unIslamic customs and trends of Hindu culture. This betrayal with Allah who blessed us with this beautiful and resourceful homeland and ignorant denial of Islamic Purpose of Pakistan’s creation has ruined Pakistan a lot in last 65 years.

In 1971, East Pakistan broke away as Bangladesh on the basis of secular linguistic Bangali nationalism and 1/3 of the people in existing Pakistan want to leave the country because of their plight. The country is rotten with corruption, lawlessness, bad-governance, terrorism, energy crisis, Imperial slavery etc. Beside other reasons the biggest reason for separation of East-Pakistan was that the ideology on the basis of which east Bengal joined Pakistan was negated. There was no common bond and affiliation apart from Islam amongst the people of East and West Pakistan to keep them united as one nation. Two different regions, different languages, different race, different culture but one faith Islam which made them one nation in 1947 but Islam was practically subjugated into Mosques by the ruling elite in West Pakistan, consequently now East Pakistan is Bangladesh, and in existing Pakistan which is multi-lingual, multi-racial, there is no common bond or affiliation to keep the people from Karachi to Khyber, Quetta to Lahore united as one nation except La Ilaha Muhammad ar RasulAllah, but ethnic, provincial, linguistic divide is prevalent in Pakistani Politics and there are some separatist movements led by secular nationalists getting stronger in Baluchistan based on secular nationalism.

What was the purpose of partition if Pakistan was planned to be a secular state, when there are more Muslims living in India than Pakistan, they pray, fast and go for Hajj every year on special flights. The secularists say ‘‘economic rights of Muslims were the reason Pakistan was created for it was not made to be a Islamic State”. Before coming up with this lie to associate their fraudulent and corrupt ideology with Pakistan’s creation they forget that we had left half of the Muslims in India, and they knew there so called economic rights will not be protected but still they supported and even voted for creation of Pakistan and those who left everything in India were quite well-off but they migrated to Pakistan knowing the fact that they might be killed on the way. They sacrificed everything for nothing else but Islam.

If we are to save Pakistan we have to come back to the purpose of its creation wholeheartedly and build Pakistan accordingly. It is not just a national obligation but an Islamic obligation to follow Allah’s Deen which we claim to believe in otherwise the future would be even worse than the present in every sense.

May Allah protect Pakistan and Pakistanis. Ameen.

‘Quaid’ of the young nation

Quaid-e-Azam’s care, consideration and counseling for children, especially for the youth, knew no bounds. There is one enlightening story after another how he advised, counseled, groomed and rejuvenated the young nation during Pakistan Movement and for the future.

Once, in April, 1945, Quaid-e-Azam visited a school in Qalat, Baluchistan with his host, Khan of Qalat. As a little boy shook hands with him, the Quaid pointed towards the Khan of Qalat and asked this boy as to he was. The boy replied, “Our king.” Next Quaid-e-Azam inquired with the little boy about himself and asked whether the boy knew him. The boy answered, “you are our King’s guest.” Finally, the Quaid asked the boy to introduce himself. The boy said, “I am a Baloch.” At this point the Quaid gestured towards the Khan of Qalat and earnestly requested him to tell children that they were first Muslims and later the rest of the identities.

Among Muslim League’s monumental problems at the threshold of independence was scarcity of resources as the young nation was all set to embark on the road to development. It was at a Muslim League crucial meeting at the Sindh Government House Karachi, attended by Ghulam Hussain Hiddayat, Chief Minister of Sindh and Shaheed Soharwardi, that the Quaid advised the young nation to practice austerity, economize resources and believe in the magical principle of self-help, self-reliance and self-actualization.

The importance Quaid-e-Azam attached to the youth and the inspiration he provided them need no introduction. When, in 1941, Raja Ghazanfar Ali, Quaid’s close aid and admirer and Sir Sikandar Hayyat, Chief Minister of Punjab, desired to meet the Quaid, who was then attending the annual congregation of Muslims Students Federation in Lahore, the Quaid politely refused to give them appointments and requested them to check for his schedule with the office bearers of the Muslims Students Federation who were coordinating all his appointments during this period.

Quaid-e-Azam always regarded children as the future of the nation. He had always pinned high hopes in the future architects of the nation. The most inspiring part of the Quaid’s guidance to the youth was that he himself chaired their meetings and was thoroughly involved in their guidance and grooming. He was so confident about the youth’s potential that in 1937 he himself organized the All-India Muslim Students Youth Federation. The same year he presided and addressed its first meeting in Calcutta and said that youth was the cornerstone of Pakistan Movement, the nation has many Jinnahs in the making and our future is secured with the future generations.

The year was 1946. General elections were like a referendum for Pakistan. Quaid-i-Azam was addressing the highly inspired yet well disciplined gathering at Islamia College, Lahore. He addressed the youth straight from the heart: “My dear young nation, I have neither lands nor the Victoria Cross to offer you. But I must tell you the fact that I am proud of you. It’s not only me but the entire nation is proud of you.”

Quaid-e-Azam’s feelings for and image of the youth can be gauged from many a statement he made about the young nation. For example, he termed youth as ambassadors of the nation at Aligarh, acknowledged as the centre of Pakistan Movement and honored youth as magazine of the nation at a Patna’s Muslim League congregation, believed in youth as the pillar of strength for the nation at so many places and so on. However, he prioritized for the youth the need for national character, respect for law, devotion to studies, spirit of self-reliance and the motto of unity, faith and discipline that resulted in the dream-come-true reality of Pakistan and where lies the salivation of our present problems and future prospects.

Still Seeking Independence

From grandpa’s diary:
‘My six year old granddaughter Zara is all excited to celebrate the 64th birthday of Pakistan. Every year when this day arrives, it brings back many beautiful memories. Poverty, homelessness, travelling in the worst circumstances, leaving behind our homes; nothing looked ugly, nothing felt difficult. I was a young and energetic teenager, a student for whom going to school had multiple reasons. Of course, my parents like all the others, wanted me to be a successful man but there was something else in my blood which pushed me every day to an institution where we met, planned and strengthened our ideas. The most wonderful and rarest of the blessings of that time was a true leader in the shape of Mr Jinnah. Our energies were different. Our blood was gushing more powerfully than many others in the united India. We were so close to the goal, a dream was to come true towards which I had seen my grandparents and parents struggling with all their devotion and commitment. Our lives were like those of a tenant’s who was eagerly waiting to move to his own house. We were struggling for a home where we could live according to our wishes independently, where we are not answerable to any ‘Landlord’ except the True Lord, where no one else could impose his rules and regulations on us, but God. I had lost many friends, uncles and cousins during the struggle. A lot of blood was spilt, but not wasted, I was sure. Everyone was talking about ‘the time’ which was near and as sure to come as a written fact. We could see it coming with our very eyes.

14th August 1947 was the day no less than Eid for us. My forehead was prostrating in front of Allah whom we had made promises with; a deal that we made about implementing His laws, if He gives us a land with no interference from anyone. My eyes were tearful with my heart jumping in joy and humble with thankfulness to God. Our ‘haveli’, our decades old business, our property and valuables, jobs and careers; nothing was a hindrance to travel to our new born homeland. We were desperately seeking for this day of ‘Independence’ when we are nobody’s slaves but the Creator’s. The very thought of the long awaited moment when we’d kiss the land was working as adrenaline in our blood vessels. Days or nights didn’t matter, we were moving. A big number of people lost their lives in this transit but the caravans wouldn’t stop. Nothing could halt the sea of these charged and sparked people who left by choice everything they had, for a dream, a promise, a struggle and a mission. We had broken the idols of colonial captivity and seen Iqbal’s dream becoming a reality under a selfless man called Jinnah and we were all motivated for a better tomorrow.

Zara shakes my arm to bring me out of a very true movie saved in my eyes and dearest to my heart, which I watch every now and then but more so in August every year. She wants me to leave gardening and come indoors as she wanted to show me her green outfit that she bought for school celebrations.

I am a 79 year old frail man with no physical energy left in me. I have seen these 64 years like a Banyan tree that bears the most scorching sun and also refreshing rains. I have been an honest man and have given every drop of sweat to this land. After seeing Zara’s glittery green dress, I sit back to analyse why this land of mine is in a mess. There is still bloodshed, poverty, homelessness, displaced people, and this actually is ugly and painful. Independence from all worldly masters is what we strived for. The proposed dream of Iqbal who left us many years before Independence Day was based on faith i.e. to live according to the Rules and Laws of Allah with no interference from anyone. The whole struggle was based on this fact and the demand of separation was based on Muslim majority areas. But this is the very foundation which some people are questioning today. 64 years down the road, listening to a discussion in a TV show as to whether Pakistan was created in the name of Islam or not is absurd and extremely painful. Such conversation and the dishonesty that prevails on individual and national level is equivalent to breaking the pact that we made with Allah and betraying the blood which, I still have faith, wouldn’t go waste.

Following Islam at individual level or practising ‘Sovereignty belongs to Allah’ at national level, is still a myth. The injustices in the society, the bloodshed, the linguistic divisions, the social deprivation, and inequality of men on material grounds, are surely ugly. The idol of colonial times is not entirely broken either. Our identity is still vague. We still worship some worldly gods and that too happily. My people are still unsafe not because of a foreign regime but due to some men who are from us, look like us and speak the language that we understand and claim to lead the country and hold the governing offices. Our decisions are not taken by our own men or in our own interests. Many of our sons and daughters have been sold for foreign money. Many are missing for years. Many are bombed to death by monstrous drones. Big fish get away with everything. Poor get crushed in the cruel ‘system. Foreign spies are willingly welcomed through front doors and helped to escape through backdoors after killing our men… Too much, too ugly!

I miss Jinnah, someone who could look daringly into the eyes of the colonial monsters , walked with a head up high, knew the worth of this nation and could say a bold ‘NO’ in the best interest of his people. The frailest of nations we were but we stood behind him with strong faith and formed a force which no power in the world could beat. With no money, no alms, no arms and no treasures, the people turned into a tornado and broke all the barriers to achieve the goal. I miss a leader, who could take us to the door of true ‘independence; which I am still seeking.

But, all is not ugly. There is something extremely beautiful about today as well, despite the thick clouds of despair. It’s the devotion of the new generation and the youth and its unshaken affiliation to this gift of Allah, Pakistan. The energies being brought together to pull the country out of the mess and the growing awareness of the problems we face, is a silver lining. The magnitude is small when I compare it to the force pushing us into the ditch, may it be foreign hand or our own enslaved leaders or demoralising media elements. But, same was the case in 1947. The two opposite forces were not comparable in strength and magnitude and would never be. It’s faith and trust in God which has always made our side of the scale heavier and that’s what is required. Allah will fulfil the promises of His bounties if we fulfil our promises that we made with Him more than half a century ago.

‘Recall My favour which I had bestowed on you, and fulfil your covenant with Me and I shall fulfil my covenant with you, and fear Me alone.’ [Al-Baqarah 40]

I feel tiny hands wiping tears off my face while I sit in the arm chair with my eyes closed. I open my eyes to see my Zara, my faith and hope for Pakistan, the surest reason to smile again’.

Mayoos to nahin hain umeed e sehr se hum..

Also appeared on Aaj.tv, The News Tribe, Weekly Pulse Magazine and Hurriyat News