By Zafar Alam Sarwar
Other metropolitan cities like Peshawar, Quetta and Lahore also have unique significance — social, economic and cultural. What is common among the people of the country is the spirit of Islam, which keeps them alive to the need for protection of life and property of minorities and a fair deal to them.
Islam advocates justice, equality, fair-play, tolerance and even generosity to non-Muslims. They are like brothers to us as the architect of Pakistan said in the Constituent Assembly that the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order, so that the life, property and religious belief of its subjects are fully protected by the state. And so is the fact of life of Christians, Sikhs and Hindus who live harmoniously in the twin cities as elsewhere in the country, and reap the fruit of socio-economic justice as a result of the state’s principle of national unity, irrespective of caste, creed, or colour.
The concept of such unity the elders are talking about these days in the rural and urban areas is based on God’s message translated by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who liberated the poor from slavery and established the world’s first-ever social welfare state, providing a ray of hope to the people oppressed by the centuries-old feudal and capitalist system. The Holy Prophet (PBUH)’s revolutionary mission attracted hundreds of thousands from far and near and they willingly embraced Islam — the most progressive religion of the world.
Pakistan’s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah told elders of Sibi (Balochistan) that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) whom he regarded as “great law-giver” had deeply impressed him as a great socialist, a far-sighted reformer, a successful trader, a brave soldier, a skilful general, an efficient administrator, an impartial judge, and a great statesman. Inspired by such qualities of a nation-builder, Jinnah had envisioned a welfare state.
Peace and harmony are vital to achieving progress and prosperity of the country. But there are obstacles. On one side there are selfish and corrupt politicians, most owning sugar mills and fleecing the masses, not sparing even the district co-ordination officers and district police officers to meet their own ends. On the other side are the extremists, terrorists and militants in the guise of religious ‘reformers’ who have allegedly disturbed the peace, tranquillity and harmony of all big cities at a time when the country was on the way to betterment of the common man.
The government had to ask the army tackle the aggressive militants in Malakand and Swat. Hundreds of army ‘jawans’ and officers sacrificed their lives for the security of the people and integrity and stability of the country. Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons protected in camps returned home safely after the militants were routed. The same situation has emerged in South Waziristan. The army men are successfully dealing with the mischievous elements there. Many have been rooted out. Such operations, says the government, are necessary to foil the designs of the overt and covert enemies of Pakistan, who are allegedly funding and supplying sophisticated arms and weapons to militant groups.
The scheme of the foreign hands is to weaken Pakistan economically and create problems for the ones who are devoted all the time to the defence of the homeland.
Ill economy, suicides by unemployed parents in the wake of rise in food prices and poverty and nepotism, feudal practice of setting hounds free on children and women and luxurious ways of living of politicians in power are some of the problems which horrify the people of the twin cities who have not closed their eyes and ears to radio and TV channels. They are looking to God. They are waiting for someone to rescue them from such a nasty scenario created by dirty politics.
Some young men from tribal areas, including Mohmand Agency, explained the situation there, saying they love Pakistan; they will defend it against any attack by the enemy. “We know the masses are at the back of the armed forces, it’s the will of Almighty God to unite to survive honourably...God helps those who help themselves...our Ka’aba is in Makkah — not Washington.”
zasarwar@hotmail.com