FIRST RADIO EPISODE!

Thanks for all your feedback! Yesterday, I along with two others, Kamran and Haider, decided to hold a show and talk about the issues of the day.

Check it out here, click “Play” on Episode 1!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/s4dp

So I have an idea…

I think it’s important for young Pakistanis to participate in the political process. So much goes on in and regarding to Pakistan, and it’s essential that we, as the next leaders of the nation, to demonstrate we have opinions and concerns.

It is for that reason I am launching an online talk show.

I would be talking about the issues and topics of the day and people would be free to call in and share their views. What do you guys think?

Send me your email addresses if you’re interested…I will keep you posted!

Shahbaz Sharif and the “Spare Punjab” Doctrine

Not all lives are worth the same to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

In a shocking display of callousness, Mr. Sharif publicly requested the Taliban cease targeting the Punjab province…but to carry on business as usual elsewhere in the country. This “Spare Punjab Doctrine” gives extremists a free pass to extremists and essentially justifies their actions throughout Pakistan!

There aren’t many words that can capture the CM’s utter lack of humanity or its shocking implications? Has he turned a blind eye to the people the Taliban have massacred in Lahore’s sister cities of Karachi and Islamabad? Does he not consider the grief and anguish of residents in Peshawar and the NWFP to be genuine? Is he accepting of the blood of Pakistanis – so long as they are not in his province?

All Pakistanis are equal. The Taliban and other extremist groups do not discriminate; their purpose is strike fear into the hearts of all Pakistanis and to destroy our culture and spirit. In a previous post, we wrote about the pain suffered by the people of Lahore. We understood the extremists’ desire to attack large cities and called for a spirit of unity.

Yet with his comments, CM Shahbaz offers up all Pakistanis as sacrifice so that Punjab may be safe from harm. Sindh and Peshawar, areas hit with attack after attack, perhaps do not matter to him and his party.

Pakistanis need to move beyond regionalism and religion. Pakistanis are first and foremost Pakistanis. The country boasts of diversity – there are many different ethnicities and languages spoken by our people – and none is less sacred than any other. Our fight against the Taliban is a fight to keep all our people safe and prosperous.

The CM’s remarks have been roundly denounced by other officials. Perhaps the harshest criticism comes from the Army Chief Ashfaq Pervez Kayani. The Army Chief called for a one-on-one meeting with CM Sharif, in which the reprehensible comments were the main topic. The CM was told that his remarks could potentially undermine the entire military operation in which over 2,000 army personnel, countless Pakistani civilians and scores of foreign aid workers had lost their lives.

His words have caused a firestorm, as they absolutely ought to and now he stands in defense. To be sure, his people will commence a strong campaign of damage control but can anyone ever forget the reprehensible sentiment expressed so breezily? There is no doubt the public will be told that the words were taken out of context, that the media has twisted the CM’s message, etc et al.

But Pakistanis cannot be made fools of by a shoddy political tactic; we cannot stand by and allow a man of power to attempt divisions within our nation. We cannot allow anyone, of any party, to exploit the dire situation caused by religious extremists.

Extremists are happy to accept the CM’s offer, as evidenced by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman has said that the organization would stop targeting public and government places in Punjab if the provincial government gave an assurance that the Taliban would be spared from any action. As Punjabis make up a solid number of the Pakistani Army that request is essentially impossible. Our Army will NOT stop its fight, our people will not bow to the ideology of hatred and our cultures will not be divided.

What Chief Minister Sharif has said is unreservedly heartless and the public is correct in its furious reaction. We will not tolerate this attitude in anyone who claims to be a proud Pakistani.

Pakistan Zindabad.

Lahore: The Targeted Paradise

Lahore is vivacious. It is the shining capital of the entire Punjab province, the heart and soul of Pakistani culture. The second-largest city (after Karachi) in Pakistan is known for its spirit and a certain zeal for vibrancy. Though the modernity is evident – in the bazaars, architecture and of course the people – Lahore’s ancient majesty can never be overlooked. There is a saying Lahoris like to say “Lahore, Lahore hain”… “Lahore is Lahore.”

The extremists know Lahore is special. They are after this city. For them, the culture exhibited in every street and smile in Lahore is disgusting. They oppose the personal choices and freedoms. For them Lahore is a city that needs to be “taught a lesson.” That is why recently Lahore has been the chosen city for some of the most horrendous terrorist attacks to date. The week of March 12 saw twin suicide attacks and a spate of bombings. The entire country is reeling, thrown off balance by the sheer number and magnitude of recent Lahore attacks, even though bombings have become something of an ugly commonplace.

Indeed Pakistanis living abroad have greeted each other with “Salaam” followed quickly by “Lahore mein kya hora hain?” or “What is happening in Lahore?”

We must acknowledge what is happening here: there is a full-on attack on Pakistani culture. Targeting the Pakistani cultural capital is a direct assault on all the wonderful things about Pakistan. Extremists hope to instill fear and paranoia in the people of Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, etc. “No one is safe” is their message.

In the midst of national mourning, the real test is what we do now. We can either play into their hands and become paranoid  (and blame India for the Lahore attacks, even though FM Qureshi says there is no evidence of that) or we can stand with our allies and focus on stopping future attacks in Pakistan (as Sec. Clinton promised to do).

Pakistanis will not allow a hateful ideology to overtake the brilliant history and culture of the nation. It is simply not an option. We must pray for strength and never look away from the goal: a peaceful, prosperous nation, inshallah.