Source: dailytimes.com.pk
As the world encourages, endorses and adopts the effort taken on by Malala, it is sad to note that some of her own are abandoning her
On July 12, 2013, a young Pakistani took the podium at one of the most celebrated gatherings in the world and spoke for her country and its citizens, especially the youth. The scars from the attempt on her life were still visible. However, unfortunately, it seems that everyone except her own country seemed to be listening. Education might have been the main theme of her speech, but in fact, she was speaking on behalf of all the people who had been deprived of their rights to speak freely, to be treated with dignity, to have equal opportunity and to acquire education. She was not harbouring any vendetta and even put aside her personal grudge with the ones who nearly killed her. Malala Yousafzai described Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a role model for compassion and forgiveness against those who have exploited religion to spread carnage and chaos. Then why do some Pakistani people doubt her intentions? Why is she being maligned at every media platform, especially social media? How can we invest our trust in religious zealots but are not ready to hear out a youngster who speaks on our behalf?
This trend of maligning and distrust of our national heroes is nothing new in Pakistan. People who dedicated their entire lives for the country and its citizens have been sidelined and victimised. Personalities such as Dr Abdus Salam, the only Pakistani Nobel Prize recipient, were persecuted due to their religious beliefs. Then there were those who were mistreated based on their sectarian and ethnic background. Even the likes of Abdul Sattar Edhi were accused of being foreign agents or working in line with a nefarious foreign agenda. Some of them left with mixed feelings of anger and sorrow, while others continued their efforts till the very end. So it does not come as a surprise for me when …continue reading at dailytimes.com.pk
Categories: Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, Asia, Islam, Pakistan
Gulmina Bilal Ahmad’s article: Maligning Malala is a very timely reminder to the progressive people of Pakistan and the views expressed by Ms. Ahmad are admirable, to say the least.
Having said that it is also important to mention that she could have avoided few generalizations, which in my opinion also malign the majority of decent people of Pakistan – as well as Pakistan itself – who do not fit in her description of anti-Malala.
When I speak with Pakistanis, I se them divided in to two equal groups. On one side, there are people who support and love her courage, as I do and then there are those who object to the unlimited attention being paid to one person, while many others like her – living as well as killed in USA/ Taliban attacks are ignored.
The creation of this later perception is not pushed by all the media as Ms. Ahmad incorrectly claims but by few TV Channels, Urdu newspapers as well as certain nationalist and religious political elite. Pakistani State has never rejected Malala. I remember that PPP’s government actually sent very supportive signals, helped her to settle down in Birmingham and gave her diplomatic assistance.
As far as Social media is concerned, it represents a fraction of Pakistani opinion makers and is only expressing their frustrations instead of being anti-Malala. Another glaring mistake Ms. Ahmad is making is to use words and phrases like; We, the entire State of Pakistan, our war, foreign interventions, afraid to raise our voice etc.
I am sure that Ms. Ahmad is aware of the fact that Pakistan is 200 million strong, majority of people are peaceful and dislike Taliban and extremists who kill on the name of Islam. I see Pakistani TV programs on regular basis and I am mighty glad that there are many journalists, commentators and politicians who reject terrorism, criticise religious bigotry and are not afraid to speak up. Mubashar Luqman and Hassan Nisar are just two examples of courage, I can remind Ms. Ahmad of.
Please do criticise individuals and groups but do it with facts, logic and finesse.