Martial Law: Day 7
Saturday, November 10, 2007
In a course I took at university in January 2005, we had an assignment to research the Constitution of Pakistan for a description of the rights we have as citizens. I remember when I stood up and rattled them off, there were looks of disbelief all around - because the composition of class made of young people from the middle and upper middle class sections of Karachi, had heard these for the first time.
That was shortly before I joined AIESEC, and realized that the rights I took for granted gave me a chance to make a difference in society by changing the state of apathy that I permanently existed in in Karachi.
Today, as our rights have been abrogated, and the Government will soon be trotting citizens off to be tried in military courts, I look back to that day and at the general state of apathy that despaired me, and to the news headlines from students, lawyers and civil society's protests and wonder, where did the foundations we took for granted dissolve into nothingness? Where do we go from here?
The house of cards that the foundation of the existing regime has been built on is tumbling down.
An excerpt from a book I read recently describes exactly how I feel right now:
That was shortly before I joined AIESEC, and realized that the rights I took for granted gave me a chance to make a difference in society by changing the state of apathy that I permanently existed in in Karachi.
Today, as our rights have been abrogated, and the Government will soon be trotting citizens off to be tried in military courts, I look back to that day and at the general state of apathy that despaired me, and to the news headlines from students, lawyers and civil society's protests and wonder, where did the foundations we took for granted dissolve into nothingness? Where do we go from here?
The house of cards that the foundation of the existing regime has been built on is tumbling down.
An excerpt from a book I read recently describes exactly how I feel right now:
As I stood there alone on the hospital grounds, with people rushing around me, I had a strange experience: I felt as if my heart had been torn from my body and had landed with a thump in an empty space, a vast void that I did not know existed. I felt tired and frightened. The fear was not of bullets: they were too immediate. I was scared of some lack, as if the future was receding from me.
- Azar Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran
Labels: politics
posted by saba at 4:59 AM, | 
4 Comments:
Oh my! I wish that this gets resolved peacefully.
Saba, i am so proud of you and so happy that i know you! Sincerely, you are such a wonderful person!
I admire you so much! Pakistan is lucky to have citizens like you :)
All the best with Jordan! and InshAllah the situation in Pakistan will improve soon!
Hugs,
Delia
I admire you so much! Pakistan is lucky to have citizens like you :)
All the best with Jordan! and InshAllah the situation in Pakistan will improve soon!
Hugs,
Delia
I never used to be a strong believer in rights, and have always thought twice about doing a Human Rights Law subject at Uni. Now I still do, but am starting to wonder if I've just been really blinded by my ignorance. I hope I get to go to Jordan, and you can teach me a thing or two. And chat about what we could do.. In the world we live in today. If you don't mind.
Of course it can't be captured just like that, but I like to talk and think about it and I hope you do too. Think I can learn alot from you and this situation in Pak.
Might make me realise doing that Human Rights Law subject is just what I need.
Anyhoos, hope all is well at home :)
x