I belong to a Free Land

I’m on a visit to my motherland these days. My motherland is Pakistan. I have been living in a non-Muslim European country for years. My childhood was spent in the UAE and a little in Pakistan.

Malala’s Issue

I chose to write on one of the hottest topics of the recent months. It’s the hottest, whether people know the whole background of the issue or not. Just like the free people of a free country, the “welas” and the “aazaads”-we are talking on and on about the girl named Malala Yousafzai. We are talking about what really must have happened. Was it a conspiracy or a real thing? Was it a drama or something else? Why is this girl really being given so much prominence? And so many talk shows with epic geniuses whom the nation loves to see have near cat-fights.

Just try and pull your brakes for a while.

How many of us highlighted the girl named Malala Yousafzai before this incident-at the time when she achieved? How many of even knew this girl and her achievements?

The government did. They awarded her. She got an international award too. But what about the “awaam?” Yes, the youth intellectuals did. Yes, they appreciated her too. I myself consider her an influence for every Pakistani. But then, we are…Pakistanis.

Just think for a moment. What if a daughter of one of us had these achievements, these awards? How’d we treat her? Would’ve we liked that anybody said, “So what?”

Just think for a moment. What if a daughter of one of us got shot in the head by anybody, and the “awaam” said, “Why’s she being made so prominent? Why’s the issue being highlighted so much?”

And here I admit that it’s not only Swat or any area like that where girls are suppressed. It’s the whole Pakistan. Each and every one of us is suppressing that 14 year old girl, who is the daughter of Pakistan. The 50+ years old “tajziya-nigaars” are sitting on TV shows, talking about whether the 14 years old girl deserve this much coverage or not. The rest of the awaam are sitting in front of the idiot boxes, commenting on the comments of those who never even mention Malala before this incident. The awaam is being the best, showing how much damn they give. “We’re bored of this drama,” they say. “Bring something else.”

Let’s ponder. Our behavior, to me at least, shows that we are a nation that never ever appreciates its achievers. If something goes wrong with them, either they are shunned, or defamed. Let's stop with the conspiracy theories, for if a debate has started over education for girls and girls standing up for their rights, lets welcome it with all our heart. Let there be a hundred Malala's more. Period.

Written By: Hijab Minahil