For almost a month and a half, there has been talk about the Facebook-clicking youth of Pakistan. The effect of the Revolution is somehow catching on. The movement that started in Tunisia has been spreading far and wide. It crossed the borders to Egypt and then spilled over the Middle East. However, not every call for revolution is justified but it should be given heed.
People are tired of their two-faced leadership. They want to enjoy more liberties and they want to be heard. They want their leaders to act like leader and not followers to their personal agendas. Countries in North Africa and Middle East, indeed, require liberties. However critics argue that Pakistan does not really need a revolution. The basis of the argument is that we are a democratic nation.
Indeed, Pakistan has liberties that certain Middle Eastern do not have but it does not mean that we should not ask for change. Three years ago, Pakistani people chose the present government to lead into better times. However, it turns out to be a revenge. In these three years, the standard of living of average Pakistani has gone down. There are more jobless young graduates out there than there were in 2007. The financial meltdown in 2008 did play its part in ruining things but our leaders should accept the fact they also have been not very wise with the economy. Furthermore, the law and order situation has gone to the dogs. Pakistanis do not only face terror attacks but they also face drone attacks -- the same attacks that our Prime Minister endorsed, claimed by WikiLeaks. It is the same leadership who was unable to give the respect to the Governor of Punjab after his death (please note, he is not my hero and neither is his killer). The same leadership that was also unable to protect its Minority Minister, even though he openly claimed that he was under threat. The same leadership could not pursue the case of public vandalism against two Sialkoti boys. The same leadership who failed to prosecute a foreigner with dubious intents. All of these situation leads to a point of frustration.
The reason why Pakistan might be very similar is to Egypt and Tunisia is that the leadership is corrupt. The whole lot which is in power is corrupt. Their credibility have been questioned far too many times, and they all have been hiding under some sort of immunity. Furthermore, it seems that a lot of them do not have the qualification that they claimed when they submitted their papers for elections. Some of them were not here when we needed them, and some of them looted Hajj pilgrims. Term it anyway you want but it all happened under the current leadership.
In the second week of February, I was invited to a event called 'Inqilaab-e-Pakistan'. They proposed a protest on the lines of the one which was done on Tahrir Square. Over the last month, they carefully picked places where they would demonstrate. They prepared a line of action and a set of demand.
Come March 23, while Pakistani cricket team was sweating in Bangladesh for World Cup glory; 200 (more or less) people gathered in the city of Karachi. Similar amounts gathered in Lahore and Islamabad. Even though, their Facebook group have nearly 60000 people; a very small fraction showed up. This shows that at one hand, it is not as easy as it looks. However, rather than telling them that they failed, we should tell them that it was a brave try. I agree that Inqilaab-e-Pakistan is not the wisest of ideas our generation could come up with but it is a start. It is a start that shows that Pakistan is now changing. It has more intellect. It has more courage.
I am sure that few of these 200 guys would have ever met each other in life but these guys have shown that it can start here as well. The call for new elections given by these guys is not something out of ordinary. Governments around the world tremble when the youth comes out on the street for a cause. If these 200 were out on a cause, it seems that there are unsolved problems. There are grievances that should be addressed. Their protest was for Pakistan. They did not represent any political party. They are concerned not about their future but also about the future of Pakistan, a country which feels more divided then ever. Their act not only showed that it can start anywhere but it also represents the unity this country has when it has a cause.
I am not in the fullest of support for these guys but I am not going to stand in their path either. I will try to facilitate them and I would advise our elders to guide us. It is time that we should think about our country. Revolution is a sexy word but it has scary implications. If we all build up concusses upon our issues, it would be good. A lot of blood would be saved but if the situation remains at status quo, I can only pray for all of us.
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