When was the last time we heard “enough is enough”? If I remember correctly, it was about five months ago when Army Public School was attacked in Peshawar. That was the time when every single “sane human being” said “enough is enough”.
“We need action, we need justice, we need to finish the Taliban, executions are the need of the hour, military courts should be established” were some of the table thumping demands. However, today I wonder if people even remember what had happened, except for those who had gone through it.
A few days ago I went to a conference on terrorism and ways to resolve it organized by the NGO Bargad. Apart from the usual “intellectuals,” I found that victims and survivors of the APS and Youhanabad attacks were also invited.
During the program I was not able to stay focused. I could sense tension, pain and heaviness in the air. During the lunch break I got up and went to talk to one of the fathers – I did not have the heart or courage to speak to the mothers.
Mr Jamal Abdul Nasir had spoken about his son Awais Nasir. I asked may I speak to you and his reply was, “Sure”. From then onwards he didn’t stop. He said Awais was shot in the chest, just 13 years old, on that day he woke up, did wuddu with cold water and offered his Fajr prayers. His mother asked him that she would have warmed the water for him. He simply replied: “It is sunnah to do wuddu with cold water.” Then he went to school after having two slices of apple for breakfast.
When I asked him why he came to the meeting, his reply was heart breaking: “I am looking for justice.”
Like many others Bargad had promised them that they will help them meet the PM but no one has helped in this regard. Nasir said no one is taking them seriously. He further added: “If I don’t get justice here, on the Day of Judgment I will question these leaders and ask for justice in the court of the Almighty.”
On hearing this I was shaken and started wondering: do the people who matter even know what these people are going through?
The gentleman added, “We are being called everywhere, so these NGOs can earn money, but they don’t realize how painful it is for us. We are becoming a showpiece for them now. Our sole motive to attend these programs is in hope that someone in the halls may hear our cries. Our women are not used to getting out of homes, but to ask for justice for their shaheed sons they have broken the cultural barriers, and we stand by them.”
Then the mothers were invited on the stage where they were to speak to the MNA and MPAs. They all individually spoke about their little gems, leaving many in tears. They asked for nothing but justice. One of them said: “Give us justice and if you can’t, then don’t complain if we take action.” Another mother said: “These politicians are traitors; they never came to console us. They will only understand when their children are killed in such an attack. They have huge protocols to protect them but our kids are not safe even when they are going to school.”
After MNA Shaista Pervaiz spoke to the audience, Begum Rana Mashood was called on the stage. She spoke a few words in favor of the families with great crudeness and then she started off with the usual political point scoring, following which there was uproar in the hall.
The mothers shouted. The fathers asked their wives to get off the stage and leave the place. The audience condemned the MNA. I saw one of the organizers go to Mr Nasir and tried to pacify him. He was so angry and in tears that he told her, “I will ask you when you lower your kid in the grave.”
I was listening to all this and did not know what to say or do. There was a man who was sitting there asking for justice and on the other hand there was a lady who was trying to ask him not to create a scene.
On hearing their conversation I was heartbroken. I promised myself that I would never expect anything good from these NGOs now. The promise we as civil society made on December 16 2014 has been forgotten.
And today I hang my head in shame as I see no end to all this madness, tears, anger and pain.
