Pakistan is now 68 years old. It’s time to rejoice. Let’s party desi style and explode a few firecrackers, do wheelies on motor bikes and of course, poondi (ogling). But amidst all these celebrations, we must not forget an important question: what have we achieved as a nation this year? Apart from the heroics of General Raheel Shareef, who without a doubt is loved by every single Pakistani at the moment, the rest is same old same old.
As far as the Pakistani political arena is concerned, our clowns-cum-politicians are still at it. Imran Khan in collaboration with DJ Butt started his concert-cum-Azadi March on last year’s August 14 to get the resignations of the Sharif brothers. We all know how that panned out! One year on and Imran is still issuing threats of “agitation and hitting the streets” if the election commission of Pakistan fails to answer his 40 questions. Some people just don’t learn do they? On the other hand, the PPP leader Asif Zardari who was abroad on last year’s Independence Day will stay abroad this year too and will surely issue an Independence Day message of “Pakistan Khappay” from his modest home in Dubai. Nawaz Sharif who, last year, was really “hurt and confused” due to the Azadi and Inqilab marches, as he himself stated, would be really happy and proud. It doesn’t matter if the country is in shambles with the floods and the child abuse reports and stuff. At least he managed to hold on to his seat by a hair’s breadth. (No pun intended!)
On the international front it’s the same too. India is still blaming everything on Pakistan. The Indian authorities impressed everyone when they “captured” a Pakistani spy pigeon from its border after a successful operation. Ok I know the story is old but it’s still funny. Anyways, the sentiments of the two governments are eclipsed by those of the citizens. The Facebook page of Cricinfo and the comment sections of the newspaper articles are still the battleground of the war between keyboard warriors of India and Pakistan. Pakistani keyboard warriors usually win.
Finally let’s talk about the working class Pakistanis shall we. Most of them were indifferent to last year’s PTI vs. PML-N fight. Their basic request was the fulfillment of their basic rights of roti, kapra and makaan. No they weren’t out on the streets. They sat silent in their homes because they had no champion at the time. A year on and they are still waiting for that champion. But why should we bother, right? It’s time to rejoice!
