The country that was

The news has increasingly become a biting reminder of the abyss that the land of the pure has become entrapped in. The trial of destruction left by the American invasion of Afghanistan is very much visible in its neighbor. Pakistan has been left with the indelible mark of a terrorist nation, a mark that does not bode well for the social and economic advancement of the 160 million souls that inhabit the country. As the war on terror lingers on, Pakistan is coming under fire from all sides. The West asserts that Pakistan should do more, a demand that has gained an iconic status among the many caricatures that depict the complicated situation of the nation. Likewise, India holds Pakistan responsible for fueling the independence movement in Kashmir by supplying training and arms to the militants. It comes as a surprise that Afghanistan, under the leadership of Karzai, castigates Pakistan for giving safe refuge to the militants, the same ones responsible for the present state of the country.
When foreigners tell me that Pakistan was the only country founded on the basis of religion, a sinking feeling envelops me. I bury my head in shame as I realize the extent to which the citizens of a nation that was born of sweat and blood, are defiling the very state that gives them an identity in the world. If one were to peruse through the history of the Pakistan movement, it becomes clear that this nation was made by inspiration and devotion, by a man who perhaps was the greatest statesmen of the 20th century. The senseless slaughter brought about by the greatest migration witnessed in human history will always stand as a reminder to all Pakistanis of the sacrifices made by their ancestors. And yet what one sees on television today makes one weep from the innermost corner of the heart. Never has this nation experienced such turbulence. The common man who is now devoid of electricity, water, sugar, wheat and jobs now resembles a frail creature on the verge of death.
Amidst such troubled times, our nation deserves better leadership. Zardari is a name that brings into mind corruption, ineptitude and that brute smile that has robbed the happiness of millions in the impoverished nation. Having become president by the virtue of a bullet, the man will go down in history as the most despicable figure in our short history, even undercutting the nefarious reputation built by Zia. It is ostensible that the PPPP survives on the brand name of Bhutto, a man so charismatic that his family has successfully traded his name to win 3 elections. Even the late Benazir Bhutto emerged as the leading figure in Pakistani politics as a direct result of her father’s popularity among the masses. It comes as no surprise that her son, Bilawal, is touted to be the next president.
When does a nation accept doom and passively works to make best use of whatever little in hand? At what point does hope give way to acceptance of the harsh reality? These questions serve to showcase the immense psychological trauma endured by the people and how the resolution to this comes from swallowing the bitter pill of reality.