Pakistanis Close Deadly 2009 Chapter
| Source: Islam online | ||||||||
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The violence has not merely damaged the already ailing economy of this South Asian Muslim country, but also added to the growing sense of insecurity among its people. Around 4 million people from the troubled South Waziristan and restive Swat valley areas were displaced because of military operations.
Rifaat Hussein, a manager at a local recreation club
We started this year with big hopes that it would bring back smiles on our faces, but nothing like that happened. In fact, things have gone worse during this year. At a time when we are at the end of the year, hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis are displaced, hundreds are injured in hospitals and thousands others have lost their lives in terrorism-related incidents. When the year began, terrorism was restricted to the North Western Frontier Province, but now it has reached Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. I would say that the government has completely failed to contain the growing specter of terrorism. All its policies, including the military operations, have failed to contain terrorism. I don’t know what should I call it an irony or a torment that when people all over the world are preparing to welcome a new year, we are still mourning the deaths of our near and dear ones.
We have achieved a little, but lost enormously. I lost my two cousins and an uncle in the ongoing spate of terrorism. I would like to ask our rulers what they have achieved in this so-called war on terror. May be some dollars for themselves and their families, but they have bought us terror, agony and frustration. The common people of Pakistan have lost on all fronts, whether it is economy or security. Our lives and properties are not saved. America has lost only 400 to 500 soldiers in Afghanistan during this year, but we have lost thousands, but we are still being forced to do more. This is just because of the continuation of Musharraf policy of bowing to America no matter right or wrong.
Pakistanis proved that they can do miracles if they get united and determined. I agree that 2009 was not a good year as far as security and law and order are concerned, but we must not be disappointed. We should get hope and vigor from whatever the pleasant things we had during the last year, like the reinstatement of an independent judiciary and the cricket world cup. We should be happy that we have an independent judiciary now, which will start yielding results within the next one or two years. I think this is a big thing to celebrate because if a nation has an independent and fair judiciary, it can be hope for a bright future. Aqsa Khan, a student Pakistanis have many things to remember and commemorate despite the ongoing terrorism. We won the cricket world cup after 17 years, we got an independent judiciary, we managed to assemble our own jet fighters, and most importantly, we managed to send back 4 million displaced persons to their homes, which was almost a miracle. No doubt Pakistan is facing enormous challenges on different grounds ranging from terrorism to economy. But I foresee the factor of construction in this ongoing destruction. The only need is that we should stay united and determined and never lose courage and hope because there is a good next day waiting for us.
Prices of essential commodities have gone up by 40-60 percent during this year. Ironically, common Pakistanis had to run from pillar to post to buy sugar and flour, which are homegrown products. And this was a shameful event for an agriculture country. There was no good news as far as foreign and local investment is concerned. Decline in foreign investments is understandable because no investor will invest at a place where there is no law and order and guarantee of profit. But the local investors too refrained from investing due to the political and economic uncertainty, which ultimately has a direct link with law and order. The only good news on the economic front was a 17.09 percent decline in trade deficit. But again it was not because of the government’s policies, but because of decrease in international oil prices which led to reduction in our import bill.
We had already been reeling from a low profiting year, but yesterday’s terrorism incident appeared to be the last straw at the camel’s back. Miscreants after the blast torched some 2000 shops in the city’s downtown with full impunity. We have incurred a loss of RS 30-35 billion (4 million dollars). Many of us have come to earth after this incident. Not only the wave of terrorism, but a deepening energy crisis is also a major reason behind low economic activities. Hundreds of factories and garment units were closed due to far beyond the schedule load shedding and power outages all over the country leaving hundreds of thousands jobless. Until and unless there is a sustainable power production system, the dream of economic revival cannot be materialized. And what we have earned in this so-called war on terror? There is no electricity, no law and order, no employment, no sugar and no flour. Is that all which America promised to give us in return of our services in war on terror?
This is a great achievement not only for the legal fraternity but also for the entire nation. I would term the restoration of an independent judiciary the biggest event after the creation of Pakistan in 1947. It was for the first time in the history of Pakistan when masses defeated a military dictator and a powerful establishment which did not want the restoration of the judiciary. No doubt challenges are huge, but being a Muslim, I have to be optimistic. Inshaullah, we will have a much better 2010 |
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