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Pakistan’s sinking ship?

As a Pakistani journalist in a foreign land, I have been desperately awaiting news from my colleagues back home informing me that, yes, the media successfully fulfilled its duties over the eight years of ‘Press freedom’ in Pakistan and instilled in the masses the awareness regarding their basic rights. But, alas, I am, like several others, deeply disappointed. And these past days have proved me right.

Unfortunate, but expected, the Pakistani public has not taken to the streets. This is all because probably they are still sitting in front of their TV sets cradling their remote control sets in the hope that the dead channels might flicker again, once the General’s mood swing is over.

Likewise, the most promising element of any revolution – the student population – continues to study hard and remain blissfully unaware of the crisis that is burning their beloved land.

Not surprisingly, the so-called ‘democracy touting’ politicians are yet to work out a peaceful political strategy and, I doubt, unite, to fight on behalf of the masses who look upon them.

What happened to the snobbish affluent class, who on one hand have enough money to travel the world, and on the other, can only criticise the dirt and potholes on the streets of their country. Again, it does not surprise me that have not felt the need to adopt and implement the better systems of the world to their country’s benefit and speak up against the injustice being meted out to their fellow citizens. After all, it is only because of Pakistan’s corrupt culture that they can reap the benefits. So for them, it is business as usual.

Have I mentioned the overseas Pakistanis? No. Because they would probably be somewhere hanging their heads in shame and trying to slip by quietly so that they are not questioned as to why their general did what he did. Well, they have no choice but to do so because they have no answer. They have always remitted, but never voted.

My question is quite simple. What burning situation is really going to jostle the Pakistani nation awake and make them face ground realities? Is it only the media and the newly awakened judiciary that are ‘Pakistanis’? Does the Pakistani civil society really believe it has no rights whatsoever and, therefore, there is no need to raise voices?

Hasn’t the Pakistani media acted as the voice of the nation in the last eight years and invoked a clampdown in this process? Isn’t it time that the masses woke up to their rights and acted on behalf of the media now? Or are we so used to dictations that we are unable to make decisions for ourselves?

Though deeply saddened by the state of affairs, I, as a Pakistani journalist, am proud to represent the only institution in the country that has vowed to fight on. And for those Pakistanis who think that the country is a sinking ship. Think again. We have survived for over 50 years in turbulent waters, and we still have the engine running strong, though unsteady.

Asma Ali Zain is a staff writer