Open Letter To President Zardari:
While you are perpetually away
Are you having a good holiday Mr. President? While you are
away traveling Europe, I thought I’d be a good citizen and let
you know about the latest that is happening in your country.
I know you left just two days ago but it seems you were
never here. Perhaps a national address would have been nice
before you left – you had plenty of reasons to speak to us,
don’t you think? |
| Have you ever had that nightmare when
something is after you and when you feel you’ve finally dodged
it and can now take a quick breather, all of a sudden
something else starts chasing you? No? Don’t worry, I’ll tell
you all about it in this letter. But before I tell you that,
do tell me how you stuck to your plan of visiting Britain
despite the country’s PM saying that Pakistan must not be
allowed to “promote the export of terror whether to India,
whether to Afghanistan or to anywhere else in the world.” |
|
Ouch. And still you went. Chances are you’ll shake his hand and
pose for a few pictures too. I’m glad you don’t keep grudges –
especially against those who say very irresponsible things
regarding your country – and then further reiterate them by saying
they will not take their words back!
Anyway, that took me away from the nightmare. I’d like to go
back to what we were talking about. Yes, so while I clicked on
some pictures of you smiling with Nicholas Sarkozy, your children
along your side, I also happened to come across pictures of some
other families. They weren’t well-dressed and neither were they in
France. They were crying, sitting in various parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
But then again, they are just a statistic right? I am not sure
what the death toll was when you left but it has now crossed
1,400, with over three million affected. I understand discussing
diplomacy and terror strategies are important but what about these
people, sir? Are they really just a statistic for you? People with
homes swept away and children drowned, can’t just be statistics.
So while bridges are collapsing and dams are bursting, tell me
what you are doing Mr.President? I hear you’ll be visiting
Normandy too. What’s that like? I’ve never been and chances are
neither has 90 per cent of your nation. Perhaps a field trip at
some point would be nice? Or maybe just ensuring food and water
for your people would be enough for now – Normandy can wait.
You must have heard about the plane crash. In fact you sent
some of your government leaders such as Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
Gilani and Interior Minister Rehman Malik in a helicopter to view
the crash site – I didn’t see you there but that’s okay. I am sure
you must have said a prayer for the victims that night. Anyway, so
that’s a part of Pakistan’s nightmare too – 152 lives gone in an
instant.
And tell me a bit more about this WikiLeaks scenario? Once
again people started at us – between me and you sir, do you think
any of those reports were true or are the ‘others’ just out to get
us? I don’t know much about all this. I can only read about it,
maybe ask my father or my boss but I’m curious to know what you
think.
Following the chain of tragedies, here is another one. MPA Raza
Haider was killed last night. He was in a mosque when our
favourite enemies, “the unknown gunmen”, came and shot him. Don’t
worry sir, Rehman Malik has once again promised us that there will
be an investigation and the culprits will be bought to justice.
Malik said that this is because someone is trying to destablise
the country. Once again Mr. President I want to know your take on
that. I don’t mean to be rude to Malik but frankly I am a bit
tired of his false promises.
Karachi went mad last night. Anger blazed out of its buses and
gas stations. Firing kept so many awake last night that they
didn’t even need to fall asleep to have a nightmare! I am glad you
weren’t in town otherwise you would have been pretty disturbed as
well. At least we know you are safe and sound with your children
in France.
I must get back to work now Mr. President and I am sure you
must be traumatized enough after reading about all this. I really
hate being the bearer of bad news but I promise you, the day I
hear something good or see something positive, I’ll type out
another letter to you. Until then, sleep well.
Best regards.
S. Sajjad
daily.pk
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