I’ve felt very drained by the news of late. Cricket players implicated in a spot-fixing scandal. A flood disaster of epic proportions, affecting millions of people and requiring billions of dollars in long-term humanitarian assistance. Political violence and targeted killings in Karachi. A triple bombing that targeted a Shiite procession in Lahore, killing 25 people and wounding 150 others. A firing on another Shiite procession in Karachi, all during the month of Ramadan.
The minute we divert our energy elsewhere, something else explodes outside the periphery. It further illustrates the cacophony of tragedy, and it is deafening. Below are some very powerful images that illustrate the situation poignantly:
From NYT: AP Image
A photographer captured the above image yesterday, following the triple blasts in Lahore that targeted a Shiite mourning procession. The man is running from the explosions caused from protesters burning vehicles, after the attacks incited clashes between mourners and police.
Via Asher Hasan/Naya Jeevan
The image above was posted by Asher Hasan, the founder of Naya Jeevan, a social enterprise providing quality health insurance to the urban poor in Pakistan, and raising money to provide health care to people affected by the floods. The photograph was taken in a village in Charsadda, and shows an entire home washed by the floods, with only the front door remaining. The message in his caption reads: “Over the next few months, thousands of pregnant women will need to deliver their newborns in an unsanitary, high-risk environment,” created by the disaster. According to aid agencies, the floods in Pakistan have exposed nearly 500,000 pregnant women to health risks. Sonia Kush, director of emergency preparedness and response for Save the Children, noted, “We know that mothers are giving birth in flimsy or crowded shelters, steps away from stagnant water and debris.”
From NYT: Reuters Image
Children are also at high risk of malnutrition and water-borne diseases. The above image depicts a mother holding her baby suffering from diarrhea at an overcrowded clinic in Sukkur, Sindh. According to UNICEF, the floods have affected nearly 8.6 million children.
(From the NYT): Reuters image
Above, another powerful photograph, taken as flood victims gather outside a police station in Sukkur, awaiting food. According to a statement, the World Bank has increased its flood-related support to Pakistan from $900 million to $1 billion. As the inflation rate is expected to climb from 15 percent to 20 percent, the government announced that the floods damaged $1 billion of crops, causing food shortages. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called for funds to replace half a million tons of wheat seed stocks destroyed by the floods, with planting of the staple due to take place over the next three months.
Below is a new song released by Laal, a rock band in Pakistan, called “Doob Gaya Hai.” Very powerful:
My God.. The images tell an awful story..
[...] that targeted a Shiite procession in Lahore, killing 25 people […] Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan ap image, cacophony, charsadda, cricket players, emergency preparedness and response, epic [...]
Why? Is this still occurring, please answer! Reason lack, of
appropriate security means: {tired} of excuse. We have no
way to detect: as oppose political rival. Yes central intelligence gets involved, does it matter. What sect you are apparently the extermist continue. Believe there Mahid,
it angers me Zardari. Is Shia or does actually pratice. Islam
as many Pakistani’s you favor western ways. Regarding the
attack shall security moniter. Future events? Highly unlikely,
this (Wahhabism) no saying, Saudi Arabia. Cause this but
influnce the indifference. So without proper knowledge of
Quran what gives. Anyone of us the right to dictate the Deen! Leave the Shia community alone, we cannot. Enter
Saudi Arabia due there anti- Shia. Shia communities gulf
states are well protected. During Jama they have armed guards this shouldn’t. But to protect us not Pakistan attempting. To justify becoming lost Wahhabia!
Firstly, one feels greatly moved and hurt by the extent of human suffering that Pakistan currently seems to be undergoing. I wish a quick recovery for all those who are affected.
No sooner than the first feeling begings to sink in, it is quickly overcome by a strong question. “How come the Pakistanis themselves seem to be engaging in SHIA – SUNNI killings while the nation seems to be drowning under floods, bad governance and terrorism?”
To an outside observer, this would seem quite incredible that Pakistan expects humanitarian contributions while openly displaying the lack of human concern with events such as the Lahore blasts. Please dont get me wrong, I am not preaching about the virtues of unity. I quite clearly understand that incidents of ethnic violence have occured in other countries too. What I am bringing in to question is the nature and timing of the SHIA-SUNNI conflicts and the feelings that are potrayed by such events. This triple bombing event (especially, one that involved a suicide bomber), is like a bold lettered signboard that reads – ” Our hate for each other far surpasses our sympathy for the nation, Pls send your contributions to…”. How does a Pakistani expect a non Pakistani to sympathize the victims more than one of her her own does?
This is the exact same feeling I had with regard to the Ground Zero Mosque too. When every muslim prays in the direction of the Kabah at Mecca, where even the entry of a non muslim is not tolerated. How then, does the muslim expect “Tolerance” from those who are opposed to the GZM. Before we expect friendship from others we have to be friends by virtue, before we expect the tolerance of other societies, we need to display tolerance to others. Society is a two-way street, Give and Take. Again, dont get me wrong, I do not hate Islam alone (Or rather, I hate all religions equally), I just dont understand this anamoly within the followers of Islam.
Sujay, you are so right. This is what has tired me out so much about being a Pakistani American. Things are not going to get better until we realize that we have fallen into a bad way, as a people–there should be no “Pakistani Pride” right now, just Pakistani shame. We need to reform ourselves and reorient the nation. Less pride and demands on others, more humility and open minds.
Breaking news–at least 42 dead in anti-Shia suicide bomb in Quetta.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11177686
Civil war is around the corner. Just look at Karachi. I don’t even feel safe there anywhere outside of Islamabad.
@Javed – Pakistan just happens to be in its bad time. every country has it’s good times and bad times. This time should be seen as an opputunity for reforms.
In my opinion (I admit I am not a scholar in these subjects), A free, liberal Pakistan, with open trade, religious tolerance and a stern disapproval of religious extremism mandated in the law will be a nice rout for Pakistan to take. Modelling Pakistan on the lines of Turkey will encourage foreign investment and trade.
These days, surface combat is looking very old fashioned. Even America, the worlds number1 superpower is facing open criticism from within itself and from outside over its wars. I even read that – in the future wars may be economic or technological confrontations, with very few human collateral. In a situation like this, arms race and fire power amount to nothing.
What US, India, Pakistan, Israel, UK should all watch out for is ‘how the history books write their stories around rhe world’. A well written story will automatically gain respect.
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