By Mujib ur Rahman Shami
The news from Dhaka was already heartbreaking; people who fought for united Pakistan were being labeled murderers, capital punishments and life imprisonments were being handed out by so-called judicial tribunals, the word justice was being ridiculed by indicting selected individuals based on arbitrary interpretations of events of 1971 in the name of justice, however, amidst all this a news from Islamabad landed a near fatal blow to the heart. It felt like someone poured lead in my ears, poked needles in my eyes; stabbed my chest with a dagger, and smashed my head with an axe. The news is that spokesperson of Pakistans foreign ministry has termed current events unfolding in Bangladesh as the countrys internal affair. انّالِلّہِ و انّا الیہِ راجعون
If the logic that whatever happens in a country is its internal affair is accepted, then history of world would have to be rewritten, United Nations charter would have to be revised, new standards of humanity would have to be set, and the purpose of foreign ministries would have to be reassessed.
These days our foreign ministry is headed by Mr. Sartaj Aziz along with his junior partner Tariq Fatmi. Both of them are well experienced diplomats and have complete knowledge of technicalities and complexities of foreign affairs. Both of them are fully aware that a crime against humanity cant be termed internal affair of a country. No one can be allowed to claim his brothers life, play with his dignity and honor and term it as an internal affair of the family. Would no one stop his hand? Would no one cry for justice? Such a person, indeed, wont be allowed to live freely in any civilized society; rather a mental rehab or a prison would be his home. If someone refuses to pay attention to screams rising from his house or publicly declares support from him, then sanity of such a person would also come under question. If the latter is declared insane, he would also be admitted to a mental rehab; if the result is otherwise, he would be considered an accomplice.
Foreign Ministry of Pakistans spokesperson who declared the persecution of proponents of United Pakistan as internal affair of Bangladesh must also be either mentally unstable or absolutely ignorant. Seems like, he is neither aware of fundamentals of law and justice, nor he has seen the charter of United Nations. He is, probably, not aware of the fact that when Pakistan came into existence on 14th August 1947 East Bengal was part of it; the name was later changed to East Pakistan by elected representatives. How East Pakistan turned into Bangladesh and who played what role in it is a separate story, the fact is that the people of this region never opted for separation from Pakistan through a referendum or an election. Bangladesh didnt come into existence through independent will of the people. It could have only been formed as the result of Indian aggression. When a certain portion of population joined hands with Indian army, a major chunk was defending the nation along with Pakistan army. During this period of turmoil a lot of unpleasant events took place; people were robbed, women were raped, and many lost their lives. Madness overshadowed sanity; even at that time it was impossible to identify who started the fire and who was responsible for spreading it, so how it can be figured out today less the purpose is to humiliate and penalize political opponents.
It is true that India succeeded in implementing its design and we failed to defend East Pakistan; however, there is no law in the world according to which people fighting to defend their country can be termed guilty, and punished. Professor Ghulam Azam is 91 years old, history cant be altered by sentencing him to 90 years imprisonment and threatening to harass his companions or by imposing capital punishments on them. It is worth pointing out that at the time of fall of Dhaka, Professor Ghulam Azam wasnt even present in East Pakistan. Bangladesh government suspended his citizenship; he went back despite threats to his life and fought a battle in the Supreme Court for this basic right.
No one in Pakistans foreign ministry has the right to close his eyes to history, and propagate the views of our enemies; fighting against whom hundreds of thousands of our countrymen sacrificed their lives, homes and families.
The head of foreign ministry Sartaj Aziz, his colleague Tariq Fatmi, and most importantly Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have the obligation to teach our history to government officials and to play the role that is expected of them as successors of Pakistan Movement. They should raise concern regarding the situation on global platforms and should warn Bangladesh government that the path chosen by it would lead to destruction of its country. Attempts, to further deepen the lines of division, propelled by the spirit of vengeance cant help a society to progress or prosper.
گماں تم کو کہ رستہ کٹ رہا ہے
یقیں مجھ کو کہ منزل کھو رہے ہو
You imagine you are moving forward,
I believe you are drifting away from the destination.
Article originally published in Daily Pakistan on 21st July, 2013 in Urdu in Daily Pakistan.
The news from Dhaka was already heartbreaking; people who fought for united Pakistan were being labeled murderers, capital punishments and life imprisonments were being handed out by so-called judicial tribunals, the word justice was being ridiculed by indicting selected individuals based on arbitrary interpretations of events of 1971 in the name of justice, however, amidst all this a news from Islamabad landed a near fatal blow to the heart. It felt like someone poured lead in my ears, poked needles in my eyes; stabbed my chest with a dagger, and smashed my head with an axe. The news is that spokesperson of Pakistans foreign ministry has termed current events unfolding in Bangladesh as the countrys internal affair. انّالِلّہِ و انّا الیہِ راجعون
If the logic that whatever happens in a country is its internal affair is accepted, then history of world would have to be rewritten, United Nations charter would have to be revised, new standards of humanity would have to be set, and the purpose of foreign ministries would have to be reassessed.
These days our foreign ministry is headed by Mr. Sartaj Aziz along with his junior partner Tariq Fatmi. Both of them are well experienced diplomats and have complete knowledge of technicalities and complexities of foreign affairs. Both of them are fully aware that a crime against humanity cant be termed internal affair of a country. No one can be allowed to claim his brothers life, play with his dignity and honor and term it as an internal affair of the family. Would no one stop his hand? Would no one cry for justice? Such a person, indeed, wont be allowed to live freely in any civilized society; rather a mental rehab or a prison would be his home. If someone refuses to pay attention to screams rising from his house or publicly declares support from him, then sanity of such a person would also come under question. If the latter is declared insane, he would also be admitted to a mental rehab; if the result is otherwise, he would be considered an accomplice.
Foreign Ministry of Pakistans spokesperson who declared the persecution of proponents of United Pakistan as internal affair of Bangladesh must also be either mentally unstable or absolutely ignorant. Seems like, he is neither aware of fundamentals of law and justice, nor he has seen the charter of United Nations. He is, probably, not aware of the fact that when Pakistan came into existence on 14th August 1947 East Bengal was part of it; the name was later changed to East Pakistan by elected representatives. How East Pakistan turned into Bangladesh and who played what role in it is a separate story, the fact is that the people of this region never opted for separation from Pakistan through a referendum or an election. Bangladesh didnt come into existence through independent will of the people. It could have only been formed as the result of Indian aggression. When a certain portion of population joined hands with Indian army, a major chunk was defending the nation along with Pakistan army. During this period of turmoil a lot of unpleasant events took place; people were robbed, women were raped, and many lost their lives. Madness overshadowed sanity; even at that time it was impossible to identify who started the fire and who was responsible for spreading it, so how it can be figured out today less the purpose is to humiliate and penalize political opponents.
It is true that India succeeded in implementing its design and we failed to defend East Pakistan; however, there is no law in the world according to which people fighting to defend their country can be termed guilty, and punished. Professor Ghulam Azam is 91 years old, history cant be altered by sentencing him to 90 years imprisonment and threatening to harass his companions or by imposing capital punishments on them. It is worth pointing out that at the time of fall of Dhaka, Professor Ghulam Azam wasnt even present in East Pakistan. Bangladesh government suspended his citizenship; he went back despite threats to his life and fought a battle in the Supreme Court for this basic right.
No one in Pakistans foreign ministry has the right to close his eyes to history, and propagate the views of our enemies; fighting against whom hundreds of thousands of our countrymen sacrificed their lives, homes and families.
The head of foreign ministry Sartaj Aziz, his colleague Tariq Fatmi, and most importantly Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have the obligation to teach our history to government officials and to play the role that is expected of them as successors of Pakistan Movement. They should raise concern regarding the situation on global platforms and should warn Bangladesh government that the path chosen by it would lead to destruction of its country. Attempts, to further deepen the lines of division, propelled by the spirit of vengeance cant help a society to progress or prosper.
گماں تم کو کہ رستہ کٹ رہا ہے
یقیں مجھ کو کہ منزل کھو رہے ہو
You imagine you are moving forward,
I believe you are drifting away from the destination.
Article originally published in Daily Pakistan on 21st July, 2013 in Urdu in Daily Pakistan.
