The 21st Sept had been marked as a protest day. It was declared a holiday and complete wheel jam and shutter down protest was made throughout the country. The government sponsored and spearheaded the protest. A job well done, but as usual aimless, without leadership and without any direction from the rulers. The PM came dressed in newly stitched and somewhat loose sherwani and addressed a convention in Urdu and English. The speech writer did a good job too except that Raja Sahib could not read or pronounce certain words correctly, both in English and Urdu.
The rallies of young boys and miscreants did as much destruction of national assets and cars and vehicles as possible. Police and other law enforcing agencies were conspicuously missing from the scene. Destruction of property and national assets by this mob was never understood by me. TV reported this nasty mob as students and Afghani Mohajirs. Mob was seen laughing and enjoying the loot and arson. No political leaders from any party was seen anywhere. Ms Hina Rabbani Khar, integral part of the government, is in Washington issuing statements of US-Pak ‘close relationship’. Probably, she has not yet convinced Kerry-Lugar to release one billion dollars outstanding for over a year.
In my opinion, all party leaders should have come to the streets with their junta and marched peacefully to register our indignation. Films of these rallies should be dispatched to Washington to tell them that we mean business and any such future move should be desisted. The message should have gone from all political parties, regardless of their internal rivalries because the issue in hand does not pertain to area, money or authority; it pertains to Muslim’s faith, Muslim’s sanctity and love and reverence to our Prophet (PBUH).
AMJAD H MIRZA
Lahore