Tiny, glittering, multicoloured lights drape the concrete labyrinth that is Karachi. Houses, mosques and streets are delightfully illuminated, but with stolen electricity, of course.
There are banners all over the city marking the joyous occasion of 12th Rabiul Awal, the birthday of the holy Prophet (PBUH).
Mullahs ramble on all night long using loud speakers, making sure that if they are not sleeping, nobody else does as well. They know that the next day, they can afford the luxury of giving ample rest to their posteriors, stretched out on the bed, after gorging down a treat of free halwa, while those poor souls, who were forced to stay up the whole night, would have to go to work deprived of sleep.
At the same time, the fetid air of death and anguish also permeates the city. There is a new wave of killings, protests and arson. People are callously being slain for different reasons – sectarian affiliation, political ties and even family links.
It is a pity that superficiality has become so deeply ingrained in our society. People are turning to a life of shallow existence. As long as they are able to convince others how pious and righteous they are, anything is permissible.
They believe that they are appeasing their creator, but with their pretentious ways, they are only satiating their own desire to feel good about themselves, or if given the opportunity, look down upon others.
Not very long ago, before the plague of radicalisation crept into the fabric of our society, people genuinely cared about each other and religious occasions were observed with sincerity, instead of the façade we see today.
Now, few would see the folly of their way while reciting the holy Quran in the light that is powered by a kunda (illegal hook connection).
With their histrionics, people are not only deceiving themselves and those around them, but also try to do that to the higher being they worship.
