Trying to do the right thing
In the fervor of the Lawyers’ Movement some years back, the incomparable Mr Aitzaz Ahsan wrote a poem (Kal, Aaj aur Kal), which took the nation by an idealistic storm. Resonating across Pakistan, this poem, among other things, asked a very pertinent question:
Jiss basti mein Muslim bache, jiss basti mein Muslim maai’n,
Uss basti mein bum girte hain, uss basti ko kaise jaie’n?
This was more than a subtle reference to Waziristan, and the constant barrage of drone attacks that has been raining down upon the hapless population residing in that region.
And after five years (and five thousand lives) later, Imran Khan has finally answered the question.
Let me start with a statement of self-correction: this is not PTI’s Peace March… this is (bravely and gloriously) Imran Khan’s Peace March. While the distinction is perhaps academic, in light of Khan’s unimpeachable hold on the party itself, but it is important to recognize this distinction nonetheless. If it was up to other ‘leaders’ in PTI’s ranks, there would be no march at all. Several of these ‘leaders’, in private conversation with friends and family, have expressed their lack of desire to go to a place that is most certainly in harm’s way. Even otherwise, since most members of PTI’s current leadership have been in power with one party or the other, never before have any of them (including Javed Hashmi, Jehangir Tareen, Khurshid Kasuri, or even the eloquent Shah Mehmood Qureshi) ever expressed any desire to conduct or participate in such a march. In fact, they have been members of the ruling junta, which (as Imran Khan himself asserts) secretly sanctioned these inhumane attacks.
So let’s be clear: this is Imran Khan’s Peace March to Warizistan.
But just because one man’s will and desire is driving this most improbable event, doesn’t make the cause less virtuous. In fact, it makes the exercise more glorious. For, not only is this march the first (and only) real step taken by some mainstream political party to highlight the plight of Waziristan, this march is also a reminder to everyone that one man’s desire to do the (brave) right thing can prevail over all forces of extremism and adversity.
In the past, I have written about the failures of PTI, and criticism for accepting compromised individuals in its ranks. I still stick to my broader criticism of the party (only because I would hate to see it fail). But all that can wait till Monday. For this one moment, however, Khan sb deserves tremendous applause and our collective gratitude for his indomitable will.
Now, onto the nitty-gritty of the march itself. As I write this, scores of people are joining the brave Khan in his caravan to the land of drones and destruction. Imran Khan has publicly claimed that the government wanted to stop this march (under the garb of security threats). But that the people of Waziristan and Taliban leaders themselves (which, Imran Khan claims, he is in contact/negotiations with) have sworn to provide security to his caravan. The naysayers have criticized this claim of Khan (dubbing him, once again, as Taliban Khan) and pointed out that this only shows that he has links with extremist elements. The other side of the spectrum has been criticizing him for not doing enough – going only till South Waziristan, and stopping short of the real troubled region: North Waziristan.
We can all criticize Imran Khan and poke holes in his strategy, but this much no one can deny: this is by far the most public and bold step taken to bring forth the atrocities being committed by drone attacks in Waziristan. And for today, that is all that the story should focus on.
Perhaps the greatest achievement of Imran Khan in this exercise is the participation of three-dozen American anti-drone campaigners who will be traveling to the affected region with him. This participation, while small in number, is sufficient to catch the attention of international (and specifically American) media. Sadly, Pakistani protests (even at the governmental and army level) have fallen on deaf ears in the international community. Perhaps the participation of American anti-drone campaigners will generate some interest of the international media in this story.
Side-note: I am reminded, in this situation of a British novel called “The Last King of Scotland”, which was later turned into a movie. The book describes the atrocities of Uganda’s leader, Idi Amin, and creates a fictional character Dr Garrigan who is a Scottish doctor in Uganda. Towards the end of the book, a black man from Uganda asks Dr Garrigan to flee, and report the atrocities of Idi Amin in the international press. When asked why, the man says, “Tell the world our story. They will believe you. Because you are a white man.”
Without making this a racial statement, it seems that Imran Khan is trying to achieve something similar through the participation of international peace workers.
Even in the alternative, Imran Khan is right: the most that could happen is that this march will fail. And no consequence of note will result from the entire exercise. In that case, we as a nation (and the people of Warizistan) will be no worse off than we are right now.
Maybe no one will listen, and maybe the drone attacks will not stop. But we will all remember that, for one brief moment in our history, a brave man along with his companions, tried to do the right thing.
The writer is a lawyer based in Lahore. He has a Masters in Constitutional Law from Harvard Law School. He can be reached at: [email protected]
I’ve been waiting your words on this. Let me read before commenting on the piece.
It’s the unbiased analysis of the peace march. Others have shown nothing but their prejudices against IK in their articles on this issue.
I’ve been waiting your words on this. Let me read before commenting on the piece.
I've been waiting your words on this. Let me read before commenting on the piece.
It's the unbiased analysis of the peace march. Others have shown nothing but their prejudices against IK in their articles on this issue.
First of all learn to dress properly before writing about stunt rallies
Typical! ignore the message but criticise the messenger.
Considering the hype created for this long-ago announced peach march , and also considering the popularity emphasized by the few (sold) media-achors and the so called 180people are behind PTI and its leader, – the result was a small caravan of 100 vehicles (from junk) to demonstrate the victory of PTI.
Infact is was just a display of waste of time and energy by PTI un-controlled and un-directed deliveries (i have no problem in calling this march a subtle-walk for reducing few pounds of their bodies) — The end result is "No achievement" – march was a failure (a wide (with white ppl, nobody forgot sita white) ball) from capaatan.
Mr.Avon I don't know which school of thought you have? but one thing i must say on it that if one brave leader like imran can do this for the people of Waziristan why not the others like Mian Nawaz who so called the leader of this pakistan . I think he is in Italy for holidays . plz if you don't like imran khan plz like this march for the poor people of Waziristan.
No one claim that US will stop drone attack the moment PTI gets to any part of Waziristan. Quaid E Azam struggle 28 year to achieve a goal of Independence for Pakistan. Thisarch was to bring the issue of Drone attacks to international media. PTI accomplished it’s mission by get International media to write and add pressure on US to stop the unlawfully practice. It is up to the present government to continue pressure. The shameful act of opposition parties are not doing any good service to the People of Waziristan, when u criticize PTI.
Miss Avon, listen to me Hard and Carefully, if u cannot talk well about the march than stop talking out of ur Ass. Bigot like u will never do anything for other but urself.
As for MM Khan, No one is ignoring the point, but Miss Avon & You are soiling the message that is coming out from Pakistan against Drone attack. If u do not care about Politician, care about People of Waziristan how they feel not being support by Government, Opposition and Military when their love one dies from a drone attack and get considered colateral damage and not human being.
@Sidster – considering your new-love for the people of Waziristan – may i request you to go there and live there permanently and serve those who are suffering due to providing shelters to the terrorists who are not killing American but Pakistani soliders and jawans – for God sake stop this "lip servicing " and do something concrete – well for IM i have to personal bias against him – he himself is the biggest destroyer of his image (look at his past, and present, he is a total mess-up, he is inconsistent, disloyal to his country (by marrying a rich jew women), and the fantasy land he has created in the air for the future of young brat of this country – its all fake and and IK is only trying to get political milage, he is a joker and he will be a loser once-again.
Very eloquently written. Thanks for at least praising this noble cause. Some sane voices still exist in the contentious field of journalism.
Its a clash of the generation, Avon I think is aged, he/she cannot accept the challange of change, as for Dr. M.M. Khan I think he is a supporter of this cause, he's just trying to ridicule the "observer" on his Irrational comment.
Anyways back to the point, As a youth, i think the March was a big success not that it has made any of the people in the US government to even raise an eye-brow BUT most certianly has provoked thoughts of many US general public. If you see it in the context of the "general US public", if you talk to the general public in the US, they'll just say yes, drone the terrorists, but when they are told that innocent people are being killed in these drone attacks everyday, they pause and say dont drone anyone. And that was the main purpose of this march and to include the peace activists from the US. To educate the general public there.
For NOW, this march MAY seem to be a hoax, but it most certianly has started a chain reaction and one day when enough people in the US and other western countries come to know of the real situation, there WILL be a pressure on the international community (the US) to stop these drones.
Till then i guess we just need to be optamistic, and ofcourse pray for our brothers and sisters in Waziristan, may Allah bless them and accept their patience giving them the highest reward.
“But we will all remember that, for one brief moment in our history, a brave man along with his companions, tried to do the right thing.”
James Ling once said don’t tell me how hard you work. Tell me what you get done. I have never seen History recalling someone’s efforts; it only values achievements.
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