Something no self-respecting desi atheist or agnostic can refute
By the end of this article, I hope to have converted even the most hardcore of desi atheists and agnostics. The ‘existence’ of God is of course not meant literally; for God doesn’t ‘exist’, but is the reason for all existence. Over the centuries, people have of course been presenting many logical arguments to prove God, to which there have been counter-arguments, and so on. I have no intention of adding yet another to the list; instead, I will focus on proof by elimination, or the miracle approach, so to speak.
Miracles come in many shapes and sizes. There are the seas parting, or the mountains moving, or whole towns turning upside-down; which are usually considered suspension of the natural law. This kind of miracle puts an end to all debate, but the trouble is it only benefits those who happen to witness it first-hand. Then there are miracles like something as small as a particle of dust growing into a human being capable of writing Hamlet for example, or inventing doosra. And then there’s the miracle of an Albert Schweitzer voluntarily forsaking a life of assured riches and luxuries to live in apparently impossible conditions. The trouble with the second type of miracle is that it happens too frequently for anybody to regard it as a miracle, and that with the third type is that even the ‘saints’ these days don’t compromise on fame and luxuries (Ashfaq Ahmed and company being a case in point). So, I will be talking about a different kind of miracle – one that, once it is pointed out, is there for everybody to verify.
To be able to appreciate this miracle, one needs only to review the career of a well-known politician, whom many believe to be the last hope for democracy and constitutionalism in the country. His services for democracy and the rule of law can doubtless fill volumes, but keeping our space constraints in mind let’s just go over bullet points so to speak: Started career under the wings of generals; quickly rose to the post of chief minister; conspired against prime minister of own party and soon displaced him as party chief; conspired twice with the establishment to get PM Benazir deposed; orchestrated blatant character assassination of opponents; repeatedly vowed to complete Zia’s mission long after he was gone, culminating in attempting to become Ameerul momineen like his hero; was the principal beneficiary of the rampant ‘security risk’ propaganda against Benazir; fled the country after making a deal with Musharraf; bulldozed laws and constitutional amendments without debate, relegating the parliament and the cabinet to the status of rubber stamps; entrusted ministers and party members to defend his family against charges of corruption; got journalists that didn’t play ball apprehended; targeted news groups; punished dissent; stormed courts; ‘requested’ judges for favorable judgments; ran the party and country like a private limited company; ensured that the family wealth kept increasing exponentially.
Some key-words that describe his illustrious political career: Changa Manga, Mehran-gate, IJI, NRO, Senator Saif, Qarz-utaro-mulk-sanwaro, Panama, Qatari letters, Iqama, and Memo-gate (this, as well as playing the main role in the ‘restoration’ drama – acting as Establishment’s B team – was after the so-called Charter of Democracy). No points for guessing who this politician is.
Of course, there’s nothing out of the ordinary in a politician being a hypocrite and an opportunist of the highest order. None of our politicians has been immune from these weaknesses. But when others tried the same tricks on this politician, they weren’t nearly as successful. What’s astonishing – I would call it a miracle – is people, multitudes and multitudes of them, believing – or claiming they believe – this politician is synonymous with democracy, and is our last bastion of civilian supremacy and the rule of law. That he is anti-Establishment, a gentleman through and through, and one who has been hard-done by. Although there’s fair representation from them, it’s not just a bunch of 90s kids who came of age in the new millennium, which one could dismiss as juvenile silliness. In fact, there are numerous people who have seen the above history unfolding with their own eyes, and who therefore are mature enough to know what is, and has been, happening, who also hail this politician as the bulwark against the breakdown of democracy.
What can possibly explain this state of affairs except the existence of an Almighty who is capable of all things, and who occasionally likes to showcase the fact? Will the atheists and agnostics come forward and present an alternate explanation; and in case they fail (which I am certain they are bound to) be man enough (or woman enough) to acknowledge their failure?
I rest my case.
Satire aside, what the writer has written has nothing to do with god or his existence, however his effort is not in vain, what he has elaborated is an authentic,visible, viable and logical proof of a morally and ethically dead and mentally stunted nation, that kept bringing crooks and thieves like Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zirdari and their minions to power again and again, defiling and debasing democracy with their vote.
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