So the much talked about tsunami finally hit the ground. As expected there were a huge crowd boys, girls, old people, families groups and what not. The zest and conviction was worth-watching. I wasn’t there; I watched it all over television. But it felt like some kind of remaking of that Manto Park rally in Lahore, 1940. Something that’s going to change the history, or will become history itself, amazing feeling it was. Felt as if I am witnessing a historical event. These emotions aren’t out of love for Imran Khan or PTI. It’s all about the public. It’s all about the participants that were present there with all their enthusiasm and courage and the faith that they have in the party and its leadership. I have never been a supporter of PTI, I have my own reasons. As Justice (Rtd) Wajih ud Din mentioned today our grandparents used to share with us their memories of that Rally at Manto Park in 1940 or memories of how Pakistan came into being. Now witnessing this so called tsunami we’ll tell our children or grandchildren that we witnessed making of a new Pakistan. Today I noticed some good things that I would like to share.
Unity, Faith, Discipline:
Our beloved Quaid gave us the above lesson. I witnessed this in today’s rally. All the leaders individually mentioned it too. There were people from various ethnic backgrounds, social backgrounds, provinces races etc but all of them were united in their cause. There were Muslims, Hindus and Christians for one cause. This is what Pakistan always wanted. Unity: acceptance of other’s existence and respecting it. Faith, in their own-selves, faith of capacity to make something happen, faith that people had back in 1947. This nation was so undermined and cornered that they nearly lost all their self-confidence which is now backing into play. Thirdly, the discipline and the organization, it was so well disciplined. These are the same Pakistanis you’d see on streets and think they could never behave or they could never make a queue etc. As Imran Khan said “an idea, whose time has come”. It’s power of that very idea that made people to unite under one flag on a single platform. If I am not mistaken, that’s what the real change is. That long-lost “Pakistaniat” is returning back.
Concept of Equality:
When you claim to be against status quo, the first and foremost thing you need to ensure is equality, and that’s what we witnessed today. Different people from different social, economic, ethnic and religious backgrounds were equally treated. There were daily wagers and billionaires sitting in the same row. Then there were illiterate and PhD scholars, secular minded to religious ones. Everyone represented a different class and a different thought but all were equally welcomed and treated by PTI. This reminds me of Iqbal’s famous shair:
Aik hi suff mein kharay hogaye mahmood-o-ayyaz
Na koi banda raha aur na koi banda Nawaz
Zest, Enthusiam:
The enthusiasm and zeal & zest that were depicted at the site both by public and the leaders are infect the good news. Pakistani nation that everyone was predicting have lost the thrust of life hit back at large. It felt like Pakistan have won a world cup or have beaten India in a cricket match or that we’ve just had test nuclear explosions or that everyone has got surety of no-CNG/electricity load-shedding. Karachi, as rightly stated by Javed Hashmi, is in actual a Pakistan. It’s like a prototype of Pakistan. There was bloodshed, street crimes and what not but still people looked happy, they were full of energy and their body language conveyed a very positive message to everyone else in the country. If Karachi is smiling, we all will.
Public involvement in national matters:
People were so dis-connected with politics and all this idea of a revolution that they never really cared. But this credit goes to PTI that they’ve made people reconsider their options. People have started to care about national matters and are involving and engaging themselves in every possible way as if it’s not a national issue but their household issue. This is another positive sign; now people are ready change and accept the change. It’s about time to unleash the real agenda and take people into confidence, which Imran khan did during his address.
Innovation:
PTI has introduced innovation and gave a teaser of how un-orthodox its approach is. It can think out-of-the-box and can come-up with solutions yet unknown or unacceptable to public and politicians. The way PTI campaigned for this rally online and how the rally-site was well-equipped with latest technology was in itself a commendable organization also PTI’s belief in employing technology for its aid.
Empowerment and Accountability:
The concept of public empowerment and system that offers accountability is the need of time. Imran khan referred to ameer-ul-momineen’s style of governing. If he succeeds in pulling it off, Pakistan will be back on track in no time. They are empowering people now let’s see what do they do about accountability.
Conclusion:
I have always been criticizing PTI. But I was right in my opinion; I had my own questions that I got answered one by one. Now that Imran Khan has got seasoned politicians on board and lot of public support, I would like to say that agencies or invisible hand can finance a rally, can make politicians join the party but they cannot make people love nor have faith in someone, they cannot make people to leave their homes for a cause. So, be it an agency’s idea but now it has become our national emotion, a national idea, a point of unification, people have chosen this and now Imran Khan and other leaders in the party aren’t left with any other option but to deliver. So let’s look forward to it. Long live Pakistan.
Originall published on 29th Dec 2012 at http://abrarkureshy.blogspot.com/2011/12/tsunami-and-pakistan.html
