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| Malala during a CNN interview |
In a country
which has seen over 40k deaths in terrorist attacks and witnesses its
schools, markets and mosques getting bombed on daily basis, a girl receiving a
bullet from an extremist can be easily dismissed as ‘usual’ terrorist attack.
There is an alarming normalcy attached to such things in once-beautiful,
now-ravaged SWAT area. Only thing is this was different. This resonated. For
first time protests on streets were progressive. And this is a good news.
Malala
Yousufzai, 14 yr old was shot in her head by Taliban extremists while returning
from school in defiance of a diktat which has ordered girls school in the
region to be shutdown. Even the leading conservative Islamic scholars call such anti woman diktats
to be very narrow interpretation of Sharia law and reject it. Malala fully
knowing the threats and consequences of continuing with her education, refused
to back down and took her activism to entire country. Her efforts for women’s
education which is cornerstone for any progressive society was widely
understood and appreciated, receiving National Youth peace award from then Mr
PM – Yousuf Raza Gilani himself. Her thoughtfulness, courage and honesty is for everyone to see but credit should also
be given to her father Ziauddin who runs an all girls school in the locality
and has not backed down despite threats, difficulties and frustrations which we
can not even begin to imagine. Malala’s liberal and progressive talk was
something fundamentalists couldn’t counter and they chose to respond in most
cowardly, barbaric and easy way – pumping down bullets on an innocent, unarmed
& unprotected girl.
You find
hope in great ruins. That people responded in great numbers and anger is the
only success story in this farce. It’s a place where minorities are targeted
regularly on basis of archaic Blasphemy laws. The shooter of Salman Tasser, one
of finest politicians gunned down for speaking against blasphemy laws,
was showered with flower petals by masses. When narrative of regressive and
extremist ideologues gets support and approval from common man, space for
liberal ideas and arguments shrink. Cynicism has to set in. That’s why Malala
case is so important. Pakistanis across the board, from politicians to social
media, from Mullahs to masses slammed the terrorists in unequivocal terms. There were protests, fatwas and people walked
on streets against extremists for a change. There were usual campaigns to paint
Malala as CIA agent but the fact that these were destroyed by common Pakistanis
themselves is so heartening. Rumours die faster than they spread. Now the onus
is on Pakistan govt and Army. Pakistan has been the biggest victim of terrorism
and no-one better than it to understand that snake is no-one’s friend. Talks of
good Taliban is a myth. Public opinion can change fast and side with extremist
forces if drone attacks by USA continue and innocents continue to die. Hence
Pak Army must act fast. Army should take this inititative and launch an offensive
in north west region and ensure complete normalcy returns to the area.
In earlier
interviews young Malala has expressed her desire to become a politician and
provide leadership to a country which can lead Pakistan into a better future.
Even if that dream remains unfulfilled, she has done her job. Now its upto
masses to raise their voices and get heard. To shout, demand, protest and stand
up. Just be brave. As Malala’s father said from hospital in Birmingham where
she is recuperating – When Malala fell, Pakistan rose. Rhetoric apart, its time
not to kneel again.
