My affinity with Pakistan.

This might come as a surprise to many. Many regard me as “anti-pakistani” or worse the antagonist to Pakistan. Those who have spent time with me speak boldly about the scathing criticism that I blast at Pakistan. Some people perhaps might even think this article is a mockery. I have received ample “accolades” which are somewhat justified considering the harsh censure I fire at Pakistan at almost any gathering.

I personally do admit that I criticize Pakistan for all its shortcomings. But the word Pakistani carries a very very deep and broad meaning in my mind. To be Pakistani to me means living in a land where you can yell, scream as loud as you can without having to worry someone would come and convict you of a wrong or condemn you. To be Pakistani to me means you can go out of your home with the utmost confidence and own the roads you walk along. To be Pakistani to me means I can go out late at night and still find ample lively places to enjoy. To be Pakistani to me means I can endure any calamity, any water shortage, any power shortage that befalls me and come out strong. Pakistan is the epitome of freedom that anyone can experience. You can go along the streets meet people who feel like you, walk like you and talk like you. But perhaps the most outstanding quality about Pakistan is the natural feel to it whenever someone visits it. The artificiality that has overtaken major urban centers around the world has luckily still not found Pakistan.

 Pakistan may be poor, corrupt, divided but all of this can change and may change. Whenever you talk to any one of them you can feel the people, you feel the emotions coming out of them. This suggests that deep down Pakistanis can feel , their hearts are not hardened , their hearts might be bleeding but they are certainly not stones. They are not numb to the surroundings. They donot exhibit apathy. They are humans. They have emotions. And this is exactly what the outside world lacks. Cynicism characterizes the outside world. The thought of cynicism being the most productive way of achieving goals , for the country and themselves, governs the outer wilderness.  Pakistan is far away from all this. Its an isolated cave far away from the noisy wilderness .

The fact that I criticize Pakistan only portrays that I have feelings for Pakistan. You criticize only whom you love and for whom you have feelings. Four years have taught me my place in this world. They have taught me where I belong .They have taught me where my heart lies.

Luckily for me, my heart lies in Pakistan.