For months on end the Lal Masjid issue has been splashed across newspapers and tv channels. Many have graced us with their opinions; and we have all formed our own. We sit in our comfortable rooms and discuss the failings of the government, the strengths or weaknesses of the mullahs, the strangeness of seeing women in black holding arms and then, we go back to our lives and forget all about it. The truth is as a nation we have ceased to care.

When the operation supposedly began many of us living in Islamabad received phone calls. We responded mostly by sheer amusement on the drama being enacted or perhaps a much needed action on the mullahs. Whatever our opinions may have been we thanked our family and friends and moved on. As long as the bullets were not being fired at us, we did not care.

Many of us had friends stuck in the G-6 sector. An occasional phone call to inquire after them, and then ten minutes of sharing with the world what we had learnt from them and what they were going through. We ourselves became news channels, where we are the correspondents, the analysts and the primary audience. There is an indifference with which we dealt with the situation. As a people we have ceased to care.

In the midst of all the military action while people were hooked to the television sets and their telephones, forming their own views some how the plight of the hundreds of thousands of our people in Balochistan and Sindh escaped us. There was little, if any, talk of relief efforts, wanting to volunteer or donate something or anything to them. As we worried about the hundreds of women and children inside the mosque we forgot about the thousands of homeless women, children and men waiting for help to arrive. Some how there was little talk of the real issues, but the scandalous, dramatic, full of violence and bloodshed, chivalry of saving women and children, the saga equivalent to a Punjabi film over-rode the real issues at hand. We as a nation are entertainment starved, so we used this as entertainment. We long to be heard so we talked about what we could talk about. We as a nation want to criticize our leaders, our military and the religious fanatics and so we used this time to be critical. We as a nation can only criticize and analyze, but not contribute.

For a country to prosper the people need to have a common sense of purpose, a sense of nationhood, a oneness of body, mind and soul. However as the blood shed continued in G-6 in Islamabad, the markets of F-6 and F-7 were full of people seeking entertainment, fun and frolic. Life remained unchanged. People remained unchanged. As we sat down to eat in expensive restaurants there was little talk of the water and food needed in the flooded areas of the country, and the impact of more torrential rains on the poor. We as a nation speak of justice and equality for ourselves but refuse to give it to some one else. Once we were known to have a culture of brotherhood, of humanity and now that has been overtaken by what we considered to be western values of capitalism, individualism and self interest. Unlike our forefathers, we no longer care.

I see little hope for the future of us as a nation, where we take no interest in our common issues and therefore we have no common interest. It is every man for himself and himself alone. However, as I write this article on the plight of our nation, I am aware that this is only a matter of soothing my own conscience for I too acted like every other Pakistani. My life remained unhindered by the events unfolding in the country. Where my sole interest in the Lal masjid situation was a concern for my spouse’s well being who worked near the area. I too have not moved a muscle to help the people in Sindh and Balochistan. Perhaps if I ever see anyone raising money I shall contribute a little but that will be it. I shall also move on, busy making my own life and perhaps participate in the debates on the issues if and when required. Most probably I won’t even bother doing that. There are so many issues and problems we face and at the end of it, it becomes boring. People become emotionally involved in all talks of religion or politics so I will keep a safe distance in order to retain my sanity. The truth is, however I may write and think on this matter, I too have ceased to care.