Written By: Omair Alavi

There are two kinds of people – those who are alive and those who are unfortunately not. The scenario seems to be taken from the ‘Wild West’ where the evil landlord was the law because he controlled the town with his money. His henchmen were the ones who looted the working class from bank to saloons, and the sheriff acted as a person who had no power of his own.

Same is the case in Pakistan where looters are kings, the people are being robbed of everything, from their rights to their possessions, and the law is as hopeless as hopeless can be. While the people of the ‘Wild West’ were saved by a mysterious stranger who rode into the town to help the suppressed, we are still waiting for our ‘stranger,’ who may or may not come!

During the last couple of years in Pakistan, people have lost their lives as if they didn’t matter at all. I am not implying anything nor am being asked to terrorize my fellow countrymen, but ever since this government has come into power, more things have gone wrong in Pakistan than right. People who are alive are terrified of going out, those who are at their workplaces always despair of reach home safely and those who are out in the open are scared of anything from muggers, accidents, bomb blasts or target killing.

The most ‘at ease’ community in Pakistan is the one that is rich and powerful, because rich and powerless are candidates for kidnapping, whereas poor and powerful are a rarity in the land of pure. If you belong to the former, you can get away with anything – be it murder or any scandal in the book. If you aren’t, then either your life will end with the bullet or an accident that is waiting to happen. You can also be considered as collateral damage in the War against (of) Terror!

Speaking of ‘War of Terror’, is it our war at all? If not, then why is the current government carrying out the work of its predecessors? And above all, if we are in a state of war, why do we even try to compare ourselves with the other ‘peaceful’ and ‘prospering’ nations in the region – India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to name a few.

I am one of those people who have written a lot against Bangladesh’s decision to not tour Pakistan due to security reasons. But if we look within ourselves, we will know that they have made the right decision. I would never tour Pakistan myself if given the chance because nothing seems right in the country at the moment.

So the question stands… are we really safe in Pakistan? In a country where there is shortage of water, electricity and gas; Where the railway is in the dumps; the premier airline is in sorriest shape; the prices of petroleum is unacceptably high; and the condition of law and order is at its worst.

I think we need to grow out of the current scenario and transform from a country where the death of hundreds is forgotten within a week, where every second person has had an encounter with a mugger, where everyday brings more misery than happiness and where life is considered cheap; because in such a scenario, one can’t live and prosper at the same time. No, Pakistan is not safe is my answer; and deep down I know you agree with me as well.