My fear is the increasing tolerance to violence in Pakistan
The brutal Sialkot incident is just another glimpse of what we are capable of tolerating new heights of gruesome violence. Congratulations my fellow countrymen that once again, the Pakistani society has reflected its “Jackal and Hyde” personality for the amusement of the global audience.
On one hand, the brothers met their violent end in front of a large mob including a few representatives of the law enforcing authorities. And, on the other, the significant stern reaction of the incident -- in both traditional and new media -- appears to be as significant as the incident it self.
Two days ago, despite warnings from friends and family, I finally watched the footage. The visuals proved to be beyond all the warnings that I had received. Needless to say that there was nothing in the world that could have prepared me for those images. The level of violence and the crowd’s indifference towards it seemed to be more fiction than reality.
It is hard to comprehend the state of mind of those who witnessed the actual act, who rather than intervene or even walking away from it, not only remained there but some of them also recorded the details on to their smart phones perhaps for the amusement of their friends! It seemed that the gravity of the moment passed them by like a detached viewer of a violent Hollywood film or a teenager player of a gruesome video game.
Most of us would agree that although it’s hard to see a positive aspect in the incident, the huge condemnation afterwards, from every walk of life, proves that we are not completely numb. However, the way the mob behaved at the spot represents the other more macabre side of our nation and bags the answer of the most fundamental question: Do we qualify to be considered “civilized” human beings?
I would rather leave this debate to eminent sociologists and mob psychologist, who, I am certain, would be writing volumes on direct and indirect consequences behind the incident and how to change the collective attitudes. For me, the images triggered a feeling of utter haplessness and pain for the bereaved family of the brothers. I cannot find any reason why they had to die in such a brutal manner. In addition to that, why the mob behaved the way it did.
I am, in a way, considering my self as part of the circus audience around those boys who were not moved by their cries for help. And, I think this is the guilt that is keeping me awake since I watched the images on my computer screen a couple of days ago.
My nightmares include my family too; the most recurrent one features my family crying for help and a mob around them is not responding to them at all.
Isn’t it time for us to stop blaming others and asking ourselves difficult questions? Haven’t we all reached the ultimate threshold of pain from where we cannot go any further?
As a nation, why can’t we call a spade a spade?
Abrar ul Hassan
Date:23rd August
92 300 8439185
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