An article critical of Pakistan’s military-political establishment that went viral after it was published in The Express Tribune, was quickly taken down within hours. But enough people had downloaded it for the article to be distributed and discussed.
The article by US-based Ph.D scholar Zorain Nizamani, was published on New Year’s Day and began thus:
“For the older men and women in power, it’s over. The young generation isn’t buying any of what you are trying to sell to them. No matter how many talks and seminars you arrange in schools and colleges trying to promote patriotism, it isn’t working.
“Patriotism comes naturally when there is equal opportunity, sound infrastructure and efficient mechanisms in place. When you provide your people with basic necessities and ensure people get their rights, you won’t have to go to schools and colleges to tell students they have to love their country.
“Thanks to the internet, to whatever little education we have left, despite your best efforts at keeping the masses as illiterate as possible, you have failed.”
Zorain is the son of celebrity actors Fazila and Qaiser Nizamani, and clearly belongs to the upper crust of Pakistani society. His mother said the piece was a general commentary on youth perceptions and not aimed at any specific institution.
The son also clarified that he had no political affiliation and whatever he wrote was based on his views and his observations. In a rambling recording posted on X, he said “I have always encouraged thinking, questioning, learning for yourself and reading … the message has always been to think critically for yourself .. question what is being fed to you what is being taught to you by parents, by government by anyone.”
The recording contained nothing critical of the Pakistani government or establishment, in fact it was far removed from what he had written. So it left the question whether he meant what he wrote or not.
In the recording he says “i was having fun when I wrote that, messing around, not thinking a lot.”
Did he mean what he wrote? That remained unclear. Was the recording meant to soothe the powers that be and protect his parents who remain in Pakistan? We may never know but Nizamani’s written piece reflected Pakistan’s painful reality:
Given the dominance of the army and its favoured political proteges, every institution has had to bend to the current order. The economy is not doing well, unemployment is rising and this year according to Dawn, there was a 31% increase in Pakistan’s unemployed.
Official data shows more than 5,000 doctors and 11,000 engineers left the country in the past two years, part of an accelerating talent exodus. The powers that be remain unmoved
Thirty eight years in journalism, widely travelled, history buff with a preference for Old Monk Rum. Current interest/focus spans China, Technology and Trade. Recent reads: Steven Colls Directorate S and Alexander Frater's Chasing the Monsoon. Netflix/Prime video junkie. Loves animal videos on Facebook. Reluctant tweeter.
