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MMA Don't Let Pashtoons Down
Dr. Yaseen Iqbal Yusufzai
Publishing Date: Friday, April 25 2003
In NWFP, pukhtuns supported MMA with one voice. In Balochistan, Baloch nationalists retained their seats but Pukhtun nationalists didn't and that vote is also visible in MMA ballet boxes. Hazaras being mostly non-pukhto-speakers, elected some MMA candidates but not in one voice as was seen in pukhto-speaking areas. The partial success of MMA in Karachi and not in Sindh and Punjab also clearly distinguished Pukhtun's vote for MMA. If Islam would have been the only reason for all this then the election results should have been very homogeneous throughout the country as most of the Pakistanis are Muslims. This clearly indicated pukhtuns willingness for a change. Though it doesn't mean that only pukhtuns voted for Islam, other nationalities have also voted in millions for Islam but the majority elected candidates other than MMA.
This is not an isolated incident. Pukhtun as a nation has no record of changing their mind like they did today. It should not be taken as an ordinary page of a history book just turned over. It clearly reflects a silent revolution hidden for ages in the minds of the nation.
Pukhtuns have been deceived for long, by themselves, by their leaders and by their rulers and are still thought vulnerable to be used by others for their vested interests but today's situation appears to be very different from the past. Pukhtun always has traditionally accepted any and everything done or told to him on the name of religion or tradition, despite the fact of him being aware of the mockery. This reflects the fact that he has never been stupid and the case has always been the other way round. Nevertheless he always thought it below his dignity to adapt the indecent ways for earning his livelihood or living his life.
Pukhtun gave way to everyone until his back touched the wall. Today it seems that his back has been forced to touch that wall and that is why he moved forward. For how long could he be such a silent spectator? When the same pukhtun thought of his independence, his demand was ignored by limiting his choice to Indian Congress and Pakistan by painting CHURKHA on one Ballet Box and KALEEMA TWAYEEBA on another. He was a true Muslim, he understood what was being done to him, but closed his eyes and silently voted for KALEEMA. In this way he voted for Pakistan and not India. He smiled in his heart at that decision as well because he was well aware of the fact that his choice had been mutually bargained by Mahatama Ghandi and Mohammad Ali Jinnah with the division of Bengal but still he was happy because his vote was not bought for a piece of bread or a chair in Islamabad (or Karachi) but for the true religion "Islam".
Their leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan also accepted the result and went to the new Pakistani assembly without saying anything, although he knew what was hidden behind the veil. In spite of all this, he was not left like that and people kept on stamping him with many colours and called him (Allah forgive us) even the only Hindu in Pukhtun nation just for political interests. The only reason for teasing him to this level was just to keep simple pukhtuns away from him and hide their own sense of guilt. OK, Pukhtun bargained their independence for Islam but even after so many years they didn't see Islam. Let us say Islam was very far dream for western qualified leaders, they could not even see the western democracy. Forget about western democracy, they could not even get their due share in their own natural resources.
The economical condition of a common Pukhtun deteriorated to such a level that they were forced to cultivate nasty cash crops and none was sympathetic with them and their children until USA asked Pakistani government that opium is a nasty thing and forced them to stop its cultivation. After many sacrifices, Pukhtuns were able to get an industrial site in Gadoon Amazai as an alternative but that was again snatched from them by announcing Lahore as a Tax-Free zone by Nawaz Sharif government. Pukhtuns were made to accept the death of Turbela dam hanging over their heads, sacrificing the fertility of their God-given lands, just to get free light for their homes but where is that light and where is that enormous electricity being promised with them. People are still dying in protests against electricity load shedding. Ignoring their previous miseries. Their destiny holders are now thinking of Kalabagh Dam.
In the 21st century, imagine, in 21st century many pukhtuns died standing in lines for a kilogram of flour. These are those pukhtuns who are popular for their hospitality all over the world, hospitality means feeding others, now they and their kids are starving for their own bread. Most of pukhtuns left their mother/fatherland and earned the name of POLISHEE, KULEE and CHAWKEEDAAR because they have nothing to do at their homeland.
These are just a few examples; I don't want to fill papers with numerous sufferings of my nation. Their political lords promised them green postures for their own political interest but they never saw these. They were not even allowed to get a genuine name for themselves. This can also be one of the reasons for the defeat of pukhtun nationalist parties in NWFP. In spite of ANP's majority in NWFP assembly, they could not enforce an already passed resolution in favour of this name and they kept on supporting the same Nawaz Sharif government who rejected it. For God sake, don't make this a political issue, this is not a political issue, this name is a national issue. Even Qura’n says that you have been divided into tribes just for recognition. It seems though that pukhtuns don't even get their right of recognition. To whatever political side you belong, tell someone outside Pakistan that I come from NWFP, you will listen the same response from numerous foreign lips, "what is that"? Pukhtun as a nation is not responsible for all this.
Including myself, everyone has blamed pukhtun for disunity amongst them but this is a very limited approach we conclude on. Look into the history of this nation. Pukhtun is always united, the world has seen united pukhtun standing against world's most popular conqueror Alexander, the great, the world has seen united pukhtun with Ahmad Shah Baba and Sultan Mehmood Ghaznawi against many infidels, the same world has seen united pukhtun in Maiwand. Now in recent times the same world has seen united pukhtun along with many other nationalities fighting against the world most powerful superpower USSR and has saved Pakistan from USSR egression.
Whose sacrifices made the re-unification of Germany possible? Who liberated the whole world from communism? The independence of Uzbakistan, Tajikistan, Lithuania, Latvia and go on counting how many nations saw their independent countries on world's map that had even forgotten the word independence?
All this became possible at the cost of Afghan's lives sacrificed in millions. Who can be more united to this scale in giving their lives than Afghans (mostly pukhtuns)? People saw their united vote for Islam (Pakistan) in 1947. Even today the whole world including all the superpowers challenged a Pukhtun ruler but pukhtuns of Afghanistan kept their tradition of hospitality towards their host and along with many other friends were and are united under the single banner. The irony of the matter is, that even the present president of Afghanistan could not find a guard for himself in his own nation.
Pukhtuns were united with Bacha Khan in 1930's and were ready to give their lives on his one signal. Who can think of climbing to the top of Qilla-i-BalaHisar (Peshawar) being guarded by British soldiers and break into pieces their flag, only a Pukhtun did it on a signal of Bacha Khan and that great Hussain Khan Baba gave his life for that cause. What can be more than this? Pukhtuns are united and are always ready for the extreme sacrifices and can transform impossibilities into possibilities but need appropriate leadership.
Dear MMA leaders, today once again Pukhtuns have shown their unity for Islam. Other nationalities of Pakistan also voted for Islam and they are not much different in this respect but pukhtuns gave you the way to assemblies and powerful decision-making chairs. This demands something from you as well. Pukhtuns have many problems that require to be addressed appropriately and in the right manner.
Pukhtuns need a justice system. They don't want any western or eastern democracy from you, which you cannot import. There can be no better justice system than Shariah and they have voted for you because you promised them that. So fulfil your promise. Give them a clean and fair justice system.
Pukhtuns are on the run for ages all over the world for earning their livelihood. They need a government in NWFP to develop industry in their own region so that they can find jobs and feed their kids. It is really a pity that pukhtuns cultivate opium but why? Remove the reasons for this by giving them alternatives.
Pukhtuns have many natural and mineral resources, they need industry for their own resources in their own land so that at least they can utilise their God-given mineral resources.
Sindhi is official language in Sindh, why cannot we have Pukhto as our official language in NWPF?
The province where Sindhis live is called Sindh, the area where Kashmiri live is called Kashmir, and the province where Punjabis live is called Punjab, why the province where pukhtuns live is nameless? Please give it an official name, it can be Afghania, Pukhtunistan, Pukhtunkhwah, Abaseen etc. but don't keep it nameless for any more.
Pukhtuns are tired of Klashancov's culture; please free pukhtuns of Klashancov's culture, if Taliban with their limited resources could disarm most of Afghanistan why can we not do the same here?
Pukhtuns have talent, we have great scientists, doctors and engineers, English has been made as a must for modern sciences and development but Japan, USSR, China, France and Germany are in no way less developed than USA and Britain, they don't have English in their offices, schools, science institutions and courts, why cannot we have pukhto? Please give facilities and encourage people to develop their local languages and let them think and present in one language and give them a relief from wasting their lives in learning so many languages. Encourage them to wash this slavery from their minds in every respect, Islam and pukhto both preach against slavery.
This is a very golden chance for changing the traditional attitudes and solving many long standing problems but if this chance is lost, none will believe in your promise for the coming centuries, don't let pukhtuns loose this last hope. Pukhtuns have given you the most they could to empower you. Loosing this opportunity will again force people to grow or look towards non-islamic systems, so don't let pukhtuns down, their demand is very simple and easy, they ask for justice. May Allah empower you for the benefit of humanity Ameen.
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