Selective Patriotism Pakistan and the Illusion of Progress
Selective patriotism Pakistan is becoming impossible to ignore. Pakistan played a meaningful diplomatic role in facilitating talks between Iran and the United States. However, it is exhausting—and infuriating—to watch askarandu voices and beneficiaries of the corrupt system seize every “state” success as a chance for aggressive image-laundering.
They push a glossy “rising power” narrative. Meanwhile, they treat blind celebration as a sacred patriotic duty. In reality, it serves as a distraction from the bleeding wounds at home. This performative patriotism rings hollow while ordinary Pakistanis endure relentless suffering.
The Human Cost Behind Selective Patriotism Pakistan
Across the country, the consequences are visible. Baloch, Pashtun, and Sindhi families still search for loved ones forcibly disappeared years ago. At the same time, activists like Dr. Mahrang Baloch face severe reprisals for demanding justice. Likewise, human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha received 17-year sentences in January 2026 for critical social media posts.
On the Afghan border, civilian casualties from Pakistani airstrikes in early 2026 shocked many observers. Yet outrage remained selective. In March 2026, around 22 Pakistanis lost their lives during protests outside the US consulate in Karachi. Still, this tragedy drew muted reactions from the same voices that amplify state narratives.
Displacement, Silence, and Structural Injustice
Even near Islamabad, the pattern continues. Historic communities in Nurpur Shahan and Saidpur Village face demolition under aggressive CDA operations. As a result, hundreds of homes have been destroyed, and thousands have been displaced.
This is where selective patriotism Pakistan becomes most visible.
Institutional Collapse and Political Manipulation
The deeper crisis lies within the system itself. Corruption continues to hollow out institutions. Nepotism replaces merit. Meanwhile, a compromised justice system protects the powerful and crushes the weak. International reports consistently document enforced disappearances, unlawful killings, torture, and harassment of journalists and critics.
Politically, the damage is just as severe. The 2024 elections were widely seen as manipulated. Imran Khan remains imprisoned on politically motivated charges. Alongside him, thousands of supporters remain behind bars. Yet the same beneficiaries of power either amplified official narratives or chose silence.
Violence, Repression, and Fear
The events of May 9, 2023 marked a turning point. Security forces responded with lethal force, mass arrests, and widespread crackdowns. Later, during the November 2024 protests in Islamabad, violence escalated again, with reports of large-scale casualties.
At the same time, critics outside Pakistan face growing pressure. This includes transnational repression—revoked passports, threats to families, and targeted actions abroad. Even my own husband, Major Adil Raja, has faced such targeting. This is another layer of selective patriotism Pakistan, where dissent is treated as betrayal.
The Role of Power and the Cost of Silence
The responsibility does not lie in the shadows. It lies with the Army elite, particularly under Asim Munir, and those who sustain this system. They have turned dissent into a crime and accountability into a threat.
No one is forced into silence. Silence is a choice. However, those who speak—those who raise voices rooted in lived pain—face relentless attacks. Importantly, these voices rarely come from elite drawing rooms. Instead, they emerge from communities that live through injustice daily.
Why Selective Patriotism Pakistan Must Be Challenged
This is why selective patriotism Pakistan is so dangerous.
It is entirely possible—and morally necessary—to condemn aggression against Iran and suffering in Gaza. At the same time, one must not ignore oppression at home. True solidarity cannot exist alongside selective blindness.
True Patriotism vs Manufactured Narratives
Yes, diplomatic achievements can be acknowledged. However, forced celebration is not patriotism. Moreover, questioning injustice does not make anyone a traitor. In fact, it reflects a deeper commitment to the country.
Refusing selective cheerleading does not weaken Pakistan. Instead, it strengthens the demand for a just state—one that serves all its people, not just a powerful few.
Conclusion: Pakistan Deserves Better
The pain of the disappeared, the displaced, the imprisoned, and the silenced is real. Therefore, their voices must not be drowned out by orchestrated applause.
True patriotism demands honesty. It demands accountability. Above all, it demands courage—not curated narratives that protect power while the rest suffer.
Enough with selective patriotism Pakistan.
Pakistan deserves better.
Its people deserve better.
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