For a very long time I have heard our people demeaning our own population , looking down on masses and full of self loathing . You hear that in the terms 

“ Hamari Qom Hi Aisi Hai” – “ Hum baighairat hain” – “Hum ko hamaray amaal ki saza mil rahi hai!”

 In other words we deserve what we have or serves us right …

I keep on believing that they are all wrong and have a limited view point. In Pakistan’s case let’s compare ourselves to India. Have Indians ever had to struggle for their democracy? Compared to us , they were handed it on a platter. For most of Western Europe , it was borne out of ashes of defeat of fascism militarily . ( let’s leave England and USA out of it for now).

They say in that in the west people come out in large numbers for Gaza , against Gulf war or other causes . These are people who were born free, raised to express their opinion and their states do not abuse them or kill them arbitrarily.

To come out against the state of Pakistan and its brutality by itself in any numbers is by itself the greatest act of moral courage . In a country that is not free, where people are told to respect authority and stay quiet and have centuries of slavery and oppression , it is a matter of great pride what our people have shown in the last 3 years . ..and dare I say “our saving grace”

Now let’s parse through in greater detail. I have lived in the west since 1999. There were a few major world events after 9/11. The Iraq war and now more recently the war in Gaza were the ones that had the most opposition in the public . The public demonstrated on weekends , in large numbers of thousands, tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands. They did so without fear of violence , and (except for US universities) they were allowed to do so without state violence. Non of the demonstrations made any difference. The people blew steam and the governments did their own thing . The net result was Zero.!! There was no spark, violence , fear of violence or revolution .. People blew off steam and governments remained intact . Their policy remained unchanged .

Now let’s place that in Pakistani context with events since April 2022. What if May 25th had not happened. Khan and his people would’ve reached Islamabad , done a sit in for days ,weeks months? Eventually they would’ve dispersed gone back home and life would go on. PDM 1 with Gen Bajwa backing them would just continue with business ignoring it all ( as the western governments do )
However it was the violence by the Rangers/ punjab police and army that was the spark and catalyst for change. Bajwa followed by Asim has led the state /army into ever escalating violence and acts of outrage culminating in November 26th massacre.

The events leading up to it have made Imran Khan into the mythical king of Pakistan imprisoned by his enemies roaring in his cage like a lion . But what about his people ? Are they defeated ? Have they been silenced forever?

Shock leads to fear . Fear leads to anger . Anger leads to hate . As the Pakistan army has escalated its outrage , the people of Pakistan have/are going through the above stages . Without Bajwa and Asim we would not have travelled this far in such a short amount of time .

Where does all this lead to . Do the people all of a sudden love and respect their army and other institutions ? No it doesn’t , because it cannot. There is logically only one step further in this evolution of thought and emotion. Every institution and every uniformed individual becomes a mortal enemy . It becomes either him or me . Every symbol of the state the army , police, judiciary , parliament becomes a target . As a song goes “ it just takes a while to travel from your head to your fist “