The Other Pakistan

As bizarre at it may seem when one is reading Pakistan in the popular press, life is not just going on, it is going on with all the happy absurdity of any developing country.

Sadly, we lost a treasure in Iqbal Bano recently.  But music lives, youth culture continues to do battle and occasionally (as incomprehensible as it may be) triumphs.

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Kind of pretty for the failed State in a perpetual state of war.

Kachura Lake

A few glimpses of the Pakistan we don’t get to see, and may well have forgotten. For some of us, these memories never existed.

The Road to Skardu

While back in Lahore, the epicenter of international attention following the horrorific attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team, their driver and the helpless underarmed police, people discover there are still heroes.

Sheosar Lake

Meher Mohammad Khalil was driving the bus taking the Sri Lankan cricket team and coach to Gaddafi Stadium. His quick thinking and courage in the face of attack saved lives and prevented an even larger tragedy from unfolding that day.

“For God’s sake, please stop this terrorism and let this nation breathe a sigh of relief,” the Guardian reported him saying.

We received the following email soliciting donations for Mr. Khalil.  Please note theflyslip.net is not personally known to us, but if legitimate, would be a wonderful initiative.

On March 3, 2009, Mehar Mohammad Khalil, drove a bus full of Sri Lankan cricketers, while it was being attacked by 12 Terrorists, to safety.

The bus was attacked with AK-47s, RPGs and hand grenades.

But Khalil was having none of it. He drove over a hand grenade, dodged a RPG and eventually got the bus to safety.

Closer inspections later revealed that M.Khalil had balls made of pure steel.

Every Sri Lankan cricketer owes their lives to him.

This is our (the cricket fans) way of saying thank you for being there and for saving our cricketers.

Please donate what you can, using the ChipIn Widget @ http://www.theflyslip.net/help-a-real-cricket-hero/

Once our target of 1000 USD has been reached we will be sending the money via telegraphic transfer to Charlie Austin, the manager of Kumar Sangakkara, who will present it to Mr. Khalil on behalf of the Sri Lanka team when he visits Sri Lanka as a guest of the Sri Lanka government.

This is also an appropriate place to recognize the good people of Pakistan who are saving lives at the risk of their lives. Not all of them make it.

Photo: Hasan Mubarak

A makeshift memorial now stands at Alfalah roundabout at the entrance of Liberty market to commemorate those who died in the shooting. Sadly, and as usual, the working poor were the ones killed:

* Traffic Warden Tanveer Iqbal * Head Constable Faisal * Constable Rasheed Butt * Constable Zafar Iqbal * Constable Mudassar Nadeem * Constable Muhammad Sultan * Constable Tipu Farid

Photo: Hasan Mubarak

Photo: Hasan Mubarak

Crowds of people gather every day outside Liberty market to leave flowers and in a show of solidarity with the real victims of terror who are almost always the innocent and defenseless. In the way, just doing their jobs. Wrong place. Wrong time.

Samad Khurram and Sara Seerat articulated beautifully what is in all our hearts. Read their letter in the Daily News:

This letter is our expression of deep sorrow and grief at the savage attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team while they were touring our country. As Pakistani citizens, we are shocked, angered, and greatly embarrassed at being the source of such anxiety to the people of Sri Lanka. There never can be a justification for such horrendous acts of violence, and the Pakistani nation strongly condemns this evil act.

The dastardly attacks were carried out by miscreants who do not share the common values that the peaceful citizens of both Sri Lanka and Pakistan cherish and uphold. Pakistan has been the victim of many terrorist attacks in the last few years, and it is evident that this cowardly act was another attempt to cause increased turmoil and chaos in a country that is already suffering through a period of extreme violence and anarchy.

We therefore thank the Sri Lankan team for agreeing to play in Pakistan even when other countries refused citing security concerns. In hindsight, those apprehensions seem very valid, but the courage of the Sri Lankan Cricket Board and players in agreeing to play is laudable, and the nation of Pakistan shall be forever indebted to your country. This tour was crucial for the revival of cricket in Pakistan, and we greatly appreciate your efforts in agreeing to be a part of this process.

Our two nations have always enjoyed close cricketing ties. Lahore, the city of this massacre, is the same town that witnessed the Sri Lankan team under Arjuna Ranatunga proudly win the cricket World Cup in 1996. The Pakistani fans cheerfully celebrated alongside Sri Lanka, for this was the victory of a close friend against the Australians who had been notoriously harassing South Asian cricketers. It is, now, of course, deeply distressing that the sport of cricket, which has always been the source of such joy to the people of Pakistan, is the cause of our humiliation today.

In the long tradition of jovial relations this comes as moment of disbelief and grief for Pakistanis. We have failed to protect perhaps the only team that had braved to enter our territory.

The only consolation in this episode is that all of the players survived. We sincerely pray for the swift recovery of Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Chaminda Vaas and Paul Farbrace, and hope that they are able to return to cricket soon.

We express our appreciation for the remarks of the Sri Lankan Government and Foreign Ministry, forever solidifying the bonds between our nations. The Pakistani Foreign Office also reaffirmed today that Pakistan greatly values its relations with Sri Lanka, and we endorse this statement and look forward to extending this close friendship. In times of great distress, our allegiance to one another is what sustains us, and the Sri Lankan commitment to friendship with Pakistan displays the benevolent spirit of your nation.

Our nation expresses pride at the bravery of the van driver who, according to Kumar Sangakkara, heroically managed to deliver the players to safety. Tribute must be paid to the six Pakistani police officers who sacrificed their lives while trying to protect the Sri Lankan team.

Citizens of Sri Lanka, we share your grief. We are all one today.