A plethora of black days

Dawn July 12, 2008 Saturday Rajab 8, 1429

In an insipid decision to ‘mourn’ the date of Zia-ul-Haq’s martial law, the PPP spent much time and energy to ‘commemorate’ the said event. It is termed as a ‘black day’. But then, there are so many other ‘black days’ that have fallen on the people of Pakistan, it would take nearly 100 days or more each year to commemorate those black days as well.

Was it not a black day when Benazir Bhutto was assassinated? Or further back when Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated? Or when Ayub Khan imposed martial law? Or when each terrorist exploded himself to kill, maim and wound hundreds of Pakistanis? Was it not a black day when riots erupted in Karachi which brought the hub of the economic activity of Pakistan to a standstill last year?

It is not wise to live in the ‘blackness’ of the past. Even in South Africa, there was a Truth and Reconciliation Committee to absorb all ‘black days’ and that nation has the grit and determination to forgive, forget and re-unite. That in is how ‘black days’ are tied up, locked and drowned in an ocean forever.

Let’s now look towards ‘bright days’, ‘sunny days’, etc. Let’s all resolve to bring out the best in us, not remember the worst that was done to this nation by dictators and despots.

DAWOOD SHAKIL
Rawalpindi