Help Bajaur Refugees
Lately, after it being in my bookshelf for many months, I finally was able to read Khalid Hosseini's "The Kite Runner". A great book I must say. But the reason I mentioned this book is not to discuss the book. I share this here to highlight the symbolism of why I read this book now and not earlier - a symbolism over which I had no control.
I have many friends who say that there is a great degree of symbolism in everything that we do and that happens around us. I never took it seriously. But in reading of the book, I realized there may be some symbolism in timing of this reading.
To me the biggest revelation of the novel was to imagine and understand the reality of plight of refugees. With all the volatility surrounding my country and my society, I shuddered at the thought of a situation where my people - family, friends, relatives, neighbors, people of my city, my countrymen - might have to face this. I realized that in the turmoil surrounding us, this is a probability. And then it struck to me why the timing of dawning of this reality was significant. Reading of this book coincided with my countrymen, in Bajaur and other parts, being displaced because of the infighting of militants, fighting between tribes and fighting between security forces and extremists. And I realized I have a duty, in fact not I, we all have a duty and an opportunity to prove we are people of character.
Our brothers and sisters, our countrymen have been displaced from their homes. Till they get back to the warmth and safety of their homes in peace, and I pray that day comes sooner than later, it is for us to make them realize their home is not in that small village in Bajaur but the whole country. Pakistan belongs to them. All of us who have more than we can consume, must come forward and help these brethren generously to set up their lives, initially in refuge camps and then where ever they want to. We should help arrange food, shelter, work, education and health care for them when they are away from their homes. These are not foreign refugees but our own kins, so another help could be to help them get work or help them establish businesses wherever they can. They will have some skills and handicrafts and they should be encouraged to set up cottage industries in their temporary refuge in these, God willing, temporary times of crisis.
So my countrymen, come out and help these brothers and sisters of ours. You can find organizations working for their rehabilitation around you. In case you find it hard to find one, you can donate to Speaker's Relief Fund set up by Speaker National Assembly and monitored by multi-party parliamentary committee. Details are:
Acc. No.: 1781-9
Bank: Allied Bank Ltd, Parliament House Branch, Islamabad, Pakistan
Please donate generously, not for those displaced but for you owe it to them. We need not prove we are a nation with character, our history is a testament to that. And we will live up to it InshaAllah. This is one of those moments when societies, nations and individuals with character stand tall. May Allah be with us.
I have many friends who say that there is a great degree of symbolism in everything that we do and that happens around us. I never took it seriously. But in reading of the book, I realized there may be some symbolism in timing of this reading.
To me the biggest revelation of the novel was to imagine and understand the reality of plight of refugees. With all the volatility surrounding my country and my society, I shuddered at the thought of a situation where my people - family, friends, relatives, neighbors, people of my city, my countrymen - might have to face this. I realized that in the turmoil surrounding us, this is a probability. And then it struck to me why the timing of dawning of this reality was significant. Reading of this book coincided with my countrymen, in Bajaur and other parts, being displaced because of the infighting of militants, fighting between tribes and fighting between security forces and extremists. And I realized I have a duty, in fact not I, we all have a duty and an opportunity to prove we are people of character.
Our brothers and sisters, our countrymen have been displaced from their homes. Till they get back to the warmth and safety of their homes in peace, and I pray that day comes sooner than later, it is for us to make them realize their home is not in that small village in Bajaur but the whole country. Pakistan belongs to them. All of us who have more than we can consume, must come forward and help these brethren generously to set up their lives, initially in refuge camps and then where ever they want to. We should help arrange food, shelter, work, education and health care for them when they are away from their homes. These are not foreign refugees but our own kins, so another help could be to help them get work or help them establish businesses wherever they can. They will have some skills and handicrafts and they should be encouraged to set up cottage industries in their temporary refuge in these, God willing, temporary times of crisis.
So my countrymen, come out and help these brothers and sisters of ours. You can find organizations working for their rehabilitation around you. In case you find it hard to find one, you can donate to Speaker's Relief Fund set up by Speaker National Assembly and monitored by multi-party parliamentary committee. Details are:
Acc. No.: 1781-9
Bank: Allied Bank Ltd, Parliament House Branch, Islamabad, Pakistan
Please donate generously, not for those displaced but for you owe it to them. We need not prove we are a nation with character, our history is a testament to that. And we will live up to it InshaAllah. This is one of those moments when societies, nations and individuals with character stand tall. May Allah be with us.
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