The Modern Pakistan

           I happened upon this video on YouTube. I watched it and had a mix of feelings.

If you want to watch this video on YouTube, click here!

We are bound to have clashing emotions and views after waching this video. It bares one of the core issues of today's Pakistan that is in the limelight for the past decade or so. We are a varied nation with as many different tastes as any other nation in the World. Some people might think that such rock-n-roll clubs with people dancing around like hippies, girls, half-clad girls to be exact (though there were no really half-clad girls in this video but that is what most of Pakistanis will call them) moving around, music playing at the top of the volume and DJ's dancing and changing songs like they have been doing it since they crossed the threshold into youth and last but not the least some youth saying that this is another side and meaning that a positive side of Pakistan as against bombings, drone attacks and Usama hiding in our country are really good for us. But most of the Pakistanis do not feel at ease in such an atmosphere.

Now there are a few points I want to make here.

First of all it is the thinking and the 'abrasive' side of Pakistan that is portrayed around the World in all the Western media without fail and without any thought to the negative repercussions it might have on the masses in Pakistan. There is so much hatred for Pakistan and Pakistanis. Here I think the problem is that we are compared to Indians. Since India is a strong (or at least so believed and projects the Westers media) country with a good economy, stable democratic institutions and a good number of people that (again this is what is believed generally and most of it is true) are literate. This plays a huge role in changing the mindset of our youth and at least some of them when they see such negativity about their country they tend to think why it is so and act accordingly changing to render themselves as 'good, fun-loving people'.

Second thing is many of the youth especially in big cities are going abroad to some part of Europe or America. When they see this culture there they inevitably are influenced. Some are so much 'impressed' by it that they completely change and do not for a good amount of time look back towards Pakistan. I personally call these youths twisted because in the heat of the moment they even drink. Some of them believe it to be a blessing that they are 'free' to do whatever they want. I personally know a few of such people at least who take great pleasure in clubbing and drinking.

The third but the most important factor in alienating our beloved youth are our corrupt-to-the-core politicians and the filthily rich people. They move around in big cars where the air-conditioner never stops giving cool air in the scorching and blazing temperature during the summer when the ordinary (using this word here since it conveys the meaning otherwise these are the most special people in actuality) people are literally dying of hot weather. Then there is the ever-deteriorating plight of our country where the facilities to lead a good happy life are near to none. Then there are corrupt institutions where the poor has no ear which hears them out and no tongue that speaks in their favour.

The fourth one is the media which at times is evil of all evils because the soaps they show, the morning shows that they happily deliver and the other programmes which are telecast FOR the masses has actually nothing - not an iota- to do with the masses. The values that our media expounds belong to the few filthy rich. They almost have nothing that meets the eye of an ordianry person and makes him say that it is about him.

There is another thing - a confusion- that comes to the fore when we compare other Muslim countries to Pakistan. It seems that they have adopted these ultra-modern ways. Whereas Pakistan is still in confusion as to what to do. This confusion is also preying on our youth.

Personally I did not like the video and what was shown in it.It is hugely troubling. More troubling because my humble eyes see the dreaded future of Pakistan in this video. We are fast losing the youth that believes in the Islamic values of humanity and trust, of hard work and honesty, of looking up to our religious leaders and leading a good life according to their sermons and above all the pure culture of seeking Allah and the love of His grand holy Prophet.

Although all is not doom and gloom. There are religious parties and the leaders who are working at it with all their heart. Among the principal ones I personally see are Da'wat-e Islami, Dr Tahir ul Qadri, the precious Professor Rafique Ahmad Akhtar and many more. These people are working untiringly but things are changing vary fast.

The last thing I want to say that even these people (those dancing their lives away in the video above) seem completely out of touch with the ordinary Pakistanis, they are Pakistanis as well. We cannot segregate these people and say that they do not belong to Pakistan. Though they are utterly modern yet they are as much Pakistanis as we are. So my request to all is that we should respect one another.