Today when we are celebrating Pakistan’s 68th Independence, I am sad to admit our beloved country sits far from the vision our Quaid had created.  The current state of affairs has created an atmosphere of hopelessness and despair. Unfortunately, we have no one to blame but ourselves.  I was planning to write a tribute to my motherland then all of a sudden I was taken aback by couple of stories that never even made the headlines. A man named Hashim from Shekapura fed-up with his financial woes killed himself and his four children aged: 16, 14, 9 and 5.  In another news from Rahim Yar Khan, a mother killed herself along with all her children because of hunger and poverty.

 

 

It doesn’t make sense when the Prime Minister of the country wears over hundred thousand dollar watches and spends the last ten days of Ramzan along with his family in Saudi Arabia, while the people are taking their lives because they cannot afford to provide for themselves and their children.  To make matter worse, he proudly claims in his address to the nation that how his government is being stopped from bringing progress to the nation. His Finance minister (who is also his daughter’s father in law) addresses a press conference to defend his “poor friendly” budget. I ask you Mr. Prime Minister, who are you trying to fool? People ask me often why I write about Pakistan when my homeland is the USA- where I have spent majority of my life.  At the same time, the issues pertaining to terrorism and political turmoil affect the rest of the world. When Pakistan goes through turmoil we feel it, when Pakistan is happy we feel radiant. August 14 holds a real value for everyone who supports freedom.  Unfortunately, this Independence Day is marred by uncertainties.  The government with its incompetence has put the nation at a great risk.  The opposition has added to uncertainties of what will happen.