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Sitting in the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad, this is most memorable time for me read a book 'BENAZIR BHUTTO, Daughter of the East, biography of Bhutto, the book I was desperately looking for, bought at airport bookshop. I am on the way back to Kathmandu via Karanhi, I found this book as a very good fried of mine for this such a lazy trip despite feeling alone, however book is helping me kill time. She writes that 'Being a Prime Minister, representing those women of developing world who most of those life is controlled by men I am a women proud of my culture, religion and I thank you my country people for honoring me.' A lot of thoughtful words and inspirations are written by her in the book cause me feeling lucky now at least I have that book. Despite this is short trip I stuck two more days in Islamabad due to I received revised flight schedule from Pakistan International Airlines. I supposed to return Kathmandu yesterday, but it seems only tomorrow I should reach KTM. Actually, though it was a short trip I am returning bringing a lot of insights and good things from Pakistan. I used to hear that Pakistan is Muslim country and being a Muslim country I am heard that it is not safe to travel. Terrorism and extremism or in another word religious fundamentalism spoil country good image, and media, particularly big Indian media has created its image always bad and negative. I felt lucky because I came here so that I have now no more stereotypes and prejudices regarding Muslim society, I can say country is good, its people are good, but few of those who, what they are doing is they are destroying good image of the country, spoiling the face of beautiful nation which has caused entire image of the nation negative.
I met few of mine Muslim friends in USA in 2009, attending peacebuilding program, who were from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and middle east countries. I saw them worried about hearing bitter reactions how rest of the world behave them, I saw them requesting rest of world not to act in way what western society think being a Muslim is not what makes them terrorist. I saw them appealing to the citizen of US to stop their government kill general citizen of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Arab with terrorist tag, in reality they are human being instead, so treat them humanly. I saw empathy US people showed them but question always occurred, never I found answer was were they only listened to? Are US citizens really able to put their government in pressure? Otherwise what is the meaning of listening to the voices of member of terrorist tagged community? Writing few words for them in favor of my Muslim mother & father, sister & brother I am not showing my sympathy that they should be well treated does not mean to be said there are no fundamentalists, extremists who don't want to see Muslim country stable, developed and being modern country. Yes, wrong is happening, however foreign countries, by the name of controlling over terrorism fighting for peace is not meant that they are doing for good, but actually what they are doing is fueling further instability, creating mistrust among brotherhood, destroying sisterhood, killing, killing and just killing humanity.
Now it is almost midnight crossed over I reached Karanchi, living at hotel arranged by PIA. I am thinking that our values are human values, our beliefs are human beliefs, we are not provided with such rights in the name of human rights that we should kill anyone who disagrees others, who put different views. After all we are human being sharing the same land, same water and natural resources provided are similar to each other no mater where we are living. When I met a fried of Palestine, who was questioning by when we should be paying for other's victory? Yes, he is right coz someone is paying for other victory hiding sorrows for other happiness. In the book Benazir writes that she could show the world that a Muslim women should become Prime Minister,' yes, I saw many Muslims girls flying in the same plan I flew were sharing the same sheet with men I didn't see anyone feeling uncomfortable doing all of these things. So why they have to eat separately? Why they have to keep their face hidden? I told one of my colleague Irfan that one day there will be situation come up male and female eat sharing same table. He said that he is hopeful to see that things happen. Since the world is going towards modernization, ITC is becoming one of the best solution makes human life easiest and faster I agree with Benazir that people see the future, they only review the past and past is history.
Six days in Islamabad, I visited Dameni-ko view point, nicely managed place built in view of developing place for sightseeing. Yes, It was developed. I saw many persons come with family, enjoying view of Islamabad, taking pictures, having fun and food. Likewise Pakistan Monument, and Sakar Paran – both historic places are built with the view to tell new generation a history of the nation how it is built, and who were behind the history. Pakistan Monument is such a place developed teach people the meaning of UNITY, FAITH, DISCIPLINE', three principles of late Zinah, a founder of Pakistan. Yes, it taught me the same lesson. I really really impressed seeing such place as it is the strong way to tell new generation history of the country, no book is in need, really.
Today is July 8, 2010 I started write this article yesterday I was in Islamabad and now I am in Karanchi my feeling going on deepened and deepened. I am emotionally overwhelmed. As a student of peace-building, peace practitioner, despites a lot of differences we should seek common grounds. We should sit together, facing each other we should identify something new and innovative for the both nobody loses nobody wins we human wins we loses. I am far away from my family. I can imagine that how much my son would miss me, how much my wife in my absence feel alone because I love them. I am living for them. They are living for me. We are dependent on each other. Same way if we are all sharing the same world come on the one table share what makes us rich what makes us poor strategy we should develop to overcome them. Now, I realized that my words are limiting me. I am feeling sleepy. It is around 2:30 AM local time. In Kathmandu it is 2:55 AM. Going to dawn soon. I have to leave for Kathmandu how desperate I am to meet my wife and son. Now I have to sleep. Hotel boy was sharing that breakfast will be ready by 7;30 and it will be served till 10AM. I wish I could wake up early in the morning. I will. Goodnight Karachi.
July 8, 2009, PIA Karanhi hotel.