“Yeh watan tumhara hai”
"Barsoon k baad phir uray parcham hilal ke…
Hum laen hain tufaan se kashti nikaal ke…
Is mulk ko rakhna meray bacho sambhal ke…”
Saturday, March 8th 2014: hundreds gathered at M.A. Jinnah road outside Mazar-e-Quaid. Not to watch the Pakistan VS Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2014 Final. But to express solidarity with their Quaid, protest against unethical activities going on in the actual grave room of the father of the nation and demand to punish those involved.
It was a pleasant sight to see flags of different political parties sway in one crowd. Instead of “Jiye Bhutto”, “Altaf bhai”, “Long live IK” and “Sher hamara”,”PAKISTAN ZINDABAD” echoed outside Quaid’s mausoleum. We united at last! Under one flag. Under one slogan. Under one identity. As Pakistanis. In Pakistan. For Pakistan.
It wasn’t exactly what Allama Iqbal had dreamt of. Perhaps not exactly what Jinnah had worked for. But it was what they had longed to see. The Pakistanis as a nation! Keeping in view the present law and order situation of the city and the fact that the Pakistan VS Sri Lanka Asia Cup Final was going on, the crowd that showed up was above expectations. And I think it wouldn’t be fair if the ARY news management and team Sare Aam is not congratulated and thanked for their efforts made in exposing crime, highlighting such issues and playing their part in uniting the nation.
The disappointment of losing the match was, no doubt, there. We had made it to the finals and were so close to winning. But then an update from Iqrar ul Hassan’s Facebook page popped up on my phone. “Aik match haar gaye tou kia? Hum ne Quaid ki izzat ki jang jeet li hai”. And wasn’t that what mattered most? It was then when all the enthusiasm I had at the beginning of the match, found its way back. We must not stop here. There’s still a long way we have to go. Together and only together can we achieve our targets and make what truly is “Jinnah’s Pakistan”. We may never be able to make up for what he did for us. For all the sacrifices our ancestors made. For all the blood they shed for us. But we will Insha Allah be able to make their dreams come true. The dream of a free and prosperous country. They did what they could. They gave their best. They gave their lives! Now it’s our turn. And believe it or not, the battle for Jinnah’s Pakistan has already begun…
Meer-e-karawan hum thay, Rooh-e-karawan tum ho…
Hum tou sirf unwaan thay, Asal dastan tum ho…
Nafratoon ke darwazay, Is pay band hi rakhna…
Is watan k parcham ko, Sarbuland hi rakhna…
YEH WATAN TUMHARA HAI!