Re: Open letter to the PTIans of GS
…And why do I feel that you still haven’t got over that? Your posts do come across with an impression that you are perhaps holding an infinite grudge against online population of PTI supporters on basis of the incident that happened seven year ago. Whatever it is, I would not pollute this thread nor my post, by drawing any inapplicable comparison between MQM and PTI supporters. Saying something against Altaf Hussain on the ground means you lose your right to live, PTI supporters despite their combative presence in cyber world, are not responsible for creating any air of terror on the ground, nor they go around calling people racist and Taliban because someone called their leader a playboy or mentioned their City.
Considering all Pakistani mainstream parties are notorious for having party militants and militias responsible for killing countless innocent people and causing profound material destruction in the country, a minority group of youth making 160 word long snappy tweets over the internet should be least of Pakistan’s worries. Having said that, I would like to pay my utmost respect to Imran for never exploiting the fiery passion of his supporters to encourage politics of blood, violence and destruction for power. But truth to be told, it’s a natural phenomena that youth behaviour and conduct is never ever fully appreciated nor accepted by the previous generation, young people go through the phase of being social outsiders. Although, PTI’s street power could essentially be described as a youth movement, and I would like to know if you can remember any contemporary mainstream youth movement from either East or West which was praised for sounding so posh and proper.
Moving on. I am sorry, but I totally don’t agree with the assertion that PTI supporters are so blooming ‘abusive’ that no one can say a word against His Highness Imran. What a totally false, baseless and a completely irrelevant claim. Imran is arguably the most attacked and criticised, and indeed the most ‘put on spot’ personality not just on this website, but in the media in general. For media, his name sells and that’s the whole point. For general bloggers, their only grief and regret is that they cannot do a ‘hit and run’ on Imran. Whatever they say about is often instantly refuted, debated and discredited. I don’t think any PTI supporter (especially the regular ones from here) have to apologise for that.
I know what kind of reservations I have with Imran and PTI, and people who know me, know about them. Other than that, I don’t have to prove my ‘objectivity’ to anyone here, or provide an apology for my political activism. I couldn’t care less if I am called an Imran worshipper, cult follower, Jiyala, Nirala, Matwala etc. These words are neither amusing nor offensive to my ears. Just like everything else in life, I choose and* I decide* when* I *want to take an offence, and over what. However one thing I must make clear, I am a Muslim and I request members to respect my faith and beliefs and do not mindlessly turn a public figure my ‘God’. English is such a vast and versatile language, I am sure there are plenty of other useful and appropriate words to make your point. I thought it was my Islamic duty to get message across, hopefully the Angel sitting on my right shoulder has taken a note of my effort, and with that I am totally free of any blame and guilt.
Note to all resident sceptics. You may think that being ‘politically homeless’ may look a fashionable fad or it may add to your credibility, I’m sure some of you have genuine reasons to not seek shelter in any particular party - good for you. It’s none of my concerns. However, do not think that your self imposed political homelessness gives you the right to denounce and discredit other people’s political activism. If Jiyalism is bad, I don’t think armchair cynicism was ever considered a sign of great intellect and honesty.