While writing these series about my visit to Pakistan, I had a huge revelation today...That we are truly blessed. All of us. All of us who have not lost a child or a loved one. If you have a son or daughter, tell them how much you love them. Tell your parents and grandparents before you lose your chance to say so. Your wife or husband that you take for so granted... spare a moment, and tell them how special they are.
Why, you ask. Usually, during working, I sometimes listen to FM 103.1 on the net live from Pakistan. I like it since it gives me a glimpse into the city I love, Karachi from thousands of miles away here in Toronto, Canada. I usually listen to DJ Cresella, followed by Sahir Lodhi, and then "Abu Rashid and Billo Bhai" show. The topic of the show was whether it is better to stay silent or speak up during different facets and events of everyday life... whether it's being hassled by a police officer in Pakistan or speaking against the corrupt practices of the elected leaders. A woman (whose name I forgot) came on the air, and conveyed her story where she, and a family, with their 6 year old son were on the terrace of their home waiting for the "Eid Chaand" to show, when a stray bullet from "hawaii fayar" hit the head of their 6 year old son, and he died on the spot. The mother was already a widow. She emphatically told the story how even despite repeated warnings by the elected nazim, the hooligans did not listen. She then sobbed. And cried. And poured her heart out. The son was the only child of this widow... This caller kept on insisting that who is to blame and that she needs the moral support of all Pakistanis... imagine how devastated the mother is. Just because someone thought that it's macho to fire bullets in the air... this 6 year old boy did not have to die... he did not have to die. Not like this.
Pakistanis, we need to stand up... and remove these illiterate and irresponsible acts from our index and spectrum of acceptable and tolerated actions. We should collect all personal firearms in Pakistan and send them to our steel mills so that we can build more schools and hospitals.
It is almost 12 hours now. I still cannot forget the cries of the caller. My heart is broken... my countrymen will disappoint me if these actions will go unchecked.

