Two days ago, I received a text from a friend, which made me forget how to
breathe. I wasn't sure what happened and how it had happened, and
most importantly why it happened. All I knew back then was my home,
was under attack. On 2nd November a suicidal blast was
witnessed by a thousand many people at the Wahga border, after the
flag-lowering ceremony that holds place everyday. Wahga border is
located just on the outskirts of Lahore, near Batapur.
At first, it made me
sick to my stomach. My grandmother lives a few kilometers away from
Wahga border in our ancestral home, Manihala. I've called it home
no matter where I've lived, close or far. Three families I know were
there the very same day. After making sure that they okay and no harm
had been caused to any one of them, I thought about the people who
were injured and martyred in this. The statistics are far too many. I
have attended the ceremony a few times and I can't state how it
feels. Pakistani officers kicking their heels with full force and
marching in front of the crowd. It's clearly unique. Wahga border may
just be the best thing between Pakistan and India right now. If
you've ever had the privilege of visiting the ceremony at Wahga, you
must be familiar with the patriotic feeling you walk away with.
There are a lot of chants and roars in the crowd, everyone chanting the
same slogan.
PAKISTAN
ZINDABAD.
How many of us even
know what this means. Do we even know how fortunate we are to be
living in free state. Sure, we have been through some seriously tough
times. But what amazes me is that we have been through them, fought
through it all, and still survived.
As a person, as families, and as
one nation.
Terrorist attacks is
what this nation is familiar with. Pakistan has a long history with
them and the aftermath they leave us with. But we are brave people.
It made me proud as hell when I saw Pakistanis leaping right back up
the very next day. The crowd was bigger in size than the previous
day. All this just for our beloved motherland, and with even higher
spirits than ever before.
There is hope. For
us, for our families, and for Pakistan.
Nara-e-Takbeer,
Allah-hu-Akbar.
Nara-e-Risalat,
Ya Rasul Allah.
Nara-e-Haidri,
Ya Ali.
Above: At Wahga Border with Family.
Above: Pakistan's side of the border.
