“We’re Not Terrorists; Your Labels Hurt,” Says a Pakistani Journo

“We’re the same as you guys. We bleed when you hurt us, cry when you taunt us” – a Pakistani journo wants us to know.

‘Terrorism affects us too’ – is what a Pakistani journalist would like us to know. (Photo Courtesy: Donnelm)

An Indian colleague calls me on my office extension.

Her: How are your people?
Me: My people?
Her: Lahore...
Me: Yeah, lots of people died, once again ...
Her: Who did it?
Me: Apparently the Taliban claimed responsibility
Her: The TALIBAN?!!! So the Taliban aren’t from Pakistan? You people also have such attacks in Pakistan?

(This was just a little before news came in that the Pakistani Taliban’s Jamaat-ur-Ahrar faction had claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that it was targeting Christians.)

Rescue teams outside the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park in Lahore, Pakistan on Sunday, 27 March 2016 after a blast. (Photo: AP)

Just so one knows, sane Pakistanis do not consider the aforementioned perpetrators of violence either Pakistanis or Muslims.

Sigh!

Here are two things we’d really love the world to know:

1. NO, we do not party with the Taliban.

I’m so fed up of people assuming we average Pakistanis have casual dinners and family gatherings with the Taliban. They do what they do for their own purposes, taking the lives of innocent Pakistanis and making our lives miserable.

2. YES, we also suffer due to terrorism.

(Photo Courtesy: Desiree Francis)

What We’d Love the World to Understand About Pakistan

Here’s what you need to know. Our children, our parents, our friends are all affected. We send our kids to school, not knowing if they’ll come back.

Like the families who visited a park and never came back. Like the attack in Lahore that killed 70 people, 29 of whom were children.

When we accumulate to pray in our temples and churches and mosques, we have no idea of knowing if it’s our last.

Yes, my dear friends, WE PAKISTANIS ALSO SUFFER DUE TO TERRORISM!

(Photo Courtesy: Pakistanis Against Stereotypes)

Terrorism is a global phenomenon. And the people that belong to the countries labelled ‘perpetrators of terrorism’ are actually the ones who suffer most, caught in a never-ending war between the good and the bad.

We’re the same as you guys. We bleed when you hurt us, we cry when we’re taunted at. We know the reality of things happening around us but cannot own the labels you give us because it’s not us.

It’s easy for you to point fingers. But WE live the consequences each day.

A doodle drawn by the author to emphasise the need to break stereotypes against Pakistanis. (Photo Courtesy: Desiree Francis)

I’m so tired of praying for this and praying for that, each time a blast rips through the fabric of my country. The only prayer I have left now is to appeal to God to fill the hearts of those who spread terror with love, with the fear of God. I’m praying that the Almighty enable their hands to carry out only acts of peace, none of war. That their minds be filled with wisdom and better judgement of right and wrong.

Which is why I urge you too to pray for the terrorist.

#‎PrayForTheTerrorist #‎NoToTerrorism #TerrorismIsGlobal.

(The writer is a Pakistani journalist turned PR professional and can be contacted @dfrancis86.)