My Children Play in the Same Playgrounds as the Desolate, Bombarded Souls

I have a beautiful angel who looks at me each day anticipating from me love that is not only unfathomable but unique. Love that started the day she was born. Someone correctly stated that the first man a woman ever falls in love with is a father. Yet, each single day I see hundreds and thousands of desolate and innocent lives scattered on the grounds of my beautiful homeland. Their bodies have been amputated and their souls burnt alive for a crime that is unknown and unfathomable. Terrorism is the root cause of all of the current atrocities that are harboring in the beautiful cities of Pakistan. But is this the same terrorism that the world speaks of? Is this the terrorism that the world is ready to pay billions and billions of dollars to fight against?

I need to understand what terrorism really is? I need to ensure that the Pakistan that I leave behind for this beautiful young girl is still alive and without the notion of bombardment and false accusations. The road to freedom does not start in Swat or other Northern cities. The road of freedom lies within.

Every single moment of my life I've heard statements regarding the political and social fabric that is deteriorating exponentially. Yet the educated class, inclusive of myself, harldy does anything about it. We neither go to vote and nor do we justify our intentions via actions.

But how should we? The voting polls are sabotaged and rigged. People from different places can vote for different elements. There is no border control and no boundaries defined during voting. That is one of the reasons why hardly any of the educated masses represent the national and provincial governments. And the ones that are so-called leaders have hardly given any thought to building Pakistan.

Just a few days ago I was visiting the Nawaz Sharif home. I could never go in since I am one of the common masses, but what really startled me was the dirt, poverty, loneliness, obscurity and remorse lying barren on the road that goes to his home. Does this leader never roll down his window when he drives to and from work? Does he not see hundreds of dirty children walking aimlessly? Is this not part of the Pakistan he wants to build? Who has stopped him from eradicating hunger, remorse and poverty? Are these not the terrrorists? Are these scary perturbing nights like tonight not a terror for us all?

I cannot take my daughter to her favorite places because I am scared of seeing my family targeted and their bodies scattered. I can not imagine what will happen. What should not happen. That to me is terror. And that roots from the people that let it happen. Where are the predecessors that ignited the flames of hatred? Call them and hang them. I want these city streets clean with love, understanding and compassion. Can we finally agree on this?