Waziristan has been calling for attention for quite some time now. Education system is nonexistent in the region. Local clerics have been acting as judges, law makers and law enforces. Foreign military has been bombing the area for years now killing tons of innocent people. As a country, we never cared.
Finally something happened in Waziristan that opened eyes of the whole country. For once the whole country was talking about nothing but Waziristan. They decided to celebrate Eid a day ahead of the rest of the country.
Suddenly Facebook and twitter were flooded with updates about Waziristan. Sarcastic jokes and comments took the social media by storm. There were talk shows about the situation in Waziristan. People took the liberty to blame 'Pathan mentality' and 'naswar' for the early sighting of the moon. I want to make one humble request. Sarcasm aside, why did it happen?
Claiming to have sighted moon before the moon was born is an act of sheer ignorance. But is 'naswar' to blame for the situation? Lets have a look at the regional situation from a layman's point of view since the so-called-independence. What have we done as a country to eradicate ignorance in the region? Have we built a university there? Have we raised our voice when colleges and schools were being closed down? Did we raise concern when local clerics termed anti-polio campaign 'haram' and decided to make their own laws? Did we even think about investments and job market in the area? Did we do anything for 'Mujahideen' who fought against the USSR? Next time you point a finger at them because they decided to celebrate Eid a day ahead, take a moment to think you understand the whole moon birth thing because you went through a school, a college and probably a university.
On Eid day there were at least two drone strikes in Waziristan. Facebook and twitter heroes decided not to say a word. People of Waziristan will probably have to celebrate another Eid a day or two ahead of us for us to remember them again.
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