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YEAR 2023 HAS STARTED. IT IS TIME FOR USUAL GREETINGS, WISHES, AND PRAYERS. I PRAY AND WISH THAT PAKISTAN GETS OUT OF THE ABYSS IT IS IN NOW, THAT THE PEOPLE GET MUCH NEEDED RELIEF, AND THAT WE SEE OUR COUNTRY OUT OF THE CLUTCHES OF THE CORRPUPT, INCOMPETENT, MYOPIC, SELF-CENTERED, AND SELFISH RULERS, WHEREVER THEY COME FROM. AAMEEN. I ALSO PRAY THAT EACH ONE OF US GETS APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION FOR OUR HARD WORK AND BENEFITS WHICH ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT. AAMEEN.
Every year is a usual mix of happy and sad events, but the year 2022 has been particularly devastating in many parts of the world.
Pakistan saw deadly floods which led to devastation, deaths, damage, and displacement for hundreds of thousands of people. The apathy, ignorance, and lack of coordination was even more painful. The government and the people quickly forgot the plight of poor people who lost everything; the media went on to air more juicy news. The new dimension was that we put the blame on climate change caused by the rich, developed countries, and asked for more aid. The distribution of aid already received had several questions, pictures were shared of these things being hoarded by influential people and selling on the market. How much callous can we get? Is there a limit to apathy and heartlessness? We raise the bar for negative things every day.
Pakistan is now suffering at the hands of terrorists, who have upped their game suddenly in the last couple of months. There are attacks every day and young soldiers are dying while the top brass continues to vow to deal with this with iron hand.
Elsewhere, life goes on as usual. Sports competitions are held with flare and festivity, and people enjoy while they can.
Winter Olympics in Beijing was a great event.
Around the world, Ukraine war started early in the year and continues. Zelensky is uttering more and more rhetoric from the safety of his presidential palace and foreign tours; Putin is less talk and more action. The war is ravaging the ordinary people.
Afghanistan is suffering under Taliban. Women are deprived on education, work, and the rights granted by Islam, and it is happening in the name of Islam.
Iran is in the grip of severe public outcry and resistance against oppression after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody. Facts may be different from reporting in the West, but the execution of young people after few days of trials does not seem right.
We shall see at some more glimpses in the next post.
Concluded.
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