A letter to Rashid Minhas

 

Rashid Minhas was martyred on August 20, 1971.

Dear Rashid Minhas,

                 Probably you were expecting something big from us. Many flowers with greeting cards and tributes. A crowd of people to praise you. But I have to come alone to say sorry to you. We have failed to recall your sacrifice. The nation is not free enough to celebrate its heroes.

                 We have no time to talk about you. The media is too much occupied now. It has to grow more problems to increase its viewership. The promos of peace and harmony have no place here. The starving, insecure masses are more interested in the rigging of four seats rather in their basic rights.

                Why should we pay tribute? You were a young guy, amateur enough to save your own life. You could not be too great a patriot like our present politicians to gain reverence. Nation cannot afford to remember such small incidents. It has its own bunch of snags that are more necessary to be resolved.

                 My dear age fellow, I'm regretful I cannot do anything for you. I can't even dare to follow your footsteps.

Yours,
A Common Pakistani.