My writeup captioned ” Minefield” has received mixed reactions from my family and friends. I feel pity for those who hastily concluded that I am against freedom of the press and expression . My actual stance is to promote responsible citizen journalism, especially in a country like ours, which continues to suffer from lawlessness and mismanagement in all its spheres. The recent deadly riots in the UK, which have been detrimental to the interests of a large number of overseas Pakistanis now being linked to a Pakistani citizen, Farhan Asif, currently under arrest and investigation, made me realize the serious implications of irresponsible social media use. This situation warrants proper counseling and education through a citizen-friendly forum like an ombudsman. The purpose of such a forum is not to suppress freedom of speech but to promote responsible citizen journalism for the betterment of Pakistani society.
One of the harshest critics of my article was Imran Owais Kazmi, who writes under the pseudonym Crystal Heart. He is an IBA alumnus who has reportedly faced social isolation from various social media platforms due to his extremist views. Kazmi is known for being judgmental about situations and individuals, often jumping to conclusions and passing arbitrary judgments without empathetically and realistically reflecting on the context or subject—something I experienced firsthand in this situation.
May I humbly ask this self-righteous, Dubai-based champion of an ideal Pakistani society to kindly suggest ways we can improve our society, enabling it to progress in all aspects of its socio-economic life on par with other nations. He could start by considering the governance of Dubai, where the rule of law prevails. I wonder whether Mr. Kazmi exercises his freedom of expression and speech in Dubai as freely as he does when criticizing Pakistan and his fellow countrymen. I also wonder if he has the courage to identify the societal flaws there, including their non-democratic and dynastic rule, or if he reserves Pakistan as a punching bag to assert his self-righteous values. The challenges Pakistan faces—be they economic, governance-related, or social and economic justice issues—are not simple.
Mr. Kazmi, while I admire your social activism, your selective criticism of your country and those who humbly strive to serve its interests against all odds makes you a champion only of your own self-righteousness, rather than someone who contributes meaningfully to the motherland’s sustainability in difficult times. Long Live Pakistan and those who continue to contribute to her progress and peace. 🇵🇰
