Zubair Qureshi
Pakistan’s writers, members of civil society and rights activists have expressed their hope and wish Pakistan will be less violent in 2020 and more progressive and prosperous in 2020.
Expressing concerns over challenges that marked outgoing 2019 in human rights, health, social justice, political front, foreign policy, provision of basic facilities to common people and justice for the marginalized and other sectors they hoped year 2020 would be a different one—less bitter and more friendly.
While talking to Pakistan Observer, former Chairman of Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) and ex-Director General of National Language Promotion Iftikhar Arif said Pakistan is passing through a crucial phase and those who once questioned very emergence of the country stand convinced that Founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had realized in early 1940s that Muslims in India were going to face tough times in coming years and they should get a country of their own sooner the better.
Referring to the current uprising in India against the controversial citizen act, Iftikhar Arif said it testifies Jinnah’s vision and Pakistan proves a safe haven for the Muslims of the sub-continent. Arif however agreed still there were challenges for Pakistan even 72 years after independence.
However he expressed his concerns that institutions supposed to promote art, literature and folk culture are being run by bureaucrats who have little vision and are biased against literary persons.
Tahira Abdullah, human rights activist wished to see Pakistan eradicating poverty, hunger, homel essness, unemployment, illiteracy, ill-health (especially polio), high infant and maternal mortality, child sexual abuse, gender-based violent crimes, hate crimes and extremist ideology in the year 2020.
“I hope we achieve gender equality, minority rights, human rights and justice for all, strong democracy, pluralism, respect for diversity, interfaith and ethnic harmony; and, above all, peaceful co-existence among ourselves and with all our neighbours,” said one of the strongest voices of Human Rights of Pakistan.
Valerie Khan, another Pakistani activist and vocal advocate for women and children rights wished to see social justice prevail in society and human rights agenda be realized in the year 2020. “And still much, much love for this country whose wonderful citizens deserve so much better,” said Khan.
Executive Director Search For Justice Iftikhar Mubarik said he wished to see Pakistan government to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate Child and forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour by 2025, under target 8.7 of SDGs.
Short story writer Muhammad Hameed Shahid said at the advent of New Year, he prays for the financial independence of Pakistan, good for the common man and stability for the institutions of Pakistan. Instead of political wrangling, our rulers should work jointly for the betterment of the country and its people, he said.
