(Saadat Abbas, Karachi)
Disagreeing to someone’s opinion is one’s fundamental right. This practice nourishes mental health which further ensures element of tolerance in the human society. Human beings are enough civilized to tolerate others almost everywhere in the world, but alas! We, the Pakistanis are still living in the state of nature, where intolerance has become our mark of identity. We are not accustomed to compromising with others if they differ to us. This indifference of opinion often leads to killing & massacre. In my humble opinion, the city of Karachi is the biggest sufferer of this evil. The People of Karachi have been divided into various ethnic & religious groups. Each part of this division has become a ‘No go Area’ for the residents of such other areas. A few days back, I was waiting for a bus in an area that falls under the same ethnic division, when suddenly a rider came to me and asked who I was. I looked dumbfound as what to say. I told him I was simply a Pakistani. He turned furious to have this kind of reply. He then asked me to give him all what I had had with me. I showed him my broken cell phone & a few coins with a view to making him believe that I was a poor student but he demanded all the things I had in my college bag. He even threatened me to kill. I could hardly control my nerves. Luckily, a bus reached & I jumped into it thinking where we were heading to. What is happening in this part of the world? Every place is a ‘no go area’ for us & for others simultaneously. Can anybody bring a change?