Thoughts about the Campaign

Through these past 7 days, both Fatima Arif and I, in spite of our personal hectic schedules, found it rather effortless to make time for this justice drive. It came easy to us, because we both had this burning zeal to fight for a cause, one which we both truly believe in!


My friends have found it rather baffling, why I would so fervently campaign for a case, and invest so much of my time, when I am not remotely connected to its outcome or to the society that it is a part of! They reckon it has got to do with my admiration for Fatima Bhutto rather than anything else.


Probably, a big part of it is, because it is connected to Fatima Bhutto, a woman whom we both so respect-a reason why this club was formed and is so active. She has been the reason, why I have been acquainted with this injustice. But to call my choice to choose and voice my displeasure, as just merely, an act stemming from the fascination with her public persona, is akin to stating that Edison invented the light bulb (practical one at least), only because he wanted light for himself from the darkness.


I was raised to believe in democracy and equality. My grandparents were proud of being the children of democracy. It is all I heard growing up, how I must value this inheritance. Today, they both are no longer with me, but their words still guide me ‘Always stand up against what is Wrong, even if the supporting the Right does not make your life any better. It shall someone else’s’.


Martin Luther King Jr has said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” That is my reason to be part of this struggle, and I am proud to be contributing in any miniscule way I can! This week has been about that, about fighting to preserve my own rights and my own conscience, for in today’s world no vacuum can exist. What happens in your neighborhood will percolate its way to your own home. You have to choose to say ‘NO’ this cannot happen.


The cynics might say ‘What good will a few days of expression do? What difference will the voice of an ordinary person make to this struggle?’ Look through the eyes of an optimist and you shall see, it to be perhaps the biggest contribution of them all. Because, it makes you as a person accountable to the choices you make, the causes you support and the rights you want to preserve! Imagine if every single person, were to do that, the true change that can come by in this world. By being accountable to yourself, you are being accountable to a whole world. Now do you see what these little efforts can do? It can make people not forget, that there is a right in this world, which is being wronged. It can keep it in their memory, which cannot be done in any other way. It can make them THINK, why are they so invested in this fight? Should I be too?


Both Fatima Arif and I have been extremely proud, of what we have accomplished over these past few days. What started off as a show of solidarity to Ms. Ghinwa Bhutto’s call has turned out to be a good personal journey for the both of us! It has given us moments of happiness, stress, anxiety, pride. But most of all it has given us, this lesson that ‘If each one of us makes a little effort, there is not much that we cannot accomplish. If we are united, the divisions burn away. That in another person’s fight against deceit lay our own truth ’


We thank you for being part of this week long project along with us. The fact, you were here, you read what we wrote and supported us with your feedback, is proof enough of the fact that, we are kindred soul. This is not the beginning; neither can this be the end. This is our journey, a journey to get justice for 6 families and in the process preserve the justice of millions of others. We hope, you will continue to be part of this journey with us. We appreciate it and we do believe all those 6 families do so too.


We Won’t Forget; We Will Not Let Others Forget Either….


Jab tak apne andhere ko na mahsoos kar sake
Kisi aur ke roshani se hum kya wafa kar pate?
Andhere mein jab apne khauf se mulaqat ki
Shaam dhalte hi humne roshani ki kadar ki.


Optimistically yours,
Karishma and Fatima Arif