When Shehbaz Sharif expresses deep concern and offers prayers over an incident in Washington, it ceases to be merely a statement; it exposes a bitter reality.
Why did the same state remain silent—or rather, according to this perspective, actively play a role—regarding the tragedy that occurred in Muridke on October 13?
What happened in Muridke was neither an accident, nor the result of a disorderly crowd, nor an unclear incident. It was a peaceful march organized by unarmed Pakistani citizens to express solidarity with the Palestinian people, which they regarded as their religious, moral, and legal duty. According to this account, the response was state violence directed against its own citizens, resulting in loss of life. This remains the fundamental question for which, it argues, no clear answer has yet been provided.
The Prime Minister's expression of relief over the safety of the American leadership causes deep pain to the families who lost their loved ones. They see no clear justice, no effective voice, and no meaningful accountability at the state level. The affected families, according to this view, continue to struggle without adequate support. The entire course of events exposes what the author considers an undeniable reality.
Today, the issue is not merely about a single incident; it is about what the author describes as the moral bankruptcy of the state's priorities. When pleasing the United States becomes a matter of state policy for the sake of preserving political power and extending political tenure, then national dignity, the lives of citizens, and domestic justice are inevitably pushed aside. Such a state, the argument continues, ceases to be accountable to its own people and instead comes to regard deference to foreign powers as an act of political wisdom.
When those in power go to extraordinary lengths to protect and defend external powers while, in return, mortgaging the moral, constitutional, and humanitarian foundations of their own country, then the state ceases to function as a living system and becomes nothing more than an empty geographical entity—one that possesses authority but lacks justice. In such a system, human life loses its intrinsic value and is instead measured according to political interests, geography, and strategic priorities. Each time, it is the fundamental needs of ordinary Pakistani citizens that are relegated to the background.
Presenting oneself on the global stage as a champion of peace, a mediator, and a moral authority remains, according to the author, nothing more than a hollow claim unless justice is upheld within one's own country. A state that cannot answer questions about the deaths or loss of life involving its own citizens loses its moral credibility; all that remains are unanswered questions.
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