Stereotype # 15 - Pakistani's are extremely intolerant!

Why is it that in most cases, the majority supersedes and gets to have a dominant say in most matters but when it comes to negative ideas/thoughts/stereotypes, the views of the minority seem to spread like wildfire. A limited set of people end up making things difficult for everyone.

The intolerant beliefs of the people and the negative actions of a few are more publicly reinforced, while the major chunk of Pakistan that does not wish harm on anyone is sidelined to the extent that people start questioning whether tolerant Pakistani's do in fact exist or not.

Here is the reality,

Not everyone in Pakistan is on a spree to target those whose religious views differ from theirs. Generally, people from the various sects and religions live within the same locality in peace and with no disagreements what-so-ever. It is the blood game that has been going on in Pakistan that ultimately makes it difficult for Pakistanis to live in harmony.

Pakistan came into existence keeping the rights of the minority sects in mind. The minorities in Pakistan have as much right on the country as any Pakistani Muslim. Pakistan is their home too and to say that all Pakistani's are intolerant to the point where they cannot accept other religions, is wrong and stereotypical.

So here's busting the stereotype!

Stereotype - Pakistani's are extremely intolerant!   Status = BUSTED!

Stereotype # 9 – Oh, so you’re from India? Right?

Wrong. I am from Pakistan. Indian and Pakistan are two different countries located however, on the same continent. We may all be Asians, yes. But calling Pakistanis, Indians is geographically incorrect! People from both sides of the border look alike in some ways. Most would mistake one from another. However, like India and Pakistan are alike in many ways, they are very different in a lot of other ways too.

Pakistanis would take offense to being called an Indian. The two countries may have been one at one point, but ever since 1947, they have both gone their separate ways. They have separate agendas, contrasting mindsets and completely different residents. The biggest distinguishing factor that may be very confusing for the non-Pakistanis is the language of the natives of both the countries. While both Pakistanis and Indians can tell in a second if it’s Hindi or Urdu that is being spoken, for the non-Pakistanis, both the languages sound exactly the same.

Here a Step-by-Step guide on how foreigners can save themselves from the embarrassment of calling an Indian, a Pakistani and a Pakistani, an Indian:

Step 1: Ask them where they are from instead of guessing.

Step 2: Ask them their favourite food. If you are lucky, a Pakistani would name a meat dish and an Indian, a veg-dish. IF YOU ARE LUCKY, that is. (This step may have a 10 % error ratio)

Step 3: Do not ask them about their state/province/city before you have guessed their nationality. This might confuse you since some places in Indian and Pakistan have the same names. For example: Punjab, Hyderabad.

Step 4: Do not stat a discussion with them on their historical background as a way to cleverly guess their nationality. Both the countries share the same history.

Step 5: Start the conversation by asking them a quick question. Gandhi or Jinnah? Both the natives are very sentimental about their national heroes. An Indian would most certainly say Gandhi, while a Pakistani would say Jinnah. (This step has a 100 % success rate)

Step 6: Do not start a discussion with them on movies. I repeat, do not. Indians would talk about Bollywood. And Pakistanis? Also Bollywood.

Good luck guessing one from the other.

Stereotype – Pakistanis and Indians, one and the same? Status = BUSTED!

Stereotype # 5: Muslims are terrorists and by that equation, all Pakistani’s are terrorists!

Terrorism is a menace that has plagued various countries world over. Even those that remain sheltered from it, experience its repercussions one way or the other. Some countries have tried to battle it out with force while others are still reeling from the aftermath of a failed military operation against the instigators.

Pakistan suffers from a chronic case of terrorism. There is fear in the hearts of the inhabitants. Every day is a challenge for the populace that has to survive through all the terror against all odds.

While on a national front, they country suffers from the disease of terrorism, there is no respite for Pakistan on the international front too. A Pakistani passport is the worst passport to travel on. Pakistani travelers are meted out with the worst kind of treatment. They are generally scrutinized from head to toe and looked on with suspicion while other travelers may not encounter any discomfort at all.

Reason?

The general misconception that all Pakistani’s happen to be bearded mullahs out to get the infidels!

Well, no. Terrorists commit the acts of terror and leave the label on the entire nation. You see the news, there are bombs, you automatically associate it with every other Pakistani who may be indirectly, if not directly, involved with that particular act of terrorism.

In reality, Pakistanis are as normal as people in all the other very privileged and ‘safe’ countries. We Pakistani’s have the same hopes for the future and the same desire to see our country proper and not to be mud-slinged on an everyday basis.

Here is one Pakistan writing to you in the most normal possible way. There are others not very different from me.

Don’t let one person, one set of people and one particular ideology ruin an entire nation for you.

Stereotype - Muslims are terrorists and by that equation, all Pakistani’s are terrorists!

Status – Hopefully BUSTED! 

Stereotype # 3 - Pakistani women are subservient to men

Quite the contrary.

Pakistani women have always been a force to reckon with. They have dominated the music industry, film industry, political circles and the corporate arena. They have ventured into predominantly male professions like the Armed forces and are more recently, also signing up for odd jobs like Rickshaw driving!

Those who are privileged enough to be studying in good schools and universities are ambitious and are curious about what the future holds besides two sets of children and a husband.

The status of women in Pakistan is not just that of a subservient wife/sister or mother. Each and every woman in Pakistan has an identity of her own. Whether she spends her afternoon proposing a marketing plan or buying the latest lawn outfit.

Pakistani women are colourful, loud, cheery, well-groomed, bossy and even a little obnoxious at times.
They have learnt to stand up for each other. They have self-taught each other the art of defending themselves and the people they call their own.

Pakistani women are super moms, battling nagging relatives and handling bratty children at pretty much the same time.

Pakistani women are smart and they are sporty.

They are independent and self-reliant and can do PhD's, laundry's and diaper changing.

In short, they pretty much rock.

Stereotype - Pakistani women are subservient to men. Status = BUSTED!

PS: Make your own sandwich. :P

I Am Pakistan

I’m Not just Bombs, Poverty & Corruption.
I’m Abdul Sattar Edhi’s Philanthrophy.
I’m Dr. Abdus Salam’s Nobel Prize.
I’m Arfa Karim’s Brilliance.
I'm Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s Oscar.
I'm Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's Music.
I'm Mala Yousufzai's Intelligence.
I'm Imran Khan's Courage.
I'm Dr. Adeeb Rizvi's SIUT.
I'm The Best Cricket Umpire.
I'm Mehdi Hassan's Ghazal.
I'm Sadqain's Art.
I'm Moeen Akhtar's Proud.
I'm Wasim Akram's Swing.
I'm Pervez Masih's Sacrifice.
I'm Shahid Afridi's Exuberance.
I'm Miandad's Six.
I am Jansher Khan's Consistency.
I'm Saqlain’s & Saeed Ajmal's Doosra.
I'm Fastest Growing IT Industry.
I'm Ever Expandng Middle Class.
I've Fought Dictatorships.
I'm 40,000 Deaths For Global Peace.
I'm Hospitality.
I'm Epitome of Resilience.
I'm the Bravest Nation of the World.

I AM PAKISTAN