Mental Asylum
Back in 2010-15, there was an expectation that 2024 would foreshadow a new dawn, with predictions of global dominance politically, economically, and socially. However, the reality of 2024 is different from what was expected. Recently, I've been watching a Pakistani drama called "Mental Asylum,"¹ and what stands out is the blurred line between mental health and stability. Watching it, one begins to question their own senses, as characters who are considered mentally unstable often perceive themselves as perfectly fine. It reminds me of the content in my Pakistan studies books and the harsh truths that exist in practical life.
Saba Qamar, a Pakistani actress, one line dialogue in drama is, "This world is a mental asylum, and we are prisoners of it." I can’t speak for the rest of the world, but for Pakistan, there’s no denying it—it’s a mental asylum. The envisioned and idealized 2024 that our elders talked about has left me with questions. The year started with the heartbreaking sight of children’s bodies in caskets.² We witnessed dreadful acts, like family members killing their daughters, while a father gave water to his son to assist in the murder of his own sister.³ On Good Friday, a church was debased and set ablaze by individuals claiming to represent a religion of peace.⁴ Even a 12-year-old Ismaili girl was abducted and forcibly converted to another version of Islam against her will. In Jinnah’s Pakistan, where freedom for minorities is supposed to be guaranteed, the reality is starkly different. Not even Muslim sects are safe. It’s a tragic situation that has once again been brought to light after much time.⁵
There's a huge difference between the common man and the elites—be it the clergy, bourgeois, establishment, or politicians. The behavior of the elites, especially those in higher grades who have family members living outside Pakistan, raises concerns. Their wealth and future are often invested abroad, making them disconnected from the realities faced by civilians. Take, for instance, the walls of prestigious educational institutions like Aitchison—they're not just to shield students from envy, but also to shield them from the harsh realities of Pakistan.⁶ How can we expect bureaucrats from institutions like LUMS to work for the public good if they haven't experienced the struggles of the common man? While the families of armed forces personnel may be secure within the securitized cantonments, it's essential for them to understand and face the security threats as faced by ordinary citizens. Injustice prevails when wealth determines the outcome of court cases (hiring good lawyer with handsome pay), overshadowing the rights of the poor. Politicians, representing all major parties, often lecture on the future of Pakistan from foreign residences—a contradiction that undermine their commitment to the country. If they truly valued Pakistan, why settle abroad and manipulate public mandates through floor crossing? Public elections become auctions when politicians buy and sell votes. Any politician found engaging in such practices should be disqualified, and their commitment to social welfare should determine their eligibility for office. Infact, any officer who had dual nationality shouldn't be assigned government posts higher than grade 18.
There's still hope for change if we dare to acknowledge the truth, much like in the story "The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans Christian Andersen,⁷ which is played even in theaters across Pakistan in 2024. Today, it seems children have become the wise tricksters of our time. One can look ahead to 2044, praying that climate challenges don't fulfill enough Dr. Ilhan's predictions for the final century.⁸ The Quran tells the story of Prophet Solomon, highlighting how his death caught everyone by surprise, with only a creature of the earth revealing the truth by consuming his scepter.⁹ Similarly, in Pakistan, the Pakistani Jinns (Public) will only realize the extent of the damage when our beloved country falls, understanding that the worms we were aware of wouldn't causing enough harm to eat away at the country. Despite our blissful ignorance, convinced of our superiority within our mental asylum, the truth remains which we are told, "We are number one."
References:
1. Pakistani Drama “Pagal Khana.”
2. https://www.dawn.com/news/1824226
3. https://arynews.tv/toba-tek-singh-brother-who-filmed-sisters-murder-reveals-shocking-details/
4. https://www.dawn.com/news/1824799
5. Activist Sajjad Raja Raises Abduction Case of Minor Gilgit Girl in 55th UNHRC session
6. M. Hanif "Editorial BBC Urdu."
7. Classic Children’s Stories and Fairy Tales Hans Christian Andersen. THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES... On page 03
8. Study Dr. Ilhan’s book, "Downfall: Lessons for Our Final Century"
9. Mufti M. Taqi Usmani, The Meanings Of The NOBLE QUR’AN with explanatory notes.
فَلَمَّا قَضَیۡنَا عَلَیۡهِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ مَا دَلَّهُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَوۡتِهِۦۤ إِلَّا دَاۤبَّةُ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ تَأۡكُلُ مِنسَأَتَهُۥۖ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَیَّنَتِ ٱلۡجِنُّ أَن لَّوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَعۡلَمُونَ ٱلۡغَیۡبَ مَا لَبِثُوا۟ فِی ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡمُهِینِ ١٤
So, when We decided (that) death (should come) upon him, nothing gave them any indication of his death, except a creature of the earth that had eaten up his sceptre. So, when he fell down, the Jinns came to know that if they had the knowledge of the Unseen, they would not have stayed (so long) in the humiliating punishment.
Written By: Yahya Mehsud
