THE COUNTRY MIGHT BREAK UP
Note: This article was written on 13th February 2011 and shared through email with readers.

We had travelled halfway through the month of May and the nation was holding its breath. The air was thick with uncertainty and anxiety. The year was 1998 and India had just gone ahead with a series of peaceful nuclear explosions. There was immense international pressure on Pakistan not to follow suit. Public opinion at home was overwhelmingly in favour of standing up against the external pressure and openly declaring our status as a sovereign nuclear state.
There was the lure of billions of dollars and a security umbrella by the only superpower if we showed restraint. On the stick side, there were threats of comprehensive economic and military sanctions. Media, at home and abroad, incessantly discussed impending economic hardships in case we defied the international diktat. The argument against the nuclear option got extended to the dangers of country's breakup under economic hardships as our people were not used to economic depravation and physical discomfort.
There were others who held the opinion it was the best time in our history to test our claims to nationhood. Even at the risk of disintegration. Their argument was based on the conviction that people who struggled together rarely fell apart. The camaraderie developed during hard times went a long way in life—both personal and national. It were the friends of good times that took flight at the first indication of adversity.
Pakistan, today again, finds itself at crossroads similar to May 1998. Thanks to Mr Raymond Davis’ (or whatever his real identity is) proclivity to kill natives. We once again face all sorts of threats that include economic sanctions, denial of loans from international lending institutions and host of other diplomatic measures, in case we allow law of the land to take its course. Remember the fragile state of our mismanaged economy. Aid worth of Billions of dollars is at stake so are the loans worth billions of precious dollars. State runs the danger of loan default and a possible bankruptcy. Our nation will not be able to stand the economic hardships if we act as independent people. The country might break up.
Ever wonder for how long are we the people of Pakistan going to run this gauntlet of ‘national breakup’? For how long are we destined to live like a scared child? Was there ever a better time to once again prove our claim to nationhood? This time once for all; even at the risk of disintegration. Remember, lest you get scared, that people who struggle together seldom fall apart. In adversity we come together. If the blessed ones of our nation stand by the lesser endowed ones there is no reason that we can’t walk tall. Remember we are talking of daylight murders in public eye of our own citizens. Let’s get over with this myth of economic hardships causing national breakup. And who better to lead than the elected government. There is talk of revolution in the air, anyway.

PS. I place this write up on my blog with the knowledge that the murderer was allowed to fly out of the country under an arrangement with 'all stakeholders'. I hang my head in sorrow.