Awoken Nation

The massacre of November 26 haunts me like a shadow that refuses to fade—a day soaked in blood, a tragedy that laid bare the depths of our despair as a nation. It wasn’t just a brutal loss of lives; it was a violent assault on the soul of Pakistan. We are standing at a precipice, teetering between the hope for change and the abyss of chaos. This is not just my story—it is our collective heartbreak, a wound that demands to be felt, shared, and understood before it consumes us entirely. Unmasking the General’s Game Have you ever looked at our military, once a symbol of pride, and wondered how things came to this? I have. It’s painful to say, but those meant to serve and protect us seem to have strayed far from their purpose. You know what’s heartening, though? People are waking up. I’ve seen it with my own eyes—families choosing to cut ties with those complicit in wrongdoings until they abandon these harmful practices. This peaceful social boycott is powerful, and I believe it can ripple...

In today’s digital age, restrictions on communication seem like relics of the past. Yet, recent events in Pakistan highlight the ongoing struggle between access to technology and restrictions imposed under the guise of morality. The Council of Islamic Ideology recently declared VPN (Virtual Private Network) usage as "un-Islamic." Their stance is curious, especially when considering that VPNs are essential for people visiting countries like Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations, where platforms like WhatsApp are restricted. Interestingly, many religious scholars who advocate these restrictions rely on VPNs themselves when traveling abroad. It’s a recurring pattern – technology is often labeled "un-Islamic" until it serves their needs. Decades ago, loudspeakers faced a similar fate. Today, these very devices amplify sermons across Pakistan. Videos and photography, once forbidden, are now embraced, with scholars actively promoting themselves on social media. But VPNs are...