In Pakistan, a new brigade of activists is
emerging from the waves of extremism and terrorism. These progressive and
liberal activists are trying to set the narrative to combat extremism and keeping
the debates about rationality, place of religion in the public domain, civil
military relationship alive on social-media and significantly influenced public
discourse in the last couple of years. This narrative
is much needed for struggling state to encounter extremism. In January 2017
five of those activists / social media bloggers disappeared (kidnapped).
Following Urdu poem, I wrote for them.
Sawali Utha Liay
Bhokon ka samnay sa niwalay utha liay
Pyason ka samnay sa piyalay utha liay
Karnay ko qatal koi na qatil ko jab
mila
Kuch rahgeer bholay o bhalay utha liay
Roshni ko tergi mein rakhnay ka ha azam
Dil ko laga sawal tu swali utha liay
Ahlay qalam ka hath mein jab dekha hay
qalam
Sab Oryanon nay hath mein bhalay utha
liay
Asim, Waqas Haider ko khush hein utha
kay aaj
Aawaz a haq uthanay hee walay utha
liay
