What we are protesting for

Fourth day of peaceful protests in Pakistan against the rigging of the 11 May 2013 elections. Lahore is still immobile, the PTI supporters haven't moved since 12th May. Students who have exams in a few days are sitting in the sweltering heat, studying as well as protesting. Karachi's fourth protest will take place today at Hassan Square and it seems like the number of protesters grows with every protest. This growing number is the result of the viral videos, facebook statuses and tweets which are being updated on an hourly basis. The virus spread to London on 13th May, where overseas Pakistanis protested for fair elections in front of the Pakistan High Commission office.

What are these people protesting for? Thousands of Pakistanis are protesting for equal rights, for fairness...they are protesting against the unfair rule of rich landowners and mafia. They are protesting for power...power and the right for the people to rule the country. They are asking for democracy, the power of the people. They are spending endless hours in the heat because they have learnt to rise, they have learnt to demand what they deserve. And they deserve the democratic right to vote, they deserve fair re-elections. They deserve a voice. A voice which can be heard all over the world, that now the time has come. The time has come for equality and democracy in a country which has been ruled by rich mafia ever since its existence.

The people have realised that they do not want to live in the past.  They do not want Pakistan to be a divided country, they are spreading unity through these protests...they are bringing a revolution. A revolution for change.

A revolution for change

Second day of peaceful protests in Pakistan by PTI supporters demanding  fair re-elections in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Islamabad and basically any other area where rigging took place. Processions began in Karachi, spreading to Lahore by the evening of 12th May. Thousands came out, demanding fair re-elections and condemning rigging. The numbers grew as night progressed, the media aiding  the youth and those who voted for "Naya(new) Pakistan," reporting each procession with successful effect. Karachi's procession at Teen Talwar(three swords) ended at around 10pm on 12th May while Lahore protested into the night.

The morning on 13th May 2013 was greeted with more protests in Karachi by other political parties' supporters as well as Lahore's determined 24 hour(now 48 hour protest). The social media united the nation once again as it had done on election day, the news of protests spreading throught Pakistan and revolution began in other parts of the country, all the people standing up for fair elections. Before nightfall, Karachi, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Balochistan held peaceful processions against rigging and demanded fair re-elections. Threats greeted the protestors and the media as well, threats which were reported and soon the protests spread to London, demanding action against these threats.

Whoever said Pakistanis are not united did not see these last three days. These days when the nation stood up to vote for change, when the nation stood up for fairness, when the nation stood up against rigging and corruption. The simple wish for a new Pakistan has united the nation against all wrong, it has united the nation under the name of fairness, it has united the nation under one leader(who did not win the elections)...Imran Khan. Pakistanis in the country's major cities are standing up, they are coming out, they are leaving the safety of their homes, whether rich or poor, whether educated or not, whether Punjabi, Pashtun, Sindhi, Muhajir, Balochi or any other sect...they are standing up and protesting peacefully for whats right. In the words of Imran Khan: "Change will not come...Change is already here"

Determination, hearts and hours bring revolution

Today was Election day. Millions of Pakistanis left their homes to cast their vote, regardless of fear, regardless of danger. Youngsters, elders, adults, all with one aim...to bring change. Despite boiling heat, despite six, seven, even eight hours of waiting in long queues to cast their vote, the turnout was record breaking. Unfair elections in many parts of the country; rigging in the industrial hub of Karachi did not stop the nation from coming together and voting for a new Pakistan. Today, I saw unity, faith and determination in the hearts of people...something I thought had disappeared. Foreigners will not understand, for them Pakistan is unstable. As a Pakistani, I do not disagree; yes, Pakistan is unstable, yes there are terrorist attacks every now and then, yes people die every day...but today I saw hope. Hope present in the eyes and hearts of every Pakistani, hope for a new Pakistan, a better Pakistan. The people of Karachi stood for hours at end: elders aged eighty years, students as young as eighteen, the disabled, those on wheelchairs, those who're blind, those who're deaf and dumb, those from hospitals, every sect, every religion, minorities and majorities stood together today to bring change. Those like me, who were not registered to vote urged others to vote, stood next to the exhausted but determined voters, providing them with refreshments and keeping their spirit alive. Today, we stayed strong. Today, we stayed determined. Today, we were united. Today, our hearts and minds had one intention: to vote. Today, we saw a new Pakistan. Today, we brought change. Today, we are proud to be Pakistanis.

Mirage

Looks in the distance,
Blinking,
Eyes half-closed

Heat burning down,
Water visible...
A mirage

Senseless shatter

Lights blinked,

blinding,

spots in front of my eyes.

Night enclosed around me,

the twinkling lights piercing 

Throwing their force on me,

shattering my delusion.