Selective Blindness: The Injustice We Ignore at Home

How many of us Pakistanis condemn the acts of war and human rights violations that Israel is committing against the people of Palestine? How many of us agree that these injustices are not only inhumane but that those behind them are a disgrace to humanity? How many of us believe we are on the right side of history when condemning these acts?

The irony is that we use our selective blindness to shield ourselves from the injustices in front of our eyes. We tell ourselves by posting an Instagram story about Palestine that we have done enough good for the world. Who is it really that we are posting these stories for? Is it really for the Palestinians? Or is it simply to gain validation from people that “Oh look, I am someone who speaks for the rights of people!”

My question is, why are these rights selective? As Angelina Jolie pointed out in an interview, why do we seek justice for some people but not others? Where is this zeal to condemn the prejudices levied by non-muslims on our Muslim brothers and sisters when it comes to our community? How many of us are speaking up about our Baloch community that is being opressed this very moment?

Among many communities in Pakistan that are currently facing oppression, I would like to shed light on the Baloch community. There have been countless killings and disappearances of the Baloch people, and most of our population is unaware of it. The state has neglected Balochistan by marginalizing it economically, politically, and socially. Moreover, their children are unable to obtain any formal education due to neglect by the state and constant conflict and insecurity. This sheer hindrance is robbing the children of their future.

Our media is being heavily censored, and we are not doing anything about it. In July, hundreds of thousands gathered in Gwadar to protest, but it received little to no coverage in the Pakistani media. These protestors, who sought basic rights, were met with armed resistance, and at least 80 people were killed. They mobilized without using the Internet by going door to door and voicing their grievances. Thankfully, the locals provided them with food and water during these protests.

Would you like to know the central demands of their protest, which angered the Pakistani government so much? They were calling for an end to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the exploitation of Balochistan’s natural resources. It is no surprise that the natural resources are exploited in Balochistan, and the local community gains little to no benefit. Furthermore, the Baloch people are convinced that the Pakistani government wants to wipe them out completely.

In response, the Pakistani government has certainly disappointed but not surprised us. They have tried to suppress these voices by using armed resistance, media blackouts, and roadblockades. They put a crackdown in Gwadar for two days, which caused the single-day protest to turn into a much larger protest and went on for two weeks.

Now, it is up to us to decide who is right and who is wrong.

(I would like to clarify that in no way, shape, or form am I alluding to the notion that we should stop protesting for Palestinians or any other community under duress. I am simply questioning why we are selective in our pursuits.)