Pakistan is a multi-ethnic, multi lingual & multi religious country. I am against classifying Pakistanis on the basis of their religion, sect, language or ethnicity.
Regrettably, there is a bigoted section of Pakistani society, who considers that unless you belong to a particular sect of Islam or have a certain mother tongue, you are a lesser Pakistani. For example people affiliated with this section despise Nobel Laureate Malala (even cast doubt on her being Pakistani altogether) instead praise Afia Siddiqui; who divorced her husband to marry a terrorist; to high heaven. Dr Afai Siddqui is a daughter of Pakistan and GOP must try to get her out of jail, but this has nothing whatsoever to do with the appreciation of Malala's achievements.
In my book, ethnicity, sect & religion is mostly an accident of birth. Real worth of a human being is what one achieves thru his/her efforts and inherent qualities. Quad –e - Azam was born an Ismaili and Guajarati speaking, but he is my hero. Allama Iqbal was a Punjabi speaking Kashmiri, he is also my hero. Prof Abdus Salaam, a Qadiani Punjabi is my hero and Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, an Urdu speaking Bhopali is also my hero.
Sitara Burooj Akbar is a daughter of Pakistan and that is good enough for me. As a Pakistani I am proud of her achievement. My best wishes to her and her family. May she live a long & rewarding life.
Samajh jao ...
