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.)
Your blog brings light to a very important issue, and really points out the hypocrisy of selective activism. Because Palestine is a global concern and is related to religious solidarity as well, people in Pakistan find it much easier to sympathise with thier plight as compared to the minorities within their own country, Violence on the Baloch people has been going on for far too long, and they have been facing forced dissapearances for centuries, but people are not aware of this becuase of a total media silence on the matter. main news channels do not disseminate this news meaning the average person doesnt even know thisis happening much less speak out against I really like how your blog touches…
The use of selective empathy is a tactic used to allocate more resources to one group at the expense of another group. The state needs to mitigate this by offering quotas to marginalized groups as they do not have access to the same level of education as others. In Baluchistan the state has not invested in and provide as many schools as in Punjab or Sindh, hence providing seats in universities and government jobs can result in a more equitable division of resources and allow those from marginalized backgrounds to prosper.
Your blog raises critical and eye-opening questions, which challenges the readers to reflect on their own priorities and biases, particularly the selective outrage that sometimes seems to be more about gaining social approval than about truly caring for the cause.
One question that arises is whether this selective blindness is due to a lack of awareness, media censorship, or simply the convenience of supporting causes that are more widely acknowledged. How can we address and condemn our own wrongdoings and break free from this selective activism? How can we better mobilize and lastly, the saddest reality about how long will it take for us to care about our own brothers and sisters?
Your thought-provoking piece raises crucial questions about selective outrage and the ethical responsibility we have toward all marginalized communities. You adeptly highlight the disparity between the attention given to the Palestinian plight and the relative silence surrounding the Baloch community’s struggles.
However, could we challenge the narrative of selective empathy further? While many people are quick to voice support for Palestine on social media, what about the deeper systemic issues that perpetuate this cycle of injustice, not just in Palestine, but in regions like Baluchistan?
Your focus on the lack of media coverage and state neglect is compelling. How might we leverage social media not just for validation but as a tool for amplifying local voices and fostering solidarity across…
The article raises critical issues regarding how different approaches are taken towards more universally recognized human rights abuses and those more confined within a given nation. The author, in particular, highlights the case of the Baloch people, which stimulates the readers’ thought processes as they question their own participation in social causes such as the Palestinians’, which are known global issues. However, an important issue to ask is: "How do we as a society bridge the gap whereby we are infuriated by the violation of human rights in other nations but remain quiet about injustices within our territories towards groups like the Baloch?"