Few are alive but few are dead.

Perhaps my pen will not be published for very obvious reasons but nevertheless being a Pakistani I still pen and email to our leading English dailies and then see who publishes and who ignores.

Today is 23^rd March which is officially called as National Day of Pakistan and I lament more and wonder less that such an important day so far as Pakistan in concerned is not totally ignored by President and Prime Minister but even most of our esteemed newspapers have kept mum on the day as well.  How could both President and Prime Minister ignore issuing their messages which had been an annual tradition since decades are a truly baffling question which they only can answer? Were our all previous presidents including those in uniform and otherwise who issued messages each year on 23^rd March was mistaken to do alike? May be the incumbent president Asif Ali Zardari and prime ministers Raja Pervez Asharf have proved truly prudent by not issuing any message on the day?  However to the best of my knowledge and belief one of the two categories namely who issued messages and who did not is to appreciated but not both.

Coming back to our esteemed English dailies I must very categorically pen that quite obviously I have gone through the websites of our newspapers namely Pakistan Observer, Nation, Dawn, Tribune, Nation, Daily Times and Frontier Post and therefore I will explain as to what did I find there but at the same time please do excuse me if I missed out something which may please be ignored as I have no intention whatsoever to under rate any newspaper whatsoever. Let me make it clear that I have seen their editorials and main news to write my observations.

(1)   Nation is the only newspaper which has taken lead over the rest if not annoying but to read but at the same time how can I ignore it when I have read its detailed and well worded editorial on the day under the heading of, ‘Pakistan Day’. There are two separate articles also published in today’s newspaper. Samson Samson Sharaf wrote an article under, ‘March 23?’ and Momin Iftikhar captioned as, ‘March 23 and gift of Pakistan’.

(2)   Tribune has written worth reading editorial titled as, ‘A time to think’. Adeel Pathan has penned under, ‘Uniting against intolerance on March 23.

(3)   Pakistan Observer has not written any article on the day though there were 3 messages from Dr Fehmida, Speaker National Assembly; Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal; Pakistan High Commissioner in UK.

(4)   Daily Times has not written an editorial on the day but still there is an article published which has been issued from APP captioned, ‘Nation celebrates Pakistan Day today’. Article written by Pakistan High Commissioner to UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan has been published. Then there is the message of our Air Chief as well with his photo in PAF uniform with all medals and decorations.

(5)   Dawn is quite silent but how and why I could not understand. It has three editorials but on different subjects and not about 23^rd March. What surprises the most is that it did not carry even any message from at least those which could be read at other newspapers?

(6)   Frontier Post did not write any editorial on the day nor could I find any article from anyone on the occasion.

(7)   News is also silent so far as its editorial is concerned though it had 2 articles in editorial.

I have no right whatsoever to comment as to which newspaper excelled over others and how on the day but nevertheless it is really awfully shocking tinged with sorrow that why such a big lot of our newspapers could behave and ignore nothing but National Day of Pakistan alike. As far as I can remember without referring to archives all newspapers did write editorials on the day in the past but why the same has not been followed this year is puzzling question. Countless people including me read these newspapers on daily basis both within Pakistan and overseas like me and these newspapers and undoubtedly they are very much instrumental in forming opinion amongst the readers which could be positive or negative depending upon what someone reads in the newspapers.

Done is done and cannot be undone now but still I very humbly request not just wish that I may very kindly be enlightened on the subject. Why so many newspapers did not write any editorial on it or for that matter why did still some newspapers write on it? Which newspaper earned laurels and which earned blot is to be answered by you and not me?