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Quest for a dengue-free democracy
Serious ailments have hit the Pakistanis and Americans during the past few weeks, Mr Right said folding a newspaper that carried statements from leaders of both countries. “Dengue fever is tormenting the people in Pakistan while the Haqqani group is making life unbearable for the Americans in Afghanistan. They say the Haqqanis are as dangerous as the 'militant mosquitoes' called Dengue,” he added.
- PUBLISHED: Fri 7 Oct 2011, 9:52 PM UPDATED: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 9:54 AM
“There is nothing common in both ‘militant groups’ except black colour and resilient nature,” I said. “Dengue mosquitoes have black wings and the Haqqani militants wear black turbans. And both have the ability to survive the heaviest odds.”
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“I agree,” Mr Right said. “American drones have failed to stop the Haqqani militants from swooping on targets inside Afghanistan while no amount of insecticides has helped the Pakistanis to prevent Dengue mosquitoes from sweeping the countryside.”
“No doubt, it is ‘Dengue time’ for both the people,” I said. “They need a joint strategy to face the problem with sagacity. But unfortunately political temperature is seen rising as a result of the infectious disease which affects brains too.”
Mr Right took out a booklet from his pocket. “See here is a Dengue Prevention Manual prepared by the health department which calls on the people to ‘act now and stay safe’. It provides useful tips about how to defeat the ‘Dengue drones’”. “The Americans have even demanded the Pakistanis to immediately launch fumigation in the border areas.” I reminded Mr Right.
“The problem is that a truly reliable preventive drug has not been discovered up to now to eliminate the dangers posed by Dengue mosquitoes,” I said. “Likewise there is no trustworthy treatment available at present to heal the wounds caused by American drones in tribal areas.”
“American missiles have failed to clean up the sanctuaries of militant mosquitoes in the mountains.” Mr Right said. “That’s why they now want Pakistan to undertake a major clean-up operation in North Waziristan to wipe out ‘killer mosquitoes’ and ensure safety for the American forces in Afghanistan who are there only to establish a “Dengue-free democracy” in that country,” I said.
“A Dengue-free democracy is needed for Pakistan as well,” Mr Right stressed. “Since we have done nothing to remove the breeding grounds of killer diseases during the past six decades we have a democracy which is terribly sick currently.”
“Can we do something to improve its health?” I asked. “After all we have some great doctors of democracy on our side. They would never waste any time to rush their medical teams to revive the dying democracies in all corners of the world.” “Do you mean the ‘drone doctors’, the so-called saviours of the ‘free world’?” Mr Right asked. “The only problem with them is that they want to rebuild the ailing nation after completely destroying it first.”
“It means they won’t help us because we are capable enough to destroy ourselves without the help of others,” I laughed.
“We are capable enough to make amends and rebuild our democracy and our nation without any outside help, if we pick up the broom and start cleaning all the dirty spots,” Mr Right said.
“It should be a grand clean-up operation leaving no space for forgiveness to all viruses, mosquitoes, ‘Dengue drones’ and diseases which have afflicted our democracy,” I agreed. “And the people should wrench initiative from rulers to bring a change in attitudes and community behaviour,” Mr Right said.
“Missiles are useless to kill mosquitoes of corruption or rebellion. An honest and rational approach to remove grievances of the people can cure any ailing society. And that will be a Dengue-free democracy indeed,” he added.
Najmul Hasan Rizvi is a former Assistant Editor of Khaleej Times