THIS is with reference to the letter ‘Mayhem on the roads (Sept 10) which talked about Independence Day celebrations. I was at the Seaview beach in Karachi that day. Clouds hung heavy, but there was no rain, and the atmosphere was festive, to say the least. Women, men and children thronged the beach. Buses topped with huge loudspeakers, playing national songs.

Not far from this throbbing music, giant speakers blurted out Balochi and Pashto music, and some young men could be seen enjoying folk dances.

One of them was particularly nimble. He clapped his hands and twirled and twisted most beautifully.

Within no time, many others joined him. They were wearing trousers, and one even had a knapsack on his back.

Amidst this festive setting, the regular walkers went about their business briskly down the road. A woman with a thick bamboo stick would periodically stop and look at the sea as music enveloped her, too. A man, who served tea, was busy with his task as people surrounded his motorbike.

Another man, a kilometre down the road, also served free tea, and I saw a little girl hurrying back with her share. With life going about smoothly and rather festively, I felt sadness at the sight of emaciated men sleeping on the pavements. Away, far away, from the music and festivity, they lay curled, semi-covered by tattered sheets.

I wondered what had brought them to such a tragic pass in their lives. Regardless of the reasons, who is supposed to take care of the homeless sleeping on the pavements? They, too, are citizens of Pakistan, right? Even as they lie neglected, they remain the people of Pakistan.

Kausar S.K.
Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2023