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Staying quiet in the face of injustice has become a lifestyle in Pakistan: Hajra Yamin
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Staying quiet in the face of injustice has become a lifestyle in Pakistan: Hajra Yamin

She said Karachiities, specifically those living in a certain housing society, were at the mercy of no one but themselves.
Images Staff
17 Apr, 2021

Actor Hajra Yamin thinks the culture of staying quiet in Pakistan has turned into a lifestyle where people are afraid to speak up for their basic rights, and she's asking you to change that.

"When unwanted guests come to your house and refuse to go away, what do you do?" she asked. "When khala comments on your weight, what do you do? When members of your house choose your career and your life path against your will, what do you do? You stay quiet."

Yamin went on to add how the culture of staying quiet in the face of injustice has become a lifestyle in Pakistan.

"The street is damaged from one side? Stay quiet and take another route. Phone got stolen? Stay quiet and buy a new one. Policemen are asking for a bribe? Stay quiet and hand them some cash. Sugar is too expensive? Stay quiet and start drinking unsweetened chai."

The Maan Jao Naa actor went on to add how Karachiities, specifically those living in a certain housing society, were at the mercy of no one but themselves, being forced to find their own ways around the injustice they would face.

"Looking at this attitude of staying quiet, an intelligent man had a wonderful idea. He decided to collect all the rich people in one area, and snatch everything from them. What is the most they're gonna do, stay quiet?" she questioned sarcastically.

"So this idea of a housing society was really successful. They stole electricity? People got generators. They restricted access to water? They got tankers. They stopped giving water but started charging a hefty bill for it? They paid it, of course. Started facing thefts, they hired private guards. So this way, they quietly went on to spend their lives."

She said she was unaware under what circumstances people of Karachi chose to stay quiet in the face of these atrocities, but she knew it was now time to speak up.

Comments

F Khan Apr 17, 2021 11:37am
Conformity is a habit ingrained at an early age in our culture & society in the name of religion, custom & family value, elder's respect etc. So everyone likes you except yourself.
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Solomon The King Apr 17, 2021 11:40am
we all say this yet all of us dont speak in individual or collective capacity, and those who do in any language, violent of non-violent, especially on a motivation or behest of others,,,,,,,,there is a social media blackout, arrests, ban, torture, and deaths. Take examples of journalists. so many of them are killed for allowing their pens speak against such injustices
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Memon Abdul Apr 17, 2021 11:41am
INJUSTICE is a synonym for PAKISTAN! When those of us who hold the courage to speak, get looked down on as if we had just escaped from an insane asylum, you know this society has grown numb to the injustice. When you speak up, no one from the crowd will get up and support you, they will watch and carry on...One should always be hopeful, but, sadly, Karachi personifies, embellishes, and preserves the worst connotations of hopelessness any civilized society has ever seen. I may even be wrong to use the word "civilized" here. Are we so shocked when disease, weather backslashes, power outages, water shortages, online scams, unregulated pricing ecosystems, unfair taxation, go on to disrupt? Why do we get mobilised in reaction? Why can we not achieve anything proactively? Why is it so difficult for the real power of the people to actually come together in face of forces of extortion? Have you seen HONG KONGERS? Why have we not learned anything from Hong Kong?
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Zak Apr 17, 2021 11:54am
Very good advice. Karachi needs leadership from the housing society, to represent their interests and welfare of Pakistan. They are the patriots who want to contribute and should.
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Haris Apr 17, 2021 12:58pm
As long as Bhutto is alive, nothing good would happen to Karachiities.
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NR Apr 17, 2021 01:28pm
“The one who stays quite in a situation of injustice has actually supported the oppressor” Have we all also forgotten “Khurram Zaki’s brutal murder”?? Khurram Zaki was a Human Rights activist from Karachi.
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Fairguy Apr 17, 2021 01:42pm
Govt security agencies are watching you. Stay quite.
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Fast comment Apr 17, 2021 02:37pm
The tips she gave means she is talking about DHA Karachi, the road rages, the water rages, parking rages. The corrupt mafia is fond of living amongst the genuine elites, and pose to copy their lifestyles. That often led to quarrels amongst in society. Not long ago a corrupt mafia family member had rages with a stock broker’s son, both used their connections to down the other, but the stockbroker even had more high connections and the corruption mafia has to submit. The more high connections you have , you’re safe.
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Speak Apr 17, 2021 03:13pm
At least celebrities start talking about karachi issues and injustice
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Sach Apr 17, 2021 03:22pm
So very true about Karachiites. Karachi use to be the source of political movements and now because of successive suppression by state and establishment, people of Karachi have become numb. Sad state for Karachi future.
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Ahmed Apr 17, 2021 03:44pm
Very pertinent question raised here. Questioning the injustice can lead to some hazards though. Who owns and runs that housing society referred to? Outside the cities feudalism prevails, most disputes are settled by the local chieftain and a jirga.
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Waheed UK Apr 17, 2021 05:20pm
Injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere. When people stay quiet in the face of injustice they are also becoming complicit in it , albeit without realising it. Problems and injustice do not go away on their own without any intervention. It is a moral duty to fight against injustice irrespective of who the victim is. By standing up for others you are in fact protecting yourself too. Injustice is a cancer in society that is increasing at an alarming rate unless people unite against it ; inaction is not an option for the sake of the future of our children and their security. Resist injustice as a united force or perish in time. Ultimate power lies with the people themselves but they must believe in the righteousness of their cause !
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Badtameez Larki Apr 17, 2021 06:15pm
Speaking up too much about human rights can end up you being whisked away in a black Vigo, for short vacation to the Northern areas. Hopefully, she knows that too.
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well-wisher Apr 17, 2021 06:27pm
Speak up PK Women for your rights or lose them for good. YOU have the power of vote in your hands. Use that wisely to get protected and justice.
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Malik Apr 17, 2021 06:51pm
When was it was not a lifestyle?? People were always afraid to speak in Pakistan. I would say in today’s time people are more outspoken to injustice due to social media then 20 years ago.
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Ibrahim S Apr 17, 2021 07:20pm
You need to be quiet otherwise pious people would think that you are “vulgar”
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Malik Apr 17, 2021 07:59pm
Hajra is right,we need to speak and we also need to stand up. Keeping quiet is the reason we are in this predicament. More power to you Hajra kick the sleeping giant.
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ssa Apr 17, 2021 08:43pm
And who be she?
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ssa Apr 17, 2021 08:45pm
Pakistanis have the most per capita opinions but zero for action
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Javed Qamer Engineer Washington DC Apr 17, 2021 09:01pm
Karachiites complain and do nothing. This is the problem with the whole of Pakistani society. A security guard works in a bank 12 hours a day 7 days a week for 14000 rupees with no sick or annual leave he stays quiet. Sweepers work 12 hours a day seven days a week for 12000 rupees and stays quiet. So what do you say. Until and unless you stand up for your rights nobody is going to give you anything.
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Neeraj Apr 17, 2021 09:02pm
It's the same situation in India.
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Zarak Apr 17, 2021 11:41pm
Kudos to you sister for speaking out
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Zufar Apr 18, 2021 03:06am
Not just a Karachi issue but a wider Pakistan issue, we are a Dar Guzar nation where ignoring and moving on is considered as a good deed. Let’s face and deal with the sickness in our society no matter how small or big the issue may seem, no more ignoring in the hope the problem will fix its self .
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