Applying the same rules.

The global media coverage of the tragic events in the Middle East has brought, once again, several important issues to the fore. Many people, across the board, are rightfully concerned about the global media coverage and the bias it may have. There are grievances on all sides. Important and thoughtful voices of analysts, historians and regional experts are deprioritised over the voices of those whose Wikipedia-based understanding of complex human issues is shallow. Dehumanising rhetoric is further fueling anxieties among communities that have long been traumatised by hateful speech and vile actions. Calling out one-sided coverage that may be biased and prejudiced, protesting the silencing of dissenting voices and rejecting hateful speech by those who have the mic is the right thing to do. But it is only the right thing if we apply the same rules everywhere.

Like their peers around the world and from across the political, religious, ethnic and geographic spectrum, Pakistani colleagues and analysts are raising these concerns. I am glad our analysts are engaging on important issues, for global engagement should not only be the privilege of people in rich countries. However, as we raise these concerns there are two fundamental issues to address here. First, is the issue of our own people. For as long as I can remember, we have not viewed all lives equally in Pakistan. I am not raising a particularly novel point here for the issues of who gets to have full rights and who gets to be treated with publicly accepted indignity is well known. The dehumanising rhetoric against Ahmedis, Hazaras, Christians and other locally marginalised communities is not only common, it is viewed in certain circles as an absolute necessity to prove your patriotic and pious credentials. The consequences from that rhetoric are frequent and violent. Religious minorities are not the only group of people who are dehumanised. Ethnic Bengalis in Karachi and elsewhere are still viewed as either enemies or enemy sympathisers or simply not one of us - even though most were born after 1971 and have...