Ibn e Muslim
NUST University, Islamabad
(the writer’s identity has been protected)

Yesterday I went to UC 127 Model Town Lahore – the area adjacent to the PM’s Ittifaq Hospital – on behalf of my colleague at the university.There, in the office, I met two government officials. After obtaining the required information, I spoke to them awhile.

“I want to make a request. Can you kindly spare one hour between 8 to 9 at night on 8 November 2013 and watch a television interview? The anchorperson Dr Danish will conduct it on the ARY news channel.”

“Who will give the interview?” one of them asked while the other stared at me.

“Dr Danish will interview Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri,” I told them in a hurry because their duty time at the office was over, and they were already heading towards their vehicles.

“Are you affiliated with his party? Are you his worker?” came the second question to me.

“I am impressed by the philosophy of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri vis-a-vis change in the Pakistani politics. That’s why I have extended the invitation to watch the live interview. I’m supporting Dr Qadri because, in our country, we have tried every political party but none has delivered: none has reduced the poverty of the common people; none has relieved the hard-pressed masses. So now we should give a go to Dr Qadri who says the populace will go on suffering so long as the corrupt system remains intact; righting wrongs will remain a dream unless we rise up against the system to revamp it. And I want you to join hands with the ambassador of change,” I made the brief speech quickly because out came the well-thought and well-planned sentences – the sentences I mostly use to invite people to listen to Dr Qadri.

Both of them were well-dressed officials of some standing. Total strangers to me, I was not expecting a warm answer. A casual remark was all that I dreaded.

“We agree with you on this score, gentleman. Overhauling the crooked system is a must to effect a change in society. We’ll watch the interview,” said one, speaking on behalf of the other fellow, whose quick nod expressed his approval of the remarks too.

Desirers of revolution, yesterday and today I invited many people – friends and aliens at the university where I teach and at the bank where I went to collect my salary – to watch Dr Qadri’s interview. Not a single one of them turned down the invitation though a few said they, being busy at that hour, might not be able to spare time.

Desirers of revolution, the country is on the brink of revolution. To witness a green revolution take its course in Pakistan, we need to approach people in person, send text messages via our mobile phone and advertise Dr Qadri’s interviews and ideas on Twitter and Facebook to the hilt.