Poem for Disappeared Bloggers - Asjad Bukhari

In Pakistan, a new brigade of activists is emerging from the waves of extremism and terrorism. These progressive and liberal activists are trying to set the narrative to combat extremism and keeping the debates about rationality, place of religion in the public domain, civil military relationship alive on social-media and significantly influenced public discourse in the last couple of years. This narrative is much needed for struggling state to encounter extremism. In January 2017 five of those activists / social media bloggers disappeared (kidnapped). Following Urdu poem, I wrote for them.

Sawali Utha Liay

Bhokon ka samnay sa niwalay utha liay

Pyason ka samnay sa piyalay utha liay

Karnay ko qatal koi na qatil ko jab mila

Kuch rahgeer bholay o bhalay utha liay

Roshni ko tergi mein rakhnay ka ha azam

Dil ko laga sawal tu swali utha liay

Ahlay qalam ka hath mein jab dekha hay qalam

Sab Oryanon nay hath mein bhalay utha liay

Asim, Waqas Haider ko khush hein utha kay aaj

Aawaz a haq uthanay hee walay utha liay