Written on 18 February 1971, following an incident at Karachi during which Abdul Hafeez Pirzada and members of the Pakistan People’s Party demonstrated against the Indian Consulate at Karachi and were set upon by the Karachi police.





A swinging youth with friends uncouth,


Unkempt his curly hair,


Strolled pleasantly, in reverie,


Enjoying the evening air.


He sang of aims,


of common claims,


and joys that they could share,


His voice was loud


but in that crowd


Another voice was rare.


Soon, gentle maids with tacked-on braids


Of his presence became aware.


With tender charms and forceful arms


Young leader to ensnare,


They moved with guile


in single file,


Singling out a pair.


Though love is blind,


it is not unkind,


And certainly not unfair.


The weight of love


fell from above


On head and shoulders bare.


Ideals sustained limbs that pained,


Heads that needed repair.


The elders heard of things unheard of


Before a magistrate’s chair.


Reason prevailed;


so the youth unveiled


His wounds to medical care.


Red weals spread on his back


whereon his innocence lay bare.


T’was from the back


that spurned Zulakh Did pure Yousaf’s raiment tear.





[Published in THE PAKISTAN TIMES, 1 August 1970]