| Certain types of message never lose their sting. Take for example the forbidding sign that used to hang at the entrance of British-only clubs during the days of the Raj: ‘No dogs or Indians allowed.’ Could any message have conveyed more tartly the condescending mind-set of a ruling class? |
| Since then times have changed, rulers have changed, that message has not. The only change if any has been that what was unspeakable then is now conveyed unspoken. Those words of derogation have been substituted, better camouflaged but their essential meaning remains: No barking Pakistanis allowed. |
| Two and a half incidents that occurred separately in Lahore recently will illustrate this point. The first occurred during the visit of the British activist Mr Tariq Ali, a Pakistani by origin who returned to Pakistan in May to give three lectures at Lahore, Islamabad and at Karachi. [EXTRACT] |
Published in DAWN 23 June 2003, and reprinted in WHEN BUSH COMES TO SHOVE & OTHER WRITINGS (2006). |
