New Delhi: A new order is directing Baloch officials to say ‘Pakistan zindabad’ with a mobile caller tune of the 2019 song by the same name. The order issued by the province’s Services and General Administration Department seeks strict compliance of the new directive in “letter and spirit”.
The notification issued on 29 September directs all secretaries, additional secretaries, deputy secretaries, divisional commissioners, additional commissioners and other department heads to follow suit. The decision was arrived at following a meeting headed by the chief secretary of Balochistan, Mather Niaz Rana.
The order also details a guide, listing contact numbers that one can either SMS or call to get the caller tune service activated.
Several Twitter users expressed their concerns regarding the order. Columnist Mohammad Taqi said: “Directing officials in Balochistan to set the ringtone to Pakistan Zindabad! What else does a colony look like?”
Directing officials in Balochistan to set ringtone to Pakistan Zindabad!
What else does a colony look like? https://t.co/ODHNYCy7GB
— Mohammad Taqi (@mazdaki) September 29, 2021
Journalist Mubashir Zaidi raised a question about the level of patriotism: “Why are Balochs asked to say Pakistan Zindabad every time? Why aren’t we sure that they are more patriotic like us?”
ہر دفعہ بلوچ بھائیوں کو پاکستان زندہ باد کا کیوں کہا جاتا ہے یقین کیوں نہیں ہے کہ وہ بھی ہم جیسے بلکہ زیادہ محب وطن ہیں #Pakistan https://t.co/FnpKCVk2CB
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) September 29, 2021
Sameer Jeand Baloch, another Twitter user, asked if there is no other way left to save Pakistan. “Is this the last option to save Pakistan? Ringtone saves Pakistan from Zindabad. So this means that no one will starve in the future. Everyone will fill their stomachs instead of eating on their mobile phones.”
Is this the last option to save Pakistan? Ringtone saves Pakistan from Zindabad. So this means that no one will starve in the future. Everyone will fill their stomachs instead of eating in their mobile phones.#Balochistan https://t.co/rjdHGx2dZZ
— Sameer Jeand Baloch (@Sameerjeand) September 30, 2021
Human rights lawyer Kachkol Ali drew comparisons to a forced conversion “which (infringe) the inherent rights of the people.”
Balochistan govt orders employees to set their ringback tones to 'Pakistan Zindabad' https://t.co/EXy069Yg8C this tantamount a forced conversion which enfringe the inherent rights of the people.For armed forces in the same vein they don’t breach the constitution&oby civilian govt
— Kachkol Ali (@KachkolAli3) September 30, 2021
Another user, Bahadur Sultan, said: “(Don’t) know whose keen and intellectual mind is behind such (a) notification. Making someone forcefully set such a ringtone reflects the colonial mindset.” While Zakir Muhammad Hasni said, “Now it has come to the point that Balochs have to have a ringtone Pakistan (zindabad) to show their love for Pakistan. I send a curse on a fickle state like Pakistan.”
Now it has come to the point that Balochs have to have a ringtone Pakistan to show their love for Pakistan. I send a curse on a fickle state like Pakistan pic.twitter.com/oqkSlZFbc9
— Zakir Muhammad Hassni (@Zakir_Mamasani) September 29, 2021
The Government of Balochistan issued the notification directing the govt officials to set ring tone "Pakistan zindabad".Doesn't know whose keen and intellectual mind is behind such notification.making someone forcefully to set such ringtone reflects the colonial mindset of
— Bahadur Sultan (@BahadurSultan5) September 29, 2021
The song, Pakistan Zindabad, was produced in collaboration with the Inter-Services Public Relations and released in 2019. It is sung by Pakistani singer, music director and composer Sahir Ali Bagga.
(Edited by Anurag Chaubey)