All sorts of questions

I have been often told and have in turn told others that when visiting a new place, country or culture it is important to note one's first impressions. I have returned to Pakistan after an absence of 15 years. Shortly after arrival, the Bishop of Hyderabad diocese, reminded me to do what I had been telling others to do. I now share my first impressions on returning to Pakistan. 

Impression No. 1

At the airport in Karachi I saw the milling crowds welcoming back or farewelling family members and friends. It happens of course at every airport but somehow it is even more striking at Karachi airport. People were everywhere, some crying with sadness for departing family members or friends, others hugging with joy returning family members or friends.

It brought back to me the prime cultural value for which Pakistan and Pakistanis are famous, i.e. the value of hospitality. That cultural value was tangibly present to me at Karachi airport. It hit me like a warm breath of fresh invigorating air.

Two weeks later I was making my first journey by train from Hyderabad to Lahore. I was accompanied by Gloria, a Filipina Columban lay missionary with whom I was travelling on the 18 hour train journey. At the railway station I was lugging my case along and awaiting our turn to board the train. Three Sindhi middle-aged gentlemen were ahead of us. Then one stepped back, saying to his friends, possibly not knowing that I understood Urdu, "Mehimanon ka khyal rakhen". (Let's honour our guests).

Coincidentally the three of them were in the same carriage with us. They were so very kind and hospitable, solicitous all the way for our welfare and that everything was right for us. Part of Pakistani hospitality is to ask all sorts of questions that might seem intrusive to the newcomer. From former experience I knew that this is part of the hospitality protocol. So we were bombarded with all kinds of questions, e.g. From what country do you come? Why have you come to Pakistan? Where are you going? What work do you do? Are you Muslim? Are you married? Why not?

We answered all questions honestly.

They were travelling north to attend the birthday party of one of their friends. They kept insisting that on arrival in Lahore we accompany them to the party. As we had friends awaiting us at the station in Lahore we declined the invitation.

Impression No. 2

Since arriving back, the early morning call awakes me every morning at 5.00 a.m. No one can escape this call in Pakistan. Everywhere the sonorous call to prayer from the muezzin in the mosque rings out loudly and clearly calling all to leave the joys of slumber, forsake the hustle and bustle of life and come to pray in the mosque. In the cities where mosques are ubiquitous there is this regular cacophony of sounds five times a day as competing muezzins ring out the ever repeated call to prayer.

This once again reminds me that Pakistan is a very religious country. 97% of the 170 million Pakistanis are Muslim, 2% are Christian and 1% are Hindu. On our travels on the train to Lahore our fellow travellers plied us with questions about Islam and Christianity. It is the favourite topic of conversation.

One of my main reasons for returning to Pakistan after 15 years is to try, in some ever so small way, to promote peace, understanding and reconciliation among all the different religious and ethnic groups that make up the fabric of this great nation. I just wonder what if any contribution I might be able to make. I am consoled by St. Paul's prayer.

"Glory be to God whose power working within me is infinitely greater that I can ask or understand".

Ordained in 1967, Fr Pat McCaffrey SSC has served terms in Fiji, Pakistan and England.

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