You Perceive What You Desire, Not the Truth
Critical Analysis is meant for those who genuinely seek the truth. If you’ve already drawn a conclusion, you’re not searching for clarity anymore; you’re merely hunting for opinions that support your pre-determined outcome. My name is Babar Ali, and today, we will delve into a recent tragic incident in an effort to uncover the reality behind it.
A few days ago, I received heartbreaking news from my previous institute, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan. There had been an accident involving a girl on a bike and a university bus. Sadly, this accident took place inside the campus, and the girl lost her life on the spot.
When this devastating news reached me, my heart sank. I was deeply saddened. I immediately contacted a few juniors from the university and asked them to keep me informed, as I was away on duty at the Ministry of Health and unable to investigate the matter in detail at the time. My juniors were my only source of regular updates in such circumstances.
Later, after finishing my duties, I returned to my flat and followed up on the situation. What I learned left me both angry and heartbroken. It was reported that the girl’s body had been left under the blazing sun for three hours, and her parents were not even allowed to touch her lifeless body. What frustrated me the most wasn’t just the management’s actions but the behavior of some students. Instead of showing empathy or taking action, many students were busy snapping pictures and uploading them on social media, seeking likes and attention. I found myself asking: how had humanity fallen so far?
In my frustration and sorrow, I penned a ghazal:
Following this, I posted a condolence message on social media, expressing my sorrow. However, something didn’t sit right with me, so I decided to look deeper into the matter. With the help of a trusted source from within the top ranks of the university, I conducted a detailed investigation into what had actually transpired.
What I uncovered was that the narrative circulating on social media was far from the whole truth.
The accident took place at 9:05 AM. As soon as it happened, the university staff immediately called the emergency services (1122) and informed the police. They also contacted the girl’s parents to inform them about the accident, but with limited details to avoid causing panic. The rescue services were the first to arrive. Upon examining the situation, they confirmed that, tragically, the girl had already passed away. The police arrived shortly thereafter to gather evidence. The girl’s body was then moved to an ambulance while waiting for her parents to arrive.
As soon as the girl’s father arrived, he was informed of his daughter’s death. Naturally, as any father would be, he was overwhelmed with grief. Losing a child is one of the hardest things for any parent, and daughters hold a special place in every father’s heart. The authorities asked the father what he wished to do next: would he choose to forgive the incident in the name of Allah, or would he proceed with legal action? The father, shaken and still in shock, requested time to think. He said that he would perform his daughter’s funeral first and then decide on his next steps.
The university officials, including the Dean and Registrar, accompanied the father to Nishtar Hospital Multan for a post-mortem examination. The police insisted on conducting the post-mortem to gather an official medical report, which would support any future legal case. After the medical report was written, the body was released to the family, and they took it home for burial.
Back at the university, as soon as the body was moved from the accident site to the ambulance, the area was cordoned off with a flex sign. This was done under the instructions of the police to preserve the scene for investigation. However, some students, unaware of the reasons behind the flex, took pictures of the area and began circulating them on social media with the misleading claim that the girl’s body had been left lying in the sun for 3 hours.
After conducting this thorough investigation, I decided to share the real story on social media. I laid out all the facts and evidence, thinking that people would appreciate knowing the truth. But instead of engaging with the facts, I was met with a wave of hate. People accused me of siding with the university management. I was bombarded with comments like, “Shame on you,” “What if this was your sister?” and “Have some fear of God.” It was clear that many had already made up their minds, and no amount of evidence was going to change that. No one wanted to engage with the facts or critically analyze the situation. Everyone had reached their conclusion, and they weren’t interested in anything that might contradict their views.
The purpose of this article is not merely to inform you about the incident but to encourage critical thinking. We must learn to analyze situations thoroughly before forming conclusions. And if new facts emerge, we must be willing to revise our opinions. Always support the truth, even if it goes against your own interests or previous beliefs. This is the only way we can grow as individuals and as a society.
Unfortunately, in our country, people are often blinded by loyalty to personalities rather than being guided by the truth. Supporters of political figures like Imran Khan or Nawaz Sharif refuse to see their leaders’ flaws, defending them even when they’re in the wrong. This blind allegiance to personalities prevents the truth from coming to light and obstructs real progress. If we continue to cling to these cults of personality, we will only deepen the problems in our society.
If we truly want to see positive change, we must become people who stand by the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. Admiring someone is fine, but elevating them to a level where you start defending their mistakes is harmful. Remember, no human is infallible, except for Prophets. Every individual is capable of making mistakes. And we, too, must be mature enough to call out those mistakes when necessary, even if it means confronting someone we admire. This is the only way to prevent those mistakes from being repeated.
May Allah give us the strength to always stand by the truth,
Dr. Babar Ali
