Naimat Khan: Changing view of America via Modesto

The day after I arrived in Modesto, the city’s Police Department issued its crime report, saying there had been two armed robberies in the city.

In the three weeks since, this city of 203,000 has averaged 16 crimes a day, including 11 vehicle and six residential burglaries, six armed robberies and two assaults. There were also some major crimes making headlines, creating a not-always flattering image for any “outsider.”

A 43-year-old man was killed in south Modesto on Aug. 19. Two people were shot at a north Modesto apartment complex on Aug. 21, one dying at the scene. The other victim, who came from Stockton, was shot multiple times.

Eight people were shot while waiting to get inside a party at a warehouse after the city’s music festival. One, a 25-year-old father of three, died at the scene.

Then there is the story of the prominent criminal defense attorney who was arrested on suspicion of murder Aug. 14. Such a high-profile arrest is bad news for any town.

I live in the coastal city of Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city, which has its own perception problems. I hail from Mardan – a city in the foothills of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, some 890 miles away. On every visit to my hometown, I am confronted with questions: Is it safe to roam around in Karachi? Would you become a target for killers if you go by roads? With the high murder rates – sometime up to 20 a day – doesn’t living in Karachi scare you?

Their queries are proportionate to their worries.

I tell my friends that Karachi is livelier than any other city of Pakistan, that vehicles run on the streets till 1 a.m., that people shop at all hours and kids go to school nearly every day.

Our paramilitary force is called the Rangers, and they have done a great job controlling crime. The Eids are significant Muslim religious celebrations marking the end of fasting during Ramadan and the sacrifices of Abraham. When the Eids have been peaceful, the traders do better business compared to the Eids when there has been trouble.

Regardless, people don’t just give up on living their lives even in troubled times. In Karachi, it’s hard to find an empty space in the recreational spots. There are thousands of restaurants, and they are always jam-packed. Every month a new eatery offering different types of food opens, with long queues waiting for seats.

During my 22-day stay in Modesto, I have had similar experiences, mostly due to the friendly nature of the people. A clean, open and beautiful city with stunning countryside, Modesto offers a good sight to outsiders. The farming lands are full of lush trees of almonds, peaches, walnuts and corn growing thick – all offer a very good sight to the eyes.

Its residents are awesome and friendly, enjoying life. Roam the city and you will find people from all around the world. Mexicans, Iraqis, Assyrians, Afghans, Indians, Pakistanis and Europeans all now settled, working in good jobs. This city, and those nearby, have good schools with great teachers.

The Islamic Center of Modesto is a good place to find people from all around the world, interacting with each others like brothers.

Everyone in Modesto has his own point of view, but others respect them. People are friends with each other.

I’m thankful to the International Center for Journalists and The Modesto Bee for allowing me to become closer to those of you who live in and around Modesto. I’m also thankful that my reality has been wonderfully different from my expectations. What one believes when viewing America, or Karachi, from afar is different from what one finds when you live among the residents.

I have learned much in Modesto. I wish that many of you will come to Pakistan to see another vibrant society which, like Modesto, has much more good than bad to offer.

This story was originally published August 28, 2015 at 3:37 PM with the headline "Naimat Khan: Changing view of America via Modesto."