Tabish Qayyum – My Bit for Change

Beneath the ice

It’s been few days, already. No sign of survivors, no indication of life, not a single body, not a single voice! Hundreds of soldiers frantically search for their lost fighters buried deep down in worlds highest battle ground ever heard in the history of mankind.

The worst enemy i.e. weather continues to threaten what could be the most miraculous survival for any of Pakistan’s 6^th Northern Light infantry valiant soldier, if he eventually makes it. Apparently, it’s becoming a futile effort on top of the ground, and to add insult to the injury the weather dims the hope with each passing moment.

I was wondering, what these soldiers mean to us. Away from home, in places not even in the wildest of our imaginations, these men defend us. I had been involved in many of the past relief efforts in natural calamities that we as a nation have gone through; earthquakes of 2005 or floods in 2010-11, our men in uniform were there, digging people out from debris and cutting the beams to pull them out of fallen roofs in Balakot, perhaps providing shelters and food to families stranded on mountain tops.

They were among the first ones who held the hands of those drowning in flood water, In short, these sons never gave us a reason to complain when they were called or looked upon.

Today, they remain hidden beneath layers and layers of snow and ice, some already departed and some still fighting their way out in areas where none of us can reach. The way they sprang to our help when we needed them, we are unable to even take a single step in their direction. Let’s for a second, try to dig few feet of this 80ft snow with bare hands and have a look at the adversity that struck them.

It was 5 Am when the avalanche struck; most of them would already be on their praying mats, some of them on guard and many of them still in their sleeping bags. A sudden impact and ground shaking sound would have alerted few only for few seconds before the actual tragedy unfolded. Having no idea of the technicalities of the speed and gravity of an avalanche in such conditions, I can only assume that it wouldn’t be less than, any mountain falling directly over head.

Beneath the snow when it was them and their Lord, many stories of courage and determination will also remain unheard. Virtually making the barracks a large grave covered with tons of snow, many of these men would have instantly given up on their breath and only few might have been allowed a little room to add few hours or may be days before they will finally succumb to harshness of their trial. Some of them would have made an effort for a while and some might still be fighting their way out.

As I write these lines, in the comfort of my room, I am unable to represent the true agony; in fact no one can describe what these men embraced. Given one second, minute, hour, day or perhaps week by the remaining life, what would these, once father, brothers, sons be thinking?

Faces of their loved ones would be popping in their minds the most, the lovely tricks children play when they used to return home from duty, how passionately siblings loved and took pride in them telling their friends about how metal-hard their brother was; how shockingly parents used to hear their tales of courage and they would be thinking how their wives looked at them with shyness and innocent complains in their eyes, for being so late at home. Yes, all of this would have spun in their brave minds.

Then, they would have looked upon their lives, how they were inspired by the courage of 1965 and how hurt they were on the events on 1971, how enthusiastic they were for Kashmir and how immensely they loved – Pakistan; first day at Military academy, first day they wore uniform and the first day they held the gun with an oath to protect the land carved in the name of Islam.

One can only assume the mesmerizing communication that would have taken place between them and their lord, the one the loved the most in the freezing night, the one they trusted the most, the one who never left them alone when they were literally cut off from the place called World. They would have been compassionate for their job was near done. They proved true to their oath, honest to their commitment and dedicated to their desire of martyrdom that would have been inches away.

When thinking about their visions and dreams, they would have certainly tried to raise their hands or at least positioned them in a way a supplication is made, they would have prayed for our prosperity and security and they would have hoped that their fallen guns will be picked up, and the enemy will not dare to cross an inch from where they stood guarding the dreams of Pakistan. They wouldn’t have regretted the loss of their lives; in fact they would be only yearning for the defense of Pakistan, for which they were buried alive. When they will meet their Lord on the Day of Judgment, they will request him to be allowed to return and die again in his way. Yes, these will be the martyrs with an unending resolve.

I could not possibly hold back my mind from flashing these painful last moments, as tear roll down, I feel worthless when my defenders lay undefended. What worries me is not the coldness that surrounds them, instead it’s the coldness of our hearts that fears me, fashion shows never stopped, no mourning and national unity witnessed, no patriotic atmosphere seen.

It’s just like another day for us, I ask myself, were these ordinary men that went away? No life is less valuable, but these sons were priceless. How many of us have raised hands once since this news broke? Let’s be honest, if anyone of us has had the opportunity to read a will of martyrs, do see it. Most of them write a famous line at the end, “Hamari Shahadat ki Qabooliat ki dua kijeay ga…” – Pray for the acceptance of our martyrdom.

In the most testing and closing moments of their lives, beneath the ice, a moment would have come when seconds away from freezing to death they would have said their last ‘Salam Sar Zameen e Pakistan’ – I wish, we learn what Pakistan, meant for them.

Walaikum assalam, my 135 brothers, we owe you nothing less than our lives.

3/11 – Afghans will never forget

Here comes the defining moment in Afghanistan’s infamous war; 11 deadly years of violence that has jeopardized the entire region seems closer to a reverse tide as US faces a deadly situation post recent ‘massacre’ by its rogue staff sergeant at the pre-dawn of 11th March. Sixteen Afghan civilians including 9 children and women along with elderly men were killed being shot in the face at point-blank range. Corpses were later burnt allegedly by some highly inflammable chemical. This crater for US forms very close to an already dark abyss where US policies fell last month after the burning of Holy Qur’an, resulting in deadly reprisals and anti-American sentiment taking strong hold in every nook and corner of Afghanistan.

The ‘terrorist’ belonged to Lewis Mc-Chord which is considered as one of the largest American military installation in US with a horrendous reputation of violence, “The most troubled US base ever” as a military site “stars and stripes” calls it. Some of the soldiers deputed by this facility were involved in civilian killings in Afghanistan back in 2010. Four to five soldiers were convicted of one of the most brutal charges where one of the convicted staff sergeant acknowledged cutting out fingers and tooth of the victim to keep them as war trophies. Suicide rates due to post-traumatic stress disorder are also high at this base which has largely been involved in violence both domestic and in war-theatres outside US. Recently 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry division of this base sent about 2,500 soldiers to Afghanistan in December for a yearlong deployment. The brigade had deployed to Iraq three times since 2003; this is its first deployment to Afghanistan.

The alleged assassin was deputed with special-forces in Kandahar along Navy-Seals or Green Beret units for village stability missions for first time after his three ventures in Iraq. His precision in firing on the fore-heads of children flattens the assertions of ‘being drunk’ or having ‘mental ailments’ as no soldier is recruited after routine medical check-ups. As reported he later returned to the base and is being held by fellow authorities.

This brutality was carried out at the Alokozai village, in the Zangawat area of Panjwayi district near 3:00 a.m. when an alleged group of US Special force was out for the bloodiest of murders ever in the history of Afghanistan. According to live accounts and eye witnesses multiple weapon sounds were heard, including pistols and machine gun bursts simultaneously. The houses attacked are at least 2 miles apart and it becomes literally impossible for a single gunman to kill and burn people in one house and then run few kilometres to do the same thing again. Eleven dead belonged to a same family and nine of the victims were children, including infants found soaked in blood close to the bodies of their mothers. Afghan sources in Pajwayi claim to have photographs of half-burnt bodies of women and children as blood-spattered walls and floors have already been aired in the media.

Some local villagers have reported seeing two groups of soldiers. The Afghan defence ministry also believes in its initial assessment that there is a possibility of one or more soldiers being involved.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai also believes in the possibilities of more than one soldier as he quotes in his statement a 15-year old survivor ‘Rafiullah’ as telling him in a phone call that ‘soldiers’ raided the house and woke up his family members before shooting at them.

‘This is an assassination, an intentional killing of innocent civilians and cannot be forgiven’, Karzai said despite calls of condolences and shock from Obama, Pannetta and Jhon Allen.

Everything seems to be falling apart for US strategists as they claimed to have made significant progress in negotiations for a strategic Partnership Agreement allowing US Special Forces and advisers to stay in Afghanistan for an indefinite period in order to protect the region from falling into chaos once the combat foreign forces leave in 2014. The agreement has apparently been delayed after this attack which saw a detention centre being handed over to Afghan authorities as its first phase or achievement.

“This could delay the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement,” an Afghan government official told Reuters.

The purposeless and unending war has turned the ‘pampered soldiers’ into humiliated zombies fighting for a respectable exit in a lost war which becomes impossible to achieve after this single incident. Each day of Afghan war theatre draws near a dramatic and unimaginable end for US and her allies that ransacked an already war-torn country, in fact a nation deliberately left in chaos post-soviet war in 80’s by the same ‘Super-power’ that once claimed to be friends of Afghans.

Afghans have rendered enough sacrifices during the past decades, especially this last one. Their land was occupied, bombed by B-52’s; their men were brutally killed and taken to prisons around the world. Millions of Afghans have already lost their lives and loved ones at the hands of invaders who not only killed them, but disrespected their culture, heritage and values and above all their religion by desecrating the Holy Qur’an. As if death was not satisfying for the ego of the aggressors, there have been incidents where bodies were mutilated, urinated and devil-danced upon by ‘exceptional forces’ as Obama calls them.

Latest, was an episode of unmatched abhorrence and disregard to poor Afghans who have always stood strong at the helm of tyranny. No word in dictionary can define and no word can repent this bloody night imposed on innocent Afghans sleeping peacefully only to be disturbed for few minutes of bloody nightmare; back to eternal sleep. One wonders what’s coming next for US and its forces as the hatred and vengeance has not only infused in ordinary Afghans, but apparently their own stooges in the government and trained army are uttering words of fire, blood and vendetta.

Heart wrenching stories continue to flow out of Kandahar explaining accounts of this gruesome and unforeseen bloody rampage, shaking the core foundations of humanity and leaving no doubts in the mind of world about the psychological condition as a result of legitimate Afghan resistance against occupation forces in Afghanistan.

Presidential statement from Karzai’s office has termed this incident as “unforgivable”, Taliban as expected have vowed for decisive response and termed the US forces as, “Sick Savages” liable to be killed wherever found and the already boiling blood of ordinary Afghan’s on the issue of burning Qur’an has now turned into a volcano whose ashes are easy visible from the balconies of white-house.

A republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said in an interview to the “Fox News” that it was time for U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan. He considered the mission in Afghanistan as “undoable”.
“It’s very likely that we have lost — tragically lost the lives and suffered injuries to a considerable number of young Americans on a mission that we’re going to discover is not doable,” he said, adding in an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that the U.S. doesn’t have the “willpower” or the “capacity” to “fundamentally change the region.

Tragedy of Kandahar will always be remembered as the most brutal face of oppression. US forces have long taken motivation from their ‘9/11 we will never forget’ phrase; and 3/11, Afghans will never forget!

Forced Assertion or Transparent Conversion?

No scholar, no sect, no Islamic organization has ever advocated ‘forced conversions’ nor does any page in Islamic history allows such tactic that could have easily wiped out every non-Muslim in Subcontinent, Most of Europe, Africa, Middle East and Jerusalem during the time when reins of power were in Muslim hands; Since nothing of that sort happened is a clear evidence that this practice has never existed in Islam in fact Qur’an clearly states,

“La Ikaraha fi’deen” – There is no Compulsion in Deen.

In fact history does tell us about the benevolent conduct of Muslims with other faiths contrary to wrong assertions of forcing people into Islam.

It was shocking for me to learn that a ‘Hindu Girl’ had been forcefully converted to Islam after being kidnapped by Influential people in Mirpur Mathelo District of Sindh. There was a vortex of information on national and international media, flowing around unverified. Some were addressing their concerns over, “rising sense of insecurity” and some demanded “Suo Moto Action” from Supreme Court, resolution was moved in Sindh Assembly against forced conversions, tirade of this significant incident and more of such alleged ‘conversions’ ensued and gripped social networks, international media, human right activists and government quarters as well. PPP’s MPA Pitanber Sawami, went to the extent of saying that Hindus in Pakistan should not be forced to wage a war against the state in a similar way to what Baluch Nationalists are doing.

There were protests registered by the Hindu-community against these alleged post-marriage ‘forced-conversions’ and even Human Rights Commission (HRCP) jumped in condemning the incident seeking a judicial probe. Our ‘Free-thinking’ and ‘Liberal Society’ including some journalists’ were busy ‘tweeting their fingers out’ on this gruesome incident further demonizing Pakistani society as if ‘Gujrat’ kind of riots had broken out (reviewing their timelines will reveal that they might have never condemned genocidal atrocities against Muslims anywhere in the world) forsaking the basic ethics of journalism and information sharing only to prove their bias towards unverified news that easily taints a horrendous picture of Islam in Pakistan. Good for their liking.

Believing in to the news that has been reported since the incident, the micro-blogging networks and weeping around left no doubt that this case is exactly as being presented and indeed minorities are being forced on gun-point for conversions throughout Pakistan’s nook and corner.

But again, few questions that were constantly striking my mind, or would have popped up in any impartial and sane human being’s mind that came across this ‘disturbing’ news were; Where is the girl? And what’s her say?

There was a ray of hope, maybe this hatred is unjustified, and maybe this incident is similar to usual disgust that we see against Islam in our own “Islamic Republic”. And Yes, Finally the news broke out, Rinkal Kumari was proud of being ‘Faryal Shah’ now.

The alleged kidnapped girl appeared before the media on Thursday and clearly stated that she was NOT KIDNAPPED! And had NOT been forced to convert to Islam and marry Naveed Shah. She claimed to have taken both decisions of accepting Islam and marrying Naveed Shah in accordance of her FREE-WILL and that NOBODY has pressurized her into this. She read out the Kalima Tayyaba, in front of the media and reiterated that she is now a MUSLIM GIRL and had nothing to do with her parents.

The couple was produced before the Sindh High Court in front of Sukkur bench in strict security; scorted on their way to court by SSP Ghotki Pir Muhammad Shah. The PPP-MPA Mian Muhammad Haq and his son Mian Muhammad Aslam who were alleged for being complicit and involved in the kidnapping were also present at the court.

Advocate Murad luund representing Faryal’s Grandfather Manohar Lal kept asserting that the girl is under pressure and things will become “Crystal Clear” in Karachi in a tension free atmosphere. Whereas Mian Mohammad Aslam of Bharchoondi Sharif responded by saying that everyone (including the media) has seen that Faryal was not under any pressure, not even saying anything against Pirs.

On the allegation by Luund, Aslam said,

“Rather she gave a statement against her own maternal uncle who is threatening to kill her.” he further said his father PPP-MNA Mian Abdul Haq had come to the court only because the parents of the girl requested they wanted to meet their daughter, unfortunately they did not come.

Aslam told the court that Faryal had spoken to her family on his instructions on 24^th February the day she came to Dargah Bharchoondi Sharif telling them about her pressure-free conversion and decision to marry Naveed Shah.

“I personally requested them to come over and meet their daughter to see for themselves that she was not under pressure, but they didn’t’ come,” Said Mian Aslam.

He also said that neither Islam nor the law of the land allowed forced conversions how could it be possible for us to force someone on accepting Islam?

Well! What moral ground does the “Liberal Machine” hold now; after the enthralling revelation by the ‘kidnapped’ and ‘forcefully converted’ lady?

The fundamental reason I find the notion of ‘forced-conversions’ to Islam nearly impossible is simply because Islam in its core beliefs does not adhere to lip-service, yes, reciting the kalimah does gets a person in the folds of Islam but the acceptance of heart is necessary and the main fundamental which cannot be manoeuvred or forced.

On the contrary, there remains no doubt that intimidation, threats, tortures and social-boycotts massively prevail for innocent converts who choose to become Muslims after they get close to the religion’s teachings by any inspiration; Let it be love of a person, magnetic character of a follower or perhaps studying the comparison and insight by research. Unfortunately, No ‘Liberal’ or ‘Pseudo-Journalist’ bothers to fight their case by exposing the ‘hate-mongers’ and ‘vengeance-seekers’ present in minorities destined only to bring a bad name to peaceful minorities that do believe in co-existence and are largely accepted by all Pakistanis.

Hence, the case of once Rinkal Kumari has proved to be yet another case of ‘Forced-Assertion’ of a fair, true, transparent and rightful conversion of ‘Faryal Shah’ the proud bride of Mirpur Mathelo. May ALLAH protect her and many others threatened against their ‘free-will’ to decide the most important elements of one’s life – his/her faith and belief.