Pakistan – Page 15 – My Bit for Change

Is The Silent Majority Awake Now?

Nearly two decades of ‘slow but steady’ struggle which sometimes looked like a ‘one-man’ show and labelled as ‘just a fan club’ by critics has surely turned the tables in one big show of strength. “The Lahore Jalsa” has shaken repeatedly tested corrupt giants. There is a fear in their tone, and you can sense it.

Pakistan is a country where:

– 60% of the people enjoy the day of election as a ‘day off-work’ at home and opt not to vote
– one-third of the voters list constitutes fake and non-existent names
– majority of the voters decide overnight to cast their votes due to pressure, fear or incentives like a day’s ration, sewing machines, or ‘Ghee ke dabbay’.

True, along with the corrupt ruling elite, the silent majority is equally to be blamed for the mess. The majority who either do not know the power of their vote or cannot think of a reason to come out of their comfort zones to vote. They dwell in air-conditioned rooms, cars and offices, hardly knowing the problems of a common man, so why bother?

I feel lucky to have witnessed a day when people, especially youth, from all social backgrounds, some wearing Shalwar Kameez and headscarves and others in jeans and designer sunglasses, some travelling by public transport and others in their valuable and comfy cars, some speaking the Lahori style Punjabi and others insisting on their ‘dude’ style English, all came out to gather in the heart of Punjab under Jinnah and Iqbal’s posters, Pakistani flags, National Anthem and songs on the 30^th of October on Imran Khan’s call to be part of ‘Tsunami of change’.

After carefully watching the big day in the history of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf and the utter failure of media to ‘change the topic’ or turn a blind eye to the mammoth crowd, one wonders as to what has brought the sleeping silent majority out. Fifteen years is not a long time, keeping in mind the fact that a sport hero turned politician, with no roots in established political houses of the country, and with no experience of fraudulent short cuts, talks about dreams which this nation had probably dumped into cold storage for years.

The critics may, very rightly, say that this big crowd doesn’t mean anything electorally and wouldn’t constitute a single seat constituency but it cannot be ignored or taken lightly that people from all walks of life, from labourers, hawkers, rickshaw drivers to educated youth from all colleges and universities including the most ‘westernised’ reached the uneven ground of Minar-e-Pakistan which most of the elite youth might not have been to in years.

What was the motivation? What was the call for? The question is extremely significant. The ruling class has always talked about problems of common man but all we have seen is years of hopelessness, heaps of broken promises and blatant lies. No one has delivered. Standard of living changes after elections but only for those who reach the Parliament houses, ever expanding offices, ministries and ranks created every day. It has never trickled down to the commoners.

The call to gather was for ‘change’. Imran Khan talks of the common man and he has delivered, although on a smaller scale (Shaukat Khanum and Mianwali University Projects). He talks of the ‘Rule of Law’. Having explored the Western culture and comparatively studying Islam, he takes pride in owning Islamic values and systems. He promises not to bow for anyone’s interest and keep the interest of Pakistan supreme. He opposes Pakistan’s alliance with US War on terror and condemns the innocent casualties as a result of US drone strikes in Pakistan.

‘Friends with all, slaves of none’ was his message boldly sent out from the stage surrounded by thousands of chanting and adrenaline pumped Pakistanis. And most important of all, he takes inspiration from the Qur’anic principles of social justice and equality, Iqbal’s philosophy of ‘Khudi’ (self-respect) and Jinnah’s concepts of Islamic democracy. He strongly believes in Pakistan being an ideological state based on Two Nation Theory , a concept disputed by westernised ‘liberals’ in the country who are bent upon labelling him as ‘Taliban Khan’. Call it wishful thinking, but if the right-wing hardliners do not see him ‘up to the mark’ and the secularists see him as a ‘Mullah’, the nation would look up to him as a moderate leader capable of establishing a modern Islamic state.

Excerpts from Imran Khan’s latest book: Pakistan-A Personal History:

“Gone were the insidious humiliations of colonialism and the fear of being drowned in an overwhelming Hindu majority in an independent India. We were free people, free to rediscover an Islamic culture that had once towered over the subcontinent. Free, too, to implement the ideals of Islam based on equality, and social and economic justice. A democracy, as Pakistan’s founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah said, not a theocracy. We were to be the shining example in the Muslim world of what Islam could achieve were it allowed to flourish. Such dreams we had…”

“ …Iqbal not only conceived of a self-governing Muslim state, his passionate voice awakened and activated Indian Muslims motivating them not only to strive to free themselves from the bondage of imperialism and colonialism, but also to challenge other forms of totalitarian control. Believing fervently in human equality and the right of human beings to dignity, justice and freedom, Iqbal empowered the disempowered to stand up and be counted.”

This rally is not less than a wave of big change and a practical demonstration of the Gallup survey and also the WorldPublicOpinion.org survey in collaboration with U.S. Institute of Peace with statistics inferring:

‘..strong public support for a wider role for Islam. Asked to gauge the importance of living “in a country that is governed according to Islamic principles” on a 10-point scale, 61 percent give an answer of 10 (meaning “absolutely important”). The mean response is 9.0’

So, Pakistanis want rule of law, and self-respect and a society based on Islamic principles, exactly the things promised by Imran Khan. That is why they came out in numbers to show their unconditional support. A ‘clean sweep’ in coming elections still looks unrealistic for Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf. However, by joining hands with honest forces, without compromising his principles, Imran Khan is capable enough to change Pakistan for better.

Selective Islam ~ An article by Imran Khan (1998)

My Generation grew up at a time when colonial hang up was at its peak. Our older generation had been slaves and had a huge inferiority complex of the British. The school I went to was similar to all elite schools in Pakistan, despite becoming independent, they were, and still are, producing replicas of public school boys rather than Pakistanis. I read Shakespeare which was fine, but no Allama Iqbal.

The Islamic class was not considered to be serious, and when I left the school I was considered amongst the elite of the country because I could speak English and wore western clothes. Despite periodically shouting Pakistan Zindabad at school functions, I considered my own culture backward and Islam an outdated religion. Amongst our group if any one talked about religion, prayed or kept a beard he was immediately branded a Mullah. Because of the power of the Western media, all our heroes were western movie or pop stars. When I went to Oxford already burdened with this hang up from my school days, things didn’t get any easier. In University not just Islam but all religions were considered anachronism. Science had replaced religion and if something couldn’t be logically proved it did not exist. All supernatural stuff was confined to themovies. Philosophers like Darwin who with his half-baked theory of evolution was supposed to have disproved the creation of men and hence religion.

Moreover, the European history had an awful experience with religion, The horrors committed by the Christian clergy in the name of God during the Inquisition had left a powerful impact on the western mind.

To understand why the west is so keen on secularism, one should go to places like Cordoba in Spain and see torture apparatus used during Spanish Inquisition. Also the persecution of scientists as heretics by the clergy and convinced the Europeans that all religions are regressive. However, the biggest factor that drove people like me away from religion was the selective Islam practised by most of its preachers. In other words, there was a huge difference between what they practised and what they preached. Also, rather than explaining the philosophy behind the religion, there was an over emphasis on rituals. I feel that humans are different; to animals whereas the latter can be drilled, humans need to be intellectually convinced. That is why the Qur’an constantly appeals to reason. The worst of course, was the exploitation of Islam for political gains by various individuals or groups. Hence, it was a miracle I did not become an atheist.

The only reason why I did not was the powerful religious influence wielded by my mother on me since my childhood. It was not so much out of conviction but love for her that I stayed a Muslim. However, my Islam was selective, i.e. I accepted only parts of the religion that suited me. Prayers were restricted to Eid days and occasionally on Fridays, when my father insisted on taking me with him. If there was a God I was not sure about it and certainly felt that he did not interfere with my life. All in all I was smoothly moving to becoming a Pukka Brown Sahib. After all I had the right credentials in terms of the right school, university and above all, acceptability in the English aristocracy, something that our brown sahibs would give their lives for. So what led me to do a lota on the Brown Sahib culture and instead become a desi? Well it did not just happen overnight. Firstly, the inferiority complex that my generation had inherited, gradually went as I developed into a world class athlete. Secondly, I had the unique position of living between two cultures. I began to see the advantages and the disadvantages of both the societies. In western societies, institutions were strong while they were collapsing in our country. However, there was an area where we were and still are superior, and that is our family life. I used to notice the loneliness of the old-age pensioners at Hove Cricket ground (during my Sussex years). Imagine sending your parents to Old Peoples’ Homes! Even the children there never had the sort of love and warmth that we grew up with here. They completely miss out on the security blanket that a joint family system provides. However, began to realise that the biggest loss to the western society and that in trying to free itself from the oppression of the clergy, they had removed both God and religion from their lives. While science can answer a lot of questions, no matter how much it progresses, two questions it will never be able to answer: One, what is the purpose of the existence and two, what happens to us when we die? It is this vacuum that I felt created the materialistic and the hedonistic culture. If this is the only life then one must make hay while the sun shines and in order to do so one needs money. Such a culture is bound to cause psychological problems in a human being, as there is going to be an imbalance between the body and the soul. Consequently, in the USA, which has shown the greatest materialistic progress and also gives its citizens the greatest human rights, almost 60 per cent of the population consult psychiatrists. Yet, amazingly in modern psychology, there is no study of the human soul. Sweden and Switzerland, who provide the most welfare to their citizens, also have the highest suicide rates; hence, man is not necessarily content with material well being he needs something more. Since all morality has it roots in religion, once religion was removed, immorality has progressively escalated since the 70’s. The direct impact of it is on thefamily life. In UK, the divorce rate is 60 per cent, while it is estimated that there are over 35 per cent single mothers. The crime rate is rising in almost all western societies, but the most disturbing fact is the alarming increase in racism. While science always tries to prove the inequality of man (recent survey showing the American Black to be genetically less intelligent than whites) it is only religion which preaches the equality of man. Between ’91 and ’97, it was estimated that total immigration into Europe was around 520,000, and there were racially motivated attacks all over, especially in Britain, France and Germany. In Pakistan during the Afghan war, we had over four million refugees, and despite the people being so much poorer here and in the NWFP, they suffered a considerable loss in their standard of living as a result of the refugees yet, there was no racial tension, No wonder, last year in Britain, religious education was reintroduced into schools.

There was a sequence of events in the 80’s that moved me towards God. As the Quran says: “There are signs for people of understanding”. One of them was cricket. As I was a student of the game, the more I understood the game, the more I began to realize that what I considered to be chance was, in fact, the will of Allah, the pattern which became clearer with time. But it was not until Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses that my understanding of Islam began to develop. People like me who were living in the western world bore the brunt of anti-Islam prejudice that followed the Muslim reaction to the book. We were left with two choices: fight or flight. Since I felt strongly that the attacks on Islam were unfair, I decided to fight.

It was then I realised that I was not equipped to do so as my knowledge of Islam was inadequate. Hence I started my research and for me a period of my greatest enlightenment. I read scholars like Ali Shariati, Mohammad Asad, Iqbal, Gai Eaton, plus of course, a study of the Holy Quran.

I will try to explain as concisely as is possible, what “discovering the truth” meant for me. When the believers are addressed in the Quran, it always says, “Those who believe and do good deeds.”

In other words, a Muslim has dual function, one towards God and the other towards fellow human beings. The greatest impact of believing in God for me, meant that I lost all fear of human beings. The Quran liberates man from man when it says that life anddeath and respect and humiliation are God’s jurisdiction, so we do not have to bow before other human beings. As Iqbal puts it:

Wo aik Sajda jisay tu giran samajhta hai,

Hazaar sajdon say deta hai aadmi ko nijaat.

Moreover, since this is a transitory world where we prepare for the eternal one, I broke out of the self-imposed prisons, such as growing old (such a curse in the western world, as a result of which, plastic surgeons are having a field day), materialism, ego, what people say and so on. It is important to note that one does not eliminate the earthly desires, simply that instead of being controlled by them, one controls them.

By following the second part of believing in Islam, I have become a better human being. Rather than being self-centred and living for the self, I feel that because the Almighty gave so much to me, in turn I must use that blessing to help the less privileged. By following the fundamentals of Islam rather than becoming a Kalashnikov-wielding fanatic I have become a tolerant and a giving human being who feels compassion for the under-privileged.

Instead of attributing success to myself, I know it is because of God’s will, hence humility instead of arrogance. Also, instead of the snobbish Brown Sahib attitude towards our masses, I believe in egalitarianism and strongly feel against the injustice done to the weak in our society according to the Quran, “Oppression is worse than killing.” In fact only now do I understand the true meaning of Islam, if you submit to the will of Allah, you have inner peace. Through my faith, I have discovered strength within me that I never knew existed and that has released my potential in life: My educationprogramme that I intend to announce in March is far more ambitious than the cancer hospital project.

I feel that in Pakistan we have selective Islam. Just believing in God and going through the rituals is not enough one also has to be a good human being. I feel there are certain western countries with far more Islamic traits than us, especially in the way they protect the rights of their citizens, or for that matter their justice system. In fact some of the finest individuals I know live there. What I dislike about them is their double-standards in the way they protect the rights of their citizens and yet considercitizens of other countries as being somehow inferior to them as human being, e.g. dumping toxic waste in the Third World, advertising cigarettes that are not allowed in the west and selling drugs that are banned in the west. One of the problems facingPakistan is the polarisation of two reactionary groups. On the one side is the westernised group that looks upon Islam through western eyes and has inadequate knowledge about the subject. It reacts to any one trying to impose Islam in the society and wants only a selective part of the religion. On the other extreme is the group that reacts to this westernised elite and in trying to become a defender of the faith, takes up such intolerant and self-righteous attitudes that are repugnant to the spirit of Islam.

What needs to be done is to somehow start a dialogue between the two extremes. In order for this to happen, the group on whom the greatest proportion of our educational resources are spent in this country must study Islam properly. Whether they become practising Muslims or believe in God is entirely a ;personal choice; as the Quran tells us that there is “no compulsion in religion.” However, they must arm themselves with knowledge as a weapon to fight extremism. Turning up their noses at extremism is not going to solve the problem.

The Quran calls Muslims “the middle nation”, i.e. not of extremes. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was told to simply give the message and not worry whether people converted or not, therefore, there is no question in Islam of forcing your opinions on any one else. Moreover, we are told to respect other religions, their places of worship and their prophets. It should be noted that no Muslim missionaries or armies never went to Malaysia or Indonesia. The people converted to Islam due to the high principles and impeccable character of the Muslim traders. At the moment, the worst advertisement for Islam are the Muslim countries with their selective Islam, especially where thereligion is used to deprive people of their rights. In fact, a society that obeys fundamentals of Islam has to be a liberal one.

If our westernised class started to study Islam, not only will it be able to help our society fight sectarianism and extremism, but it will also make them realise what a progressive religion Islam is. They will also be able to help the western world by articulating Islamic concepts. Last year, Prince Charles accepted that the western world can learn from Islam during his speech at the Oxford Union. But how can this happen if the group that is in to best position to project Islam gets its attitudes from the west and considers Islam backward? Islam is a universal religion and that is why our Prophet (PBUH) was called a mercy for all mankind.

Still Seeking Independence

From grandpa’s diary:
‘My six year old granddaughter Zara is all excited to celebrate the 64th birthday of Pakistan. Every year when this day arrives, it brings back many beautiful memories. Poverty, homelessness, travelling in the worst circumstances, leaving behind our homes; nothing looked ugly, nothing felt difficult. I was a young and energetic teenager, a student for whom going to school had multiple reasons. Of course, my parents like all the others, wanted me to be a successful man but there was something else in my blood which pushed me every day to an institution where we met, planned and strengthened our ideas. The most wonderful and rarest of the blessings of that time was a true leader in the shape of Mr Jinnah. Our energies were different. Our blood was gushing more powerfully than many others in the united India. We were so close to the goal, a dream was to come true towards which I had seen my grandparents and parents struggling with all their devotion and commitment. Our lives were like those of a tenant’s who was eagerly waiting to move to his own house. We were struggling for a home where we could live according to our wishes independently, where we are not answerable to any ‘Landlord’ except the True Lord, where no one else could impose his rules and regulations on us, but God. I had lost many friends, uncles and cousins during the struggle. A lot of blood was spilt, but not wasted, I was sure. Everyone was talking about ‘the time’ which was near and as sure to come as a written fact. We could see it coming with our very eyes.

14th August 1947 was the day no less than Eid for us. My forehead was prostrating in front of Allah whom we had made promises with; a deal that we made about implementing His laws, if He gives us a land with no interference from anyone. My eyes were tearful with my heart jumping in joy and humble with thankfulness to God. Our ‘haveli’, our decades old business, our property and valuables, jobs and careers; nothing was a hindrance to travel to our new born homeland. We were desperately seeking for this day of ‘Independence’ when we are nobody’s slaves but the Creator’s. The very thought of the long awaited moment when we’d kiss the land was working as adrenaline in our blood vessels. Days or nights didn’t matter, we were moving. A big number of people lost their lives in this transit but the caravans wouldn’t stop. Nothing could halt the sea of these charged and sparked people who left by choice everything they had, for a dream, a promise, a struggle and a mission. We had broken the idols of colonial captivity and seen Iqbal’s dream becoming a reality under a selfless man called Jinnah and we were all motivated for a better tomorrow.

Zara shakes my arm to bring me out of a very true movie saved in my eyes and dearest to my heart, which I watch every now and then but more so in August every year. She wants me to leave gardening and come indoors as she wanted to show me her green outfit that she bought for school celebrations.

I am a 79 year old frail man with no physical energy left in me. I have seen these 64 years like a Banyan tree that bears the most scorching sun and also refreshing rains. I have been an honest man and have given every drop of sweat to this land. After seeing Zara’s glittery green dress, I sit back to analyse why this land of mine is in a mess. There is still bloodshed, poverty, homelessness, displaced people, and this actually is ugly and painful. Independence from all worldly masters is what we strived for. The proposed dream of Iqbal who left us many years before Independence Day was based on faith i.e. to live according to the Rules and Laws of Allah with no interference from anyone. The whole struggle was based on this fact and the demand of separation was based on Muslim majority areas. But this is the very foundation which some people are questioning today. 64 years down the road, listening to a discussion in a TV show as to whether Pakistan was created in the name of Islam or not is absurd and extremely painful. Such conversation and the dishonesty that prevails on individual and national level is equivalent to breaking the pact that we made with Allah and betraying the blood which, I still have faith, wouldn’t go waste.

Following Islam at individual level or practising ‘Sovereignty belongs to Allah’ at national level, is still a myth. The injustices in the society, the bloodshed, the linguistic divisions, the social deprivation, and inequality of men on material grounds, are surely ugly. The idol of colonial times is not entirely broken either. Our identity is still vague. We still worship some worldly gods and that too happily. My people are still unsafe not because of a foreign regime but due to some men who are from us, look like us and speak the language that we understand and claim to lead the country and hold the governing offices. Our decisions are not taken by our own men or in our own interests. Many of our sons and daughters have been sold for foreign money. Many are missing for years. Many are bombed to death by monstrous drones. Big fish get away with everything. Poor get crushed in the cruel ‘system. Foreign spies are willingly welcomed through front doors and helped to escape through backdoors after killing our men… Too much, too ugly!

I miss Jinnah, someone who could look daringly into the eyes of the colonial monsters , walked with a head up high, knew the worth of this nation and could say a bold ‘NO’ in the best interest of his people. The frailest of nations we were but we stood behind him with strong faith and formed a force which no power in the world could beat. With no money, no alms, no arms and no treasures, the people turned into a tornado and broke all the barriers to achieve the goal. I miss a leader, who could take us to the door of true ‘independence; which I am still seeking.

But, all is not ugly. There is something extremely beautiful about today as well, despite the thick clouds of despair. It’s the devotion of the new generation and the youth and its unshaken affiliation to this gift of Allah, Pakistan. The energies being brought together to pull the country out of the mess and the growing awareness of the problems we face, is a silver lining. The magnitude is small when I compare it to the force pushing us into the ditch, may it be foreign hand or our own enslaved leaders or demoralising media elements. But, same was the case in 1947. The two opposite forces were not comparable in strength and magnitude and would never be. It’s faith and trust in God which has always made our side of the scale heavier and that’s what is required. Allah will fulfil the promises of His bounties if we fulfil our promises that we made with Him more than half a century ago.

‘Recall My favour which I had bestowed on you, and fulfil your covenant with Me and I shall fulfil my covenant with you, and fear Me alone.’ [Al-Baqarah 40]

I feel tiny hands wiping tears off my face while I sit in the arm chair with my eyes closed. I open my eyes to see my Zara, my faith and hope for Pakistan, the surest reason to smile again’.

Mayoos to nahin hain umeed e sehr se hum..

Also appeared on Aaj.tv, The News Tribe, Weekly Pulse Magazine and Hurriyat News

Sons and Daughters of Indus

River Indus the life line of Pakistan, rises up in Tibet China, enters Indian held Ladakh region before entering Pakistan up north. It flows from east to west before turning its course southwards in Gilgit Baltistan region towards Arabian Sea. It runs the entire length of Pakistan, snaking pass some of the highest mountain ranges in Himalaya and Karakoram; it flows through the deepest gorges in the shadow of numerous majestic peaks that rise above 5000 meters before entering the plains.

All along its treacherous journey though mountain ranges spread over hundreds and thousands of kilometres, what starts as a small stream in Tibet enters the plains as a mighty river. Further downstream it is joined by five of its major tributaries and by other river systems; it traverses through the rest of the country before emptying into Arabian Sea.

A journey spread over 3,000 kilometres starts as a small stream and as it flows through its course it is joined by springs, streams, small and big rivers along with their tributaries, giving it strength and might. Indus gives life and colour to a land where we all live in. Without this river system this land would turn into a desert. Most of Pakistan is an arid land; this river system is the life giver to our land. It provides life to Pakistan!

What will happen to river Indus if its springs, streams and all of its tributary rivers follow a path of their own? What will happen to the springs and streams? What will happen to the river joining Indus if their springs and streams follow a path of their own? What will happen to the people and land supported by Indus River System?

It doesn’t take Einstein to answer these questions. Indus as we know of exists only because it goes from strength to strength, from a small glacial stream up in remote reaches of Himalaya to a mighty powerful roaring river as it joined by waters all along its course. Without these waters giving life and strength, Indus will lose its identity, might and seize to flow. All of its springs, streams won’t have the strength to flow either; hence the land we know as of today will turn into a desert. Even grimmer outcome would be that this land won’t be able to support us.

Indus only exists because it is joined by waters of great many springs and streams. These springs and streams not only give their waters to river Indus but also give Indus its identity. Moreover all these springs and streams do retain character of their own.

One of the interesting facts of Indus is that all rivers of our land join it from all provinces to give it strength and might. Let it be spring, streams and rivers of Gilgit Baltistan or five rivers of Punjab or in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa river Swat joining river Kabul before falling into Indus or lesser known rivers like Tochi, rising from Sufaid koh, traversing though North Waziristan, Bannu and joining river Indus near Mianwali or Gomal River of South Waziristan or Zhob river rising in mountain ranges of Koh Suleman, flowing through Balouchistan, eventually into River Indus.

Rivers are formed when joined by waters of springs and streams; the mightier the river more spring and streams it is bound to have. Or let’s put it this way; collectivism gives rise to great and mighty. Collectivism is exactly what Islam also preaches and asks all faithful to adhere to. United we stand, divided we fall.

Let’s ask ourselves another set of questions, why we are Pashtun, Mohajir, Saraki, Kashmiri, Sindhi, Punjabi, Balouchis, Balti, Hindko and not Pakistani? Are we willing to lose our national identity? Are we willing to remain small springs, streams, ethnic groups and tribes? Not a powerful, resourceful and mighty nation? Is this our fate? Is this that our forefathers and elders fought from British? Is this we want to pass on to our children? Is this really what we want?

Let me theorize, we are the Sons and Daughters of river Indus. Our identity is anchored in the waters of this mighty river and not etched in faraway lands of Central Asia or Arabia or any other place. We might have come from there but we are settled here for centuries and hence Indus and the land it supports gives us our identity. We are the window of our glorious past looking upon us from the great civilizations of Moen Jo Daro (present day Sindh Province), Harapa (Punjab province) and Mehrgarh (Baluchistan Province). We are the modern day forerunners of the civilizations which existed in our land; they were as ancient as any other civilization in the world and most sophisticated for their times.

We are Pashtuns, Mohajirs, Sarakis, Kashmiris, Sindhis, Punjabis, Balochis, Balti and Hindkos. We can be ethnically diverse; tribally assorted and linguistically varied. But we all are springs and streams that give their identity and name to make a Nation, a Nation we call Pakistan. We need to put our act together, go from strength to strength, support & respect each other and rise as a resourceful, respected and mighty Nation!

A Doctor’s Perspective

I am a doctor by profession; I took my five year training at a private university hospital in Karachi, with an adequate amount of clinical exposure. I opted for public setting to work because I already had some experience of electives in the government hospitals, and I loved the experience. I particularly enjoyed being thoroughly involved with the patients, from the time of deciding on their admission in the Emergency Room (ER)/Out Patient Department (OPD), guiding them to the ward, helping them get hold of a ‘feasible’ bed – with a working fan and light, and if lucky enough, a functioning socket as well, monitoring and recording their vitals, sampling them, catheterizing and NG tubing the patient if needed, (Yes! In our government hospitals, this all is the doctor’s job) doing the necessary counseling, briefing them about the nature of their illness in the most-comprehendible language for them, be it pseudo-Sindhi, -Punjabi or –Pashto, explaining to them after each ward round what the ‘barra’ doctor said about them, all in addition to the routine history, examination and treatment. You may even find yourself answering their queries about the neighboring beds patients. At the end of the day, it’s one of their innocent concerns about you, or their sweet compliments, which make your day. This all was a very new experience for me, the patient being thankful for as little as listening to him attentively. Nothing warms you up more than a patient inquiring specifically for you at the clinics or wards.

All was going very smoothly, that some protests started settling in, affecting the work and ultimately the patients. I will be honest, it wasn’t as bad most days as the media showed, but it was bad enough that the doctor was being involved in something going against patient benefit. The term ‘doctors on strike’ surprised me. How can doctors be on strike! What happened to the oath of always putting patient benefit above yours, and offering treatment to all, at all times, without any discrimination. A patient, who you have told at the time of relieving from the hospital, to follow up for his treatment in the OPD, comes to you compliantly- when compliance is already a trait very rare in our patients -and you tell him you can’t see him because of some protest. Or even worse, you don’t show up at all! Although knowing that the cause of your protest has nothing to do with the patients you are choosing to turn down.

They say that when they ‘call’ the strike, it was aired on electronic and print media, so it won’t harm the patients much. Little do they know that the population they cater to may not afford ‘generated’ electricity, or newspaper.

Spend ten minutes outside the main gate of any public hospital, and you’ll know what I mean. I have actually seen patients un-able to walk, getting themselves to the hospital, in public buses, getting down with the help of their relatives. There are many old ones who do not even have anyone accompanying them. The bus driver only sometimes is nice enough to stop the bus for them to get down, at others he just slows it down for a minute or half. They are risking whatever remains of health they have left, only to be seen by some doctors, who may not even be there.

If you were one of them, what would you go through if you were refused to be seen at the public hospital after getting there after undergoing great mental, physical and emotional stress? Taking you further, what if you cannot go to any other hospital, because of, if not financial, but time constraint, what will your heart and mind go through? Now think of all the times when you have, directly or indirectly done this to others and that you will be accountable before God for it, or held responsible for the loss you have caused.

Even more saddening was that just because most of our beloved are unbothered by these strikes, a lot of the doctors who were not really supporting the protests, were conveniently following them! Well, who minds some extra money and a few days off the hectic schedule?

Why should the nurses not raise voice for their ‘professional rights’ if doctors are doing so… As it happens, this stirred a wave of unrest at all levels. A lot of patients deteriorated because there was very limited oxygen coming in to the wards, as the oxygen cylinder supply depends on the nursing attendants, who were conveniently protesting. The medicine and equipment supply also was affected for the same reason. The emergency laboratory would function, but what about investigations other than the very primary ones that it offers. A basic liver function test costs Rs.690/- at the nearest charity-based private hospital. How can you ask a patient to get it done who has only a thousand or so for his entire hospital stay?

Coming to the facts, I admit the doctors are being over worked and under-paid, also the amount of time and resources it takes to produce a doctor is much more than any other professional. But, at the same time, we all know that it has always been like this. Doctors have to work hard, first to become a doctor, later to survive. These are ground facts. Then too, if anyone chooses to be a doctor, that means they are indirectly agreeing to the given conditions. So then they can’t really complain.

Reminding that you are one of the most highly educated, thoroughly trained personnel of the society, you shouldn’t simply follow the recently set trends of destructive protests. To me, if it’s about protesting only, then instead of protesting by refusing to run the hospitals, what seems more reasonable is to gather at the press club, or chief minister or governor house in groups after duty hours and get your message through. A professional way of going about it is to write to the concerned authorities, meet them and discuss your problems. You could also demand for a reduction in work-hours, and have a daily 8 hour shift of different timings instead of alternating 12-30 hour shifts on night calls. The time doctors save from here, maybe utilized in working elsewhere, running your own clinics, giving tuitions, etc. It will not exactly make the doctors prosperous, but it will certainly improve the financial situation to an extent.

So dear brothers and sisters in profession, it’s all over now, thankfully, but next time, God forbid if you ever come across such a situation again, please show some concern for the patients you want to treat. It’s not some extra humanity, but only the necessary humanity I’m asking you to exhibit. Don’t choose to let your patients deteriorate. The worldly benefits you may get will leave you with nothing but heavy hearts.

Pathological Liars

“I am at liberty to tell you today that its customary in an incident like this for our government to conduct a criminal investigation, that’s our law, and I can give you the full assurance of our government today that it will take place!”

The assertion on Raymond Davis’ trial by US Senator John Kerry at a press conference in Lahore on February 14, 2011 proved to be nothing but another attempt of the United States to flout the rule of law outside its borders. The US left yet another evidence of sheer dishonesty and reneging on promises with her friends. The Raymond Davis mystery is one from hundreds of such incidents that occur on the soil outside United States every year.

As a refresher, some undeniable facts needs to be reestablished, since Pakistanis have a very short memory. Raymond Davis, or George Fernandez was a proven CIA contractor, outsourced through Eric Prince’s Blackwater (Xe) in Pakistan. Other than the clear cut murders of two Pakistani citizens Faizan and Faheem in pure daylight, he was guilty of spying on Pakistan’s sensitive locations. Photographs of defense installations were recovered from Davis’ camera, including snaps of Pakistan Army’s bunkers on the Eastern border with India and the headquarters of Frontier Corps in Peshawar.

The loyal servants of United States did not charge Davis with espionage, despite the fact that his spy activities were targeting Pakistan’s nuclear facilities and sensitive sites across Pakistan. At the time of his arrest, Raymond Davis was based at a house in Lahore with five other CIA contractors. It was the same era when our beloved Interior Minister Rehman Malik was repeatedly challenging anyone to prove the presence of Blackwater in Pakistan. Mr. Malik went to the extent of offering his resignation if Xe’s presence was proved anywhere in the country. However, he changed his tone when Raymond Davis was officially ‘discovered’ by the Punjab government as an undercover operative.

The two other ‘guys’ who came to rescue Raymond Davis on a Prado with fake number plate and killed another Pakistani Ibad ur Rehman are equally worth of mention here. Reportedly, both of these ‘contractors’ were flown away with Senator John Kerry, the very next day of the ‘apologetic’ Press Conference in Lahore.

Apologists argue that Raymond Davis was released only after the relatives of slain Faizan and Faheem were paid blood money in lieu of the murder, which strictly adheres to Islamic law.Hence, no one has the right to try Davis in the courts anymore. However, after the confession of DG ISI Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha at the in-camera session that Raymond Davis was released on the orders of the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, this argument goes invalid. The source from where the blood money was paid is also doubtful, as US Secretary of State has denied payment of any blood money to the families of victims. Even the lawyer of the victims has alleged the government of kidnapping his clients and forcing them to sign a deal.

Having said that, the question is that should the people believe in anything that comes out of any Pakistani or US government official? Aren’t these pathological liars taking the entire nation, or to be honest, the entire humanity for a ride since many decades now. The evolution of so-called ‘free’ media has only added value and ease to the designs of ‘Western civilization’ and it has gotten close to impossible to dig out facts from the flux of disinformation. The sadder part of this tragedy is that the intellectuals of the society have given up against the might of institutionalized lies and deception and have failed to realize the difference between two civilizations at conflict. Some short-sighted people confine the term ‘Western civilization’ to geographical boundaries, whereas in philosophical terms, it is an entirely different way of life on the basis on metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy and logic.

The United States can rightly be called the guardian of this imperialistic culture that has built an empire on the delicate footing of deceit. Those who hoped that it might get any better under President Barrack Hussain Obama, have finally faced reality. It has not and it will not get any better, since its not a person but an entire definition of political philosophy that the ‘West’ is following. The episode of Raymond Davis might have been a black swan for the United States, but it will not change anything. The protectors of this civilization will continue to lie, deceive and contradict facts for their evil designs, humanity is what will suffer the most! You never know, Raymond Davis might again be on Pakistani soil in the next few months, or probably he already is!

As venomous as it gets!

You thought they were saviours, your representatives whom you elected and sent forth with hopes in your heart and responsibilities on their shoulders. You thought they were there because their prime interest was to lead the way towards betterment of the country, and make you a force against all the monstrous problems the country is facing. How naive! No doubt we are always told “jaisey awam , waisey hukmaran”, (like people like leaders). But I must say they probably are worst of us.

Sindh’s Senior minister Mr. Zulfiqar Mirza’s tone and derogatory language, gave us a shock not for the first time. There are many others out there, who hold very important positions but have given us mini heart attacks with their venomous tongues. Mr. Mirza calls the people who migrated to Pakistan from India as “bhookey nangey” and goes on to claim to be a part of people who helped them to get back to normal life. He further attacks the leader of Karachi’s biggest party as ‘badmaash’ and urges the people of Karachi to rise and get rid of them,“In kambakhtoN say Jaan ChhuraeiN”. His eyes, language and words had nothing constructive, nothing to bring hearts close, nothing to work for the better, nothing but hate! So he was bound to be summoned by the honourable President, who must have given him a hard time extracting a quick apology for his most irresponsible speech.

But who would summon Mr President who holds the highest office in political world of Pakistan and whose words and tones were no better than those of an illiterate/uneducated class who have never attended school and have never learnt any manners to get along in society. He makes a funny sound and labels PML-N leadership having mentality of blacksmith (lohaar) and Maulvi; both probably abusive words in his vocabulary, and leaves both his friends and foes shocked.

His obedient servant, Mr. Faisal Raza Abidi in one of the talk shows defended his master in a manner even worse. He adds the term “Burqa” in the list of abusive words which Mehar Bokhari challenged very intelligently. Mr Abidi showed same instincts as his beloved leader and program ended in a furious dog fight (reminds me of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s masterpiece in urdu literature)

The trend is not new or confined to one party. It’s become a norm to attack each other’s human shortcomings or private lives, be it personal or family.

Mr. Chaudhry Nisar, who seems to be a sensible man, in his mission to humiliate MQM’s leadership, discusses Mr Hussain’s medical /psychological problems, his rehabilitation treatment and his ex-wife’s views about him; all unacceptable on religious, moral and ethical grounds.

He gets a response, ten times worse. Mr Waseem Akhtar directly asks Sharif brothers as to “what sort of ‘treatment’, do they keep visiting London for. The nation needs leadership and their problem is hair transplant to hook girls” He warns, “we know whose daughter ran away with whom and we know all about their illegal activities , so they better keep their mouth shut”.

Mustafa Kamal is simply outraged by PML-N’s blasphemous comments and in a talk show asks one of their representatives “mard kay bachhey bano”. He asks Jasmine Manzoor to turn off his mic and labels him and his leadership as ‘pimps’ and “jaanwar log “ and again targets PML-N’s leaders’ daughters. He threatens, this PML-N man would never be allowed to enter Karachi and even leave his own house in Punjab if he uses any bad words against his Quaid. Mr Nazim finishes his talk with his favourite term, “Ulloo ka patha” (I could not find a translation for the word, can anyone help?)

Not long ago, Mr Babar Ghauri battles Imran Khan not on a logical or statistical ground but reminds him that he was a playboy in the past (which is between him and Allah, might not be true, he might have repented but Allah forgives, man does not). He waves a child’s picture in the TV show and asks Imran Khan, who her father was, as she resembles him. A cheap shot indeed!

Imran Khan with all the qualities of a true leaders, holds his anger and talks about real issues on the TV show. But he forgets it’s a YouTube world and his fans and followers proudly posted his unofficial reply on social media where he laughs and makes everyone around laugh as well, with his comments “I can show you thousands of children in Africa who resemble Babar Ghauri”; an equally cheap shot, purely based on Mr Ghauri’s complexion.

And of course we haven’t forgotten PTI Sindh’s representative hurling a glass of water at Chief Minister’s advisor as they exchange abusive language in a live TV show.

Women have been equally vocal in their attempt to be “mardoN kay shaana bashaana” (shoulders to shoulder with men). No doubt they are equally talented.

Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan engaged in shameful discussion, not very long ago, when Kashmala Tariq teases her about her background and her activities in FJ Medical college. Dr Awan throws this back in a most unacceptable fashion, leaving Javed Chaudhari and Shireen Mazari both shocked and embarrassed. She says that “She is ‘’at least’’ not from Heera Mandi and was not elected through someone’s bedroom”.

Another masterpiece, I remember was Samina Khawar Hayat’s performance in Jasmine Manzoor’s show, where she takes a ‘Lota’ out of her handbag to practically demonstrate why politicians (her opponents, of course) are called Lotas. She spins it like a spinning top (Lattoo) on the desk and as a part of her demonstration breaks a clay pot in studio, the manner in which these Lotas should be taken to task.

Enough of entertainment videos I have provided in this blog to keep you amused for days. But one question we should ask ourselves. Are they saviours? Are they capable of leading us? All they have and all they display is hate, immaturity and non-professional attitude. They widen gulfs between us and divide the nation. Their prime interests are personal or party issues. They spit venom because their leaders are targets of “blashphemy”, not because you and I are in trouble, not because we are dying every day and not because the main issue of this nation is survival. They are far from goals and far from national interests.

They make and break alliances, they stab and apologise each other, they group and regroup, they manipulate and manoeuvre, just to stay in power.

A total overhaul is required. The change needs to come from within. We need to educate masses and choose carefully. Once we are educated/intelligent and sincere to the country, we’ll have similar leaders; educated and cultured for whom national interest would be the decisive factor for making and breaking political relationships.

They are from us, so let’s change ourselves. Change the language, the patience level and mentality of the ones who elect them. We can make a better choice next time, can’t we?

Also appeared on The News and Aaj.tv

The Judiciary, the Mob and the Criminals

When judiciary sleeps, the mob finds its own way of enforcing justice in the society … what other means do they have really? This has been happening for quite a while now and might happen more often in the future if nothing is done to ensure speedy justice. Otherwise, as they say, justice delayed is justice denied. With conviction rate of serious crime at around 5% – that too with conservative estimates – you have no trust in the system that the culprits who robbed you, who killed or raped your beloved, will not go scot free.

What choices are you left with then, (a) get robbed, killed, raped or humiliated (b) take law into your own hands and beat them, burn them, lynch them to the death … ?

Let us expand this a bit further and apply this scenario to a larger group. For example, what would you do if you were a political party that is being victimised? Why wouldn’t you pick up guns to protect your own interests when you know that’s the only way to do so? Why wouldn’t you react and create pain for those who have put their feet on your tail? Why wouldn’t you protest and bring the cities in your control to a halt when you know there is no one to safeguard your interests – irrespective of how unjust they might be. Why would you behave any differently?

If you were the police, why would you take action, when you know that the culprits will be freed soon, and when they are, they would test the sharpness of their knives on the throats of your sons and on the honour and dignity of your daughters, sisters and wives. What would you do when you know that it is not only your life but also the ones of your loved ones that are not safe, just because the judiciary let loose the beasts, which you have captured by putting your life at stake. Why would you bother?

Zooming out, if the trend grows then why would honest and sincere people join the police force? Why would anyone want to get killed for doing some good which ultimately is destined to go down the drain? We are not living in a perfect Islamic Society, where each individual fulfils his responsibility irrespective of the worldly consequences and aspires to be rewarded in the hereafter? How many people are out there with such a level of conviction, belief in Divine and fear of accountability in Hereafter? It is such a pity that in a society where everyone is there to serve his own desires and interests, you can’t even find a police force which does its duty with full conviction, just like we can’t find a judiciary which does its job justly.

Why then, shouldn’t we be called a hypocrite nation when a country founded in the name of Islam – the strongest advocate of implementing justice with an Iron fist; for the poor and the rich, the feeble and the powerful – is not able provide effective and speedy justice for its hypocrite citizens?

Chicken (judiciary) or egg (hypocrite citizen), which came first?

We all want our rights irrespective of whether we fulfil our responsibilities or not. We all, when taking on different roles like judiciary, law enforcement, media, government, political parties, civil societies, business community, etc. want all our rights and privileges while shamelessly ignoring the responsibilities entrusted on us by our respective roles. We conveniently forget the old adage – what goes around comes around. We all want to ride the ship, but don’t want to plug in the holes through which the water is seeping in, slowly sinking the ship and drowning the people on board. Those on the top deck (that’s you and me) are resting in relative comfort with their heads buried in the sand and pretending that everything is fine. It is only when the water reaches them that they realise, but by then it is already too late.

Society is a giant web of interconnected groups and the behaviour of any of these groups affects all. Judiciary cannot perform if the public doesn’t co-operate, the public cannot co-operate if the law enforcement doesn’t protect them and to complete the circle, the law enforcement cannot perform if the judiciary lets the criminals loose. The one common denominator among all is the citizen, who sometimes takes the role of judiciary, sometimes the law enforcement and at others, just the common man; yet in all cases behaving in a similar way, placing his selfish interest above everything else.

So what do we do? Perhaps educate the next generation. Develop them to become responsible citizens, sensitive to the needs of others, courageous enough to sacrifice their interests for the good of the society. Such empathetic behaviour can be inculcated, not through rhetoric, but through inspiration and role modelling, as behaviours are contagious and get transferred from a good role model to the observing student. Most people might think that where shall we get the number of people from to change the thinking of an entire generation.

This is where the key is: Never Give Up! If we can take one step forward to sooth the pain of even one individual, then we should; if we can make a small school with only a dozen students, whom we can inspire to become responsible citizens, then we should; if we can inculcate in the heart of one individual the fear of Allah and accountability in hereafter then we must not wait. Who knows that our one single initiative might start a chain reaction, which can prove to be a catalyst to change the nation one day? Who knows that our efforts might produce the next Allama Iqbal or Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (after discounting him for his misinterpretation of Quran and Sunnah). At least in the end, we can die with a clear conscience and without the regret of not doing anything when our nation needed us.

Blockbuster deals: Are you ready?

‘What a dhamaka khaiz offer yaar!’ I heard a teenager speaking to his friend with bright eyes and excited tone, over the new offer by a leading multinational food chain in the city. He added “I am sure they won’t compromise on quality as they are up to international standards and it is world renowned global chain”.

This was the day when a multinational food chain started its business in Pakistan and offered one for one (Buy one, get one free) pizzas. Regardless of the quality they served, there streets were jam-packed with cars and people outside all of its outlets. People waited for hours to get that one free pizza. Most of them came out with some complaints that they were not served properly, the quality was not up to the mark etc. but at least they were happy and content that they got two pizzas and paid for one.

I recall an offer, I read a few days back, guaranteeing 700% returns on investment with no hidden marketing gimmicks, from someone extremely credible. It also talks about guaranteed spacious accommodation at the most peaceful and picturesque place ever existed, with all the incentives one could dream of. You just need to find the right person, give him your investment money and you have a pre-confirmed pact that your account has been upgraded with 700times (or more) the profit.

What a lucrative offer it is by none other than our Creator, Allah (Subhanahu Wata’aala). He guarantees:

The charity of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah (charity) may be likened to a grain of corn, which produces 7 ears and each ear yields a 100 grains. Likewise, Allah develops manifold the charity of anyone He pleases, for He is All-Embracing, All-Wise. (Surah Al-Baqarah 261)

To add to this, Allah has offered some amazing incentives in the form of virtues of Ramadhan. It’s a month when rewards are multiplied 70 times for every obligatory act of worship (Farz), while each offered nafil (voluntary act) is rewarded as farz. In this very month, Allah has promised to forgive all sins provided a person fasts and spends sincerely, seeking rewards from Allah alone. This is the very month where prayer of one night is rewarded as if one has prayed for 84 years (1000months). Allah says that every deed will receive 10 to 700 times reward, except Siyam (fasting) as it is for Him and He will reward it as he likes. Wow, now this is surely a called a “Dhamaka-khaiz offer”.

Ramadhan provides excellent opportunity for us to purify ourselves and make habit of abiding by the commands of Allah and his Prophet (S.A.W). It is the month of blessings when Quran was revealed, It is the month of Allah’s extreme mercy, forgiveness and emancipation from the Hellfire; a month when it is made easy for us to practice good deeds and the doors to Heaven are let open while devils are held captive.

In short, it’s a month of countless blessings from Allah like a rainfall but its effects are not the same everywhere and on everyone. For instance, when it rains, a piece of land absorbs and benefits according to its receptive quality. At one place the Earth turns into a lush green field and on the other, it only collects for a while and either drains or evaporates. So it is up to us how we spend Ramadhan and either avail it and prosper, or waste it and destine ourselves to complete destruction (according to a Hadith of the Prophet SAW).

Are we looting this sale, competing each other, as we queue up to get a free Mobile SIM, a half price worldly deal or as we put ourselves in pain by not going to bed only to avail a mere midnight food offer. Book your commitment order now and utilize these wonderful bunch of offers. Ramadhan Mubarak!

Reference:

Al-Quran (Surah Albaqarah (183, 261), Surah Al-Qadr, How to spend Ramadhan (Urdu)

Shoot to Kill

It’s a bright sunny afternoon and not everything is just as super about Karachi as ever. After a hot day, cold breeze is felt on the face and refreshes me but makes me sadder this day and my heart bleeds, as the city is burning again. Party interests, gains and losses, snatching and throwing of power, demands and deals are one part of the story and the other part is the loss of innocent human lives who have never known and will never know their crime, but have gone from this world not in a way anyone wants to.

I am having a cup of tea and decide to watch the news headlines due in 15 minutes on TV channels. My phone rings. It’s my 5-year old niece from England. What a lovely chitty chatty voice to freshen me up! I ask her how has her day been in school and she tells me that the most special thing about today was that their school has become a part of ‘Adopt a Leopard’ campaign of WWF. So, she is now looking for donors and she asked me if I could adopt one as they are dying and they are precious and they might go extinct . She carries on with her stories but I am no more with her, pretending to listen but my mind is somewhere else. I pass the phone to my mum and go to the lounge to listen to the headlines.

”The number of people killed in my city of lights has crossed 80 in just 72 hours”. What a world we live in! Probably, the lives of the people living in Karachi (or the rest of my country) are even cheaper and worthless than those of leopards or other precious wild animals in the other part of the world. Or have we turned into wild animals killing innocent human beings on the basis of a different language and/or sect. No, even wild animals get along quite well when the forest is in danger, so we are worse.

Just a day ago while trying to get back to home from work; I entered my street which is in an area relatively immune to what goes on in the city. I found the whole street cordoned off and a massive force of police and rangers was on duty. I was scared for a second but just driving a few 100 yards I see lights and decoration. They were actually deployed to provide security at a “high profile” wedding ceremony. All this was happening at a time and in the same city where tens of people were losing their lives every day and the number rising thick and fast by the hour. Probably, I was too optimistic about the role and responsibilities of our law enforcement agencies in the society as I tend to forget that they are always there when they are not needed and are seldom seen otherwise. Memories of the clifton shooting few weeks ago, the events of Kharootabad are evidence of their agility when they needed no orders to provide instant ‘justice’ outside the courts. But, I try to justify my complaint that had these police jiyalaas made it to those areas where a battle is going on, they would only have added to the number of helpless officers who are so powerless against highly trained “unknown” gunmen loitering the streets with sophisticated and state-of-the-art weapons. Humanity disappeared from the face of the Earth when those who were fired upon were welcomed at the hospital with sticks and torture, and they wished that they had not been taken to the hospital in the first place. Once again our free and heroic media, our agile forces, our intimidating Interior Minister do not know the identity of these “unknown” butchers.

Why are they unable to control the situation? Where are the leaders, supposedly our guardians? Our ‘Superman’ Mr Rehman Malik arrives in the city and proves me wrong. My heart goes out to Mr Malik who immediately flew from Islamabad on the honourable President’s advice and promised that he would stay awake all night to come up with a plan to tackle the situation. Now, surely, that is commitment and fulfilling your responsibility to the ‘best of one’s ability’. Thank you Sir, for giving up your one night’s sleep but have you ever thought about the family of the 5 year old child who was killed on her way back from the madrassah, or the teenager girl whose father was killed as he walked her back from the exam and questions you,

‘Where were you when the killers were assuring her that they wouldn’t harm her, they are only killing men’?.

These families would stay awake too for not just one night but many more nights to come asking themselves ‘humain kis baat ki saza dee gaee’. This is followed by Mr Malik’s master plan, SHOOT TO KILL which is immediately acted upon as, quite ironically, the number of people killed by “unknown” gunmen doubled since the orders were passed on to the police. I wondered if all this was being done by “unknown” groups why did Mr Malik asked two political parties to keep calm and observe peace; that means, he does know the unknown and we all do as well.

A wild thought again: how would Mr Zardari, Mr Gilani or Mr Malik react if it was their loved ones were killed in the streets of Karachi?

I learnt at school, ‎’Uneasy lies the head that bears the crown‘. But in Pakistan, this quote has never existed, as uneasy lies the nation who is living under these crowned heads. I wish these honourable people in authority knew why Umer (may Allah be pleased with him) was scared to come into power, probably because he knew there’s a bigger authority to whom he is answerable one day, and the crowned heads are going to have the toughest questionnaire on that big day.

‘’if a dog dies hungry on the banks of the River Euphrates, Umar will be responsible for dereliction of duty’’