We Die More!

150 people wounded and almost 50 dead, women and children in majority, Karachi mourns today. After a car bomb and another blast (150 kilograms explosives) which took place at Maghrib time that rocked the city on 3^rd of March 2013. It was detonated in the Abbas Town, a Shia dominated residential area. The twin explosions were so powerful that they damaged  flat buildings, cars, and surrounding areas leaving on the site a crater that was 2 meters wide and more than 1 meter (4 feet) deep. "I was at home when I heard a huge blast. When I came out, I saw there was dust all around in the streets. Then I saw flames," said Syed Irfat Ali, a resident who described how people were crying and trying to run to safety. Tahira Begum, a relative of a blast victim, demanded the government take strict action against the attackers. "Where is the government?" she asked during an interview with local Aaj News TV. "Terrorists roam free. No one dares to catch them." A resident who lived in the area where the bomb went off Sunday said there had been another blast nearby just a few months ago. "The government has totally failed to provide security to common people in this country," Hyder Zaidi said.

According to the BBC report; “Groups such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi have long regarded Shia Muslims as heretics and have stepped up attacks in recent years.” With media reports emerging slowly, all emphasized on sectarian targeting, one wonders why this is regarded so? Reports come in that the TTP was responsible.

Our brothers and sisters die on daily basis; we are under attack, not one community but the whole country. Register this in mind, everyday who are targeted in Karachi or elsewhere in Pakistan are the citizens of this country first, they are killed for one reason only; for being a Pakistani,  and that their faith is never asked when they are made to die. Extremist elements inside the country are backed by foreign Governments who are likely the culprits. The end goal is to plunge Pakistan into a sectarian nightmare reminiscent of post-Saddam Iraq or the tragic events currently unfolding in Syria! Iraq today still has its towns and cities bombed where Shia reside, it is blamed on the Sunni population showing a picture to the world that what was done to Iraq was absolutely correct by the NATO. This also shows, an international conspiracy; to divide the Muslims and create undue panic in the religion.

There are certain questions a common Pakistani would ask: :
Where are all these explosives coming from? What are all those pickets for which have cluttered every city of Pakistan? What are our security agencies doing about this? Why is there no action being taken by the Government? Why is it letting it all happen? Why do the Government and its allies only condemn such attacks, while the criminals walk freely all over Pakistan? Why have the citizens of this country been put to this insecurity? What is their fault?

Even more disturbing is the fact that no security personnel arrived at the scene of the bomb blast at Abbas Town. The rangers/police were deployed at Mohatta Palace where a Government advisor was celebrating her engagement ceremony, with a musical night that lasted way after midnight. It is said; the security personnel were not allowed to leave their positions at the palace. Why the honorable rulers were having a swell time at the cost of their subjects?

The Interior ministry knew this was to happen, Mr Rehman Malik the said minister had announced it to media in one of his press conferences. If such was the case, why weren’t actions taken on time to prevent this atrocious terrorist attack? What seems here is: That there is total incompetence that rules us. Having reports of such attacks and no action taken to prevent shows a complete paralysis, incompetency, that the Government is lethargic. There is lack of coordination between the security agencies, the Rangers, Police and the Army.
                                                                                    
As a Pakistani citizen, our hearts bleed for those who died, our hearts cry for those who got injured, our hearts feel the pain of those families who became victims. Let this moment in time be a lesson for every Pakistani. Through hardship walks in resilience and the will to survive. Miracles will not happen for us! Those times are gone with the passing away of the pious Prophets. Do we look forward to get gobbled up like Iraq or Syria? Can we change our fate without expecting it from a Government that has no will to help?

There is still hope, the key lies in the hands of Pakistanis. They must come out of caste system, friendships, of obliging people. It’s a matter of life and death now, life stands with the will and death stands when we all go quiet on everything that is happening around us. It’s better to stand together today than to die like a dog alone, lying on the side of a street with nobody to pick up the body. Coming few months are decisive for the fate of Pakistanis. You, I, everyone today know who is capable of delivering Governance and security to the people. Put your hand on your heart and ask yourself who can deliver you; this present lot that rules you or a new able set-up? Think about your own kith and kin, they could be one of those victims in the coming months. Decide Now!

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Lahore the Eventful

10^th February 2013 was quite an eventful day in Lahore. This Sunday morning marked two historic incidents; one was the inauguration of Rapid Metro Bus Service, which was attended by foreign dignitaries, Punjab parliamentarians, individuals from civil society etc. Of course there was heavy deployment of security personnel for the safe ride VVIP’s could take on this much hyped, controversial project (there has been severe criticism on the Chief Minister Punjab for spending an estimated 40 Billion rupees on this project; The budget of entire Punjab province lavishly used on one road) started by the Punjab Government. 

The second historic event was; the march Young Doctors Association (YDA) started towards the Inauguration site of Metro Bus service to get noticed by the Chief Minister Punjab, Khadim-e-Alaa, Shahbaz Sharif sb. YDA was already on a hunger strike since the 4^th February, 2013, to press the Punjab government to drop cases against members of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) Punjab in Gujranwala and accept other demands. Six days had passed and no provincial government official contacted the YDA to settle their demands. According to media reports then: The YDA officials said that their demands included the provision of free medicines and tests to patients at public hospitals across the Punjab and the repair of faulty machinery; justice for the young doctors in the Gujranwala case; full implementation of the service structure agreement; the cancellation of all transfers and terminations of YDA members after the Gujranwala incident; and an end to the “victimization” of YDA members. These demands went unheard and the young doctors started a March from Jail Road to the inauguration site.

In the meanwhile Punjab police charged a crackdown towards the peaceful protesting March by YDA and started baton thrashing on the participants. Then they charged towards the Services hospital where YDA had set up hunger strike camps. Once the police entered premesis of Services Hospital, Doctors were thrashed, slapped, beaten by batons, dragged, arrested and thrown into police vans. Punjab Police spared no one, even the female doctors, their families were man handled.

Mr. Shaukat Basra (PPP leader, Deputy Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly) who was incidentally in the Services Hospital premises for his father’s treatment came for rescue of doctors and their families. There were bitter sentences exchanged between Shaukat Basra sb and SP Police (Model Town) Mr. Owais Malik. While their conversation was talking place, police officers standing around Mr. Basra started dragging, slapping and thrashing him with batons from all over. In this event, he received wounds on his brow bone, head and back. He was given emergency treatment in the hospital. Upon talking to the media Mr. Basra termed this police storming of the hospital as an act of “terrorism by police” at the behest of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Basra, who suffered wounds, announced that he would lodge an FIR against Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. On the other hand; SP Model Town Owais Malik, accused Basra of provoking doctors. 

Interestingly, there are two things to be noted here: One; The pomp and show created by Punjab Government for inauguration ceremony of Rapid Metro Bus, the millions of rupees worth advertisements spent in electronic media, newspapers, all around Lahore, the dancers, Bhangra Dhols, Balloons for decoration, the tinsels, Pak/Turkey flags were all paid by tax payers’ money. The millions of rupees worth lunch hosted for everyone too were paid by the tax payers of Punjab, gone from my kitty and your wallet. This all spent for PML (n)’s own election campaign to gain “Rapid Votes.” It is estimated 30,000 bus passengers will take benefit from this Metro Bus, one wonders, and what will those 300,000 passengers of buses, cars, motor-bikes do? Millions of drivers along this bus track will suffer due to the ill planned U-Turns, wasting millions of rupees worth fuel, priceless time and mental torture. When a project is made it is usually made for the wellbeing of the people, the nation appreciates the wise decision taken by this government, people acknowledge in appreciation of such efforts, no citizen is ever against development. One does not need to use millions of rupees worth ads for its popularity, whenever a transport facility is used by people, it becomes popular itself. This show of lavish ways have only proved they are penny wise and pound foolish, meaning; More votes would be lost than gained!

Consider there is a house where the mother is very sick but doesn’t have a hospital nearby, the child is not going to school, the father is jobless but he prefers to loan a Mercedes S500 from a bank. This would mean, necessities have been taken over by luxury, similar is the case of Punjab and its people.

Two; YDA had a peaceful hunger strike and March. They were not holding batons, guns or weapons in their hands. What was the purpose of using brute on civilians with no arms? Whatever their demands were, this was not a civilized way of dealing with doctors. The Govts reaction shows a state of mind which is feudalistic in its core. They agitate against Musharaf’s army rule but personally they have proved worse than those whom they criticize. This act of senior Police officers seemed as if they are personal servants & guards of CM. They showed their loyalties by hitting, dragging the parliamentarian on the road.
It is the same behavior which one witnesses in the rural when children enter a rich landlords mango farms, they are either shown their dogs or told to shoot. It’s the same mindset which was evident on the streets of Lahore today. People of Punjab in particular and Pakistan in general must wise up now. It is due to them from whom such grab thugs gain power; it is time to show them their correct place.

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The Death Dharna (sit-in)

 Never in the history of this world would anyone have heard or witnessed dead bodies/Coffins being displayed in a sit-in. This unparalleled situation happens in Quetta Pakistan where three bomb blasts on Thursday, January 10^th 2013 killed 115 people and wounded nearly 250. Police said the first blast took place outside a snooker club at the Rehmatullah Chowk, an area inhabited by the Hazara Shia community, at about 8:50pm, which left some 10 people injured. The more powerful second blast took place on the same spot after 20 minutes when a lot of passers-by, media men, rescue workers and police officials had assembled to evacuate the injured of the first blast. This devastating attack left dead a deputy superintendent of police, an SHO, one jawan from the Frontier Corps, Edhi volunteers, a reporter and cameraman of Samaa TV, while 200 others were injured (many of the dead & wounded are from Quetta's 500,000-strong Hazara Shia Muslim community). The outlawed militant Sunni group: Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed responsibility for these horrific explosions at Bacha Khan Chowk and Alamdar Road, Quetta explosions. In a separate blast in Mingora, Swat the same day claimed 21 lives and left over 60 others wounded. The attack took place during a religious gathering. 

 Anti-Shia militant groups have been actively engaged in a violent campaign against Shias over the past few years. These attacks targeted many doctors, engineers, high-ranking government officials, teachers, and politicians from the Shia community. Shia’s make up about 30 percent of Pakistan's mostly Sunni Muslim population of about 190 million people. According to the media, Members of the Hazara community on Friday laid coffins in the street, refusing to bury them. The president of the Shia Conference, Syed Dawood Agha, told the BBC that; “his community would not bury its dead till the army had given an assurance it would take administrative control of the city.” One of the relative of the victims said, “We want safety for our all sects, and all security measures should be taken for our protection. We will not bury them until the government fulfils all our demands."

The most devastating thing in all this is that no one in Islamabad paid heed to the misery of victims and their relatives. Shia and Sunni protestors, members of the civil society turned out on the streets of Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi & Islamabad to demonstrate their anger against the killings. Their demands which are quite just are that the democratically elected Pakistani Government should do more, change the provincial Government in Balochistan which has failed to comply and protect the innocent citizens of that province from increasing violence.

Braving freezing temperatures as low as -10, hundreds of women, children and old people sat beside the coffins of their loved ones,  demanding the Government to remove Chief Minister Aslam Raisani and his cabinet and that army should take over responsibility of Quetta’s security. More than 36 hours had gone by since the protest in Quetta had started but not even a single government functionary or organization had visited them, not even for condolence. They continued sitting in the battering cold with bodies of their loved ones but the government had shown sheer apathy towards their protest. Imran Khan went with his top leadership on Sunday 14^th January for condolences to the bereaved families, to show support that PTI stood with the grief of Hazara people. The same day Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Raja Parvez Ashraf landed in Quetta with his team and lodged himself in the Governor house. There he preferred doing meetings with the stakeholders of the province to find a solution, had telephonic meetings with top leadership of this coalition Government. Later he made a speech sitting amongst the elders of the Hazara community showing his concerns.

 With late responses by the Central Government like always in case of Balochistan, it has shown once again that they are least interested in correcting the conditions of hapless people there. Aslam Raisani, the CM’s continuous absence from Quetta only proves how disconnected he is from his people, those voters who had brought these luxuries he enjoys today. Since the past four days the former CM was in Cambridge UK while his province faced the most devastating bomb blasts in the history, such callous behavior by the people's representative speaks volumes of Irresponsibility and negligence of the highest order! Shame on you Mr. Raisani, while your people bled to death, while their loved ones sat on the streets demanding justice,  you were having a ball of a time at their expense! The blood of those brutally killed in the Thursday Jan10th attack rests on Mr. Raisani's shoulders, one wonders if he will ever realize in life what a mess he created for innocent people of his province? Will he ever repent? He must realize, those who have suffered their voices will be heard by the Almighty, and that day is not far from him when Allah's hand will grip. This goes for all those leaders who believe that they are invincible. The cries of the innocents are heard and answered by the Almighty, it only takes time for the justice to prevail, and Divine justice gives no mercy!

Mr. Aslam Raisani removed from the office of CM Balochistan, Governor rule imposed in the province with constitution's article 234 in effect immediately, the Governor will be the Chief Executive of the province. Frontier Constabulary will have indiscriminate powers; they can give a call to the Armed forces at their discretion. This summary has been signed by President Asif Ali Zardari, which also clarifies that the Governor rule will only be placed for two months or 60 days, after that the Parliament has prudence to decide whether to continue Governor Rule or not in the province.
Karachi where everyday scores of people die needs desperate rescue of Governor Rule too, would sit-in’s be the only solution with which people of Pakistan can get their voices heard? Pakistan faces many challenges today; most important is terrorism, then education, health. Is this an indication to the voters of potential candidates for future elections that sit-in’s are the only way out to be heard for their basic rights? If they are then people need to decide if they should “Really” need such representatives in the power house or not.Copyright ©2011-2050 Ayesha Zee Khan. Reproduction: Poetry/articles/stories strictly prohibited.. Awesome Inc. template. Template images by molotovcoketail. Powered by Blogger.

The above article was published on the following links::
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=191679

http://dailyausaf.com/epaper/category/columns/%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B4%DB%81-%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86/

Revenge, Clench & Trench

According to media reports, the PM appointed his son-in-law to the post of Executive Director of World Bank by using his discretionary powers. Suo motu notice was taken by the Supreme Court over these media reports. A three-member bench of SC headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali has been constituted to hear this case on 19^th December 2012.

Previously, Azeem-ul-Haque’s  rise to the altar is unheard of as just a few years ago he was serving as grade 18 in the Income Tax Group. He was also hired by Employees Old-age Benefit Institution (EOBI) in BPS-20, (It merits mentioning here that EOBI is a subsidiary of Ministry of Resources for Human Development (RHD) while earlier it was of Ministry of Manpower and scales of semi-government organizations are altogether different from government departments). Sources said that the vacancy was arranged upon political pressure and Muhammad Azeem-ul-Haq Minhas had been appointed as senior joint secretary in PM Secretariat on grade 21 (grade 21 in just two years on political pressure). Soon after his father-in-law got elevated as the PM of Pakistan; he was automatically up-graded as Additional Secretary Internal Affairs in the PM Secretariat which is a grade 21 post.

This report by media about the appointment of Raja Azeem-ul-Haq, the son-in-law of Prime Minister Raja Ashraf was no big surprise. It only revealed that such out of merit appointments are blatant audacity and misuse of powers and public trust!  The finance ministry had opposed Mr. Azeem Haque’s nomination even though the summary for his appointment was moved by the Economic Affairs Division. In due course, the finance ministry had to bend down to the wishes and Herculean assertions of the Prime Minister Secretariat, said the reports. In today’s Pakistan specially, it seems wherever they go as the heads they always prefer their own children over the deserving people of Pakistan. Nothing fresh, this old news has been reported many times before, not about the above entity, but concerning various others who formulated this “Successful five year old Government.”

This wasn’t a case which was "a first" of its kind, previously reports came of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary's son, then Mr. Gilani's two "able" sons, then Pervez Elahi's son, so on and so forth. This "Heir to my Throne" mentality of Pakistani power holders & politicians is the poison that has spoiled the infrastructure of every department. Each and every misplaced appointment has cost the downfall of various National Organizations be it Railway, PIA, Pakistan Steel Mill, Police, the Health Department, the Education, the HEC etc. Not a single organization in the land today has been spared deliberately from disrupt, disorganize, demoralize, or destroy! One wonders; Does Democracy of this kind mean a total collapse of anything good we ever had? How long would this mindset of “you scratch my back and I scratch yours” last Pakistan? Mr. Prime Minister, why didn’t you think about promoting any young man from your constituency of Gujar Khan, the poor masses who gave their precious vote & trust to you? Why did you alienate the young deserving officers of Pakistan? Or should one understand by your actions that “Blood is thicker than water.” Mind you Sir, this is a country, not a private property that must only be inherited by your next of Kin!

In the dynastic world of Pakistani politics, only a few things are Kosher, so it comes as no surprise that politicians of all the ruling parties are lining up their children and relatives for the upcoming elections of 2013, as well as promoting "Openly usurp & visibly swim in corruption”! (A famous Urdu phrase; Khula Khao aur Nangay Nahao). Their blood might be young, but the dynasties remain the same, so the faces might change, but it’s only superficial. A reflection of our Politicians of ruling parties that shows they nurture and patronize nepotism. The democracy that has been touted as the savior for the people of Pakistan is pretty much a sham, where all parties follow their own beat up unique agenda. From the looks of it, democracy really is the best revenge, to clench and throw the masses in the Trench!!
Copyright ©2011-2050 Ayesha Zee Khan. Reproduction: Poetry/articles/stories strictly prohibited.. Awesome Inc. template. Template images by molotovcoketail. Powered by Blogger.

The above article was published on the following::
http://epaper.pakobserver.net/201212/21/comments-2.php

http://pakobserver.net/epaper/detail-news.asp?id=187919

No Matter

             
                    No matter how hard you try

               No matter how much you cry

               It will happen eventually

               Truth prevails essentially

              No matter how much they pry

              No matter how much you dry

              Your hard work pays potentially

              This is what God says confidentially

             Get going for they will fry

             Indeed then you can wry

             You will progress exponentially

             Enjoy your success presidentially


Copyright ©2011-2050 Ayesha Zee Khan. Reproduction: Poetry/articles/stories strictly prohibited.. Awesome Inc. template. Template images by molotovcoketail. Powered by Blogger.

A Monumental March

A World Wide Protest, this one took place in Arizona USA

Drones that were invented to kill people only and used so frequently in the borders of Pakistan.

Waziristan, a place that is at the center point of Drone Attacks by the US-led NATO forces. Where from thousands of residents got misplaced internally and had to lodge their families to safer places of Pakistan. Waziristan, a place that is forgotten even by its own rulers!Imran Khan the Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaf lead a “Peace March” to South Waziristan with citizens of Pakistan, local media, with his own party workers and above all foreign journalists, anti war activists from the West. 
This march started from Islamabad on Saturday the 6^th of October 2012, the motorcade drove across Talagang, Chakwal, Kundian, Mianwali, Karak, Dera Ismail Khan and finally entered Waziristan; crossing Northern Punjab, Central and South Punjab from where it entered into the borders of Waziristan on Sunday 7^th October 2012.
With hurdles created by the Administration to slow down or at some points to stop this March moving forward, the determination of Imran Khan kept the rally moving forward where finally it was stopped to move beyond Tank.  PTI’s Chief Coordinatior DI Khan Malik Abdul Qayyum Khan criticized the government for blocking the routes towards Waziristan, creating further hurdles for the peace rally. He asserted that the government wanted to discourage people from Wana to join the march.There has been a lot of criticism regarding this “Peace March” by the parties of statuesque. Many points have been raised from them calling Khan “delusional” or a “Political point scorer” or a “Taliban Khan” or even “an agent of the West” only. Notable propaganda started which included Maulana Fazlur Rehman too. Khan accused JUI-F Chief Fazlur Rehman to have a strong hand in circulating adverse perception against PTI. “Fazlur Rehman is a charlatan who is spreading the wrong idea amongst people by labeling us as the agaents of Christians and Jews; as we are just trying to promote peace within the region,” said Khan. Khawaja Asif prominent PML (n) leader is quoted, “Everyone has seen that the PTI’s rally to Waziristan was a failure, similarly people would also disregard the PTI in the upcoming election.” He said that Imran Khan was making people of this country fool. Asif said that whenever there was any crisis situation in the country, Imran Khan was outside the country.

Local journalists and anchors condemned Imran Khan asking why he had not taken his March to the North Waziristan which was the most affected area by Drones. Khan on the other hand concerns that he was travelling with civilians, a place like that if anyone was hurt could have been disastrous for PTI and the blame would have rested on Khan's shoulders. So he took maximum measures not to expose foreign media, his own party workers and the local people to any mishap.

One wonders; what kept these critics from visiting the people of Waziristan in the last almost 5 years? Why couldn’t they politically point score? Who is to blame today? Imran Khan who started his dharnas (sit-ins) against NATO & Drones many years back or themselves who never moved a muscle to show solidarity with the people from whom they go to ask for votes? Why hasn’t any other party done this?

A place where not even the local media was allowed to go previously is there on the ground taking interviews of common people of that area. Whats remarkable is; No one in that area knows the name of the Prime Minister of Pakistan! Raja sahib they are your people, don’t you think you should be known to them? Own your people sir, why have you alienated them?

One needs to understand, the people of FATA were facing problems from three sides. One, there are attacks from the US-led NATO drones, two they have to face the Pakistan Army which they take as foreigners in their very conservative society, the army pickets affect the local people more since their women and children are thoroughly searched whenever they move around, thirdly, like in Swat the Taliban demand money from the local people, or their daughters in marriage or their sons to join in the fighting, a similar situation which was exposed in Swat. Taliban forcefully seek hideouts in the local populations which eventually expose civilians to the drones and Pakistan Army. Which has resulted in their children missing schools, their businesses lost and their agriculture has been damaged.
PTI has managed to bring together people of FATA with the common people of Pakistan, this is a monumental achievement which will benefit the country and its citizens in the long run. Creating the lost Jazba or zeal is vital at this moment for our nation. It has managed to highlight the menace of Drones which has killed innocent people, maimed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands. Whether Drones are stopped or not that is another story but what Imran Khan and PTI has achieved is that they have shown solidarity to a people, an area which was totally forgotten since the past five years. PTI today is the only party that has provided a shoulder for the people of FATA which they were looking for since the past five years.

Copyright ©2011-2050 Ayesha Zee Khan. Reproduction: Poetry/articles/stories strictly prohibited.. Awesome Inc. template. Template images by molotovcoketail. Powered by Blogger.


The above article was published on the following links.:

http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/14276/ptis-peace-march-give-credit-where-it-is-due/

http://www.islamabadtimesonline.com/a-monumental-march/

http://www.dailyausaf.com/epaper/wp-content/uploads/2012/October/10/?pg=15 

Pakistan Govt: Demonstrations but Zero Action!

Pakistan Protests 21st September 2012

The Musalman’s in Pakistan along with members of minority groups observed the “Love for Prophet (pbuh) Day” on Friday the 21^st September 2012. This Observation happened in the length and breadth of the entire country where every division, district, city, town saw rallies of people either chanting ‘Naats’ (songs of praise for the Holy Prophet) or condemning the lunatic who dared such an act. Which saw the protest getting wild, at places out of hand when mobs vandalized public property, cars, buses that were torched and above all according to Al-Jazeera news 17 people had to face death in these events. Muslims also marched the same day in at least a half-dozen other countries to protest the film. Some burned American flags and effigies of Obama. The deaths of at least 47 people, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya, have been linked to violence over the film throughout the Muslim world. In Pakistan, officials say today's deadliest violence occurred in Karachi, where at least 12 people were killed and over 80 wounded. An Interior Ministry official says the government temporarily blocked cell phone service in 15 major cities on Friday to keep militants from using phones to set off bombs during the protests.
This was a unique observance by a Government to take judgment on its own and decide that the whole country would be shut down officially to observe the “Love for Prophet (pbuh) Day” so that true sentiments of the Governing party and the nation are known to the International Community (The proposal to such an observance came from his highness Dr Rehman Malik).  This dastardly act of one person living in the United States, the distribution of blasphemous content of that Internet film all over the world & of course declaring the day a public holiday, to urge the nation, political parties to participate in huge numbers so that a legitimate complaint could be lodged to the American Government. Nice idea, but where was the President who had aimed to secure votes on this incident? Why didn’t he make a nation-wide address on this crucial day, why didn’t he become a part of the nation this day? Why was there no televised address by the Prime Minister urging them to remain calm, lodge their protest and protect Pakistani property? Where were our heads of state? Why was the Pakistani nation shown Mr. Obama’s speech and not our own leaders? Why didn’t the President Lodge this complaint via the Foreign office in his televised speech and urge the neighborly friendly nations to join in, while emphasizing on the fact that Muslims all over the world should keep their anger in control?The “so-called rage” is a pent up reaction of the oppressed world against the over-domineering imperial power of the only ONE super power in the world. The Musalman’s love for Prophet (PBUH) has become a rallying point or a point that ‘seems’ to have broke the back of the camel. You would find a lot of factors behind the 1857 mutiny/freedom war if you examine the events which exploded into a revolt by a cartridge which was rumored to have been covered with pig/cow fat! Now do we remember those 'sepoys' of Meerut as bigots or freedom fighters?

 Now the problem is; the left or the pro-people political intelligentsia has been marginalized, or they made themselves marginalized as they failed to understand the dynamics of the contemporary politics since many of them chose to become part of the foreign-funded NGOs. They chose to become "liberals" and started ranting whatever they were taught in their NGOs regardless of the fact that the US-sponsored 'liberalism' is a new face of its imperialism! It is the same when Muslims were urged by the British to throw Cow tails in a temple or Sikhs were told to throw pig-heads in the Mosques, the modes operandi is the same! We should be pro-people and should support them when they feel that they have been deeply offended by some acts of certain miscreants in the west. Musalman’s reaction is bizarre some times, and ridiculous as well, but it is so because the pro-people liberals, leftists or intelligentsia have distanced themselves from the people and, subsequently, have allowed the bigots to lead them to nowhere! It is time Pakistan also adopted measures to ensure transparency on the activities, funding and management of NGOs receiving money, directly or indirectly, from foreign sources. Islamabad is teeming with them. Greater openness in a matter that so far has been cloaked in opacity will inspire greater trust in the NGOs. Trust me, if any one of the leftist, liberal or educated member of our intelligentsia stayed away from people by criticizing and condemning them for their lack of civility and decency like many other 'liberals', the leftists/liberals would push them further towards bigotry! That's why; ‘believe’ in your own people, own their rage and lead them correctly!

It is not the first time this has happened i.e. using media to defame the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), this usual characteristic of the West was first witnessed when the “Satanic Verses” written by Salman Rushdie came out. It was not a literary masterpiece. The entire west backed & protected him, spending millions of pounds for his protection and later was hailed as the “Knight in Shining Armor” to have done a brilliant job. Fatwa on him consequently made him more popular and dear in the west. So was the case of Caricatures that sprouted from Europe, millions of Muslims protested against it then too, many boycotts were witnessed but Western allies remained adamant on the “Freedom of Speech” mantra! Then the Looney tunes Pastor Terry Jones appeared, with his ludicrous trial on the Holy Quran, and then it was the “Burning Quran” incident on Bagram Base, Afghanistan which was administered by the US troops. Let’s not forget this “Innocence of Muslims” a D-grade internet film on YouTube, and lastly the French magazine comes out with Caricatures of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) again. Phew! The List is long, but do understand their modes operandi, all such activities happen from the west, all such activities target Muslims, all such activities are made to become the “sore point” for Muslims around the world, all such activities come under the umbrella of “Freedom of Speech”….One wonders why naked pictures of Duchess of Cambridge were banned? Weren’t they a form of “Freedom of Speech, manners & of course rights” that west keeps trumpeting all the time on Muslims? Is that anyway different? Why isn’t the “Holocaust” freedom of speech? Why is it anti Semitic? One law for your own whereas quite another law for Muslims?  While the Islamic Ummah is exhorting the need for inter-faith dialogue and harmony, is the west trying to pursue the path of clash of two major religions of the world, previously known and carelessly spurted out by Mr. Bush Junior as “The Crusades”?

The Muslim world needs to understand; they definitely need to counter these nefarious designs through collective will. Torching one’s own property, rampaging or vandalizing isn’t the answer. “Slapping one’s own face in an argument does not prove that one is right.”  No one in the International community has sympathy for a society that burns itself when some idiot somewhere else does something stupid. We need to grow up. Such acts for the world show a thuggish behavior which needs to be curbed. Muslims have a definite cause to defend (but they are doing it in the wrong manner) and that is why protest demonstrations are held not only in Pakistan but elsewhere in the Islamic world as well. Demonstrations by people whose sentiments have been injured are understandable but decision of the Government to give them official patronage is questionable, as the executive has so many courses and options to take up the issue in the right earnest way with the forces that be and take measures to safeguard interests of the Muslims. Apart from raising the issue bilaterally with the US, the decision to highlight it at the forum of the UN General Assembly is welcome and similarly, efforts should be made to channelize strength of the Ummah through OIC and coordinated diplomatic moves by the OIC member states. If the Government ridiculed the Punjab Government for joining rallies against load-shedding then how can it justify its own decision to join protest demonstrations now? At best, it seems to be a move to pacify sentiments of the people and to gain political mileage out of a religion-related issue and situation. Prudence demands that the Govt should come out with a solid plan of action to counter such moves as, Governments act they don’t demonstrate!

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"Lady with the Crow"

                                         I saw a Lady with a crow

                                              Sitting slightly above her brow

                                              She was tall, with dark eyes

                                              Holding the pet like a prize

                                              The dupatta over head flow

                                           With the sweltering summer blow

                                             She was trying to devise

                                              A meal for both, if someone buys

                                           Walking around looking for dough

                                            Begging she hated though

                                           Hungry stomach’s both had size

                                           Let’s see who would give & rise

                                           Mumbling jumbling she walked slow

                                           Carefully as if she treads on floe

                                          The crow dazed by sun fell on her thighs

                                          Upset and crying, she uttered, “Oh he dies”!

                                         He stayed limp, she held on, reviving undergo

                                        Sprinkling water on the bird, the passersby say, “let go”

                                        A child stood up and offered her French-fries

                                       With joy, the woman fed herself and bird with surprise.