A Tale To Forget Salmaan Taseer , A Hero to remember Mumtaz Qadri

  ..
“I am a fan of overdoing something, but not running it into the ground. They are complete opposites with only a fine line separating them.” 
                                                                     Criss Jami 
                                                           
        
                            The cold cruel January evening , memory of which still haunts my mind . I was surfing channels and simply couldn't believe my eyes at the news of murder of then Governor Punjab Mr Salmaan Taseer . We as Pakistanis are designed and immune to anything unexpected but there was something about this incident which was wrong . A series of events flashed in my mind and made me sick at my stomach . 


                       It was a fine dine with my friends in of the restaurant of Lahore in the month of November  One of my friend said , Hay Look behind and I saw that some familiar face was standing in a waiting area for tables to be cleared and finally after a while got a not so special table and ate his lunch silently and then one of the restaurant guard came and said . Sir your car is in no parking and blocking other cars and now we have a spot please park it there and I told him to wait and with all the leisure time in universe I went and saw my car blocking that person car with him sitting inside . No guards , no protocol and even he had a courtesy to say , Sorry young man I disturbed you while eating I need to go now so please move your car . I shook his hand and  apologized for my wrong parking and saw him leaving alone . I said to my friend I still don't believe he was Governor  Punjab Salmaan Taseer , that was my first introduction to him . 


               In a country where tyranny rules , where your ability to decapitate poor is considered mark of respect , where pomp and show is next to godliness , he was different and naive . Naive to understand the fact that his words should wear the cloak of hypocrisy , naive enough to guard his tongue and resulted in his death . Now this story is like any other daily story but thats not my story .


             My story begins after his murder . A born Muslim , born to a father who was prominent freedom fighter  and a close aide to Ghazi Ilum Deen Shaheed , was refused last burial prayers . No tear or remorse but sweats were distributed . All politicians were wise enough to not do the greatest sin of condemning this horrific act . On top of that Murderer was awarded a title highest of all and regarded a state guest and a National Hero by our provincial Govt and during his proceedings was welcomed like no one before . According to poles 69% Pakistanis considered the murderer a hero and 20% were neutral and rest opposed but on National scale no one dare to de- glorify the New National Hero of Pakistan . Then many of my friends said we will not become the pawns of the brutes and we will change things . Many of them found a new Hope in form of Kaptain . But he himself bowed in front of new National Hero on Indian TV talk show by saying I cannot condemn and name any individual associated with extremism because of Salmaan Taseer incident . I listened and smiled and told myself we are still there . Someone said we must all fear the evil but there is an evil we need to fear the most and that is : Indifference of a good man . We have become indifferent to even ourselves and good has become evil in its true glory . 


           Pakistan Peoples Party has a long tradition of cutting cakes and celebrating everything but to my surprise no official PPP statement or activity on the loss of their governor .A year has passed and Mr Salmaan Taseer is still considered un holy to take his name and his murderer has a status of demigod , we still feed the weak soul inside us who accept tyranny and lies of the brutes and ready to become pawns of their petty game . Extremism is so easy. You've got your position, and that's it. It doesn't take much thought. And when you go far enough to the right you meet the same persons coming around from the left. 
        Today after a year murderer is un disputed Hero and Late Salmaan Taseer is mark of shame and dis respect . I watch and smile and waiting silently for the moment when 69% becomes 100%.
         I would like to share few lines from his one of the last days tweet ..
Gharut Gari Ko Dekh Kur Ahle Yakeen kee 
Hairan to Us par hain jo Kafir na hooa . 


Pakistan Zindabaad .  

From anti Intellectualism to Ideocracy

         From anti Intellectualism to Ideocracy

	Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Arthur Schophenheur

                        I started questioning the whole education system when I graduated from school. Being in the top brass, filtered through education system and yet no guarantee to have a successful life as a professional. I thought there must be something wrong with the whole idea of being successful or not. I started studying various aspects of education system and found it its not the education system which is at fault, it is the society Anti – Intellectualism which is responsible.

                       Consider a society Power Pyramid, and you will be surprised to know that doctors, engineers, artists and other higher IQ professionals represent the lower 1/3 of the pyramid. Society as a whole on a global scale is promoting Ideocracy; natural selection is working in a wrong direction. A society where muscle is mightier than brains.

                      I still remember an interview of one of the celebrity of lollywood famous for her language skills mentioned different film stars as National Heroes and we all enjoyed this joke but then I realized, she was right, that’s what we meant by heroes on a social scale .I asked many of the students in high schools about their heroes or favorite personalities and everyone wanted to be a sports legend like Afridi or the Captain or a film star. A society where achievement of cricket team is a source of National pride instead of remarkable achievements of the greatest physicists. None of us can name 10 countrymen with great achievements in the field of Science and health but can name at least, many more which have more influence on society in other fields.

                 Although I am not a big fan of Mughal Empire but I remember a council made by Emperor Akbar: Nine intellectuals from the field of Science, Arts, Literature and warfare. Probably it was his love for intellectualism, which made him the greatest Mughal Emperor

                I have listened to the speeches of all political leaders and they address different issues but no one has brought the issue of brain drain to the light.  No one is sensing the upcoming fear of a society, which will be result of all the intellect brain drainage, but then I realized they shouldn’t be afraid because our society has become Anti – Intellectual society where Ideocracy is the tool to control the masses and to fulfill the desire of unchallenged power.

             Intellectuals by definition are people who take ideas seriously for their own sake. Whether or not a theory is true or false is important to them independently of any practical applications it may have. [Intellectuals] have, an attitude to ideas that is at once playful and pious. But in the radical movement, the intellectual ideal of knowledge for its own sake is rejected. Knowledge is seen as valuable only as a basis for action, and it is not even very valuable there. Far more important than what one knows is how one feels. Critics have suggested that contemporary youth culture is a commercial form of anti-intellectualism orienting adherents to consumerism. The advertising business transformed adolescents language, thought, and action (cliques, fashion , fads ) into commodities, and thus engendered a generation of intellectually disengaged youth uninterested in progressing to adulthood

                 If we look at all the problems we are facing as a Nation, from poverty to terrorism, from oppression to imperialism, they are direct result of our Anti – Intellectual behavior, leading to a society where Ideocracy is the power and answer to all issues. So it is high time to start recognizing our true heroes may be within the country or left due to rejection by the society. We need to build a society based upon reasoning and insight so that we can face tomorrow and become someone in the world of no one as a Nation.

Pakistani Zindabad

Divide and Rule : New Separatist in the formation .

      Divide and rule, the politician cries; unite and lead, is             watchword of the wise.
                                                                                      ( Goethe )

                     I was in sixth grade; I asked my social studies teacher a question. "Why a handful British people were able to rule whole sub continent without much resistance " Answer was " They used the tactics of divide and rule: I did not understand the answer and did not muster up courage to ask her again. 

                           Many years passed by and that question still haunts my memory and today after the launch of very successful pre election rally by Sharif Brothers, I got my answer. Despite the fact that scarce pubic funds and Govt machinery was used to make this rally a big figure success, cable transmission was disrupted when local TV channel showed RTA officials paying transporters money in their offices as a payment and this rally was being paid from our own pocket, the real worrying fact is the way Sharif brothers are trying hard to play a role of separatist in the emerging political stage. They have always been monarchs but now they have chosen the Old British Rulers as their political mentors. They are following the footsteps of previous leaders, which resulted in the fall of Dhaka. Their new political agenda is Divide and Rule.

                           I was astonished to hear these words from Mr Sharif furious speech.  

        

  (Step down Zardari and hand over your money otherwise we will hang you and your cronies upside down here," cried Shahbaz Sharif while addressing the crowd. If we can defeat Dengue, Zardari we can defeat you,” Sharif said adding that the president was not aware of the people’s problems and was only concerned about accumulating wealth.)

                                                                                              The News

                            We all know that during two terms of their rule, Sharif Brothers did everything in their power to satisfy their hunger and this time with all the power and presentation they have, they did not solve our issues. They are equally guilty of all the hideous unforgiving National crimes, which other parties’ representatives did. Their accumulation of wealth across border and manipulation of law and order for their petty goals are evident facts and now they want to hide behind the heavy curtains of blame game for the upcoming elections.

                            I am not big fan of any of the Brutes ruling Pakistan either in Provincial or Federal Govt, they all are brutes abused the promises and hope . But now this is way more serious. I am not party to anyone , all are brutes and used our ambitions to fuel their own agenda. Equally Federal and Provincial Govt is responsible for our misery but  Punjab Govt is taking credit of anything good out of misery including Dengue and blaming everything to the Federal Govt . They are using the tactics of divide and rule. They are dividing the people and fueling their agony with their twisted words and lies. They are so afraid of third force emerging in different forms: A revived youth, former Captain and former dictator that they have decided to unleash this time tested weapon of controlling miserable masses: Divide and Rule, which may result in a movement resulting separation of provinces from federation. Time has come that we ask ourselves and the brutes ruling us to justify our own deeds rather exposing others. We cannot divide ourselves on the point which brute is less wrong, choosing a lesser evil is not the option on the table for our Nation. We have already lost East Pakistan and now we do not have much to loose. Let us all unite; we the people, the people have the power. The power to create happiness! We, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to abolish the idea of Divide and Rule. We will not divide ourselves on National interests and we will not divide ourselves to support the imperials ruling us. Our unity is the only guarantee of not being rules by tyrants anymore. Let us all dream big dream of our unity because small dreams have no power to move the heart of men and change the destiny . Let us  all recall the words of Quaid e Azam : Unity , Faith and Discipline .

Pakistan Zindabaad

Unsung Heroes : Untouchables of Our History

                                               

                A hero cannot be a hero unless in a heroic world

                                                                         . (N.Hawthrone)

                                                                                

                             The year was 1947 , world saw the freedom  of sub-continent  from British Rule and partition of their once Jewel of the crown . In the mass population exchange and religious conflicts among people of India, mostly all Sikhs and most of Hindus fled but Christians remained in their new  home called Republic Of Pakistan. Time passed  , new challenges were faced and new sacrifices were required and this Minority always proved worthy of being called Pakistani but may be not enough to be called heroes. Lets take a stroll in the past and find out what the Christians of Pakistan did for their homeland despite all this hate and dejection.Let us recall the unsung heroes of my homeland Pakistan .

Have you ever heard of Bhim Sen Sachar? Surely not. In the elections to the last Punjab Assembly before independence, he was elected from the Lahore city seat in a predominantly Muslim constituency, and he won a resounding victory. The run up to 1947 was not all hate after all.Our children are never taught this in their schools, and that is why you have never heard of this great man. In the vote for Punjab joining Pakistan, much to the amazement of Muslim legislators, he backed Jinnah. Once Pakistan was made, he stayed on and was elected a member of the first Legislative Assembly of Pakistan. 

The vote for Punjab joining Pakistan was tied, and the casting vote was with Punjab Assembly Speaker Diwan Bahadar SP Singha, a Christian of Lahore. Mr. Singha got three Christians to vote for Pakistan, and their efforts brought Punjab we know today as part of Pakistan. In purely ‘legislative’ terms, the Pakistan we know today came about because of the contribution of these Christians who trusted Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Albert Robert Cornelius , One of the most Undisputed Chief Justice of Pakistan (1960) whose work includes Law and judiciary in Pakistan; Lahore Law Times Publications; (1981) The ethical basis for democracy in Pakistan; Hamdard National Foundation, Pakistan; (1971)

Many of us dine in at  MM Alam road and feel proud of the greatest war pilot hero with 5 confirmed hits in 1965 war but how many of us heard about Cecil Choudary  , the man responsible for equal hits and the very famous and important battle victory of Amristar Radar Station . No text book praising him , no monument for him.

Those of us from Karachi might heard of Sister Mary Emily who in true sense is Mother Teresa of Pakistan but unsung and forgotten despite her services to the community with out discrimination on the basis of cast, religion, color or social status.

Esther John, a Pakistani Nurse considered Florence Nightingale of India brutally murdered by a radical due to her change of faith.

Mervyn Middlecoat , a fighter pilot of Indo Pakistan wars and had more confirmed hits than anyother pilot including MM Alam  ,  shot during 1971 war by Indian Fighter and his remains are still unknown, no tears no place among National Heroes.  

List goes on and I can name atleast 100 others including my own family and my elders who significantly change and carve Pakistan and served well.I can safely say the christians in Pakistan played the most important role in formation of Pakistan and then defended the country as war heroes or social reformers .  But all these heroes were either thrown away from country (Bhim Sen Sachar , he left Pakistan after those who voted against Pakistan became Rulers of Pakistan), brutally murdered or simply lost in the dust of time as untouchables by our historians.

 Christians comprise 1.7% of Population of Pakistan yet their contribution is against the statistics They are from the lowest socioeconomic groups but never used this excuse to become pawns of extremists. Their services as Educationists, Medical Health Professionals and social workers, freedom fighters , politicians , war heroes , and true patriots  are things legends are made of . May the services and sacrifices of these Minorities in Pakistan become worthy and our children may know about these unsung heroes.

History, say the sages, can never be balanced. There is a need to bring to our children the reality of the great people who passed away unknown and unsung in the land of their birth. Instead of ‘lines of hate’, the new generation is surely capable of drawing ‘new lines of love’.

Pakistan Zindabaad.

           

Allies or All Lies

                                         While our leaders including Prime Minister , Chief of Army Staff , ISPR Spokes person and  Foreign Minister Just to name few, are busy in making counter statements regarding allegations of USA thrown our way , I have started to wonder on which side we are . Our WESTERN FRIENDS have serious doubts on our loyalty  and our illegitimate progeny is no more under our control so a question arises : Are we ally to anyone or its just all lies . 

                                           Walk through the shady areas of history reveals that we are not actually victims of the situation as we acclaim. The present dead locks between two tearing forces is the direct result of our own selfish policy which included everything but patriotism . Our pseudo intellectuals on talk shows always point towards the cold war as the only reason resulting the friction between the two poles and we are entrapped  due to our strategic geological position . But time has proved it another lie.

 

                                         I asked a friend other day , who happens to be a health policy maker in public health sector : To eradicate a disease do we have to kill the vector or the organism responsible for disease ? His answer was quite clear : A Vector . 

     

                                       Since 1948 , our leadership and establishment have been vector to all major events. All the way from Kashmir war to Afghan insurgent  . We proudly prove ourselves to be the sole executing agency of west and left overs of cold war . We proudly provided all the world fertile grounds for their global scale experiments and never realized the cost which was nothing but National Pride.

                                     Our leaders condemn all terrorist activities in the country while do nothing about all the terrorist training facilities flourish in different parts of Pakistan . We show strong sentiments on drone attacks but keep silent on the fact that they fly from basses within Pakistan . For how long we will believe in the policy of neutrality which by no means in less than immorality . One of the former Governors during Bhuto regimen explained the philosophy of leadership in Pakistan: South East Asians are emotional people so to be a leader means someone understanding their emotions and then exploit them . Thats what our leadership from grass root level to the very top does. 

                                      So the time has come to realize this fact that we have no friends but masters . Either in form of Terrorists living and flourishing in our country as a parasite which we proudly nourish and secure , or in the form of our western friends. We have to come out of our so called miserable state as a Nation and have to make only one ally and that is ourselves rest are not allies but all lies . 

Pakistan Zinda Baad