Respect Time...and time will respect you!

People who don’t care about time, time do not care about them. Sadly, it is going to be two years, since Chaudary Ifthikar was criminally removed from his administrative center. Surprisingly, he fought against the odds with the help of Chaudary Aitzaz Ahsan and got re-instated. But, another illegal move from the oppressor of people's determination detached him from the helm of affairs.

Fast-forward from November 2 2007, the incumbent leaders of today won the elections by chanting the slogan – "Chaudary Ifthikar is our chief justice!" - Today they have forgotten their pledge and brought ignominy to the dead soul of the Late Benazir Bhutto who also supported him. Interestingly, his foes, friends before, have raison d'être for not reinstating him. Some say, he is too biased to be a judge while some have gone so low integrity-wise that they pronounce – "We cannot remove Dogar because he is also a Chief Justice now". The point is that if the actions of November 2 were illegitimate than any selection according to it is also illegitimate. This can be identified by a child in a crèche then why cannot our leaders comprehend this?

According to my knowledge about the Pakistani headship, I can easily say that our political forces exchange blows for those causes in which they have personal gains and vice versa. From Zardari to Nawaz Sharif or Qazi Hussain Ahmad to Imran Khan, all are skirmishing for their personal/political gains. But in our system which is so shady and deceitful, it's better to support those who favor the desires of a larger community, even if they are doing it for their own promotion.

Leaders in office who think Chaudary Ifthikar is a political figure need to get their heads examined because, fortunately for him, he has not passed a political testimonial and has remained tight lipped about the political affairs. If a political party/parties support him that does not entail that he has become a political figure. As a matter of fact, political parties get their support from the masses and they are the best representation of the general public. So, if a segment of people does support him, then what’s wrong in it?

Importantly, it should be remembered that Chaudary Ifthikar is not as white as milk or an angel, many or most of the populace know about it. He rose to command during Musharraf's regime, took oath on PCO and did not address against him for a stretched era. Was it the Steel Mill's case or an individual squabble, I don’t know. But, most of the people support him because he has been the first government official who did not bow his head according to the wishes of a martial despot. It was because of the lawyer's movement that Musharraf had to completely resign and Zardari should be extremely thankful for it. Moreover, no one deserves to be kicked out of work like this, be it Chaudary Ifthikar or a clerk. In fact, after his re-instating, expectations of the general public would be high from him i.e. if he supports the unruly then surely you will see another movement, and this time against him. But today, his supporters are still singing the mantra to get him reinstated though at the moment it's falling on deaf ears.

It is going to be two years soon, and nothing fruitful has shaped up till now. Forlornly, Musharraf is enjoying a content lifestyle, giving lectures at Stanford, where instead he should have been in jail at this instant with the present president. This is the quirk of fate of Pakistan – "Chor gaye aur luteray agaye!" – Thieves are gone and dacoits have come to loot 'n' rule.

I deduce and desire that Zardari completes his term or stays a little longer because the public of this country will only then find out how to vote when they are pushed to the edge of the knoll. Respect time and time will respect you; take judgments prompt, because justice delayed is justice denied, otherwise all and sundry might go down the hill, and it will surely hurt if it doesn’t slay.

Leadership in Crisis

There are fissures in the foundations of Pakistan which is due to the severe scarcity of superior leaders in our political and nonspecific arena. Since the departure of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Liaqut Ali Khan, the situation has gone haywire in our realm. From Ayub to Zardari, the status quo of this dearth is escalating extraordinarily. This deficiency has raised the level of fretfulness in the general public to unknown heights which is so severe for the social order that from a tea stall to gelato affair or from a ghetto to a bastion, there is just one question on everyone's mind i.e." when will good leaders arrive?"

Such a situation is so wrong because nations that wait for heroes to save them are the unluckiest – only struggle creates heroes not luck because luck is always with those who don’t include it in their plans, read history if you don’t believe it. Once on this topic, one wise man shared his wisdom on this dilemma with me once. He explained that lack of education is the raison d'être behind the lack of leadership. Therefore, he had a simple modus operandi for its solution i.e. to provide quality education to children, especially to females, so that when these little girls turn into mothers, they give birth to revolutionaries. For a moment, I wanted to jump on the couch to celebrate the elucidation he provided. But then, I came back to veracity and thought that this will take decades.

It disturbed me for a little while. However, the astute chap saw the depressed look on my face and suggested "Brother, carry on your struggle for it because that’s the only thing you have control over and leave the results to The One who controls the cosmos". STOP. These words should be enough for anyone to realize that nothing is impossible if one struggles for it with honesty, integrity and commitment. For instance, look at Iqbal and Jinnah. Interestingly and gladly, his formula to success and peace is simple and achievable; one just has to believe in it.

All we have to do is to do our bit to make the society a better place to live in and through this by default we will achieve the beloved domino effect. Sadly, I see most of the populace waste their times in activities which are unproductive with zero output, in fact, it sucks up the resources. Hence, this is the time to act and start the restoration phase and let's stamp out the word "inefficient" before the word "leadership" because crisis creates motivation and we have a bag full of crises at the moment.

This is the best PPP can BOAST OFF !

I am speculating on the progress report the sitting government will present in front of the public on the eve of their 1st year in power. I deduce it will look like this:-

Dear All,
The People of Pakistan, I will initiate this report by saying the sacred words – BB Zinda Hai! Likewise, I am not going to start with the Islamic greeting of "Assalamalaikum" because Pakistan is conquering new heights of modernization and we cannot stall it by using the lingo used by our enemies. As a matter of fact, Our President has opened new horizons of modernization and flirt for the Pakistani men to shake hands with ladies indecently as long as they yearn anywhere and everywhere.

In the coming year, addition in indirect taxation, addition in OGDC's profit, and several more steps will be taken to ensure that the supplication, "Long Live the Bhuttos", become a certainty because the Bhuttos wont be able to last long without your constant financial support. Therefore, Mr. President is deciding to take concrete steps in this regard and planning to issue a 10% Bhutto tax on anything that can be sold.
.
Coming back to the agenda, it's my pleasure to announce the progress report which will highlight our achievements only for the year 2008-2009, as we are not capable for making failures. Firstly and fore mostly, BB Zinda Hai! Therefore, we do not need to bring the culprits to the court as the opposition is demanding. Their demand is bizarre, but as they are Pakistani citizens we have decided to assist them with a psychiatrist on gratis. Furthermore, we are also not wasting the time of our respectable courts because they have better things to do such as the Sharif Brothers eligibility case.

Secondly, the current government is pleased to announce that it has increased the employment rate in the country. Unquestionably, you would have heard through the media that we have re-instated all those government employees with full benefits who had lost their jobs after Benazir Bhutto lost power in the 1990's. Moreover, we are against the hypothesis that people should be taught to catch the fish rather than to serve them in plates. Therefore, the government has taken concrete steps by launching the Benazir Income Support Plan where poor ladies are eligible to receive Rs. 1000 per month. This scheme is NOT ACCOUNTABLE as we have bought the National Accountability through NRO.

Thirdly, through the efforts of the current government, petrol prices have come down all over the world. The world should be thankful to the Bhuttos for that, the next step is to deliberate on bringing the petrol prices low in our country too. We know people are demanding the petrol should be cheaper because in the international market the rate is below $ 30/barrel. The reason for the delay in taking decision is that we don’t believe in the old theory that a good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow. Honestly speaking, as we always do, we have reached at a very confusing stage. As gas prices and petrol prices are already too near that it is causing inconvenience. The only solution is to reduce OGDC'S profit but that will make things worse because Mr. Shaukat Tarin won't be able to pay IMF then and it will put the core agenda of the nation -i.e. the Bhuttos should live long- to a precarious point.

Fourthly and importantly, we have decided to be friends with our enemies as we are sociable people. Therefore, we have decided not to take Musharraf to court for abductions and torture of “Missing People”, sabotaging the democratic process and rule of law, and for internal military violence. MQM is also not going to be taken to court for the May 12 2008 massacre and for those cases also where they killed our several members. Moreover, although BB said that Chaudary Iftthikar is her Chief Justice, but as democracy prevails in this country now, we decide not to re instate him as the majority in power don’t want him because he has the tendency to snatch our personal souvenir which we received from Mr. Musharraf – NRO. We believe The Honourable Judge, Mr. Dogar, is the best person for this job.

Fifthly and lastly, there is no inflation and the energy crisis is not such that media should cry about it. Media is playing a negative role, but we will not put curbs on it because we believe in free media. Therefore, load shedding will continue at all times, even when the best current affairs shows are on air, we believe "in equality".

People of Pakistan, we know you appreciate our work and will remain to vow silent even if you get to the point where you will drown in your homes. We thank you immensely for this gesture and commitment towards our cause of making Bhuttos live longer. Jiye Bhutto!

Regards,
PPP Jiyala,
Minister for Progress Reports and Bhutto Livelihood Scheme

I believe such progress reports will urge people to make moves for a change, YES WE CAN!

INDIANS EXPOSED!

Zaid Hamid unfolds the real story behind the Mumbai Attacks. I am embeding one of the parts, but all parts are must watch!

APPEAL FOR GAZA VICTIMS

FLP PRESS CONFERENCE

Human Relief Foundation at work!

US troops carry out search operation in NWA

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

By Mushtaq Yusufzai

PESHAWAR: Two US choppers, carrying American troops, reportedly intruded into the Pakistani tribal territory and landed at the Bange Dar village of North Waziristan Agency (NWA), bordering the Khost province in Afghanistan, and abducted three nomads on Monday night.Separately, suspected militants killed four more alleged US spies in the Taliban-controlled North Waziristan tribal region on the night between Monday and Tuesday.

Tribal sources told The News that two US choppers landed at the Bange Dar village. The soldiers carried out a brief search operation in the village and detained three nomads and took them along to the neighbouring country.The sources informed this correspondent from Miramshah, headquarters of NWA, by telephone that the US choppers landed at the border near Ghulam Khan area and searched the small village for suspected Taliban militants.Quoting residents of Bange Dar village, the sources said after failing to find out any militants in the village, the US troops later held three ‘innocent’ men on suspicion of having links with Taliban militants involved in attacks on the US and Nato forces across the border.However, senior government officials as well as security authorities based in Miramshah denied violation of Pakistan’s airspace by the coalition forces.
“We have our troops deployed along the border with Afghanistan but none of them reported any such violation by the foreign forces,” a military officer told this scribe but wished not to be named.The government officials said the incident might have happened across the border in Afghanistan as the Afghan nomads had set up small-tented villages inside Afghan territory.

When reached by telephone, Maj-Gen Athar Abbas, Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), denied reports about violation of Pakistan’s airspace by the US choppers.“No, I don’t have any kind of such report. I am in touch with senior military officials but none of them talked about this issue, which I am sure would not have taken place,” explained Maj-Gen Abbas.Meanwhile, suspected militants in North Waziristan killed four more alleged US spies and threw their bodies on main roads in various parts of the restive tribal region. Two of the alleged US spies were said to be Afghan nationals and the other two were identified as local tribesmen. The tribal sources said bullet-riddled bodies of the two Afghans were found on road in Sarobi village near Spalga.

Body of one tribesman was recovered from Miramshah Bazaar and other’s body was found from the Razmak Road. The suspected militants left hand-written letters Pashto language in which four of the slain men were accused of spying on ‘Mujahideen’ in North Waziristan for the US forces in Afghanistan.

1 year and on...PPP's Government and no sign of the killers

27/12/07
Mayhem spells its bound on the Pakistan's People's Party. The party has lost its leader and the Bhutto family has lost the last soul alive – Benazir Bhutto. The public and the media point the fingers on the enemies of democracy for this fiasco. Now, a new crisis has hit Pakistan.

28/12/07
Dust has settled down and a new cock-crow has brought hope again. Preparation for the burial of the leader has started. But, innocent loose life and material as PPP jiyalas and/or the troublemakers go on a lethal rampage.

27/12/08
As it is a national holiday now, so I decided to relax during this extended weekend. From the beginning, it was a nippy morning and at this time of the hours of darkness, 11.34 pm, its chillier than ever. In the morning, I had my breakfast and then switched on the television to see what's on. I start browsing the channels expecting some drama on the occasion of BB's First Death Anniversary. As expected, all media channels were singing mournful jingles to remember the soul which departed last year at 5.17 pm.

PTV has done a great job by spending the tax payer's money to pay homage to the Late Leader. In one of the songs, Shahida Mini with her partners sang a song which would have even made BB yawn. It would have been better if this money was spent on the Afghan refugees living behind the Sabzimandi area, in the heart of Islamabad, without electricity, in dilapidated mud houses, without basic amenities of life and without good jobs. Surely, the Master of my soul would have forgiven some sins of the Late Leader when the empty stomachs and troubled minds would have supplicated to the Forgiver to forgive the Former Prime Minister for her sins and shortcomings. Moreover, it would have been a nice political move too as such a move would have been appreciated by all. Surely, everyone would have appreciated this rather than the Shahida Mini song.

Well hours passed away, and all I could hear on TV was "BB yeh hain" or "BB who hain" and this was turning me into a maniac. Or, all I could hear was "BB ZINDA HAI","QAUM YATEEM HOGAI" and a lot more of such bizarre remarks for the dead soul and the nation. Additionally, the continuous utterance of the "Shaheed" word before or after her name was to a certain extent strenuous for my mind as it was against my belief. In simpler terms, in Islam, one who dies for the religion is called a martyr and this is what I believe. At the point of her death, she was campaigning for her election – nothing Islamic about that. Definitely, she was a champion of democracy and was fighting to restore it – nothing Islamic about it either because the democratic system is not an Islamic system of governance or at least the one she was fighting for and we are having at the moment is indisputably not a complete Islamic way of governance. So how can be she called a martyr?

The same question was raised by a very political vigorous friend of mine on the platform of facebook.com. Firstly, he mentioned the pro and cons of the Late Leader and then allowed peers to voice their opinion on the topic – Is BB a martyr?
Well, many were of the opinion that she cannot be called a martyr for Islamic reasons. Interestingly, John F. Kennedy is still remembered as an assassinated President and not a martyr, for this I raise my right hand and salute to the Americans for the first time, but I will surely hit Bush with a boot with my other hand just like the now famous Iraqi journalist.

Interestingly, to my surprise, charily and appallingly, 1 year and on, we have PPP in Government and there is no sign of the killers. Still, a single effort or step on this issue has not been taken by the incumbent leaders. In fact, Mr. Zardari said a couple of days back in Nodero that he knows who the killers are, so what is the dynamic which is holding him to say the names, he's the President, his cronies and recruits consists of top rank ministers, in short he is the most powerful man in Pakistan at the moment.


I believe the reason for not finding the culprits behind the assassination of Benazir Bhutto is same as those of Liaqut Ali Khan, John F. Kennedy, Rajiv Gandhi and General Zia ul Haq i.e. the powerful are trying to save the skin of the perpetrators who were involved in heinous crimes.

30/12/2008

THE PREVIOUS POST - STORY FROM THE NEWS FROM SHAKEEL ANJUM - ISNT IT EASY NOW TO FIND THE KILLERS???

One year on, Benazir’s murder is still a mystery, OF COURSE NOT

By Shakeel Anjum

ISLAMABAD: The chances of charismatic former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination remaining unresolved, like other high-profile murder cases in the country’s chequered history, may appear to be high but the investigators probing the case seem to have untangled the mystery and the progress being made may still take them to some conclusive outcome.People privy to the proceedings and progress in the investigations confided to The News that unravelling of the mystery shrouding the shocking crime could lead to startling revelations, if ever made public, with serious political implications.“Some of the leads that we have obtained from the entangled evidence, both physical as well as circumstantial, guide us to certain personalities but any disclosures at this stage might cause extremely serious repercussions,” one member of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) told The News.“There is no doubt that we are in possession of highly sensitive information that our investigations have led us to and we have reason to believe that any premature exposure of this information would open up a Pandora’s Box that would be difficult to handle. We don’t want to take a bite that we may find difficult to chew at the end.“So, we have to be patient for a while before making any conclusive assertions. However, I would say that there have been stages in the course of the investigation, where we felt it was almost impossible to proceed any further,” the source told The News on condition of anonymity.Certain points have already been widely discussed in the public, and one of these is the ‘elimination’ of two very important persons whose statements would have been extremely useful for the investigators. One is the death of Ms Nahid Bhutto, a cousin of the late Benazir Bhutto, in a road accident near Hyderabad on her way to Karachi from Naudero, less than a week after the tragic assassination of the then-PPP chairperson.Insiders claim while cousin Nahid Bhutto was busy talking to somebody in Australia over telephone from the Naudero house in Larkana after the burial of Benazir Bhutto, she is believed to have touched upon something sensitive, overheard by somebody present there but without her knowledge. As soon as she realised the presence of the other person, Ms Nahid quickly wrapped up her conversation, saying she would discuss the matter on her arrival in Karachi the next day. She never arrived as intended.She was killed in a road accident near Hyderabad while going to Karachi! Who was the person present in the room from where Ms Nahid was making the phone call is an important question for the investigators. Sources claimed the suspects were too powerful to be made part of the investigations. So, there is a stumbling block being confronted by the investigators, at this point at least.A second hurdle to the probe is the assassination of Khalid Shehanshah, the personal bodyguard of Ms Bhutto and a key eyewitness to the tragedy. Circles close to Ms Bhutto insist Khalid Shehanshah, who had deep connections with the underworld, was ‘specially deputed’ as personal bodyguard of Ms Bhutto when she decided to return to the country from her prolonged self-exile on Oct 18, 2007.He stayed close to Bhutto wherever she went after her return and was always in the back of the vehicle that Ms Bhutto rode during her election campaign. It will be instructive to recall that his behaviour on the stage the day Ms Bhutto delivered her last speech at Liaquat Bagh had been questioned but the issue was tactfully hushed up.The investigators believe that he was in the know of important facts concerning the assassination of the 54-year-old leader. His murder was part of a larger scheme to silence anybody who could become a source of vital information that would help resolve the mystery shrouding the assassination.

Another very interesting aspect that surfaced during the investigations by The News was the late-night meeting of the head of an intelligence agency with Ms Bhutto. Reliable sources said the gentleman came to meet Ms Bhutto at around 1:30 am on the night of Dec 26 (early hours of Dec 27) and went straight into the meeting, also attended by Rehman Malik, then security adviser to the former premier.One source privy to the discussions claimed the spy chief categorically told Ms Bhutto not to go to Liaquat Bagh to address the rally. He said credible information had been received that there would be an assassination attempt on her life during the public meeting.“Benazir was caught in two minds for some moments but Rehman Malik forcefully refused to take that advice. He (Rehman Malik) told the gentleman: Benazir cannot sit in confinement. She is a leader and she has to address tomorrow’s rally because that is very important,” the source said. And then the intelligence boss left.When asked whether the then-ISI chief, Lt-Gen Nadeem Taj, met Benazir on the eve of the tragedy (in fact in the wee hours of Dec 27 at around 1:30 am) and told her about the threat to her life and advised her not to attend the rally, Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik, who was operating as the chief security adviser of Benazir as she was travelling all over the country in connection with her party’s election campaign, told The News that the meeting did take place. “Yes. The meeting did take place. I was part of the meeting. The discussion remained confined to political matters. The issue of any life threat to Benazir or concerns about her security during the next morning’s public rally (in Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi) did not figure in the meeting,” Rehman Malik asserted.

After the rally was over and Bhutto boarded her vehicle, she asked Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who always sat on the right-hand side of the PPP chairperson, to exchange seats with her political secretary Naheed Khan. Amin Fahim obliged without uttering a word.Immediately, after taking her seat in the vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser jeep provided by a very influential property developer of the country, Ms Bhutto asked Naheed Khan to contact Nawaz Sharif, as she came to know about an attack on his rally on the Islamabad Highway. Some people were reportedly killed in the assault. While Naheed Khan was dialling Sharif’s number on her cell phone, a crowd came in front of the vehicle and prevented it from moving any further.By the time Naheed Khan had almost dialled Sharif’s number and was waiting for the call to be connected on her Blackberry cell phone, Ms Bhutto placed her palm on the telephone and told her to call him later. Then she emerged from the sunroof of the jeep to wave to the cheering crowd.She had hardly started waving when the assassin fired at her at least three times. Evidently, two bullets hit her on the side of her head, slightly above temple. As she slumped back inside the vehicle and as soon as she hit the seat, a suicide bomber blew himself up. Collapsing inside the vehicle, she fell in the lap of Ms Naheed Khan, away from Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who was sitting on her left.Sources informed The News that Dr Safdar Abbasi, sitting on the backseat of the vehicle, immediately checked Bhutto’s pulse, as she lay motionless in the lap of Naheed Khan. He was horrified because there was no sign of life. He knew she had died instantly, before falling in the lap of Naheed Khan. However, to prevent panic, he told Naheed Khan to press the wound hard to prevent loss of blood. The fellow knew fully well his leader had already been dead.Another intriguing factor was the early departure of the vehicle used by Rehman Malik, Senator Babar Awan and Farhatullah Babar along with a couple of bodyguards. In the past, this vehicle had always tailed Benazir’s car, never leaving enough space that might allow another vehicle to come between them. But on that particular day, they abandoned Benazir and dashed towards Islamabad. Even when they were informed of the blast (suicide attack), Rehman Malik told the driver to keep driving towards F-8, informing the other occupants that Benazir was OK and that she was following in her vehicle.It was only after reaching the Zardari House in F-8 that Babar Awan and Farhatullah Babar came to know of the real situation and returned to the central hospital. But Rehman Malik stayed back at the Zardari House.When asked why he did not go straight to the Rawalpindi General Hospital and instead rushed towards the Zardari House in Islamabad, Rehman Malik claimed that he did go to the hospital first.“When I reached the hospital, I saw people crying. I saw Naheed Khan in the arms of another lady, crying her heart out. I could not take any more and returned to Islamabad,” Rehman Malik said.Surprisingly enough, when the numbing tragedy happened, there was no other vehicle either in front of Benazir’s jeep or behind it! The vehicle that was supposed to follow Benazir’s jeep had already abandoned her. There was no police escort in front of Benazir’s vehicle to clear the way, something that enabled the people to come in front of the vehicle, forcing the driver to stop.The driver of Benazir’s vehicle — though panic-stricken — kept his senses under control and continued to drive the badly-damaged vehicle. However, after about a kilometre’s drive, near the entrance to the Committee Chowk underpass, they found Sherry Rehman’s vehicle parked on the kerb, with only the driver behind the wheel, waiting for other occupants. They quickly shifted the injured, or by then dead, Benazir in that vehicle to the General Hospital.Meanwhile, three VVIP women of the party were seen madly running towards the Rawalpindi Press Club, carrying their sandals in hands in a bid to escape from the scene. One of them later turned up at the General Hospital, looking shocked and dazed and mourning the death of her leader.Another intriguing aspect was that the Rawalpindi police neither held any meeting to review the law and order situation nor made necessary security arrangements for the important event, which took place soon after a bomb exploded outside the venue of a public meeting addressed by Ms Bhutto in Peshawar. The police also had information regarding threats to the life of the PPP leader.Even more interesting was the fact that nobody has so far bothered to ask the senior superintendent of police (operations) as to why he was in a hurry mopping up the assassination scene, or who ordered the action while the site should have been cordoned off to facilitate the investigators looking for clues — a routine exercise after any murder, more so after such an enormous and historic killing.All said and done, last year’s slaying of the two-time prime minister remains an unsolved mystery. Although, her party leaders and security officials have been harping on their seriousness about resolving the whodunit, a UN probe into her killing is yet to be initiated. With the scene of murder hosed down in no time, one wonders what a United Nations team would accomplish after all these months of efforts to unmask the assailants.Along with Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Naheed Khan, Khalid Shehanshah was also present in the vehicle of Benazir Bhutto, assassinated right in front of Liaquat Bagh. In charge of her security, Shehanshah was one of the closest aides to Benazir Bhutto. After her murder, he was tasked with the security of Bilawal House. He also fell to the bullets of unidentified assailants on his way home from Bilawal House.What exactly he knew and why he was eliminated are the questions agitating the minds of people. Some are trying to divert attention from his killing by saying he had connections with the underworld dons, who might have orchestrated his murder. But how could the dons accomplish such a folly when Shehanshah was the security officer of the country’s most powerful person?Background interviews with knowledgeable quarters and investigation by The News reveal various mind-boggling things that followed soon after a jubilant Benazir came out of Liaquat Bagh at the conclusion of what was widely billed as a successful election rally. She was palpably overjoyed, glowing in the success of the rally. All the way to her ‘bomb-proof vehicle’, she wore a broad smile while waving to the cheering and slogan-chanting supporters.She embarked the vehicle and for some reason after asking Naheed Khan and Makhdoom Amin Fahim to exchange seats, sat in the middle. Khalid Shehanshah and Nasir took the rear seat while Safdar Abbasi sat opposite to them.For unknown reasons, the vehicle took a U-turn on the College Road to head back towards the Murree Road instead of plying the route chosen for her return to Islamabad. According to the security plan already finalised, Benazir’s convoy was scheduled to return from the other way — first heading to Raja Bazaar and then taking the alternative route.When asked why Benazir’s vehicle turned right instead of turning left, towards Gawalmandi, in accordance with the actual security plan, Rehman Malik said it was not in his knowledge why Benazir’s vehicle turned right instead of following the original security plan.Rehman Malik said his vehicle was ahead of Benazir’s vehicle and further ahead was a police escort van.Who changed the route and why the vehicle was returned to the Murree Road against the security plan remains a big question mark.It remains unclear who were the people blocking the way of her vehicle. Equally perplexing is the question: where were the security people supposed to keep the passage of Benazir’s entourage clear for safe and speedy exit from the venue?Then she handed over the portable microphone, asked Safdar Abbasi to shout ‘Jeay Bhutto’ and joined in raising the slogans while waving to the crowd. And that was precisely when the gunman pulled the trigger. Three shots were fired at her. One reportedly hit her in the temple and she slumped back on the seat, believed to be dead before she fell. She was in the middle of crying ‘Jeay Bhutto’ when hit by the bullet, a popular slogan that would be registered as her last words.The gunshots were followed by a huge explosion, allegedly a suicide attack. Later, inquiries led many people and investigators to believe the bomb was exploded only to cover up the fact that she was killed by gunshots. According to sources, little attention was paid in the inquiries to ensuring serious effort at identifying the person who pulled out the gun and shot thrice at Benazir from such close range. How he managed to take such a precise aim while there was a huge crowd around the vehicle and one could hardly hold one’s ground, with people pushing and jostling in a mad rush, is mind-boggling.There was hardly any query asked whether the assassin was also killed or he managed to escape.No one knows who ordered the mopping up of the scene. Who were the police high-ups who issued the orders to wash up the crime scene but were never included in the investigations?The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), constituted by the government to probe the incident, hurriedly came out with the conclusion that Benazir had died after her head hit the protruding lever of the roof that broke her skull. The JIT spent all its energies on proving this particular point, which was also announced by the director-general of the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema at a press conference.But another government agency investigating the assassination later insisted the earlier ‘conclusion’ was not correct as it proved the wound in Benazir’s head was almost 5mm deep and two centimetres in width — deep enough to crack open her brain membrane, as a result of which, part of her brain oozed out of the wound.“All this evidence leads us to believe that she was hit slightly above her temple by a bullet, which ricocheted but did the fatal damage to her skull. The skull on the left side was crushed by the impact of the bullet and the depression was deep enough to damage the protective membrane of the brain. It is a proven fact that such damage needs an impact of at least 50 Newton force. A knock by the protruding sunroof lever could not cause that sort of damage to her skull. So, we have reason to conclude that it was one of the three bullets fired by the assassin that hit Benazir and killed her instantly,” a source privy to the investigations told The News.However, the elements that wanted to hide the facts, instead of paying attention to the report of the country’s own investigation agency, called in the Scotland Yard police which could find nothing new and had to vet the earlier report submitted by the JIT. Surprisingly, nobody raised the basic questions as to who ordered cleaning of the crime scene.By the same token, nobody asked why the original route plan was changed at the eleventh hour and the vehicle carrying Benazir was diverted towards the Murree Road. Also unasked is the query why there was no official security vehicle in front of and behind the jeep carrying her after the rally was over.Now that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is in power, it is intriguing why the government has not made any effort to reinvestigate the case. The government did promise that a UN probe into Benazir’s death would be initiated, but there has since been complete silence on the part of the PPP government, baffling many.This scribe contacted a number of individuals engaged at different levels of investigations into the case, and some of whom are still quietly working on it. They said the case could be resolved “only if there is a sincere will to resolve it and if there is a resolve to catch the culprits behind the most unfortunate assassination in the country’s history,” one of them remarked.“There is enough proof which points towards those who had played a key role in the whole plot that culminated in her assassination. But nobody can dare make any demand to unveil the elements because all these players are holding powerful positions,” they confided.“There is ample evidence available that could lead the investigators to the mastermind behind the plot. The evidence is scattered in bits and pieces but not hidden. What is required is only to collect these scattered pieces of the puzzle and put them together and that would easily complete the picture, exposing all those involved in this conspiracy, not only against a person, but against the nation,” they said. “However, we have to bear in mind that the forces who want to keep the facts under wraps would never allow any such move. The assassination of one of the major players involved in the whole conspiracy in Karachi some time back has effectively sent out a strong warning to others and none would be willing to reveal the facts. At least, not for the time being,” they continued. Today, it is exactly one year that the ‘Daughter of the East’ and the most popular leader of the country was assassinated. Today, the party of the late Benazir is in power. And yet, her assassination remains a mystery! The time to unravel the mystery will, however, come sooner than later and then we will know who killed the only hope the country had.

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READ THE HIGHLIGHTED PORTIONS...its not too difficult to find the killers now!

Banu Attacks

American spy planes attacked Banu today killing 7 people.

Banu, is an area which comes under the Federal Authority, therefore this attack is definately on Pakistani soil and it requires a strict action. Moreover, this attack has increased the hatred in the people of Pakistan for the American and its own government too for various and obvious reasons. If the Pakistani government 'silently' supports the American Agenda i.e. by giving a free hand to the Americans ,which it is doing currently, the current situation will take an extreme turn to doom for them. But, what the Americans and our government always forget is that when people turn upto the streets in this country, then its always the people who are victorious. Mr. Zardari do you want to exit the same way Ayub, Zia and Musharraf went?

The financial crunch has made aid indispensible for our survival. Therefore, the sorry state of affairs in this country has made the oppressor attack Pakistan at ease. As usual for the past few decades, they give Pakistan a few billion dollars, because they know that the government shuts its mouth when the men in power digest some money into their bellies. Interestingly, this is one of the reasons for the continous financial crisis in this country, because when the the people of Pakistan have to pay it back through inflation and high utility bills, which is surely just because we do remain silent and we should pay the price too.This needs to be stopped as it cannot be tolerated as valuable lives are being lost each day. Moreover, its a violation which boils the blood of many and of anyone. Americans attacked Japan in the 40's when the latter attacked Pearl Harbour, do the Americans want us to follow their steps?

When a criminal is at the peak of success in his business, he forgets that he is making his house out of cards which will bring him crashing down if people plan to blow it down. It happened with several of our leaders - Ayub, Zia & Musharraf - our government is sadly doing the same, their 'silent cooperation' to the Americans is increasing nationalist feelings among people.

Interestingly, a British who visited the 'United India' couple of centuries back said to his generals that the people of this country have such strong bonds that it will be really difficult to conquer it. The solution he suggested was the divide and rule. The British applied it and acheived their desired results, India applied it and we lost East Pakistan, Americans are trying to do the same - are the people ready to bear the consequences?

REFORMS WILL REPSITE

The sorry state of our financial situation is making matters worse for the people in our country. Devastatingly, inflation is breaking the backbone of the common man. Plus, the recent rumors of bankruptcy and the request for a grant from IMF and the World Bank have created more uncertainty in the hearts of the countrymen. But, we are still surviving!

The reason we are still surviving and running the affairs of our house, though very difficultly, is that we have not reached the saturation point with the grace of the Most Powerful – Allah. The point is to make good use of this time otherwise we will definitely head towards mayhem.

According to latest statistics we require approximately $ 9 billion for the smooth running of our national finance system. Moreover, the government requires a proper source of funding so that mess in the house could be sorted out. These two aspects are indispensable for the survival of our system, security and financial strength.

These two aspects can be achieved through proper planning by the group of people who have the magic wand which we have bestowed on them on February 18 2008. Surprisingly, the incumbent government of Pakistan which consists one of the best businessmen in Pakistan has failed to devise a Plan B for the purpose of bail-out. It’s the duty of these institutions, the respective ministries, to take Pakistan out of this financial mess even if the foreign donors don’t come to rescue us.

To achieve stability, the government has to introduce strict trade reforms and people of Pakistan have to support them with patience and honesty. Firstly, every business of Pakistan should register itself under the government and should pay yearly fees for conducting business in Pakistan according to their volume of business. Failure to do so should lead to hefty fines and penalties. Secondly, the collection of taxation and submission of it should be transparent. Importantly, nobody should be spared for having affiliations with powerful personalities or through the helping hands of corruption. Thirdly, government should resolve the energy and inflation crises with the money collected from trade measures. Agriculture Sector should be heavily subsidized, with wealth and wisdom, so that Pakistani products give a tough competition to their competitors. Finally, and most vitally, trust should be restored inside the hearts of the countrymen so that they decide to help the government in such an initiative and i.e. by accepting the demands of the majority – the restoration of judiciary because fair justice is the only thing in the world which can bring back trust.

Though, the government has shaped number of committees to solve the current fiscal dilemma but it cannot be appreciated as it has not restored harmony. The way this government is working at the moment reminds me of those people who don’t move forward to help the ones who are drowning. Instead, they look at them in a state of worry and ponder for no use i.e. they fail to derive a solution. Later, they point out the scapegoats for their failures, but yet not accepting their responsibility. My leaders, authority comes along with responsibility, and if you are not capable for it, accept your ‘not a success’ as it would be appreciated. Moreover, your name would be written down in history in golden words for accepting mistakes, which none has done in this country before, as repentance is the best way to seek forgiveness and prosperity. And, if you can do it then we stand united with you. You show us the way through your strong will, and we would walk down it even it was the thorniest path in the world.

Love of Life & Fear of Death

In today’s world, I observe people live their entire lives in loving it and fearing death. Loving life is not entirely wrong, but fearing death completely is lock, stock and barrel wrong. Life comes to a dead end one day but such realities are still hard for us to gulp down. The main reason for it is the weakness of faith.

The point to be brought from the back burner to point of focus is that death is a reality which is hard to accept and nobody desires it because we don’t want to leave the life of the world but that does not give one the privilege to avoid the preparation for it. For the prepared lot its tonic and for the unwary its toxin. Interestingly, the world at the moment is full of uncertainty and anxiety but still we love to live in this world despite of reaching close to saturation levels economically and generally. It’s the love of this materialistic world which makes one enjoy the wonders of this worldly life. But just imagine this world of uncertainty and anxiety is still so amazing to live in, just imagine how handsome is going to be the life hereafter where death doesn’t interrupt because its not allowed to, and death will do as commanded by its Creator as it doesn’t have the right for choice.

In the life hereafter, there will be no uncertainty and anxiety for eternity. Moreover, there won’t be short bursts of happiness; happiness is what will last for eternity. But, happiness after the end of mankind will have its duties reduced. It will go back to its resting place after spending a tough life at earth. It will spread smiles on the faces of those people who have devoted their worldly wise life for the pleasures of the heaven.

To get on the road to heaven, one has to live a life chock-full of purity. Importantly, one needs to pure oneself if one indulges in impurities. The detergent to achieve cleanliness is repentance. He, who repents for performing an evil deed and vows not to do it, gets forgiven by the Creator of all the Creation. So, a life which has meditated in state of sanity on earth will definitely taste the fruits of heaven. But, to reach heaven one has to cross a toll gate ghastly known as death.

This toll gate has got a huge countdown timer, which says ‘your times up, my time’s now’. At this stage of life or death, the subconscious mind goes through a conscious flashback. Additionally, the flashback highlights the good and evil deeds to make the traveler realize what is wrong and what was right. But, it doesn’t allow one to take a U-turn back to the world because it is also performing its duty on the basis of commands given by the One who gave us too but which most of us did not perform it well on earth. But, there is a weird and wonderful thing with this toll gate – for some it turns from ghastly to lovely. Those some are the ones who lived their lives with purity and in preparation of reaching at the gate with bagfuls of good deeds. Their purity becomes their shield which curtails and transforms the fear of nearing the toll gate of death into loveliness because pure souls see a life of leisure through the vertical and narrow openings of the gate.

We, the mankind are sent to the world on a journey where after tranquility arrives two paths. One leads to the evil way which gains hullabaloo for the mankind while one leads to the path of tranquility once again. After many such tasks we arrive at the toll gate mentioned above. For people who lived in tranquility, arrive fresh to enter through the door of happiness while the other group stands stun to see those realities which they frowned on stands real. The journey towards death starts at the time we are born, so, we should be thankful to the Creator for giving us the right to choose in which way we want to reach it.

But, this description of death at times is used for wicked purposes. It is worn on to the minds of the suicide bombers to create a brain-washing effect. Death is portrayed so fantastically that any soul would hug it by wearing the dreadful jacket. Such hypnotism brings disgrace to Death, and such disdain it doesn’t deserve. We should make most of our time in this world to mend our ways back to tranquility which will benefit us for perpetuity. As a result, when one hugs death intentionally, that person interrupts the journey leaving it in a state of incompleteness & this is what we don’t have a right to do. So let’s stop mocking death because it spreads its effects on other travelers.

To conclude, the foolishness of mocking death is like signing an agreement to do the forbidden at will and accepting to be hanged after a year.

My Story - Dubai - Islamabad

On 11th April 2008, round about 2 AM, I was going through the most complex phase in my life as my mind was going through nostalgia. I was leaving the country I was born in forever – UAE.

Ground was shaking for me and the sky was rickety on me at the time of my departure from the country. I was parting behind my way of livelihood provided by this country and shifting to the land of the unknown and uncertainty– Pakistan. The instability in my home country gave me second thoughts always, but belief in the Almighty always re-assured me that my motherland will support me at my time of crisis unlike U.A.E. which disowned me like an aristocrat who dumps an illegitimate child born out of its own blood.

On that D-day, I experienced an earthquake jolt my life which shook me so violently that it made a mountain like me to snivel. I was saying goodbye to my childhood memories and my friends. In fact, they were not friends; they were brothers, their unconditional love for me made me ponder at times that maybe we are of the same blood. But, then I thought brothers trussed with blood quarrel, the specialty in our bond was that though we were born out of different mothers, but the mutual respect and love for each other was beyond the limits of any blood relation which exists in our humanity. I just have 1 sibling, sister, so I learnt from them what brotherhood meant. They supported and sponsored all my desires and needs which I guess is even tough for blood relatives to do or for those people who understand only in the language of the materialistic, my friends, support and sponsorship means a more lot than just a financial gain. It’s the peace of mind one shares with each other unconditionally to spread happiness into the lives of others.

I was leaving the country with a heart heavy as if it was full of lead because U.A.E. did not want me anymore. I was not an asset anymore; I became a liability for the country. Due to uncertainties in my life caused by the economic havoc in the country forced me to break an immigration law which was as strict as a line drawn on a boulder. The country which never recognized me as a national, though I was born there, was and is still ‘mother’ for me, because it’s where I came to my senses and maturity. Against all odds, I went to seek forgiveness.

But, ‘mother’ got livid and did not want to see my face anymore. If a graph was made on our lovely and rocky relationship then it will surely look like the graph of the Wall Street Stock Exchange before and after the crash of the 1930s. Truly, our relationship which was for the mutual benefit of both was rising with prosperity, but it tumbled down since the materialistic world turned its face away from me. But, what surprised me the most was that my ‘mother’, the country where I came to existence, refused to help and forgive me. Moreover, it refused to accept me in its house anymore because I was not a part of the decorum anymore; instead I was a disgrace for it.

Our relationship was coming to a depressing closing stage; it started when I was born from the womb of the natal mother crying and then was transferred to the womb of my motherland. It ended on the same note, this time I was getting out of the womb of the motherland to the womb of the new one waiting for me, once again crying.

Interestingly, this motherland did gave me all the pleasures of lives but always called me a step-son- expatriate, which I think made it difficult for her to forgive me. Moreover, I recognized an imperative fact that one should never balance a non-living entity symbolically with human beings because it lacks the characteristics found in human beings. This sense helped me to triumph over the assets I was leaving behind, though the feeling of losing did break me into pieces for a short while, and to give me enough strength to board the flight.

I waved my brothers for good, cried on their shoulders, and wiped my tears to resurrect my life once again. It was tough from the point my new life began; sadness took complete control over me during the flight – sadness caused by disownment and the sadness of losing my assets and my identity. But minutes before landing, sadness took leave, and the most cherish able moment of my life arrived. A beautiful air-hostess brought me a cake which my friend had sent it for me with best wishes for my new beginning. The delightful surprise and the sweetness of it changed my mind and my soul simultaneously. Life looked gorgeous to me once again just like the cherry on that cake looked.

When I came down the plane, it felt the world was waiting for me, it felt as someone was telling me that there is a world beyond U.A.E; it was my new mother – Pakistan. Everything was moving in slow motion and that too in a mute mode, it’s a feeling I guess only the few would have experienced in life. My mind was realizing in this extra-ordinary mode that people smile and get work everywhere beyond the reasons found in economics where stability means success and instability means crisis. The notion which gave me courage, to rebuild my life and to eventually write down this saga, was when I saw another mother welcoming me with open arms, thus it put life once again into me by making me feel that I am acceptable in any form.

This mother accepted me with all my faults and shortcomings. She vowed to facilitate me to mend my crisis. She vowed she won’t stop helping me till my last breath if I guarantee the same for her. She vowed I can count on her and in return she just wanted me to live in harmony with her sons and my new brothers. She wanted me to respect the norms she has placed in return if I helped her in decorating and rebuilding her house. She vouched, & I took oath.

After taking the oath I realized she might disown me too like the previous one so I asked her, “Mother, what if a situation arises where I am forced to break your norms for the sole reason of survival, she said, ‘Well, son that will be decided in the courts of law, and you will be given an exception if you deserve because if God can forgive the deserved ones why cant we?”. “And if you have done something which is punishable, you will be punished for it son, but not kicked out of my house’.

This re-assured my determination, and I was daring to see the world waiting for me outside the airport. I was daring to go to gain confidence and respect which I had left and lost behind.
With the Grace of the Almighty, I have gained both the characteristics immensely and the mother’s delighted too as I perform my duty diligently to help her gain respect and confidence. The mother also asked her sons recently to pick up some tools to repair the system of courts and governance, so that it never tilts towards powerful personalities because it’s for the protection of our house and she also asked me to help Pakistan generally in each and every aspect. I chose the pen as the tool to support her cause. For me the fulfillment of these promises I made with my new mother would be easier, I believe, because it does not pinch me like those I made with my old mother where I had to pay a handsome amount for her survival and mine.

Today, I have realized the fact completely that one should never compare a non-living entity symbolically with human beings because it lacks the characteristics found in human beings, be it U.A.E. or Pakistan. It’s the people who give it the human touch and characteristics, it all about the people!

I believe there are people and not robots in both the countries. More, I know I will visit U.A.E soon in life but this time I will not come in crying, In fact, I will enter with respect and dignity happily which I re-gained from Pakistan which I had lost previously.

Thank you PAKISTAN !

Lovely Mother....

Having a mother is the biggest blessing one can ever have. The hands with which she caresses a child bring a traumatic one to serenity. Her superb use of senses works ably and untiringly just to fill peace in the minds of her children when they go through crises in their lives.

Her hug makes me feel that I have got a shield surrounding to protect me. The touch of her hands on my head and face revivify me to go and live life once again. She is the quilt at times worries turn me cold and she is the party-popper when happiness arrives. She breaks all the fingers pointing at me and she stands in unison with me even if the world is standing on the opposite side. How do you do it mom?

I envy your powers;
I envy because you don’t let me know if I have neglected you;
I envy because you smile and nod in agreement even if I hurt you;
I envy because you daily ask me about my well being before I could ask yours.

My mother has been the light for me when I used to get scared in dark.. More, she held my hand firmly in this crowded world so I don’t go astray. Furthermore, at times of scare, she cuddled and covered me with her affection but forgive me for not doing what you did for me at all. In fact, I can never do it, I am a Son and I can never have your powers.

But, my love for you is infinite. You can’t win this one mom, because you lose this competition, just like many others where victory for you was a piece of cake, just to make me happy. I love you and I live a life of relief because I know if I fall off you are there to be the cushion for me.

Let our mothers know everyday how special they are for us, lets celebrate each day as mother’s day!

Marriott Bomb Blast

The Bomb blast in the Marriot hotel in Islamabad has brought Pakistan to a point which has shaken it from its base. Every Pakistani has been pushed into a maze of questions which were deemed sacrilegious to our nationalism sometime back. But now the answers to these questions are the key to our survival.

Why was Pakistan created? What are Pakistanis – Either Nationalists or Muslims or a mixture of both?

Pakistan was formed in 1947 for the Muslims residing in the Indian Sub continent. The cause purely for its creation was that the Muslims just couldn’t live to tell the tale by co-existing with the Hindus and vice versa. The tolerance between the Muslims and Hindus got dented heavily and the handshake of peace between the two broke hells loose – thus this 500 year rapport, older than the Mughal Empire came to an end on 14th August 1947 with Pakistan gaining its freedom from the British and the Indians simultaneously. Interestingly, the British applied the ‘United we stand, divide we rule’ formula brilliantly and reaped the the fruits for it. ‘The division of the golden bird’ was the name of the fruit which was toxin for this part of the world and tonic for another.

Moreover, Pakistan has gone through an out of the ordinary 60 years which were full of empty slogans used by the people in power who had more interests for themselves than for their countrymen. Ayub gave us some, Bhuttos gave us plenty and Musharraf gifted the most implausible one – ‘Sub Se Pehle Pakistan’.

Qs- ‘What’s wrong with it?’
Answer – ‘What’s right in it?’

It did create sentiments in the people to think about their country, which is good, Agreed. But the problem is that it just created nationalists mind-set which are secondary to every Pakistani, the primary is the Islamic ones because that is what we are based on. The meaning of Pakistan is that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. We are Muslims first and Pakistanis secondary. If my name is told to a westerner, the first thing he would say is that, ‘Oh! That’s a Muslim name’. So the matters rest there.

Noticing, the above paragraph one would understand why we exist as a different country in this Indian Sub Continent. There are only two countries in the world that were made in the name of religion – one Pakistan and the other Israel. Please become aware of the fact that we have got a crescent in our flag which symbolizes Islam while the Star of David on the flag of Israel shows their strong Jewish sentiments. So being a Nationalist is nothing to be proud but actually to be ashamed of and that goes for the liberation armies in Balochistan too. Therefore, we cannot put the Islamic ideologies on the back burner. Mr. Two face who was overthrown by ‘The Dark Knights’ after 9 years of evilness, Mr. Musharraf, slyly applied the same formula of ‘Divide & Rule’ during his tenure, because he wanted to transform Pakistan into what Uncle Sam desired.

Damage: The slogan created nationalist feelings in the people of Pakistan which brought dreadful results for this country. Firstly, a majority of people thought the bombing of Afghanistan after the 9/11 ‘fake drama’ was right – what the poor souls did not know that Uncle Sam was not against a particular nation but he was against an ideology. For America, communism was a threat to their free market enterprise system, so they destroyed and yes applied the divide formula again to disintegrate USSR into several countries. Secondly, the same way the Islamic way of living a life was also becoming a threat because it was turning Sams into Sameers. Thus, the Americans had to do something, and they did that on 9/11/2001, demolished the WTC building by using the controlled demolition processes used to bring down skyscrapers when they turn old. They blamed the Afghans for it, made a way into the fields to wipe us and our ideology out of this God’s green world.

Current Scenario: The previous government and the current government in Pakistan are still supporting the sentiments of the Americans and sorry to say are paying the price for it. They have bought nationalists feelings for the price they paid to America for adopting their thoughts. These thoughts are termites which have eaten up the peace in Islamic world.

Solution: The government should join hands with all the current parties in the assembly and out of it to build a national consensus policy to tackle these situations, suicide bombing & baseless attacks on Agencies in FATA, where innocent Pakistanis are losing their lives daily which in fact are regularly shaking our nation and its people. We need to solve this dilemma through negotiations and not by the use of arms because no one will drop weapons if you continue to kill their brothers. The power of revenge and hatred develops so harsh feelings that at times one forgets the laws laid down by God. It’s only the power of love which can transform this lunacy to serenity.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY !

Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal’s dream of Pakistan turned into a reality on 14th August 1947. Surely, they did not know that the Pakistan they dreamt about is still far from reality. Though, despite of its socio-political problems Pakistan has done considerably well in the past 60 years but that doesn’t not mean in any regard that the performance has been remarkable.

Since its birth, Pakistan had an agricultural based economy. The reason for this purely was the fertile land where anything and everything could be grown. Surprisingly, in Pakistan you can grow any crop, just name it and we will grow it for you. Moreover, most of the population at the time of independence was into farming. Therefore, Pakistan was the best place for investment in agricultural sector because of three factors - fertile land, cheap and experienced labor and a warm water sea port. Fortunately, we were given these three factors on a plate, we just had to cook these three ingredients properly and we would just have to put the morsel in our mouth properly so that it does not create a supply dilemma.

But, rather than putting a morsel one at a time, we gulped down these three essential which are vital to quarantine hunger at one go. This has brought to us a stage where we could be choked to death because we are unable to digest it. Pakistan was an agricultural based society and it should have always been the preference. The government should have implemented agricultural reforms, where the government had to first introduce land reforms, second it had to provide training and consultation for the farmers which crops to grow and how and lastly it had to provide them subsidies so they could have maximized profits which would help to increase the output gradually. Moreover, the leaders of Pakistan at a too early stage transformed Pakistan’s economy to an industrialized one. This move was the feather which broke the back of the camel. Pakistan was a child in a cradle and not ready for this!

Neither did it have the resources nor did it have the expertise. The best ‘MADE IN PAKISTAN’ products are its food items. People world over are crazy about Pakistani Mangoes than an Adam Motor Company’s Revo(Bet, many don’t know what Revo is! Google about it to find out what it is!). To make things easier we would consider the example of UAE. UAE has an oil-based economy and the realized this fact from day 1 due to the fact it had visionary leaders who thought about long term benefits.
Only recently, the UAE economy has diversified towards commerce and tourism after it achieved self sufficiency. But, still the major chunk of the money coming to them is from the oil sector despite of Dubai being the Capital of Arabia.

Unfortunately, we forgot the ground reality that we are farmers and not big belly industrialists. The reason for the development of this thought was due to the constant power game by our incumbent leaders who were always hunger for power and personal success rather than mutual prosperity. It transformed the thoughts of the majority towards corruption because it brings both power and money rapid fast. The development of this thought therefore has now brought its evil effects which are pinching the pockets of the general public. It feels that the saying ‘What you bow is what you reap,” truly depicts the situation in our country. Moreover another side effect of this thought has made the people very materialistic. People can actually weigh if a man/woman is first-rate or not by the virtue of his/her bank balance.

We need to educate ourselves, and then expect a revolution to come and save us. We need have a proper system of governance which excludes the ‘few with vested views’. No good news will come on TV if we sit at home and wait for the hero to save us because the nation which waits for a hero to come and save them is the unluckiest of all. We have to believe that with mutual support and brotherhood we all can be the HEROES Pakistan is waiting for and then I can bet easily that TV channels would be full of good news! Therefore, we can still fill the gaps left by our self interested ‘servants’ by starting to believe in our capabilities.

On 14th August 2008, Pakistan would be 61 years old which could be personified as a gorgeous man full of young blood but transforming towards ugliness and weakness due to the TERMITES* eating it up. But, can the YOUNG BLOOD* fight and kick out the termites? The answer should be a positive one and come before 14th August 2009, or else it might be just a bit too late.

* TERMITES – The Present Leaders of Pakistan = the so called People of Pakistan.
* YOUNG BLOOD – The Future Leaders of Pakistan = the People of Pakistan.

CHARITY...A SOURCE OF GENERATING HAPPINESS

Charity is the source of spreading happiness in the society by giving basket full of benefits to the deserved ones. This benefit is not just entitled for the person who receives relief but it brings equal remuneration for those who sponsor relief to the poor, needy and the orphans. Charity is essential for the development of society because it provides prosperity and calmness to both the receiver and giver, thus creating harmony in the process.

Moreover, charity invents the widest imaginable smile on the faces of the needy. The cause is uncomplicated; it grants them with the vital requirements in life which includes health, education, clothing, shelter and food. These rations are indispensable to the growth of a person’s character and his livelihood. Hence, the lesson to be learnt for the ones born with a golden spoon in their mouth is that they should be grateful to the Almighty Lord for his generosity. In fact, we are blessed with health and wealth to such a large extent that we should employ these two resources to supply assistance to the people who deserve the most for mutual benefit.

“The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He Wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower.” (2:261)

Interestingly, the above verse from Quran confirms the notion that the ones who contribute from their wealth to the needy will have their wealth blessed and multiplied. Moreover, it will bring prosperity and economic satisfaction in the lives of the giver and receiver because it will open the doors for success and peace to come in as Allah would start showering them with his blessings continuously.

I express my gratitude to the Lord for making me a part of Human Relief Foundation (HRF), a well renowned NGO, which aims to supply assistance to the ones who deserve the most in our society. The organization is dedicated to provide facilities so that the poor, needy and the orphans have the state of art facilities of health, education, clothing, food and shelter. To reach this goal, the HRF has reached the remotest areas in the earthquake hit areas of Kashmir to provide the local people with basic amenities by providing them relief. During Ramadan, food packages are given to the deserved ones so that their oven remains hot during the holy month. Moreover, meat packages are provided at the time of Qurbani to circulate ‘right money’ to the ‘right people’. Additionally, HRF constructed a lot of Shelters for the people who lost their houses during the earthquake and provided them a place to remember Allah – mosque. Therefore, my brothers and sisters give charity to the deserved ones in order to bless your wealth and to spread smiles on the faces of those who are crying for your help – mutual benefit.

Regards,
Abdul Basit Khawaja
Project/Media Manager
Human Relief Foundation

MUSHARRAF SHOULD BE IMPEACHED

Why Musharaf should be impeached?

Unfortunately, people who benefited from the era of Musharraf ask – Why Musharaf should be impeached? - I haven’t heard a sillier question than this in my short span of 22 years. Assumingly, I am ‘sure’ people have become blind due to the illusion he has created with the help of his finance manipulators – e.g. Shaukat Aziz. But that doesn’t mean other senses stop working, especially ‘sense of shame’.

What’s that! (I can hear someone saying that, right now!)

Well, ‘sense of shame’ is essential to live a life with good morals. If ‘sense of shame’ goes into a deep slumber then indulging in evil practices would be deemed noble. Most of the people possess this sense which assists them to avoid indulging in sinful activities, accept their mistakes and take concrete measures to avoid repeating it. The point to mention this type of sense was to make it easy for the ‘gypsies’ in the ‘pro-Musharraf bandwagon’ to understand that he ‘should’ be impeached. Mr. (self proclaimed) President does not have this particular sense and I believe who don’t have this sense are ‘shameless’ and ‘senseless’ i.e. such a person is not fit to represent us. Hilariously, he boasts that he took money for the people he handed over to Americans and did not give them for free. Wow!

When someone is given the authority to do a task that means he is responsible for it too. So it’s silly for Musharraf to blame the incumbent government for the current crises – the crises which started to unfold after his mismanagement which brought dilemmas manifold. Although, Musharaf was not given the authority but people did give him the task to perform well but he failed miserably.

Therefore, the best advice for Mr. President is to avoid indulging in further immoral activities-money making, frauds such as Steel Mill & Stock Exchange, treason and violating the Islamic code and constitution-and quit from his office, stand in the court for a trial and accept his mistakes. I will recommend him to learn from the judges who stood for the restoration of justice and pledged that they would change the sham way of judiciary by not bending their backs in front of the powerful. I would recommend him to stand in the court and accept his mistakes, who knows he might get punished less for his show of bravery and humbleness which he has not showed up till now. And if he does this, I will be the first Pakistani to salute him for accepting his heinous crimes because no one has the guts to do such a thing – What do you say, President?

How would one weigh a person?

Hey I KNOW EVERYONE DOES WEIGH AS THE LADY TO LEFT IS DOING..THIS IS WRONG GUYZ !
Ah, I know a bigwig has just said what a stupid question is this, because the answer is as simple as putting an elephant in the refrigerator – where you open the door of the refrigerator, put the elephant inside and close the door!

No, it’s not a straightforward answer or else we all would be as good as Socrates. To find the answer read on further.

People judge each other with different criteria. This criterion is developed in one’s mind for various reasons. Some people make decisions within the circle of culture and heritage. Moreover, some consider ‘glamour’ a factor for approval or for disapproval of things not even related not to the ‘fashion’ industry. Furthermore, some people from our elite class who have an abnormality on their nose which is always pointed towards the sky weigh the person higher who has got a higher bank balance. And some poor souls are forced to follow such criteria in order to survive in the society of the 21st century.

For Instance, if you go to seek a job and you are well dressed than your chances of getting the job are more even if you have fewer capabilities than the one who knows more but can’t afford better dressing than you. That definitely doesn’t mean that I am suggesting that one should not be clean and well dressed. Cleanliness is equal to half of one’s faith. But, equal opportunities should be given to all sects of people. On the basis of clothing one should judge each other. Give the person an opportunity to the person with capabilities so that he improves his lifestyle too. Another phenomenon which is circulating like the dengue fever is to get a job through sources rather than struggling in the job market with your capabilities. If the person is qualified and suitable for the job then there is no harm in getting that job through a resource. But usually people with fewer capabilities get hired instead of the ones who deserved it on merit.

Furthermore, in Asian culture mostly, when one tries to get married, be it men or the fairer sex, one actually goes through a TRIAL. One has to wait for the approval for ages from the opposite side until they are convinced that he/she is monetarily well off. Of course the girl’s side would be concerned about the resources of the prospective man so that they can maintain a trouble free married life. But, that is not exactly what it seems. Most of them actually desire an ultra rich man so that he can provide her with all the luxuries in life. And in this process of probing, many parents forget overlook other aspects which are also necessary for wedlock and they also forget that too much luxuries makes life so relaxed that one forgets to remember the Almighty. On the other hand, the boy’s parents look for a rich family too so that they could benefit monetarily in the future. For example, these days many relationships turn into business deals later on in order to protect ventures from dissolution. Moreover, most are interested in dowry, which is a crime in the eyes of religion, while some require assurance of financial support till the end of their lives.

Even in the Western society, there are weird factors which are taken into consideration before a marriage. The conservatives don’t marry their daughter to a person until and unless he earns better than average. While just like the Asian parents, they don’t let their children marry to those who are out of their caste or who don’t belong to their social class. A good example of this is of Robert De Niro who had difficulty to give her daughter’s hand to a male nurse, though he earned well, in the movie ‘Meet the Parents’.
While the liberals who don’t want to have parents’ consent, usually marry after a ‘one night stand’ which has definitely become the reason for the increase in the divorce rate in the Western countries.

All such examples lead to the basic point that man enjoys ‘man-made’ rules. These ‘man-made’ rules are creating differences and increasing discrimination between brotherhoods at the speed a hare sprints. What one doesn’t know is that one day all this would exhaust because there are limitations to the rules of men due to the fact that we humans can’t make better guides to life than God because we are biased when something concerns or affects us. Thus, the people who follow the guide provided from the All Knowledgeable would succeed the same way tortoise did by being – slow and steady. To find a solution, usually, we develop a short cut to overcome our difficulties in life which in the end are not always acceptable to the Creator. Such shortcuts are made of lies and to cover one lie one has to say another 1000 lies which means more distress and suffocation is to continue. Such ‘man-made’ rules have given birth to new forms of discrimination.

If we go back five to six hundred years back discrimination was on the basis of religion – the crusades are the best example of it. Rewind a little to three to four decades back we read in history about racism on the basis of color – The Indo-Pak history or the American Black Rights movements are the proofs of this adversity. Swift forward to 2008, we find discrimination on the basis of wealth and glamour because we are hungry for these two aspects currently. We want to dance under the shower of wealth with the lady who is not even ours. This surely indicates that the weakness in faith is growing at an alarming rate, the same way suicide bombing’s increasing in Pakistan.

We have to learn and we have to stop abiding to man-made rules. We have to follow the guidelines of our Creator.Let’s make it simpler for those who are unable to understand.

Look, when one buys a home appliance, car etc, we get a manual with it on how to use it properly by the developer, right?

If we don’t use it accordingly than the consequences will make the machinery damaged and after sometime we have to dispose it off without using it for the time it could have been used, right?

In the same way we have to follow the guidelines provided by Allah in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle or in that regard to prolong our stay in this world, easy, right?

Therefore, we have to stop weighing people on materialistic aspects. For example, the next time we weigh a person to in order to conduct business with him or not, the most important aspect is to investigate whether the person is honest. The most important thing to be taught in educational institutes is that money is the dirt of one’s hand, it will sometime stick like dirt on your hand not leaving your pockets and keeping you satisfied and on the other day it will flow down the gutter just like the butter slips out of our hand. But honesty is a quality which is like an engraving on your heart which means it cannot wear off and only death of morality can remove this impression from one’s heart.

The ideal way to evaluate a person before any specific task is to judge the person on the criteria which tells the difference between right and wrong in a character. Materialistic criteria usually provides shield to people who have hollow personalities and shortcomings. Instead of erasing their shortcomings, they continue to indulge in protecting themselves through the ‘armor of glamour and money’ to prolong their vested desires. It’s humorous that these people take life so easy and don’t worry about the life hereafter where all luxuries are free of cost if one has lived life on earth in accordance to the Order of The Greatest.

Thus, eradicate such criteria from your lives and you will see love, wealth and happiness coming into your homes otherwise such rules will only bring disharmony, dissatisfaction and loss. We have made simple things into complex with the advent of our own set of rules and regulations. ‘Simple living and Great Thinking’ will take you to the garden of heavens where the rivers of honey and milk are waiting to serve you while the opposite will push you further down the pit of woes and Hell fire later on.

I believe the answer to the question on the top was actually as easy as putting an elephant into the refrigerator, wasn’t it?