11th May 2013 will be a very important day for Pakistan. Its political stewardship may show immense promise and focus or if the state succumbs to violent opposition to its system there maybe doom or gloom.
Pakistan Tehrike Insaaf led by Imran Khan ex cricketer turned politician has struggled 17 years and made a party mainly of young followers who want change and are sick and tired of same old faces in parliament and government promising much and delivering little to the people.his politics has matured much though his electoral language leaves much to be desired in terms of finesse and elegancal.He is on a whirlwind tour of the Punjab and Sindh and he gives hope for change of the system as he defines taking down the power of MPA, MNA ,patwari, Thana and the other power circles which run the beleagured Pakistani administrative set up.Today in Jacobabad he promises a new municipal/local bodies set up which empowers the community with education and health reforms.His main thrust is towards rooting out corruption in government and recovering lost money. He may gain some votes in urban areas like Karachi, Lahore ,Hyderabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa which may bring his party into eleectoral politics. His manifesto though covers a wide range of issues will be tested fully only if he gains administrative power.http://www.insaf.pk/docs/PTImanifesto.pdf
His focus of opposition are the Mian Sharif brothers of the Pakistan Muslim League -N whose government in the Punjab has been successful despite the acute and lancinating load shedding imposed on this province by the PPP led federal government. The hyperactive previous chief minister mian Shahbaz Sharif has kept most of the ministries with himself which speaks volumes for the delegation of powers and devolution which is so essential for modern statecraft. However , Mian Nawaz Sharif bieng the scion of a business family understands the politics of economic progress. The strength of this party is mainly business and economic bringing Pakistan much needed stability. http://www.pmln.org/pmln-manifesto-englishurdu/
The Pakistan Muslim League Quaid e Azam has also gained a large chunk of votes in the 2008.In Musharraf's regime they did deliver on some issues as due to help in aid because of war on terror Pakistan gained a lot of financial help . This also showed their ability to see in line with the establishment which the PML-N refuses to do in their independent status.This party may gain more seats this time but for PTI which is planning to wrench seats from PML-N but may dmage PML-Q also in the process.http://pml.org.pk/about/manifesto/
So the story goes....
Mirror Mirror on the wall
Who is the fairest of
'em all?
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
A Mother's Prayer...Maa Ki Dua.
Poem by Meherzaidi
Aye Allah Parwardigaar Pak Rab
Meri nanhi si gudrya sada sukhi rahe
Aye hamd ke haqdaar Paalenhaar
yeh naari har aanch se bachi rahe
Eishwar sab ko deney waaley
Is ke bhojan mein koi na kami rahe
Har Qismet ko chamkane waaley
Meri gudriya sone chandi mein sajee rahe
Aye merey Paak Rabb e Ghani
Meri gudriya har dam sada sukhee rahe
(This poem was written in Urdu,Roman Font)
English Translation:
O Allah, The Nurturer, Pristine Maker
May my little doll be happy forever
O,Praiseworthy, Divine Creator
May this girl be saved from Fire
Eishwar, Giver to all and sundry
May your Ganga never run dry
O Shiner of all true fates
May my doll be adorned by your Grace
O my Pristine Lord of Benevolance
May her world be filled by Your Reverence
(I wrote this poem in Urdu in 'Hamd' form,praise poetry to Allah and 'Dua' ,poetry asking God's benovelence in 'Hindustani'Urdu'.India is known as 'Hindustan' in vernacular although it is home to the second largest Muslim community after Indonesia and Bangladesh.The divisions based on religion are no longer relevant to peace in the world especially the subcontinent of South Asia. Pakistan is also multicultural and multi - religious country but is seeing rampant violence and death due to intolerance which is not feasible for modern existence as a country. It should shun its sole claim to Muslim majority and should cultivate tolerance, egalitarian justice and peaceful coexistence for a better future for its young ones.)
Meri nanhi si gudrya sada sukhi rahe
Aye hamd ke haqdaar Paalenhaar
yeh naari har aanch se bachi rahe
Eishwar sab ko deney waaley
Is ke bhojan mein koi na kami rahe
Har Qismet ko chamkane waaley
Meri gudriya sone chandi mein sajee rahe
Aye merey Paak Rabb e Ghani
Meri gudriya har dam sada sukhee rahe
(This poem was written in Urdu,Roman Font)
English Translation:
O Allah, The Nurturer, Pristine Maker
May my little doll be happy forever
O,Praiseworthy, Divine Creator
May this girl be saved from Fire
Eishwar, Giver to all and sundry
May your Ganga never run dry
O Shiner of all true fates
May my doll be adorned by your Grace
O my Pristine Lord of Benevolance
May her world be filled by Your Reverence
(I wrote this poem in Urdu in 'Hamd' form,praise poetry to Allah and 'Dua' ,poetry asking God's benovelence in 'Hindustani'Urdu'.India is known as 'Hindustan' in vernacular although it is home to the second largest Muslim community after Indonesia and Bangladesh.The divisions based on religion are no longer relevant to peace in the world especially the subcontinent of South Asia. Pakistan is also multicultural and multi - religious country but is seeing rampant violence and death due to intolerance which is not feasible for modern existence as a country. It should shun its sole claim to Muslim majority and should cultivate tolerance, egalitarian justice and peaceful coexistence for a better future for its young ones.)
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Pakistan Happenings..A Hot December.
I reject the cynical view that politics is a dirty business.
Richard M. Nixon
As the first cold wind blows in Karachi after a winter shower and warm december, the shocking news of an attack on Peshawar airport is on television.The Tehrike Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has accepted the attack with a complicated name mentioning sending the infidels to hell in Arabic as reported by Salim Safi on Geo News.
no infidels died except the said militants themselves and of course innocent people who were taken unawares. The largest number of injured were innocent people including women and children who were residing near the airport.
Why did the Taliban attempt this failed attack on airport. Well, the Pakistan Air Force base is next door and this was their target.By the way a flight for Saudi Arabia was ready also at the airport and if the people had died then were they fitting the infidels going to hell definition?
This attack was anticipated according to Rahman Malik, the interior minister. Only yesterday, a US government official had appreciated the army's decision to take action in tribal areas against militants. The airbase was the first logical target. Thank God it failed and hope that now the army takes a sustained operation against them.
Well, just as we Karachiites were reeling from a paralysis of sorts due to peaceful protests which literary paralysed the city against a Supreme Court summon to Mr Altaf Hussain, leader of MQM to present himself in court on 7th January, this strange, ironic twist in fate grabbed our attention. The irony is that Haji Adeel, on whose petition Mr Altaf Hussain is facing this disgrace and almost strange order from the court is a minister of KPK where the attack was made. God has strange ,hidden methods.
Let us see if sense prevails and Mr Altaf Hussain offers complete and unconditional apology to the court and diffuses the inflammable situation or takes the other path.Well, the incoming news is that the party or its followers are calling it misguided justice.Let us keep our fingers crossed that nothing horrible happens.from the looks of it as to what is actually happening in Sindh, things appear grim.The nationalists and Functional Muslim Leaguers are giving catcalls that the Pakistan Peoples Party is planning rigging of elections. Strange that only a few days ago they were appreciating the Election Commission Of Pakistan as a sovereign body.The issue of constituency delimitation only in Karachi has also been intelligently taken up by the editor Dawn (http://dawn.com/2012/12/15/delimitation-exercise/ ).He suggests that this exercise should be done after the elections and a fresh census all over Pakistan.
The drama that was so popular in Pakistan ,Ishqe Mamnu ends on a tragic note but it seems that foreign dramas on prime time Pakistani television are here to stay. It only seems fair that the demand of Pakistan media industry that they be not aired on prime time is justified whether from their cultural or moral demands and standards or because of economic survival reasons for Pakistani dramas.In words of Hillary Clinton,
The worst thing that can happen in a democracy - as well as in an individual's life - is to become cynical about the future and lose hope.
We must not lose hope this December.
http://literarymusings-meer.blogspot.com/2010/10/karachia-vampire-city.html
I join the protest against the targetted killings of Shias in Karachi, Baluchistan and Gilgit this year again in large numbers.
http://literarymusings-meer.blogspot.com/2009/12/noha-ba-kunankarachi-december-2009.html
Richard M. Nixon
As the first cold wind blows in Karachi after a winter shower and warm december, the shocking news of an attack on Peshawar airport is on television.The Tehrike Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has accepted the attack with a complicated name mentioning sending the infidels to hell in Arabic as reported by Salim Safi on Geo News.
no infidels died except the said militants themselves and of course innocent people who were taken unawares. The largest number of injured were innocent people including women and children who were residing near the airport.
Why did the Taliban attempt this failed attack on airport. Well, the Pakistan Air Force base is next door and this was their target.By the way a flight for Saudi Arabia was ready also at the airport and if the people had died then were they fitting the infidels going to hell definition?
This attack was anticipated according to Rahman Malik, the interior minister. Only yesterday, a US government official had appreciated the army's decision to take action in tribal areas against militants. The airbase was the first logical target. Thank God it failed and hope that now the army takes a sustained operation against them.
Well, just as we Karachiites were reeling from a paralysis of sorts due to peaceful protests which literary paralysed the city against a Supreme Court summon to Mr Altaf Hussain, leader of MQM to present himself in court on 7th January, this strange, ironic twist in fate grabbed our attention. The irony is that Haji Adeel, on whose petition Mr Altaf Hussain is facing this disgrace and almost strange order from the court is a minister of KPK where the attack was made. God has strange ,hidden methods.
Let us see if sense prevails and Mr Altaf Hussain offers complete and unconditional apology to the court and diffuses the inflammable situation or takes the other path.Well, the incoming news is that the party or its followers are calling it misguided justice.Let us keep our fingers crossed that nothing horrible happens.from the looks of it as to what is actually happening in Sindh, things appear grim.The nationalists and Functional Muslim Leaguers are giving catcalls that the Pakistan Peoples Party is planning rigging of elections. Strange that only a few days ago they were appreciating the Election Commission Of Pakistan as a sovereign body.The issue of constituency delimitation only in Karachi has also been intelligently taken up by the editor Dawn (http://dawn.com/2012/12/15/delimitation-exercise/ ).He suggests that this exercise should be done after the elections and a fresh census all over Pakistan.
The drama that was so popular in Pakistan ,Ishqe Mamnu ends on a tragic note but it seems that foreign dramas on prime time Pakistani television are here to stay. It only seems fair that the demand of Pakistan media industry that they be not aired on prime time is justified whether from their cultural or moral demands and standards or because of economic survival reasons for Pakistani dramas.In words of Hillary Clinton,
The worst thing that can happen in a democracy - as well as in an individual's life - is to become cynical about the future and lose hope.
We must not lose hope this December.
http://literarymusings-meer.blogspot.com/2010/10/karachia-vampire-city.html
I join the protest against the targetted killings of Shias in Karachi, Baluchistan and Gilgit this year again in large numbers.
http://literarymusings-meer.blogspot.com/2009/12/noha-ba-kunankarachi-december-2009.html
Friday, November 23, 2012
A Red Rose For Saveeta Parveen..Abortion Issues In Pakistan.
An Interactive Article by Dr Meher Zaidi
The news that caused heartbreak was the preventable death of Saveeta Parveen ,a dentist in Ireland, beloved wife and a young woman full of life. She was denied abortion by hospital authorities in Ireland and after death of her fetus died. Ireland does not permit abortion and this obstetric emergency which should have been handled medically once again highlights the tyranny of religious edicts and interference in laws that affect women. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland
There is a furore all over the world and the debate over who controls women's bodies and why is again front page . http://www.thejournal.ie/savita-praveen-halappanavar-abortion-galway-hospital-673590-Nov2012/
Pakistan also faces similar problems but many issues are being solved as is evident from this study by Shirkatgah http://www.shirkatgah.org/_uploads/_files/f_14-abortion_material_in_pak.pdf
In Pakistan the main issues are lack of awareness about prevention of pregnancy, lack of access to services including reproductive health, safe abortions and sometimes lack of knowledge of religious taboos.In Muslim law abortion is allowed till the end of second month and most Muslim scholars allow abortions in case of medical indication even after the 4 rth month of pregnancy.Due to lack of testing awareness women do an ultrasound scan later in pregnancy and if congenital malformations are detected which cannot be compatible with life after birth in fetus, abortion is allowed.Islam does not allow abortions based on sex of fetus and also discourages limiting births by means of abortion of valid fetus.
As Muslim law basically makes man the center of power and decision in family according to the prevalent interpretations, decisions regarding abortions are mainly taken by men. Freedom of choice by women has been overshadowed by poverty, illiteracy and given the pseudo flavor of tradition and Islamic culture in Pakistan.
A woman may want abortion when her contraception fails, when she already has many children, she has other medical conditions etc. http://pregnancy.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Medical_Reasons_for_Abortion
There is a furore all over the world and the debate over who controls women's bodies and why is again front page . http://www.thejournal.ie/savita-praveen-halappanavar-abortion-galway-hospital-673590-Nov2012/
Pakistan also faces similar problems but many issues are being solved as is evident from this study by Shirkatgah http://www.shirkatgah.org/_uploads/_files/f_14-abortion_material_in_pak.pdf
In Pakistan the main issues are lack of awareness about prevention of pregnancy, lack of access to services including reproductive health, safe abortions and sometimes lack of knowledge of religious taboos.In Muslim law abortion is allowed till the end of second month and most Muslim scholars allow abortions in case of medical indication even after the 4 rth month of pregnancy.Due to lack of testing awareness women do an ultrasound scan later in pregnancy and if congenital malformations are detected which cannot be compatible with life after birth in fetus, abortion is allowed.Islam does not allow abortions based on sex of fetus and also discourages limiting births by means of abortion of valid fetus.
As Muslim law basically makes man the center of power and decision in family according to the prevalent interpretations, decisions regarding abortions are mainly taken by men. Freedom of choice by women has been overshadowed by poverty, illiteracy and given the pseudo flavor of tradition and Islamic culture in Pakistan.
A woman may want abortion when her contraception fails, when she already has many children, she has other medical conditions etc. http://pregnancy.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Medical_Reasons_for_Abortion
Monday, November 19, 2012
Child Marriages In Pakistan.
An interactive article by Dr Meher Zaidi
Pakistan faces many legal and moral challenges. Child marriage is one such issue which has to be taken seriously if it wants to justify itself as a modern, progressive state. There are many issues which make this more complicated.
According to religious scholars and almost all Islamic schools of thought, child marriage is allowed in Islam. There is no age bar. Children as young as two can be married and it has been practiced as a custom to betroth children with their cousins or inside clans and tribes. According to the Pakistan penal code a child is described as under 18 years for males and under 16 years for females (http://www.vakilno1.com/saarclaw/pakistan/child_marriage_restraint_act.htm).In practice the female child is taken as when she reaches puberty which maybe as early as 9 years as is happening in many girls in Pakistan now where the age of puberty is falling. According to Mufti Naeem, child marriage including Rukhsati or sending the girl to her in laws house is allowed but sexual act is not allowed in Islam. How can this be prevented is one such big question as many cases of child sexual molestation are not reported or even recognized in Pakistan.
Incestious behaviour is not even reported or acknowledged inside families.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/66743/incest-struggling-to-break-the-taboo/
http://www.asianoutlook.com/articles/April/33.htmll
According to laws rape is well defined but linking this to child marriage and lack of evidence and because the raped is a child and is suffering coercion and dominance shows the inequality and lack of justice provided by the state. http://www.raahnuma.org/posts/child-marriage-laws/
In Pakistan religious political parties and religious scholars stand in way of egalitarian justice provided to child be it female or male.The right to child education and health is a fundamental right. In girl child early pregnancy and childbirth breaches both. The right to education is breached and health is compromised as complications of pregnancy and childbirth including death are common. These are also made more serious because of lack of access to health services and financial dependency. Girl child also suffers from gender prejudice including less access to food and social support.
The male child also suffers from psychological pressure, false and patriarchal gender complexes which hinders his emotional intelligence and social adjustment in adult life.His education and eventually financial status may suffer due to early emotional pressures.The male child also may suffer from early Sexually Transmitted Diseases and exposure to paid sex workers.
The lack of recognition of dangers of child http://www.commonlii.org/pk/other/PKLJC/reports/42.html, the apathy of traditional and religious scholars to understand and address this issue augurs doom for this country.Just like opposition to any human rights issue is considered in Pakistan a holy duty,this issue should be taken up on war footing by the ordinary citizens of Pakistan and legislated http://www.commonlii.org/pk/other/PKLJC/reports/42.html
According to religious scholars and almost all Islamic schools of thought, child marriage is allowed in Islam. There is no age bar. Children as young as two can be married and it has been practiced as a custom to betroth children with their cousins or inside clans and tribes. According to the Pakistan penal code a child is described as under 18 years for males and under 16 years for females (http://www.vakilno1.com/saarclaw/pakistan/child_marriage_restraint_act.htm).In practice the female child is taken as when she reaches puberty which maybe as early as 9 years as is happening in many girls in Pakistan now where the age of puberty is falling. According to Mufti Naeem, child marriage including Rukhsati or sending the girl to her in laws house is allowed but sexual act is not allowed in Islam. How can this be prevented is one such big question as many cases of child sexual molestation are not reported or even recognized in Pakistan.
Incestious behaviour is not even reported or acknowledged inside families.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/66743/incest-struggling-to-break-the-taboo/
http://www.asianoutlook.com/articles/April/33.htmll
According to laws rape is well defined but linking this to child marriage and lack of evidence and because the raped is a child and is suffering coercion and dominance shows the inequality and lack of justice provided by the state. http://www.raahnuma.org/posts/child-marriage-laws/
In Pakistan religious political parties and religious scholars stand in way of egalitarian justice provided to child be it female or male.The right to child education and health is a fundamental right. In girl child early pregnancy and childbirth breaches both. The right to education is breached and health is compromised as complications of pregnancy and childbirth including death are common. These are also made more serious because of lack of access to health services and financial dependency. Girl child also suffers from gender prejudice including less access to food and social support.
The male child also suffers from psychological pressure, false and patriarchal gender complexes which hinders his emotional intelligence and social adjustment in adult life.His education and eventually financial status may suffer due to early emotional pressures.The male child also may suffer from early Sexually Transmitted Diseases and exposure to paid sex workers.
The lack of recognition of dangers of child http://www.commonlii.org/pk/other/PKLJC/reports/42.html, the apathy of traditional and religious scholars to understand and address this issue augurs doom for this country.Just like opposition to any human rights issue is considered in Pakistan a holy duty,this issue should be taken up on war footing by the ordinary citizens of Pakistan and legislated http://www.commonlii.org/pk/other/PKLJC/reports/42.html
Friday, October 12, 2012
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