As a state, Pakistan has never clearly defined its view on racism. Our constitutional wording itself and it,s contents appear to be prejudiced as a whole ,projecting a pre-partition,Muslim lLeague image of a Pakistani .This uprighteous,Muslim, male, Pakistani image is what is reflected in textbooks,media,social imaging,etc. There has been no effort to change,discuss,conceptualize a more pluralistic image of a Pakistani, more representative of the people and Pakistan in the new century and for future. The Old Muslim league version sticks and since it is followed as religious ideological image of Pakistan, no one questions. Since there is no debate and discussion on ethnic, racial differences and their acceptance by people as a whole and policy makers in particular, we hav enow the scourge of the Taliban and thier thrust on racism and ethnic cleansing in areas they occupy. Two incidences are of crucial importance.
The Sikh displacement and injustice by Taliban in Buner and Shia(muslim sect) violence and displacement by Taliban in Frontier, including Buner.As a community Sikhs have lived in Frontier for ages.It may be that they were there since Sikhism first appeared.The frontier regions are amazing in their diversity of culture, religious makeup and civilizations since times immemorial. Theirs is a region of hospitality and plurality. As religious and ethnic groups in neighboring areas were persecuted ,these people were absorbed generously by the Frontier. They were allowed to live, flourish in an atmosphere of tolerance and hospitality by the local populace.
Now post -partition,this continued even as recent as the Soviet -Afghan war. As I mentioned earlier we have lacked debate, understanding and acceptance of the plurality of the multicultural, multi-racial makeup of Pakistan, this narrow Taliban version of Pakistani mindset is bringing discord and atrocities on innocent people who have lived here for ages. We still need to open dialogue and accept multi racial diversity a spart of Pakistani profile . Only this way we will counter this unjust and unacceptable Taliban mindset.
As Pakistan defines its new nationality based on contemporary events, it will fail to do justice to its people if it does not define ,debate and discuss its multiracial,multicultural makeup and enter the new world as a secular, pluralistic,unprejudiced state where Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and other groups live as dignified Pakistanis.Only this way we can take take this country forward and face teh menace of Taliban and som esuch future marauders and anti -Pakistan elements.
Please read http://Dawn.com editorial pages for editorial and articles by IA rehman and Dr Tariq Rehman for a true insight in the Taleban Issue in Pakistan.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Frontline Issues For The Pakistani Women-3
The issues of health,poverty, illiteracy, work choice, labour laws and rights, marraige and property issues are not to be addressed any more as the threat of bieng taken up by another ideology made by military-militant nexus is spreading fast. The Sindh PPP government is denying such threat in this province as they are although in share of govt., with MQM but deep down they hate and mistrust each other. The issues of women have taken a backburner as no new resolutions have been passed by the assembly. There is a large Pathan population in Sindh, and they are contributing to the economy. Their girls go to schools and their women avail medical facilities and vaccination facilities and regimes offered by private and govt., sectors. These population groups are also availing higher and university education in large numbers. A non- official survey shows a large Pathan student population in Karachi University and other colleges. Therefore assuming that this population is only comprised of workers, businessmen and transporters is far from truth. The dilemma is how will the state be able to absorb these educated urbanised youth ,especially the female population in jobs and urban society. It has been seen that the rural Sindhi women, when given higher education has not only contributed to family income,but also brought new ideas and very vocal,progressive contribution to society. Their ideas and input is very welcome and well respected. The same way the modern educated woman of Pathan origin was doing very well in frontier and we were looking forward to improvements in the quality of life in Frontier regions. Now this sudden assault in way of life and education of the Frontier woman is very damaging. Thier health status especially of the women and children will suffer enormously. In urban Sindh it is imperative for all people to come out of their ethnic distortions and unite to provide health, education and empowerment to its citizens especially women. (Though the issue of male dominancy in Pathan culture and its amalgamation with Islamic values should be addressed)
It has been seen that the culture of power,corruption,sycophancy which has become the norm in Pakistan has been the driving force behind revolutionary ideologies to take over. Taliban are not only challenging our status qou,they are also gaining strength because the ordinary citizen cannot get a simple FIR lodged,his children cannot go to schools, his house is a poor shack,he cannot get even a lowly ,measely income job without sifarish,or bribe. The Taliban idelogy may win eventually in the short run , because the ordinary poor guy may think it replacement of this corrupt system, where the bigger the thief, the bigger amnesty he gets. Where no questions are asked, trials done for big, murders and mayhem, where quiet hands work for national interest and folks like us are eliminated.
The modern political parties, and citizenry , if now ,does not realize that water has flown under the bridge and Talebanisation is challenging the corrupt sytem and what have we to offer in return? Same violation of human rights? Same Karo Kari? Same Jirga system, Same Swara, Vani? Same elitist and now garbed with head covering ,new corolla driving defence /posh areas madams,elitist o-A level schools , while the poor beautiful child of worker,housemaid plays in dust with broken sticks and sand,unaware for his future!
The frontline issues for the Pakistani women have now become the unresolved, unjust emblems of the Pakistani ruling urban elite, whose inaction and corruption is shaking the very foundations of the state. The very horrible marraige of injustice,looting and governance by a truly corrupt elite will eventually come to an end as history shows but what will be our gain? What ideology will we ,the ordinary citizen now espouse? That is the question! The frontline isssues for the deprived Pakistani woman has now become the Beacon for all of us!
It has been seen that the culture of power,corruption,sycophancy which has become the norm in Pakistan has been the driving force behind revolutionary ideologies to take over. Taliban are not only challenging our status qou,they are also gaining strength because the ordinary citizen cannot get a simple FIR lodged,his children cannot go to schools, his house is a poor shack,he cannot get even a lowly ,measely income job without sifarish,or bribe. The Taliban idelogy may win eventually in the short run , because the ordinary poor guy may think it replacement of this corrupt system, where the bigger the thief, the bigger amnesty he gets. Where no questions are asked, trials done for big, murders and mayhem, where quiet hands work for national interest and folks like us are eliminated.
The modern political parties, and citizenry , if now ,does not realize that water has flown under the bridge and Talebanisation is challenging the corrupt sytem and what have we to offer in return? Same violation of human rights? Same Karo Kari? Same Jirga system, Same Swara, Vani? Same elitist and now garbed with head covering ,new corolla driving defence /posh areas madams,elitist o-A level schools , while the poor beautiful child of worker,housemaid plays in dust with broken sticks and sand,unaware for his future!
The frontline issues for the Pakistani women have now become the unresolved, unjust emblems of the Pakistani ruling urban elite, whose inaction and corruption is shaking the very foundations of the state. The very horrible marraige of injustice,looting and governance by a truly corrupt elite will eventually come to an end as history shows but what will be our gain? What ideology will we ,the ordinary citizen now espouse? That is the question! The frontline isssues for the deprived Pakistani woman has now become the Beacon for all of us!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Frontline Issues For The Pakistani Women-2
The Pakistani women is of many castes,religious schools,tribal background,ethnic and socio-economic classes.The majority religion is muslim ,though castes are varied. Two decades there was a general consensus amongst people, that we want progress in the form of education,healthcare for all,jobs, introduction of english as a foreign language, in order to get higher education and catch up with the advancements in the west.The girls were encouraged to go to school and colleges, so much so that older women and people from villages, encouraged all their children to study even when they were illiterate or less literate themselves. Due to relative prosperity due to agriculture Punjab was foremost in acquiring education and their institutions of higher learning also progressed. As mother's eductaion is directly linked to child health, the health status of Punjab population also improved. As the girl child in Punjab takes active part in agricultural economy, they were not marginalised as such.In the 1980's due to the wrong jehadist policies and introduction of religious dogmas in the society by USA backed elitist-army-dictator nexus, to counter Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, this simple approach of an average Pakistani whether Urban or Rural was dealt a severe blow. Consequently, children ,especially males were diverted towards madressah education and preparartion for jehad, whatever that meant.The simple farmer, rural,robust mindset was displaced with militant,dogmatic,fascist mindset. The simple farmer, whether Punjabi or Sindhi was very pro Pakistan in a sweet sort of a way .Now it became ethnic,intolerant,materialistic,power aligned and power hungry. The elitist tribal lords,Malicks,Waderas,Khans, who were finding so much wealth during the Afghan Jehad all around joined the Looters forces and smuggling,gun running,land grabbing became rampant. The richer one was the more powerful one was. In such a scenario,the religious power groups encouraged by army and USA, finally gained supemacy amongst the poorer and urban population.
All this while no one thought of the women folk. A few urban educated women were struggling to form groups that would somehow reflect and gaurantee women's rights and representation.
These groups were bieng led and recruited by single minded very brave and selfless women who were targetted with abuse and violence by vested fascist and ironically the same forces that were initially trained in jehadi mentality by USA.
To date these women's groups are surviving and still fighting for women's issues and bieng reviled by th USA money fed and funded jehadi ideologues.
Meanwhile the poor Sindhi woman, targetted by elected representd, reviled by Wadera and their democratic followers in assemblies stands stooped. She has no basic human rights. The so called elected representatives,are basically power snatching,hungry elite of Sindh. They can neither deliver democracy nor justrice.The Sindhi rural woman does not stand a chance for health, education,right to work,property, equality in the modern world. The hypocrisy is expressed by the behaviour of the ruling elite. Their sons can rape anybody,they can steal,they do all these acts in posh areas of Clifton and Defence and average citizens cannot do any thing. If you complaint they will shoot you and threaten to rape and kill you. The police does not listen to ordinary citizens.The Karachi Police with mostly Patahan officers says that Pathan women are not raped as they do not go out of house.(All this is true)
The poor rural Sindhi woman is not included in wages. Their poor men are bounded for generations as bonded labour or haris. There are no land reforms so they are slaves in this modern world.Women who are educated present the injustice and poverty in a romantic way,describing as Sindhi woman culture.The landed Wadera -Parliamentary nexus will not allow land reforms. So much so for the elected democracy.To be contd.
Please visit http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/vaw/
All this while no one thought of the women folk. A few urban educated women were struggling to form groups that would somehow reflect and gaurantee women's rights and representation.
These groups were bieng led and recruited by single minded very brave and selfless women who were targetted with abuse and violence by vested fascist and ironically the same forces that were initially trained in jehadi mentality by USA.
To date these women's groups are surviving and still fighting for women's issues and bieng reviled by th USA money fed and funded jehadi ideologues.
Meanwhile the poor Sindhi woman, targetted by elected representd, reviled by Wadera and their democratic followers in assemblies stands stooped. She has no basic human rights. The so called elected representatives,are basically power snatching,hungry elite of Sindh. They can neither deliver democracy nor justrice.The Sindhi rural woman does not stand a chance for health, education,right to work,property, equality in the modern world. The hypocrisy is expressed by the behaviour of the ruling elite. Their sons can rape anybody,they can steal,they do all these acts in posh areas of Clifton and Defence and average citizens cannot do any thing. If you complaint they will shoot you and threaten to rape and kill you. The police does not listen to ordinary citizens.The Karachi Police with mostly Patahan officers says that Pathan women are not raped as they do not go out of house.(All this is true)
The poor rural Sindhi woman is not included in wages. Their poor men are bounded for generations as bonded labour or haris. There are no land reforms so they are slaves in this modern world.Women who are educated present the injustice and poverty in a romantic way,describing as Sindhi woman culture.The landed Wadera -Parliamentary nexus will not allow land reforms. So much so for the elected democracy.To be contd.
Please visit http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/vaw/
Saturday, April 18, 2009
The Nizam E Adl Dilemma!
As the much dreaded Nizam e adl regulation is declared imposed in Malakand, a new debate opens in all of Pakistan.What will be the fate of a country that is bieng run with two parallel judicial systems.If it were so simple that the Nizame Adl regulation is the same as that was given by Wali E Swat ( A ruler) and the people were happy with this system and it was recognised by these then Pakistan government,everyone would have been happy and eaten mithai and danced!
But it is not even this simple, it is much more,boundlessly more complicated now. For the people who are saying ANP included that we have implemented this for peace and there was no choice and what other alternative is there, the question is where were you when you stood for last year elections?Were you not aware of the devils league between the MMA (a so called alliance of sorts between religious parties) and The militant groups,varied,with roots in ISI and some such freedom facade organisations?Where were you when Mulla Fazlu was blaring (his school dropout) religious ideas? Did you not know that when you are in government ,these fascists who love flogging innocent and poor women, and who love killing people with Klashnikovs after falsely accusing them of adultery.Did you not know that by the year 2050 most of the Frontier population will be one legged thanks to campaign against polio vaccination,most of your women folk will be dead and if alive, infertile, most of the Pathan kids illiterate besides bieng sick,of stunted growth due to malnutrition,suffereing fron Sexually transmitted disesase like AIDS and Gonorrhea. Most of you children will die before reaching One year of age besides bieng mentally retarded due to birth injuries and lack of nutrition. Will the Nizam e Adl gives any guarantee to mothers to ask for nutrition ,health care, access to education etc? AllAh is running everything, not Cows, so I am asking simple questions.So have you ANP and the conniving comissioner of Malakand, have you seen the future or will you guys plan with the ALL Wise Sufi guy to bribe Allah's angels too? With Klashnikovs eh. God kill the guys who invented these Satanic weapons?
And God curse and blind and kill the people who provide these items to be used against women and children and innocent, peace loving men.
So the issue is not so simple. There is this hidden force of people who are helping and facilitating the Taleban.May Allah curse them!Then there are the very selfish, short sighted people who only want to loot the country. They pretend to be Shaheed and peoples'people ,when infact most of them are looters, rapists,adulterers,maurauders,killers of innocent Haris and peasants,in fact 'EINDHAN FOR HELL" or material for hellfire! INSHALLAH!
Then there are the pseudo-religious,urbanites,going to dars,Koran classes,pretending nothing is happening and do not discuss any issue.They are the worst!
So back to the Nizam E Adl regulation. The Taleban have got this flawed document imposed on the nozzle of the gun. The ANP capitulated because their ideology is non violence. So now in fact The constitution is in Abeyance in Malakand. Only Sufi Sicko's Shariat is there. The sound of Kalashnikov will be the new music, The shrill screams of flogged women will not be shown, no hanging beheaded corpses in Green chowk shown as the administration has declared the Chand Bibi flogging video fake and are now fooling the Supreme court which already they do not abide by.See the picture?So now no news will come out from Malakand, I think all of Frontier.Welcome
to the NEW NUREMBERG IN PAKISTAN!Welcome to ultimate FASCIST state of all times
The Sufi guy and his lot have taken amnesty.They are the law,so who will file cases against the killings of their loved ones. Whoever is killed is killed . So The ANP guys have given forgivreness and amnesty? Where is the list of people killed by Taleban? Where is their crimes list that they had comitted? Where is the list of trial, dates, Qazi names? This was before nizame adl regulation? So what constitution were they following? Afghanistan? Saudi? Any other? What was the Pak Army's intake on this dispensation of justice?
Can we now demand that we want all these head covered Begums ,parliamentarians,to feel the taste of bieng flogged by bieng put on floor face down,in dust,bieng held by men with their hands and private parts on face ,surrounded by strange men,
They are sure to do this for implementing Islamic Sharia of Taleban version. The other laws as provided by constitution of Pakistan are now set aside by them.
I wish there was a non violent and much debate on these issues. But thanks to the fascist and Ostrich mentality of most Pakistanis ,we are threatened as poor Samar Minallah if we speak. Our Police officers esp, also threaten women citizens if they ask for in formation on rape victims.
So now the free speech is a no ,no! you just keep your mouth shut and go to hell or otherwise we will flog you, rape you or kill you.Long Live Pakistan ,only if it guarantees justice,equality,freedom of expression,secularity of state,freedom to practice all and any religion and socialistic economy for all its people.
But it is not even this simple, it is much more,boundlessly more complicated now. For the people who are saying ANP included that we have implemented this for peace and there was no choice and what other alternative is there, the question is where were you when you stood for last year elections?Were you not aware of the devils league between the MMA (a so called alliance of sorts between religious parties) and The militant groups,varied,with roots in ISI and some such freedom facade organisations?Where were you when Mulla Fazlu was blaring (his school dropout) religious ideas? Did you not know that when you are in government ,these fascists who love flogging innocent and poor women, and who love killing people with Klashnikovs after falsely accusing them of adultery.Did you not know that by the year 2050 most of the Frontier population will be one legged thanks to campaign against polio vaccination,most of your women folk will be dead and if alive, infertile, most of the Pathan kids illiterate besides bieng sick,of stunted growth due to malnutrition,suffereing fron Sexually transmitted disesase like AIDS and Gonorrhea. Most of you children will die before reaching One year of age besides bieng mentally retarded due to birth injuries and lack of nutrition. Will the Nizam e Adl gives any guarantee to mothers to ask for nutrition ,health care, access to education etc? AllAh is running everything, not Cows, so I am asking simple questions.So have you ANP and the conniving comissioner of Malakand, have you seen the future or will you guys plan with the ALL Wise Sufi guy to bribe Allah's angels too? With Klashnikovs eh. God kill the guys who invented these Satanic weapons?
And God curse and blind and kill the people who provide these items to be used against women and children and innocent, peace loving men.
So the issue is not so simple. There is this hidden force of people who are helping and facilitating the Taleban.May Allah curse them!Then there are the very selfish, short sighted people who only want to loot the country. They pretend to be Shaheed and peoples'people ,when infact most of them are looters, rapists,adulterers,maurauders,killers of innocent Haris and peasants,in fact 'EINDHAN FOR HELL" or material for hellfire! INSHALLAH!
Then there are the pseudo-religious,urbanites,going to dars,Koran classes,pretending nothing is happening and do not discuss any issue.They are the worst!
So back to the Nizam E Adl regulation. The Taleban have got this flawed document imposed on the nozzle of the gun. The ANP capitulated because their ideology is non violence. So now in fact The constitution is in Abeyance in Malakand. Only Sufi Sicko's Shariat is there. The sound of Kalashnikov will be the new music, The shrill screams of flogged women will not be shown, no hanging beheaded corpses in Green chowk shown as the administration has declared the Chand Bibi flogging video fake and are now fooling the Supreme court which already they do not abide by.See the picture?So now no news will come out from Malakand, I think all of Frontier.Welcome
to the NEW NUREMBERG IN PAKISTAN!Welcome to ultimate FASCIST state of all times
The Sufi guy and his lot have taken amnesty.They are the law,so who will file cases against the killings of their loved ones. Whoever is killed is killed . So The ANP guys have given forgivreness and amnesty? Where is the list of people killed by Taleban? Where is their crimes list that they had comitted? Where is the list of trial, dates, Qazi names? This was before nizame adl regulation? So what constitution were they following? Afghanistan? Saudi? Any other? What was the Pak Army's intake on this dispensation of justice?
Can we now demand that we want all these head covered Begums ,parliamentarians,to feel the taste of bieng flogged by bieng put on floor face down,in dust,bieng held by men with their hands and private parts on face ,surrounded by strange men,
They are sure to do this for implementing Islamic Sharia of Taleban version. The other laws as provided by constitution of Pakistan are now set aside by them.
I wish there was a non violent and much debate on these issues. But thanks to the fascist and Ostrich mentality of most Pakistanis ,we are threatened as poor Samar Minallah if we speak. Our Police officers esp, also threaten women citizens if they ask for in formation on rape victims.
So now the free speech is a no ,no! you just keep your mouth shut and go to hell or otherwise we will flog you, rape you or kill you.Long Live Pakistan ,only if it guarantees justice,equality,freedom of expression,secularity of state,freedom to practice all and any religion and socialistic economy for all its people.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Healing Our Souls-A Prayer For Peace!
Dear God, Give Peace And Calm To Our Much Tossed About Ship,
In The Stormy Waters Of Identity And Worship!
Dear God, Give Us Stability And Anchor ,
In The Choppy Waves Of Polarisation, Division,Prejudice And Dogmatism!
Please Give Us Direction To Your Palace Of Heavenly Peace And Tranquility,
In The Vastness Of Your Ultimate Benovelance, Let Us Find Your Radiant Glory ,
In Peace And Love.
Let Us Find In Our Unity, Forgiveness,
Friendship, Equity,Egalitarian Values As The Guiding Lights,
In Our Beloved Country, Our Pride ,Our Love , Our Joy, Our Life!
Only Peace Within And Without!
In The Stormy Waters Of Identity And Worship!
Dear God, Give Us Stability And Anchor ,
In The Choppy Waves Of Polarisation, Division,Prejudice And Dogmatism!
Please Give Us Direction To Your Palace Of Heavenly Peace And Tranquility,
In The Vastness Of Your Ultimate Benovelance, Let Us Find Your Radiant Glory ,
In Peace And Love.
Let Us Find In Our Unity, Forgiveness,
Friendship, Equity,Egalitarian Values As The Guiding Lights,
In Our Beloved Country, Our Pride ,Our Love , Our Joy, Our Life!
Only Peace Within And Without!
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