I belong to that Pakistani generation who grew up embracing American culture. From John Bon Jovi to Steve Jobs; my generation listens to American music, watches American cinema and idolize American entrepreneurs and inventors. Even the two Governments have a lot of history to share. Our rulers in uniform or civil attire follow an unspoken pledge where they always keep American interest before their own country’s interest. But I always wonder how things are the other way around? Do American’s fancy our culture or respect Pakistani religious and social values?

These are the questions that every Pakistani inquires about since 9/11: an incident that didn’t involve any Pakistani but after a decade every Pakistani is paying its price. Today an average American might feel secure but an average Pakistani feels anything but secure. I don’t agree with the stance, that terrorism in the name of religion never existed in Pakistan before September 11 incident. Before 9/11 only the minority sects (Shiites in particular) were the victims of such atrocities and now terrorism has gone main stream.

The Bush-Musharraf “Do More” policy is in continuation under Obama – Zardari joint venture. The drone attacks kill more innocent than terrorists, Black Water is no longer referred to the rain aftermath on the streets of Karachi. But one can witness bits and pieces of the “CHANGE” Obama once promised during his election campaign. Those who saw Hillary Clinton’s interaction with the Pakistani main stream journalists do remember how the present  secretary of state; was bombarded with pointing questions from all side. In that TV interaction she stressed on bridging gaps and structuring new relationships. The recent visit of Ms. Farah A. Pandith (U.S. Special Representative to Muslim Communities) appears to be an attempt in that context.

Recently I along with some colleagues from the blogging community was invited by U.S. Consulate General, Karachi to meet Ms. Pundit in a dinner meeting. She appeared quite enthusiastic on her new task and talked about plans that will help rebuilding people to people association between the two countries. She emphasized on looking at the future that might bring some difference in the perception of an average Pakistani about American policies in the region. But I personally believe that these plans are very far fetched, as a lot of practical work needs to be done on ground to improve the security situation in Pakistan and create a working relationship of mutual interest and respect. We do welcome any effort that promises to bring positive change but till than America needs to do more!

Popularity: 13% [?]

Photograph: Asif Hassan/AFP/Getty Images

The other day I was having a word with a friend who moved to Lahore after her marriage. We were discussing how the lives of an average Lahori been affected by the recent wave of terror attacks in the city. According to her the outgoing residents of this lively city feel extremely insecure while going out. But one can’t change its life style because government has failed to provide decent security to its taxpaying citizens against a group of terrorists who are out there to change the way we live our lives. I on the other hand was feeling lucky to be living in Karachi which was considered comparatively more protected, as no major terror attack took place since the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. The local Government claimed that it’s a result of their firm security measures against the growing threat of “Talibinization”.

But like any storm there is an episode of unfathomable silence, the two year peace turned out to be same. While I am writing this post, 45 reported civilians have lost their lives, 150 or more are injured and many disfigured bodies are yet to be identified. The second tragedy that shadowed the impact of the bomb assault was an immediate attack on Pakistan’s biggest wholesale, cloth and plastic market in the same area. Thousand or more shops were burned down and business worth billions of rupees turned into ashes while the shop owners were helplessly witnessing the site. Every shop is equivalent to a family so one can only imagine what these families will go through in the coming future.

Like after any other tragic incident (which in Pakistan occur quite frequently) every tom, dick and harry (including myself :P) was out there with their views, reactions and suggestions. Majority condemned the bombing and the attack on the residing market in the area, while some like always proposed the million (Afghani) dollar solution, which involved negotiation with the Zaliman (better known to them as Taliban). Now I fail to understand that whenever a terrorist attack takes place, why on earth the failed religious cum political parties, their leaders and fans proposed this flop idea or try to link the incident in Pakistan to US attack on Afghanistan? If an Afghani is killed by Nato or US troops in Kabul, does it becomes a moral and religious obligation for a Pakistani Taliban to kill a Pakistani civilian in Lahore or Karachi? And if that is the case, the argument to hold peace talks with these terrorists, is a suggestion which is criminal in nature itself.

Another absurd argument that floated; was calling the Moharram processions off or limiting it to a close compound (by close compound I guess they meant, a concentration camp). Now if these well wishers ever bothered understanding the history of Mohrram processions and its significance to the shia community, this kind of unfeeling offer would never have been given. The month of Moharram is commemorated throughout the Muslim world in remembrance of Prophet Muhammed (SAW) family and friends. In these processions, millions of Muslims register their protest against oppressing and extremists elements that are present in every era. These processions are extremely close to shia belief, calling off Moharram in other words is a suggestion to call off burial of a family member. But even if we set the above stated facts aside, can anyone claim an event when a mourner (while participating in moharram procession) ever broke law or committed a criminal act? If not then why the terror victims should pay for crimes they never committed.

These facts paint a very gloomy picture of our future, but hope is all we have. The question is, are we ready to surrender our way of living and everything that is close to our belief? If yes then how far are we ready to go with this surrendering attitude? Is this attitude going to guarantee us our lives? I don’t think so, if you are ready to surrender the very principle that represents your existence then my friend you just lost yourself the right to exist.

Popularity: 27% [?]

The New York Time video report ‘Tuning Out the Taliban’ after its release started a new debate in the Pakistani literary corner. Are we living in denial? Is Taliban not Pakistan’s enemy number # 1? Are the newcons trying to de Islamize Pakistan? Has Ali Azmat gone nuts? These are few of the many questions that we all ask ourselves in the current situation. But one apparent trend that can easily be spotted among these pseudo intellectual debates, is the thirst for change in our masses especially in the thinking young generation. The generation before us gave us the legacy of nothingness. The oldies were married to their traditions; they made no significant change in their time and the mess that we live in today is the gift of their laziness and pseudo-traditional-religious bull crap.

But wait, if the new generation hates all that then why people like Zaid Hamid are attracting these young minds. Why the man in the red cap who is the Wikipedia of “Islamic historic achievements” and the google of conspiracy plans (cooked by the Zionists against the great Muslims) is getting popular among the masses with his rhetoric narrations. One theory states, that for every nation that wants to evolve from the ruins should be reminded of the very foundation the nation stands on. Therefore the young minds should be reminded repeatedly of Islam’s past achievements and traditional enemies. Even for a second if we approve the mentioned theory, even then Zaid Hamid’s rhetoric’s falls flat. Because we can’t hide the fact that Islamic history despite its achievements had a brutal not so pleasant past. One big example is the assassination of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) grandson in the hands of men who claimed to be Muslims, that one incident created a rift that resulted in the number of sects the religion has today. But was this predicament ever address by Zaid Hamid or any religious cleric or critic for that matter?

This negligence resulted in another apologist point of view that allowed an individual (who claimed to be religiously righteous, wore a long beard and pointed every apposing entity haram or biddat) to be supreme even if that person committed great crimes including the killing of innocent lives. One historic example is Mughal King Aurangzeb who put his father behind the bars, and killed all his brothers just to be on throne. Aurangzeb just because of his apparent religious inclination is considered to be righteous and humble. The same apologist theory was preached during Zia regime in Pakistan and the American aided Afghan war was labeled Jehad. The same apologist theory today is endorsed by people who believe that a Muslim cant carry out a suicide attack and in other words these terrorists are not Muslims neither Taliban. It’s a big black (water) American/Zionist conspiracy. If you ask me today how many people in Pakistan support Taliban; my answer would be 1 out of every fourth individual is a Taliban supporter one way or the other. Reason, pointing fingers is easier then solving the mess in your backyard.

We are desperately in need of a practical leader who will be an example and lead us out of this mess. Yes Islam had a glorious past but the inglorious part of Islam which was never addressed in the past has now become the ugly part of our everyday life. We find justifications for Taliban if they blow up girl schools or conduct a suicide attack in Peshawar every day. People like Zaid Hamid or Israr Ahmed never in their own lives did anything practical that changed the lives of others for good.

If we look up the recent history:

I would like to play the role that Zaid Hamid plays in his programs but instead I will look up the history that actually matters today, and not the one that can only make me feel good.

In January 1996, two Stanford University PhD students Larry Page and Sergey Brin changed the minds of every internet user with their research project which they named “Google”. On October 23, 2001 Apple Computers publicly announced their portable music digital player the iPod, which for every one surprise changed the life style of millions and expectations of an average user from electronic gadgets. YouTube (an online video sharing and viewing community) was named Time Magazines Invention of the year in 2006, nobody at that time knew that one website will completely revolutionized the preferences of tele viewer in the coming days.

These are the few inventions that made it big among the masses in the past 10 years. Ten years is a long period to decide the future trend and historical influences that led to these inventions. All the mentioned achievements came out of west, by individuals who spend their lives in a modern environment and getting education from the west, where religion played little or no role. In contrast we gave the world Al Qaeda and Taliban. Moon sighting is still an issue in our country. When these religious sheriffs cant solve a simple issue, why should we allow them to decide the fate of our lives?

Popularity: 44% [?]

“You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the State… We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State… I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in due course Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State.” - August 11, 1947 address of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Zia ul Haq was the worst thing that could happen to Pakistan. No corrupt elected ruler or unelected marshal law administrator can top the level of damage Zia has caused since his military coup in 1977. He polluted the very ideology of Pakistan by injecting his version of Islam in the roots of this country. Even after 21 years of his death the country continues to burn in the fire of sectarian and communal violence. Where a rumor of desecration of the Holy Quran can make self appointed army of Islam murder and tear down the property of a minority community. I wonder which divine revenge in the Islamic Shariya allows a Muslim to burn alive innocent women and children.

The incident which is not the first of its nature does not surprise me at all. The silence of the religious parties and Islamic clerics on this incident continues to amuse me. How can you expect from the mullahs to speak against this atrocity, when they kept their jaws sealed whilst Muslims were blown on numerous occasions in the major parts of the country. I am sure a foreign hand will be indicated by these mullahs in this situation and no practical solidarity will be shown by the followers of Islam who teaches solidarity and religious coexistence.

While growing up my late grandmother often used to narrate the following quotation of Imam Ali:

“One can live under infidelity, but one can’t endure brutality”

But we will find no shame by sticking with those golden words which helps us promote our version of Islam. How convenient?

Popularity: 46% [?]

The atrocities of Taliban are like an unhealed wound flaunting in front of the eyes of the sympathizer. The victims however continue to stand up as staunch survivors. Survivors that spit back at the faces of inhumane barbarism. Talibans are known to feed and flourish in the name of religion. A religion that can have no other name but misogynism. An ideology not build on ground of ethics, morals or religion for that matter. The school of thought that gives freedom to self appointed savages. The world has witnessed horrifying and shameless activities by the talibans. It is now time for the recent history to repeat itself. Reminiscing horrors of the afghan women eases the shocking images from the tribal areas of Pakistan.

A recent video released shows Taliban’s flogging a 17 year old girl for going to the market with a boy. According to scholars and analysts “The Islamic law no where permits such punishments to be carried out. The marked punishment of adultery is not valid until very strict circumstances are met. The value of a women’s character is held up quite strictly according to Islamic principles.”

However the peace loving pseudo intellectual opinions were subsided with many ‘bearded savages’ who claimed the incident as Islamic. Their opinions strongly reminded me of a famous saying in Urdu ‘ Darhi main Islam nahin balkay Islam main darhi hai’ - Islam isn’t the part of beard , its beard that is a part of Islamic culture. More elaborately those with beards don’t automatically become the pioneers of Islam not when you are sane and religiously enlightened. The atrocities of Taliban have always been open to the world. Quite openly since after the US led war on terror. I fail to understand why the media hype about the flogging video. My utter shock isn’t because I consider the incident any less severe but because it is not unique and definitely not something we don’t expect from the Taliban’s. This is but only a glimpse of the notorious regime of the Taliban’s. I say we should protest about this in the most bold form possible. However let this be a gateway to more protests and realization. An eye opener to the activities of Taliban that the media has still not covered. The plea of my brother’s and sister’s in parachinar. The holler of all the mother’s of the martyrs butchered because of their belief. The rapes of all those sisters that has been deemed ‘halal’ merely because they belong to a sect our self appointed God’s don’t approve of. How much is too much ?. I wonder why these video as weren’t released while the meia urged for peace treaties with these talibans. I wonder if this isn’t a mere tactic to justify the increasing drone attacks. If this isn’t yet another plea highlighted only to make us fall head first into more controversies.

Let us not follow the hypocrites. We should make this plea louder, bolder and more relevant to all the victims of talibznization. Lets stand united and strive for elimination of Talibanization and a call for all those to be tried for ‘Crimes against humanity’ . We have the choice to back our brothers and sisters and Islam and ensure that our sympathies belong to everyone irrespective of gender or sect.

Popularity: 25% [?]