UNTITLED...

This and the preceding overseas letter to the editor of the Peshawar, Pakistan FRONTIER POST are intended to help inform readers at this time of our Congressional elections as to what is happening overseas and how dangerous the Islamo-Fascist terrorists are to us all.

Today is:November 07, 2006 Tuesday 14 Shawwal, 1427 A.H.

US didn?t attack the Bajaur seminary
George L. Singleton USA
GSingle556@aol.com

The Nov. 5, 2006 letter to editor of The Frontier Post ?An open invitation? by Muhammad Mahtab Bashir of Islamabad makes a false statement about US predators being used in the recent attack in fact carried out by Pakistani armed forces. The world is complicated enough without people making up falsehoods to blame their problems on others. The fact is that too many Madrassahs are used to brainwash and train young Pakistani boys to become Taliban terrorist fighters, sending them straight into Afghanistan in the hundreds of late. The missing alternative, which I do blame the Govern-ment of Pakistan for, is the lack of free, therefore affordable public schools in all parts of Pakistan. That need for free public schools in the NWFP and PAK is particularly acute. All moderate and rational Pakistanis need to stand up to such falsehoods. And, my friends at The Frontier Post know such wild stories are untrue and should not act like the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER to sell newspapers at the expense of the truth.

George Singleton USA
9:53AM on Nov 8th 2006

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF BODY IS ….

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

I have a simple philosophy of learning things around and that is to ARGUE all the time. They say argument leads to ignorance but to a larger extent the only way one can learn is to keep nudging others mentally and keep absorbing the gut-feelings of your intellectual rival. Remember, you can not explore new avenues of knowledge unless or until you show contrasting approach of a person next to you. But let not allow those arguments switch into a verbal duel followed by a physical brawl. You can not broaden your mental horizon agreeing upon others merely using the words … yes, exactly, you are right. So to me, clash of mind is one of the blessings that facilitate you to think beyond your rational thoughts.

My cousin Nomi is a person to whom I'm engrossed all the time with exchange of my limited thoughts and ideas. Fortunately, we both have the patience and knowledge to counter each other aspirations and dreams ranging from socio-economic to religio-politcal aspects to disseminate with tete a tete. And I am with no pang in admitting, Nomi is one of my inspiration in life, not because of his dedicated contribution and laudable services when Moazzam bhai was on his death bed but I find this gentle boy every time with selflessness at its extreme in the herd of selfish people. Moazzam bhai had a strange reverence for this soft spoken lad, always calling him… Nomi bhai. With the sudden death of Moazzam bhai, Nomi quite a lot of time questioned me in melancholic gesture, "Is there anyone NOW, who can call me.. NOMI BHAI?" with tears in his eyes. And every time he found no reply from my side. Nomi remained quite literally a shadow of Moazzam bhai during those 14 months. One day bhai wrote in his diary….
Aye dost mein to dasht-e-tamanna ka phool hoon
Girnay ka mujhko darr nahi teri kitaab say

Nomi used to ask me, "What is the most important part of your body"? Through the ages I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct answer. When I was in my teens, I thought sound was very important to us as a human being, so I promptly replied, "my ears". He said, "No, many people are deaf on this planet". But you keep thinking about it & I will ask you soon about the same. Several months passed by before he asked me the same question. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time, I told him, "yar, sight is very important to every individual, so it must be our eyes". Nomi looked into my eyes and smilingly said, "Nahi Mahtab..You are learning fast but still far away because there are so many people who have no judge of colors, they are blind." Stumped again, however I continue my quest of knowledge. Over the months, Nomi asked this question couple more times and always his counter reply to me was, "No.., but you are getting smarter every month, my brother".

At the beginning of 2008 when Moazzam Bhai breathed his last, Nomi was the first person to whom I hugged in my darkest moment of life with the words, "Tum bhi kuch nahi kar sakay, yar" and he replied with watered eyes, "mein kuch nahi kar saka, may nakaam ho gia hoon, Mahtab, may nakaam ho gia hoon".

Everybody was devastated. Nomi looked at me and repeated the same question, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear"? I was shocked when he asked me this question as I thought it was a game between me and him. He saw the confusion on my face and told me this question is very important, Mahtab. It shows that you have really lived in your life. For every body part you gave me in the past, I considered wrong and given you example, why? But today is the moment; you need to learn this important lesson, he stared at me gently as only he can. I saw his eyes well up with tears as he continued to whisper, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder". I swiftly questioned, is it because it holds up my head"? "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend, relative or a loved one when they cry. Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on when you really need it." Nomi concluded.

Then and there I knew the most important part of body is not a selfish. A shoulder is a symbol of sympathy against the pain of others. People will forget what you say, people will forget what you do, but people will NEVER forget how you made them feel. True or not, you have all the rights to argue. But this piece of writing makes you pause and think. Be blessed. Be a blessing. Get your shoulder always ready.

Allow me to hum few lines from the glorious ABBA:

Chiquitita, tell me the truth
I'm a shoulder you can cry on
Your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on
You were always sure of yourself
Now I see you've broken a feather
I hope you can patch it up together.

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@yahoo.com
Cell:0300 52 56 875

For more ... please click on these links...

http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2008/05/if-i-could-work-miracles.html
http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2008/04/tere-bina-xindagi-bhi-laikin.html
http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-brother-walking-lexicon-walks-away.html
http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2008/03/in-memory-of-my-brother_06.html

Farhat from Islamabad emails':
Mar 31, 2008 4:27 PM
that is excellent mehtaab..
Farhat Akram
Assistant Research Officer
Islamabad Policy Research Institute
House no 2, Street 15,
Main Marglla Road ,F 7/2 ,
Islamabad 44000 Pakistan

GIVE ME JUSTICE

By: Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

Unrest, fraud, killing and terrorist activities are not unprecedented in this country called the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Killing spree based on ethnicity and rivalry has been carried out regularly, but the government has always failed to arrest the murderers. These occurrences have reached such a level that even police officers were recently gunned down by unidentified persons in Lahore. This type of incident surely develops anxiety and fretfulness within a common man and he starts thinking, “If police officers’ lives are at stake, how can a common man like me expect the smooth flow of my life?”

According to Aristotle and Plato, the primary responsibility of the state is to implement law and order and justice should be provided to all. Unfortunately, it has never been observed in this country since its inception. The responsibility of the state is also to provide food and shelter to its citizens, failing which causes social abnormality. Social conflict and social deviance is the outcome of injustice and injustice persuades the individual to record his protest. In a way to satisfy his inner needs and to shed his frustration, he opts to use unfair means. The ultimate question arises, how can one improve the deteriorating law and order situation?

In the new set up, the district council has the authority to create a public safety commission to ensure that police personnel are not used inappropriately as well as to look after the welfare of the police cadre. Offices of the ombudsman are to be set up at the district level to redress complaints against maladministration. The ombudsman will be appointed by the district council. A citizen tribunal is also being established at the union council level. Concerted efforts from law enforcing agencies are required at every level, without discrimination as the first step.

By creating the above openings under the decentralised policy framework, the government has recognised that all reforms need to have a rights based approach and human rights in all sectors and perspectives need to be protected. The state of human rights and law and order can never be improved unless (a) judicial systems are robust in providing access to justice to the communities, (b) improving law and order and (c) creating social and civic awareness about human rights, its issues and situation in the country. A stringent implementation regime will lead to improvements in its efficacy and consequently stimulate economic growth and encourage private investment, both domestic and foreign, which will directly and indirectly lead to alleviating poverty, thus be a major tool for improving not only the law and order situation but also human rights.

Police should handle the law and order situation with professionalism and refrain from illegal actions like extra-judicial killings, torture or fake encounters. “The duty of police officers ranges from prevention and detection of crime to behaving with members of the public with due decorum and courtesy.” Guiding and assisting members of the public, particularly the poor, the disabled and the physically weak helps in promoting amity. Police should not interfere in matters involving civil disputes. Police should advise the person coming to them for registration of cases in civil matters to approach the concerned court. Police officers should do everything to meet the call of their duty, complete investigation and submit challans in court within time. This will greatly contribute to the improvement of administration of justice. The policemen should maintain idealism in life and never lose patience, objectivity and human values. A police officer must enter the profession with a commitment and zeal to bring a change, a pleasant change.

In spite of all its tall claims, the government has failed to reform the country’s police. Police stations remain torture cells. Police personnel have been found involved in dacoities. Recently several persons in police custody have been tortured to death. Rape cases of innocent young girls belonging to poor families have taken place in these police stations. If the government itself orders the police to raid students’ hostels at night, and resort to violence against teachers, women and students, how then does it hope to reform it?

Instead of sincere and serious efforts to remove people’s hardships, the government merely depends upon superfluous tactics. At times, people are invited on the phone to talk directly to the prime minister, and at times, the drama of open public kachehri is arranged. Neither the government will gain anything nor problems of the public would be solved through such useless activities.

Published in daily The Post, 23 May, 2007

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir

Islamabad

mahtabbashir@gmail.com

JOY IS MY LEGACY: Art Buchwald

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

He poked fun at the idiocy of the rich, the famed and the influential for half a century as the most widely read newspaper humourist of his time. His column, syndicated to more than 550 newspapers at one point, won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1982. In 1986 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He began writing columns, later syndicated, for The Washington Post in the late 1960s. The humourist authored 33 books, including two memoirs, Leaving Home (1993) and I’ll Always Have Paris (1996). He also wrote: Paris After Dark (1950), Son of the Great Society (1961), Washington is Leaking (1976) and While Reagan Slept (1983).

The last year didn’t start well for the writer. In February, he entered Washington Home and Community Hospices, which he described as “a place where you go when you want to go”. But by July, despite his physicians’ predictions, he left the hospice. He finished his last book, Too Soon To Say Goodbye there and it was published in November 2006. He kept his sense of humour until he slipped into unconsciousness just before he died. He was a columnist who delighted in the absurd. He was Art Buchwald.

Arthur Buchwald was born with rickets in New York on October 20, 1925 in Mount Vernon N.Y to struggling parents. His father, Joseph, Austrian-born, was a drape installer and mother Helen was a victim of chronic depression. Shortly after his birth, his mother was institutionalised. She lived for another 35 years but virtually never saw her son again. “I preferred the mother I had invented to the one I would find in the hospital,” Buchwald wrote in a 1994 memoir, Leaving Home. With the outbreak of World War II Buchwald, a Jew who was in high school then, ran away to join the Marines, hitchhiking to North Carolina. “The Marine Corps was the first father figure I had ever known,” he wrote. Assigned to the Fourth Marine Air Wing, he spent most of his tour on a Pacific island cleaning aircraft guns and editing his squadron’s newsletter while earning a sergeant’s stripes.

After the war, Buchwald went to the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles under the G.I. Bill and became managing editor of the campus humour magazine. But he neglected to tell USC that he had not finished high school. When officials found out, they told him that he could continue to take courses but that he could not be considered for a degree. (Thirty-three years later, the University gave him an honorary doctorate.) At 23, he sailed to Paris on a converted troop ship and enrolled at the Alliance Française, also under the G.I. Bill. Soon he talked his way into a job with The Herald Tribune’s Paris-based European edition, writing a column about entertainment and restaurants for $ 25 a week. In his 14 years in Paris, Buchwald became as much a celebrity as those whose names he dropped in his columns. But it was in Washington where he moved in 1962 that he stole the limelight. By 1972 his column was appearing three times a week in about 400 newspapers in the US and in 100 other countries.

With his trademark wit, Art Buchwald used his newspaper column to skewer politicians in the nation’s capital. Over the decades, millions of Americans began their morning by reading his unfolding chronicle of history writ small and satirical. At the end of his life, ill health gave him a new subject, his looming death, and he wrote a series of poignant dispatches from a hospice centre he later left after outliving his stay. At the height of his popularity, Buchwald was syndicated in hundreds of newspapers, where he poked fun at the foibles of celebrities and politicians.

As he continued to write his column, he found material in his own survival. “So far things are going my way,” he wrote in March. “I am known in the hospice as ‘The man who wouldn’t die’. How long they allow me to stay here is another problem. I don’t know where I’d go now, or if people would still want to see me if I weren’t in a hospice. But in case you’re wondering, I’m having a swell time — the best time of my life”.

He continued writing, winning a Pulitzer for commentary in 1982. He also wrote books and plays and pitched a script to Paramount Pictures about an African prince visiting the US. But Paramount made the Eddie Murphy movie Coming to America with the same storyline and said it wasn’t Buchwald’s plot. In 1990, a Superior Court in California ruled in his favour. His last book, Too Soon to Say Goodbye, published in November, is a humorous account of how he moved into a hospice in Washington, D.C. last February, expecting to die within weeks and ended up having “the time of my life.”

In a 54-year career as a syndicated columnist, first in Paris, then in Washington, Buchwald was known for his wit, his cigars and his gentle political satire. In his 1993 memoir, Leaving Home, he revealed he was hospitalized twice — in 1963 and 1987 — for suicidal depression. Buchwald and his wife adopted three children. After nearly 40 years of marriage, the couple separated but reconciled while she was dying of cancer. (She died in 1994.)

Despite his popularity he never took on literary airs. His writing was not as stylish as Mark Twain’s but he was funny on deadline, decade after decade. He said he could write a 400-word column in less than an hour: “My craft is more sketching than writing; my column is almost a cartoon in words.” “What was difficult was him almost dying and then not,” his daughter Jennifer of Roxbury wrote in an online forum on the Washington Post’s website. “And then it was great for a year. Every day was a gift. That made it easier … to accept his death.” Mr. Buchwald had lived in Washington nearly 45 years, dividing his time between the capital and a summer home on Martha’s Vineyard for the past 35 years.

Shortly after he entered the hospice last year in February, he organised his last hurrah by calling up gossip columnists and radio talk show hosts to declare, “I’m still alive!” His March 7 column began, “I am writing this article from a hospice. But being in the hospice didn’t work out exactly the way I wanted it to. By all rights I should have finished my time here five or six weeks ago — at least that’s all Medicare would pay for.”

Buchwald reveled in the parade of famous visitors who came to see him and dealt publicly with more serious aspects of wrapping up one’s life. The existence of heaven and hell is possible, he decided, and if it provides comfort, people should believe in it. “I have no idea where I’m going but here’s the real question: What am I doing here in the first place?” In December, he told admirers at Wesley United Methodist Church in the district that he did not want to be remembered as dying after a long illness. “I want to die at 95 playing tennis against Agassi — because he couldn’t handle my serve,” he told the crowd. “I just don’t want to die the same day Castro dies,” Buchwald told his friends.

Before death and dying presented itself as a topic for his columns, politics was a favourite jumping-off point. As a long-running observer of the nation’s political scene, Buchwald said his favourite President was Richard Nixon, whose delusions made for rich satirical material. “I worship the very quicksand he walks on,” Buchwald quipped. Most of his books were collections of his columns which were syndicated by the Los Angeles Times and appeared in The Washington Post.

Two of his books Leaving Home (1993) and I’ll Always Have Paris! (1996) were memoirs. They told the story of his journey from a lonely, insolvent childhood lived largely in foster homes, to the salons of the famous. His entertaining, name-dropping memoirs — published in a period when some said his column was losing its edge — also won him new respect in the publishing world.

Although he had been elected in 1991 to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, he said in a 1996 interview that “people don’t take humourists seriously; they don’t even call them writers.” “It was those two books that made me a writer,” he said. “Now, I’m being reviewed seriously. That gives me great pleasure, because I want to be known as a writer, not a humourist. It’s one step up, and that’s the direction I want to be headed at this stage of my life.”

Buchwald also wrote about his bouts with mental disorders with a frankness that won him new fans around the country. He had been hospitalised for clinical depression in 1963 and for manic depression in 1987. Both episodes nearly drove him to suicide, he said; drugs and therapy were his salvation. He joked to friends that if he had a third bout of depression, “I will be inducted in the Bipolar Hall of Fame.”

His children, he said, were initially upset with his decision to turn down dialysis treatments last year, but he insisted that he preferred to control his last days, which lasted longer than even he expected. “I don’t know if this is true or not, but I think some people, not many, are starting to wonder why I’m still around,” he wrote while in the hospice. “In fact, a few are sending me get-well cards. These are the hard ones to answer.”

Buchwald, who wrote about 8,000 newspaper columns and 33 books, found a way to laugh about most everything. In the final year of a life filled with career highs and personal lows, he had become what he called “the poster boy for death”.

Buchwald suffered a stroke in 2000, and was plagued by kidney and circulation problems. Last year, he also suffered a series of setbacks to his health. When his kidneys started to fail, he refused dialysis and instead, prepared for his own death. Mike Wallace asked his friend about his legacy. “He virtually shouted it,” Wallace recounted. “Joy! That’s what I’m going to leave behind.”

Arthur Buchwald, who satirised the follies of the rich, the famous and the powerful for half a century as the most widely read newspaper humourist of his time, died in Washington on Wednesday evening, January 17, 2007. The columnist was 81. Early in February 2006, he entered the hospice care when his kidneys failed as a result of diabetes and doctors gave him just weeks to live. He left his hospice and survived for another 11 months.

Buchwald’s syndicated column was a staple for a generation or more of newspaper readers, not least the politicians and government leaders he squeezed so regularly. His life was a rich tale of bravery, calamity and hilarity, with chapters in Paris, Washington and places around the globe. His legacy is not to be measured but to be treasured.

The writer is a freelance columnist and a political analyst from Islamabad

Published in daily The Post, 14th Feb, 2007

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir

Islamabad

mahtabbashir@gmail.com

PURPLE PATCH:

Letter to Russell —Will Durant

Dear Earl Russell,

Will you interrupt your busy life for a moment, and play the game of philosophy with me?
I am attempting to face, in my next book, a question that our generation, perhaps more than most, seems always ready to ask, and never able to answer — what is the meaning or worth of human life? Heretofore this question has been dealt with chiefly by theorists, from Ikhnaton and Lao-tse to Bergson and Spengler. The result has been a species of intellectual suicide: thought, by its very development, seems to have destroyed the value and significance of life. The growth and spread of knowledge, for which so many reformers and idealists prayed, appears to bring to its devotees — and, by contagion, to many others — a disillusionment which has almost broken the spirit of our race.

Astronomers have told us that human affairs constitute but a moment in the trajectory of a star; geologists have told us that civilization is a precarious interlude between ice ages; biologists have told us that all life is war, a struggle for existence among individuals, groups, nations, alliances, and species; historians have told us that ‘progress’ is a delusion, whose glory ends in inevitable decay; psychologists have told us that the will and the self are the helpless instruments of heredity and environment, and that the once incorruptible soul is only a transient incandescence of the brain. The Industrial Revolution has destroyed the home, and the discovery of contraceptives is destroying the family, the old morality, and perhaps (through the sterility of the intelligent) the race. Love is analysed into a physical congestion, and marriage becomes a temporary physiological convenience slightly superior to promiscuity. Democracy has disintegrated into such corruption as only Milo’s Rome knew; and our youthful dreams of a socialist utopia disappear as we see, day after day, the inexhaustible acquisitiveness of men. Every invention strengthens the strong and weakens the weak; every new mechanism displaces men, and multiplies the horrors of war. God, who was once the consolation of our brief life, and our refuge in bereavement and suffering, has apparently vanished from the scene; no telescope, no microscope discovers him. Life has become, in that total perspective which is philosophy, a fitful pullulation of human insects on the earth, a planetary eczema that may soon be cured; nothing is certain in it except defeat and death — a sleep from which, it seems, there is no awakening.

We are driven to conclude that the greatest mistake in human history was the discovery of truth. It has not made us free, except from delusions that comforted us, and restraints that preserved us; it has not made us happy, for truth is not beautiful, and did not deserve to be so passionately chased. As we look upon it now we wonder why we hurried so to find it. For it appears to have taken from us every reason for existing, except for the moment’s pleasure and tomorrow’s trivial hope.

This is the pass to which science and philosophy have brought us. I, who have loved philosophy for many years, turn from it now back to life itself, and ask you, as one who has lived as well as thought, to help me understand. Perhaps the verdict of those who have lived is different from that of those who have merely thought. Spare me a moment to tell me what meaning life has for you, what help — if any — religion gives you, what keeps you going, what are the sources of your inspiration and energy, what is the goal or motive-force of your toil; where you find your consolations and your happiness, where in the last resort your treasure lies. Write briefly if you must; write at leisure and at length if you possibly can; for every word from you will be precious to me.

Sincerely,
Will Durant

William James Durant (November 5, 1885 — November 7, 1981) was an American philosopher, historian, and writer. He is best known for writing, with his wife Ariel Durant, The Story of Civilization, an 11-volume work written between 1935 and 1975. The Durants were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for literature in 1967 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom 1977

ENJOY BASANT WITHOUT HURTING OTHERS

By: Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@yahoo.com

Pakistan is surely an entertainment starved country. There are hardly art and cultural related activities taking place. Frustration, anxiety and fretfulness are pet words of today. And almost everything related to fun is seen skeptically by our conservative community. However, it never stopped people to have fun and to engineer different modes of enjoyment. Illegal street racing on a two-wheeler among few privileged is getting popular. Knowing the fact that this kind of unsupervised activity has its price but can we blame the common mass?

Basant is perhaps the only national festival that has nothing to do with religion. In Islam, constructive activities and creative sports (those which develop one's abilities of intellect, power, stealth, combat, etc) are encouraged immensely. Islam never prohibits anyone to take part in games and enjoy the fruits of life but within limits and limits are set for both gender rather woman alone.

In my humble views, if people of Pakistan love to celebrate basant, let them do it and cash this festivity to attract tourists. Top hotels reported full booking during these days, a lot of people have their means of earning through this gala as it exerts a pull on millions of people not across the border but across the world. It is an event not to be missed. Lahore is undoubtedly the hub of basant celebrations but on basant day the entire country from Karachi to Peshawar rejoices with one voice.

Conversely, such a blissful fiesta has its dark side as hospitals invariably are packed with kite-flyers whop fell off roofs and children who are hit by vehicles as they run down the streets and roads with faces turn towards sky to watch the kites. Quarters of the city are plunged into darkness when razor-sharp kite cord rolled in powdered glass and metal cord cut throats and electricity wires respectively. The chemical and metal cord is banned but manufacturers are still report roaring trade.

On the other side of the picture, such festival does not suit a country where poor masses are deprived and openly realized their deprivation by mass fashion exhibits of material possessions. Kites and cords are not cheaper for a meager class. In a nutshell, safe kite flying, Yes. The pretentious way of exhibits, No.

There are rules and regulations for every sport. If one starts playing football on a busy road, people will start dieing. It doesn't mean playing football is bad as it kills a many but the venue and methodology needs to be regulated. I would hate to buy the idea that basant is a Hindu festival and I can argue about this. Practically, Pakistan is not an Islamic state as we commit a lot of things un-Islamic. We carry many traditional Hindu belongings; look at our marriage ceremonies for instance. Some people in Pakistan are determined that no one has the right to have fun whatsoever and thus they use the name of religion to advocate their point uselessly. I find this super-ridiculous.

To avoid casualties, my suggestion is to find a way to coax kite-flyers into cosmic playgrounds and vast stadiums. Organized kite-flying competitions with attractive cash prizes and lucrative gifts may lure professional kite-flyers out of their dens towards open grounds, where life is safer. Last but certainly not least, a lot many opines that festival of basant is a source of earnings to those who waited for whole year to come by. We must share our maximum finances to the manufacturers of kites, cords and related stuff makers but minimum to hospitals, doctors/ surgeons, blood banks and grave-diggers.

Published in daily The Post, 17 March, 2k8, THE NATION, 16th Mar 2008, Pakistan Observer, 28 Jan, 2007

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@yahoo.com

HAVE YOUR SAY about THIS BLOG:

Dears & Nears:

How do you like my blog? What is the most detested aspect you find here (other then me) :( what you like the most and what you want DIFFERENT here that makes you glad? Feel free to give suggestions & feedback.

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Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
Cell: 0300 52 56 875

mahtabbashir@gmail.com

WHAT READERS SAY...

Bilal from unknown place comments': June 24, 2008 10:19 PM

Brother if the role models are Rumi, Iqbal and Michealangelo than I think the sex oriented discription of life and work at the top is not required. To be a better person you need to be a better human.. You have a good vision and are actually going to make it high, but believe me brother try to be a humble and sublime person.

Sadaf (Kulsoom) from Nawabshah emails': May 13, 2008 1:30 PM

i m really thrilled and extremly happy to see this BLOG ..this blog gives me immense pleasure and satisfaction that current issue of the ARTICLES.Excellent standard of the ARTICLES,POEMS specially for their beloved brother which he had written..Poems in ENGLISH reflect the original creativity ,flair and knowledge for ME specially.The enthusiasm and fervour with which they contributed their thoughts to the blog are indeed encouraging ..the quality of blog depends entirely the efforts of the writer(editor)..i really appreciate ...in the end, i must express my gratitude to the MR MAHTAB..for his encouragement and full support ..again i congratulate MR MAHTABfor bringing out this blog,,,,i pray to ALMIGHTY ALLAH to grace u with grandeur and gratness to maintain the achieved standards of the bolg..and BLESS u with wisdom and courage to further raise the quality and standards of blog..MAY ALMIGHTY ALLAH BLESS AND REWARD FOR UR FINE EFFORTS..WISHING U ALL THE BEST..

Romiya Mansoor Ali emails from Karachi:
May 3, 2008 3:24 PM
very nice maintain blog

keep it up

impress by your work, thoughts.

God Bless You

Aamer Waqas Ghaus Chaudhary said:
March 27, 2008 9:37 AM
Good blog! Keep up good work!

Farhat Akram from Islamabad writes:
March 17, 2008 9:25 PM
Dear Mehataab!!with much of your request i am making my opinion about your blog.. fit ha laley... and continue doing it.. i like every bit of it. Like all the cafeteria pundits please do write on the restoration of Judges issue, which i belive is still missing. One more thing please divide your poems and opinions in to sections as every thing seems mixed up. Take loads of care and keep me posted toooooooooo.

HAFSA MOHSIN from Texas, USA writes:
Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:38:57 -0700 (PDT)
i like everything EXCEPT this f***** intro..education is like bla bla...report abuse!! other then this...all the articles are nice..i've read few of them and i feel like..wat happened when u lose ur loved ones...anyways..edit the intro and Best of luck!

Counter Attack Emaad Qureshi from Rawalpindi writes:
March 8, 2008 2:51 AM
GReat Blog Keep it up..

YOURS TILL NIAGRA FALLS

YOURS TILL NIAGRA FALLS
(An anthology of English poems)

A monologue:

Whenever I observe the beautiful and fascinating object of nature, I tend towards a deep inspiration and my secret, sacred, natural, paranormal, imaginary and romantic qualities grow up. I hold my pen and put down my gut-feelings in shortest possible way, i-e in form of verse or lyrics. While doing so, I find myself among the beauties of nature, may be that’s why I am a person who can savor the taste of loneliness of which majority of others can not. I can perceive heavenly beauties closely before me just like a picture appears on a screen.

Poetry creates imagination and imagination is the window to tomorrow and fountain of one’s life. Einstein reckons imagination more important than knowledge. In fact, it is imagination that removes the layers from our eyes and awakens our senses just before the real things that surround us. To me, nothing could be happened or exist without imaginations. A poet is a sensitive soul who takes care of his inner-self and outer-self at one fell swoop. He not only writes about the things around him with yawning thoughts but he can access where the sun can not. And I believe, a soul-stirring poetry is composed or painted with poet’s life-blood.

I can remember my feelings when I am with other people. Many of us remember days but I remember moments, the moments when I feel happy or angry, safe or afraid; my feelings can help me – to make good choices. I am struggling against my will-power, I was indecisive initially but now … I am not too sure:) Now I want to fantasize owing help from reality because at the end of the day, “It is better to read the weather forecast before you pray for rain”.

Lastly, I would like to dedicate this work
To my WIFE & to my GIRL FRIEND
& I pray to Almighty Allah, may they never meet:)

Keep smiling,
Keep reading, http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/
& keep praying!

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

Lalarukh from Rawalpindi emails':

May 5, 2008 1:11 PM

Pretty nice.

U r improving. esay he chotay chotay likha kroo. takay neend na aye.

best of Lunch

hahah

lalarukh

Misbah Azmat emails' from Australia:

May 7, 2008 5:20 PM

rest everything is fine but what is this :)

Lastly, I would like to dedicate this work

To my WIFE & to my GIRL FRIEND

& I pray to Almighty Allah, may they never meet.

waz-up now-a-days??tk cr
Regards
Misbah Azmat
ADS Awardee(Postgrad.)
Monash Uni
Melbourne,Australia

TO MY LOVE, WITH LOVE

O’ God!
I confess that I am not
what I ought to be
but I thank you my Lord,
that I am not
what I used to be.
-mahtab

TO MY MOTHER

You are a paragon of love, a sparkling star
You curb my woes, you and dad stand at par

You teach me religion, a value of chastity
Love-oriented disciplining facts, a way of eternity

You are a soothing balm when I’m bogged down
I need your shadow not diamond, pearl or a crown

Your existence in this world is my prized possession
Every word you utter is my own expression

You express your mirth upon all my successes
You buy for me, chic toys, and posh dresses

My childish trivial worries are massive for you
You solve them with ease and that is true

You are a precious jewel in a setting of my life
Your erudite wisdom, gives me comfort, vanish strife

You lend me hands when I fell down and cry
Your presence makes me ten feet tall and high

You stand besides me neglecting everyone
I’m regretted, in response I give you none

I feel so indebted and so grateful to God
Who blessed me a simple mother, not a mod

‘The hand that rock the cradle rules the world’
Is the most ultimate truth I’ve ever heard

May your joys through life be as free
As dancing waves on the deep blue sea

Published in The Nation, Jun 2, 2007, Pakistan Observer, May 8, 2005, The weekly MAG, May 7-13 2005, May 8-14, 2004, Dec 6-12, 2003, The Nation Jun 2, 2003.

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

Romiya Mansoor Emails from Karachi:
May 9, 2008 10:36 PM
Aoa
good janab
keep going
nice articulations of words, expressions and feelings
Take care
Allahhafiz

TO MY FATHER

http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/index.aspx?Issue=NP_LHE&Page=Magazine_Page16&Date=20070919&Pageno=16&View=1%20id

A man to whom I idolize
A man whom I hate to criticize
A man of dignity, full of courage
His message- love, peace, friendly ties

My father- a man of words and intellect
There’s no one like you, you polish my mind
You know my faults yet embrace me
Your love and kindness, my built-in find

You work devotedly like a slave till night
That your family can slumber easy and tight
You smile at us and ease the pain
Your sagacious decisions always right

My love for you like a never-ending sky
Your affection on me is right from cradle
No diamonds or pearls can replace your love
If God allowed, I would worship your idol

Published in Weekly MAG, July 2-8, 2005, Jun 19-25, 2004

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

TIME MATTERS

Nothing belongs to us but time
Take care of it and not of dime

Every day to us is a precious entity
One who utilize it, finds eternity

So beware! How you kill your time
In future, you won’t find a way to climb

Take time to learn is the secret of success
Every target one sets, can be easily access

This world has no place for time-killers
Procrastinator and loiterer can never shimmer

‘Do it now’ is a favorite saying of my friend
All worries and frets you can comfortably mend

If you do not embrace time and stand still
Soon it will take revenge and make you kill

Published in Young Nation of daily The Nation, 19 May, 2003

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

WITH MALICE TOWARDS NONE

Lets forget
Our old skirmishes
Lets keep our hearts
Free of malices
Lets show our love
And not of hatred
Lets remove all doubts
That has been fabricated

If you are not
A predecessor
Let me do it first
‘Cause neither in
a book of God,
Nor in a book of thoughts
Passion and serenity
A word, self-centered exists.

Published in Young Nation of daily The Nation, May 13, 2003, Weekly MAG, Feb 14-20, 2004

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

NEVER SAY GOODBYE

NEVER SAY GOODBYE
(In memory of a class-mate)

I hate those words sound ‘goodbye’
It snatched my beloved while I cry

She deserted me in hours of need
I’m stranded alone on a shore, indeed

Nights have gone and days slipped away
Alas! I could not get for what I pray

If I had known, you are leaving me
Would have loved you more, I plea

Now days and nights belong to the past
Such is a path where life shows contrast

Those days so remote now eclipsed by time
Like stars behind misty clouds, hazy and sublime

Cherished moments stand still for none
Nostalgic dreams, my wish, my yearn

Let’s share a few minutes together again
First we shared ecstasy now share the pain

Published in Weekly MAG, March 12-18, 2003, The Nation & The News of April 19, 2003

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

THIS IS MY CHILDHOOD…

Days of childhood, essence of my life
The longer I grow, the larger my strife

Standing on a beach, remembering my past
Trying to recollect, those memories I’ve lost

When life meant nothing but too much fun
I spent whole days with my dear ones

Not silver, jewels, neither gems nor gold
I want nothing but my childhood to hold

Those were the days when world looks bright
And everything for me on the height of delight

Naughty feelings, care-free life and bath in rain
Were the chief activities of what I contained

Those days certainly prized possession of mine
When moon smiled at me and stars used to shine

Give me my childhood and take my adult
And I won’t care about the religious cult

Published in Young Nation of daily The Nation, 26 March, 2003, Weekly MAG, Dec 13-19, 2003

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

BE OPTIMISTIC

Every night is chased by a brighter day
So do not be afraid of life, they say

One should enjoy maximum pleasure
Who does so gain a real treasure

People who detest laughters and smiles
For them happiness lies but many a miles

Life is a name of ups and down
Who holds his nerves wear a crown

Don’t just watch dark side of a photo
Be optimistic and pragmatic is my motto

Published in Young Nation of daily The Nation, 25 March, 2003

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

MIRROR & MY HEART

A mirror suddenly dropped out of my hand
Shattered into pieces like a wind-blown sand

A terrible noise haunts in my room
That vociferous voice ends a way of groom

That mirror, a memory of my sweet lady
Now makes my life sad and no more shady

Those pieces of mirrors lying next to me
‘Causing great trouble and bring tears to me

Fragile mirror's sound creates massive mess
‘Cause it’s not akin to my heart that is noiseless

Published in weekly Disney discoverer of The News, 08 Feb 2003

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

A stone is deprive of the gift of smiling
Neither has it contained a habit of scowling
A stone is unable to display emotions
Never your partner in sorrow or singing

The life expectancy of a stone is high
This extended age is all in vain
Flower has the shortest life-span
Its fragrance is eternal, soothes the pain

Published in weekly US magazine of The News, April 19, 2005

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

THE SAME STROKE

The rain of terror
Is still on
But with
A slight mutation
Then
Strangers were
Wreckers-in-chief
Now
Our very own
Kith and kin

Published in weekly MAG, Feb 26- 04 March, 2006, The Nation

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

A PERFECT DREAM

If dreams of all kinds are on sale
Scintillating and full of temptations
Sparkling dreams with flashy colors
What would you pick without hesitation?

My certain dream will comprise on …
A peaceful country, happiness all around
Law and order, no vex and worry
No jealousy, hatred and bad sound

Published in weekly MAG, Feb 26- 04 March, 2006, US magazine of The News

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

UPS AND DOWNS

Life is not all toil and pain
Neither every act a danger
A lot of friends amid your ways
Not everyone a stranger

There may be rain or a storm
But smooth breeze will blow too
You’ll go through many autumns
But spring is waiting to greet you

Sorrow, suffering, strife and struggle
May pelt you for a while
Joy’ll prevail over all obstacles
If you’re hardworking and agile

Published in weekly US magazine The News, March 25, 2005, weekly MAG, Feb 26- 04 March, 2006

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

ALL IS YOURS

Even my tears
Belong to you
It keeps on flowing
In memory of you

Published in The News, June 12, 2004

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

LIFE OF UNEMPLOYED

My past is paved with thorny pain
People say me crazy and totally insane

I walked, ran and struggled so hard
Yet failed to gain any reward

No one ever offered me a chair
They wanted me to stand up everywhere

To save myself from public jeers
I filled an ocean with my tears

No leader consoled me when I weep
Nor anyone know if I die in my sleep

The excursion of my life is still un-enjoyed
Because of the curse of unemployed

Published in weekly MAG, May 22-28, 2004

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

A SILENT PRAYER

Fear and fury penetrated the land
Buildings converted into pieces of sand

Those were the days wrapped in infamy
Life changed thereafter for he and she

It was a war for oil, not dove-like
Where US cruel incentives ready to strike

Although WMDs were never recovered
The eyes of UNO also got covered

Foes toppled houses but not your pride
All are alive in our hearts who are died

Millions of prayers for those who are lost
Praises, blessings and glories utmost

Published in weekly the MAG, May 15-21, 2004

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

SLAVE OF MEMORIES

I wish you’re a gurgling little butterfly
I may capture you and have utmost fun
I wish you’re an exotic flower
I may put you in pages of my book
I wish you’re a precious little gem
I may have a garland around my neck

But you’re neither of it all
You’re like flowing water
You’re like a flying bird
You’re like a blowing wind
You’re like a flourishing memory
How can I seize you

You bewitched me under all suspects
O’ my memories! O’ past time!
You’ve made me your obedient slave
Please set me free from your magic

Published in weekly MAG, Nov 08-14, 2003, US magazine, The News

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

SUBLIME JOY

To me, it is a matter of sublime joy
That the caged birds I observe are really few
But there’s abundance of those birds
Who are unshackled, make no cry and hue

To me, it is a matter of sublime joy
A fish can never feel bondage
All it needs, immense water to live
With no extended vision to exploit the age

To me, it is a matter of sublime joy
The flowers have limited time to bloom
Whether they remain intact with a bough
Or a pore of hand makes them gloom

To me, it is a matter of sublime joy
A man needs these things occasionally
‘Cause he craves for birds, flowers and fish
Just to trample them pessimistically

Published in The Nation, Sep 05, 2003, Weekly MAG, Dec 27-02 Jan, 2004.

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

RAINY DAYS

A pearl of rain
Touches me
Gives new color to life
Fills all souls in bounty
Cuckoo’s voice pulsing in the air
Causing climate to tremble
The flowers mingle with the breeze
And the voice of frolicking boys
Makes life more vibrant
Little gals rejoicing in pouring drops
With singing, swinging and dancing

Far from
The overwhelming pleasure
Under a shady tree
I am standing
In solitude
Sans any clamor
And nostalgia is
Melting my heart

Published in weekly MAG, Aug 06-12, 2005.

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

LETS’S RESUSCITE

O’ my beloved country!
I’m extremely mortified
We all exploited you
In the name of ‘submissive will’

O’ onlookers!
O’ mute creatures!
Never forsake
The sanctity of your land

If you relinquish
The righteousness of this soil
You’ll be deprived of
All your laurels

Your esteem, reverence
And recognition
Is bind and intact
To your holy land

Again today
This land of pure
Whooping and shrieking
For its salvation

Come on! Bravo!
Take a step
The time is ripe enough
Let’s resuscitate

Published in Weekly The MAG, Feb 18-24, 2006 & The Post.

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

A PEACEFUL WORLD

I wish to live in a world so elegant
Like a rose petal, cool and resplendent
The world where everyone is free to his will
And no wars and arms are there to kill

Published in The News, June 12, 2004

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD.
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

MY BROTHER: A WALKING LEXICON WALKS AWAY ...

BY MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
ISLAMABAD
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

Just escaping the superstitious numero of thirteen, it was the ferocious moment well before the cracks of dawn get wider and my brother made his way to heaven through that chasm of 4th Muharram-ul-Haraam, 14th January, 2008. My beloved brother ultimately succumbed against the noxious tentacles of squamous cell carcinoma battling valiantly for life over 14 months. I feel honored that he felt comfortable and safe to go to meet his maker peacefully infront of my eyes; however the vision of his last breath will play on my mind once and forever. His diverse traits set him apart from the rest. He impressed everyone to the core and now he is doing it in the air of heavens.

Muhammad Moazzam Bashir, 47, a commoner of 15th & 17th CTP, serving as an additional commissioner of Income tax was a down to earth, munificent, kind-hearted, life-loving, unselfish individual remained involve in a lively conversation to everyone coming his way with the eyes on the future. His calm and composed disposition even in the dark moments of anxiety, spoke volume to us when we were overawed by our position. In his thoughts, beyond a somewhat labored eloquence, I found plenty of wisdom, embodied with improvised phrases. It was delightful to notice in him that rare gift of appreciating the importance of apparently ordinary things and projecting before us with courage, conviction and perfection. To me, my brother's intellectual journey made him more a nomad in the kingdom of knowledge than a sedentary inhabitant who was apprehensive of wondering into unknown tenuous of thoughts. His overwhelming life offered me a lot to think and his premature bereavement left loads to feel.

After the biopsy reports confirmation in positive, Moazzam bhai was well-responsive to the prospect as I knew him a person to go till the bottom to investigate the whole thing while staying on pinnacle. And I have no qualm in saying that this was the clandestine behind his success and lesson to all his remnants. The Biopsy descriptions lead to three major surgeries followed by radio and biotherapy. Nothing hampered the cell growth as it travelled one spot to another freely in no time. Cancer rapidly devoured bhai's insides and chemotherapy left him exhausted. There were over half a dozen deep wounds filled with pus gulping bhai internally, and swelling was on the rise. It was so painful physically for bhai, and mentally for us as communication was mute between us since ten months. He swayed upon us with his hand-writings on note-books. He shed his weight immensly but he refused to shed his intellect till the very end. Despite all these hard times, he survived with a lot of dignity, commitment, hopefulness and utmost patience. I still can't believe Moazzam Bhai has made his exit, I still can't accept it, but I believe it is just a transition from a good place towards a better spot where stars are spelling out his name.

Moazzam Bhai was a person of extreme generosity, never had a second thought of donating things, be it an expensive wrist-watch or an imported shirt. My wardrobe is still stuffed with the generosity of Bhai as sometime I thought, should I buy any locallly-stiched shirt or tie or to get Eue de Cologne with my own expense or should I keep on bragging against my friends and office fellows with imported material courtesy of Bhai? And I always opted the later. I am also a propitious and fortunate not because of the same physical frame structure of Bhai but with the same size of feet. I distinctly remember the day once I visited his home at Gujranwala and he said goodbye to me with a sack, jam-packed with thirteen pair of broche shoes. I shyly picked the bag but I never refused because it was my built-in right and because I am his smallest brother.

Today, when people from cross-section of society embrace me for consolation, a lot many says, it is the same aroma inside you of your brother and I promptly respond, an attire and cologne may be the same but I don't have his brain to match. There is no replica of Moazzam Bhai, not at all.

He was a tastefully well-dressed person always scolding me for my weird choice of outfit and unpolished pair of slippers. He loved to be drenched in fragrance with wide range of perfumes studded in his cupboard. Ironically, I would never forget the day when in hospital room a staff nurse said furiously: "It's so stinky inside, why don’t you use air freshener then"? We were well-prepared for all the questions but we were numb and helpless.

My brother, to me was more like a duplication of father, always concerned for my future. While posted here in capital city as Deputy Secretary in Ministry of Commerce, Moazzam bhai was my room mate at home. I have very doting memories of spending those two years with him. It was the time when I tried my luck to go for competitive examinations with the passion to get parallel to him professionally. "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says, I M Possible", was his life-time message to me. Every night he induced new tips in my brain with novel instructions. Alas! I couldn't follow that man and I flunked with dignity though, but my passion could not be translated into reality.

Many nights later, while cupid struck me and one night I was in washroom, my cell phone was on charging fully utilising the options of silent mode and vibrator. Just after my appearance again in the room, I found Moazzam Bhai reading a book, he tilted the book slightly and whispered: "Study, I mean professional study for the sake of your sheltered future and love … can never be friends, can not be syncronised", my dear brother! I shook my head, stared back at him with a tiny smile & everything went in the air.

I would not fail to remember last year summer when I went through bad experience of developing a skin allergy. I hired the services of different classified dermatolgists who prescribed wide range of liquids, lotions, creams and pills. I still remember the only common medicated cream was with the name of "cutivate", nothing worked to push me back to my comfort zone. And I was feeling like walking through clutches of stress, anxiety, frustration, and mental aggravation because of unemployment, some domestic reasons coupled with broken relations. Moazzam Bhai came, had a glance at me and retorted: "You are your own doctor; remedy is in your hand. Give your thoughts a positive touch. There's nothing good or bad but your thinking makes the difference. Your brain can help you preventing all diseases. This is not a skin problem, it's a brain problem, my kid." And soon after I gave new shapes to my ideas, I never visted any skin specialist till then. I must confess here, he was indeed a trouble-shooter not only for me but every individual of our family, relatives and beyond.

There's not a single occasion I've experienced, when Moazzam Bhai came to Islamabad and not desired to see my photo albums, reading my published articles and diaries of my selected poetry.


He used to take pleasure in every afore-mentioned activity. He ardently watched out my photo albums and complimented me as a "photogenic person". Now my favorite habit of taking my own pictures through my own cell phone is quickly fading, I am out of touch with writings and contributing for newspapers since indefinite period not because I've lost my words but I've lost an admirer.

The year 2006 commenced with the sad note of demise of my Taya Gee, who was residing along Moazzam Bhai in Gujranwala. It was a bright sunny day of 20th of January when Taya Gee became the victim of reckless driver while crossing a road. With the broken legs, right arm, ribs and skull, he breathed his last on the spot. As soon as this dreadful news covered the distance to Islamabad, a deep sense and emotions of outrage against the culprit raised in our home. There was no person more poignant then Moazzam Bhai. The clash of mind gripped us, the offender was held and Moazzam Bhai made the verdict immediately well before the judge of court. His decree for many of us was mind-baffling, but precise and succinct: "I forgive this blood." During his ailing days, Moazzam Bhai came to know about the dark sides of some of close associates and relatives. Those were the persons to whom Bhai devoted fair share of his life but they turned down the value of services Bhai construct for them. However, a strange dazzle of his eyes revealed to me that he has no retribution against any of them.

He was talented in more then one sense of the word, got an aesthetic sense of art and paintings. He was a prolific watercolorist. A lot of paintings of the Quranic verses are hanging on wall to wall of different rooms. He was a fervent music lover of all genres and a passionate reader of books from poetry to prose. Gardening was his second religion. The gardens inside home in Income tax colony were all barren, and Moazzam Bhai single handedly made a green revolution there. I hardly memorize a single evening, when Bhai was at home and not playing with floral and watering the plants. I wonder, had someone ask him if tomorrow is doomsday, what would you do? And his answer could have been, "I would plant a tree."

It was the love and affection of him towards family that he never missed out any auspicious moment of us. No matter, he was in Karachi, Lahore, Gujranwala, or Gujrat, he joined us every time well before time. Last three Eids, we missed him because of his dwindling health with special prayers of mother and father. Though death is unavoidable, Moazzam Bhai's was surely untimely. Life belongs to those who are ready to die and he wanted to live but opted to die.

There is not a colossal cruel moment an aged father can have as hearing this news of his young son. My father, Bashir Hussain Nazim, (pride of performance) a renowned scholar and Naatia poet bear this heartbreaking incident with a lot of audacity, by the grace of God. Although I still wake up with a silent cry, mixed up with hiccup and recitation of the holy Quran from his room. My mother is with my eldest bhabi always engrossed in prayers and recitation of Quran. I found her strolling in every nook and corner of that house, repeatedly opening up all packed closets of her biggest son and put her love inside it with rosary in her hand and tears in her eyes.

Moazzam Bhai's rendered meritorious services in Income tax department of Federal Board of Revenue. He was a team player who brought stability to his departments. He was never divisive, but sought to promote consensus because he saw it as strengthening the discipline. More important, though, were the ways in which he influenced others, but never being influenced. He had a remarkable ability to project warmth, affection, respect, and sincere appreciation for officers, colleagues and friends. His professional career was marked by tireless service as a dedicated and altruistic officer. One of the qualities that made Bhai such valuable officer was the depth of his docile attitude from ministerial levels to staff. Wherever he was posted, he brought business community closer to revenue department. He became increasingly involved in the activities of the Social set-up as his social circle was so enormous. He was one of the eminent members of think tank of Gujranwala. Those who knew Moazzam Bhai well delighted in his talent for evoking shared moments and recounting the minute details that induced mirth and fond memories. My brother will be remembered for the way he dedicated his career to the services of Income Tax department of Pakistan for his genuine, kindhearted nature.

Before I round off this piece of writing, it would be a sheer injustice if I forget to acknowledge the services of Prof. Dr. Sheharyar, Head of Oncology Deptt, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Prof. Dr. Riaz Ahmed Warraich, Head of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Dr. Muhammad Hafeez of Mayo Hospital, Dr. Moazzam Ali Tarar of Jinnah Hospital, Dr. Mukarram Bashir of CMH Thal, and all batchmates and friends of Moazzam Bhai. I would like to owe a huge debt of gratitude to my cousin Waseem, who was great source of strength and inspiration during the laborious work. His continuous assistance and help was literally unparallel. He abandoned 14 crucial months of his career to keep Bhai alive. Words are totally inadequate to express my thanks to Mamu Saleem and his whole family for their confidence and help extended to us. My massive thanks go to my cousin Saqib for his imperative role in difficult moment from dawn to dusk. Words fall short to thank Sabeen for her motivational words. I am also indebted to my friends especially Madiha, Hafsa, Farhat, Leena, Bushra, Rafea, Lalarukh, Attiya, Rabia, Hina, Romia, Tahir, Iqbal, Kamran, Amjad and a few millions other friends of my father and of Moazzam Bhai who were constantly praying for his health. I would never compensate your prayers.

Winding up this article is not difficult but winding up my memories towards Moazzam Bhai is so difficult. Allow me to say something resembling the moral of a story: "Moazzam Bhai was, in a way, a depiction of our own future, observing him, the future seems bright."

Reliving the memory of Muhammad Moazzam Bashir Celestial Realm of awe and admiration of his personality inspires our hearts, kindness, intellect and prudent intelligence kindles our thoughts. It is requested to all dear readers to pray for Moazzam Bhai's maghfirat. May Almighty Allah bless his soul in eternal peace and grant us the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and give us strength to nurture his all three daughters to his penchant.

I have never imagined you'd ever be so far away, my brother. Your wisdom will continue to shine on us forever. I know you have never flirted in your life then why ... you flirted WITH life?? Even today, when I raise my hands in sincere prayers for dear departed, a voice whispers in my ears…

Tum logon' say door hoon phir bhi itna door nahi
Yad karo to Aa jaoon' ga aansoo ban kar aankhon' may.

Published in daily The Frontier Post on 17th Feb, 2008

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

Day after day
Time passed away
And I just can't get you off my mind
Nobody knows, I hide it inside
I keep on searching but I can't find

The courage to show to letting you know
I've never felt so much love before
And once again I'm thinking about
Taking the easy way out

But if I let you go I will never know
What my life would be holding you close to me
Will I ever see you smiling back at me?
How will I know if I let you go?

Night after night I hear myself say
Why can't this feeling just fade away
There's no one like you (no one like you)
You speak to my heart (speak to my heart)
It's such a shame we're worlds apart

It's too shy to ask, I'm too proud to lose
But sooner or later I gotta choose
And once again I'm thinking about
Taking the easy way out

But if I let you go I will never know
What my life would be, holding you close to me
Will I ever see you smiling back at me?
How will I know, if I let you go?
Courtesy: WESTLIFE (my personal favorite)

FINAL WORDS

They say, "time is a great healer", but to me… every passing moment gets me spiritually and emotionally more closer to my beloved brother. Every day I get a note of condolence through emails, telephone-calls, letters & Sms. There are many across the world, who made calls & stunned over sad demise of Moazzam Bhai. Your words in any form give us strength. I know well this is where no one can help you but one can feel sorry, that's what only you can do & that's what only we all need. Millions of people including so many dignitaries attended Moazzam Bhai's funeral & console us at the time of lurch. I, on behalf of my father, extend a deep debt of gratitude to all of you. And I sanguinely request with hope, you would remember and pray for my brother's soul more keenly as you did for his recovery during his ailing days. Your overwhelming support reminds all our family members to smile again.
Thank you all of you.

For more .. please visit the following links

http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2008/05/if-i-could-work-miracles.html
http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2008/04/tere-bina-xindagi-bhi-laikin.html
http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2008/03/in-memory-of-my-brother_06.html
http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2008/03/most-important-part-of-body-is.html

WORDS THAT KEEP ME BREATHING ...

Olive from Rawalpindi Sms':

September 06, 2008 20:49

May his soul rest in peace. 1day v al ve 2 go back 2 our creator. v can jst pray 4 his high darjar.May God bear this loss. sory 4 spel mistake.

Sadaf nasim from Lahore writes':

August 18th, 2008 2:01 PM

all the best wishes are for u man !!!may your brother's soul always rest in peace ,,, May ALLAH shower his blessings on you and your family always :)

Tayaba from Islamabad Emails’:
Aug 17, 2008 11:02 AM
Salam Mahtab,
It was just now that I read the email about the pain that you have faced and still undergoing due to the sad demise of your brother. May Allah rest his soul in eternal peace and grant you and your family strength to bear this irreparable loss. It is 15th of Shaban tonight... May Allah bless you all...
With profound regards,
Tayaba Batool

Tooba from Islamabad Emails’:
Aug 14, 2008 8:41 AM
m really sorry Mahtab n definitely v wil pray for ur brother .Although there can never be any replacement for the loss of a loved one, wepray to Allah to grant u n ur family sabar to bear this huge loss.

May Allah give Pakistan n its people prosperity. Ameen.

Pakistan Zindabad!
Tooba.

Michelle from Australia Email's:

Jun 11, 2008 2:28 PM

Hi Mahtab,
Please excuse me very much- for my late reply to you. I have been really busy in the last few days with work, organising my finances, getting ready to apply for visas etc. etc. So i'm a little behind on my emails.
It's 7.30pm here in Sydney- and i am a little tired- so i will reply to your email later.
I just wanted to send a quick email- to let you know i'm not ignoring you- and i do thank you for sharing with me- including about your beloved brother. I read the stories you lovingly wrote. It sounds like you both shared a very special relationship. ... I have thought about your story, your families story since you emailed me- and i really feel for you and your family- it must be very very hard. So i think and say a little prayer for you all in my own way. Life can certainly be hard- loss is very hard- and again i feel for you and your family. I wish you all hope, warmth, love and that you feel the comfort of others in those hard times...
take good care Mahtab
your friend,
michelle

Sumaira from Islamabad SMS':

14 April, 2008 12:57

Allah may bles his soul.

Lalarukh from Rawalpindi emails':

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:12:27 -0700

Bhai was a Nobel soul. May his soul rest in peace. May Allah give u courage to endure this grief. God bless u.

Masood Bhai from Myanmar writes:
Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 3:07 AM
AOA I am regularly receiving Mahtab's Articals. I will suggest him to read twice (after taking a print, as on computer you miss a lot of things) before sending these articals to press. I found many small mistakes in the Moazzam sb/s artical as well as of Helmet related one. I have read fully the artical on Moazzam sb some days ago. It is really superb. A prize of US$ 100/- is due to him (although have mistakes).
Baqi sub theek hai. Hashir and Aqib are fine and fully enjoying / wasting time after their first term exams. They are having 1-1/2 months summer vacations now. Aqib is very upset after disappearance of GEO SUPER as he was watching cricket matches of ICL very closely and supporting Lahore Badshahs.
Zaini fell down in school a week ago and escaped a collar bone / shoulder fracture. She is resting at home with a sling but still feeling pain in left shoulder. At night she cries. thats the life.
Baqi sub theek hai. How are Ammi and Abba ji. My respectful salam to them. salam to everyone around. Take care and Allah Hafiz Pls reply in detail soon. MASOOD

Rizwan Anjum from London, UK writes:
March 27, 2008 8:24 PM
My Dear Mahtab,Yaar I was Intentionally diverting myself from this heart-breaking and shocking state of grief by not calling anybody, so, i can escape from this..... But, I cannot Be successful in this try. What a FOOL I was..... Muhammad Moazzam Bashir, Whom i always call Moazzam Mamoo, A True Gentleman , A Legend, An Inspiration to all youngsters,in and out of family. A person with whom you can share each detail of your life. When ever i met him, I always saw him smiling and saying " RAZI BHAI, KI HAAL WAY ".

I can still feel the warmth of his hand and words in me. eveytime we met, he ask about the new collection of Ties, Shirts and perfumes. Whenever we met, either he came to my place or i visited him we have a memorable chat which got exchange of ideas, in which Moazzam MAMOO always succeeded in convincing me that he was a true " GENIUS ". I still Cannot accept this news that Moazzam Mamoo Is not with us. I Cannot think about that. Still, after every prayer, I am so much involved that Instead of Dua for his maghfarat, I use to pray for his health. Truley speaking, I have no control over this. This is only beacause of the true love given by Moazzam Mamoo to all of us. I always feel proud of giving this reference, that my mamoo is Additional Commissioner of income tax. And Because of this Sometimes I call Him " Sahib Jee ". ALAs! Now I can only think of that.

14th of January will be remembered for the whole life especially by me. This is the day of My Wedding and death of Moazzam Mamoo. As we (me & Wife) were celebrating our wedding anniversary in London and had just ordered a dinner. The cell phone rang and my mother was on the line. She Had given me this Devastating news that Moazzam Mamoo had passed away. Everything turned dark for us. I was thinking that it was a bad dream but, it was the hard fact. When my Son MAHDI was born, I thought that all regrets of my life had gone away. But, After the death of Moazzam Mamoo, This regret will always with me that I was unable to serve him during his illness and last days and morover that i have'nt got his " AKHRI DEEDAR ". Moazzam Mamoo will be ALways in my heart with Utmost respect & Love.

MAY ALLAH BLESS HIM WITH THE EVERLASTING BLESSINGS AND HIS SOUL REST IN HEAVEN.HE WAS SUCH A REMARKABLE PERSONALITY.

In the last i will quote this verse of my Grandfather Bashir Munzir.Moat Ley Jaye gi MAH Paron KoHaaye Ye Log Bhi Mar Jayein Gay.

AllAH-O-Wali.Allah HAfiz.

Notch from Karachi writes:
29 January, 2008

Peace and blessings be upon you & your family....It's really so sad....I have no words....loss of a life is always a great loss....May his soul rest in perfect peace!
Emaad from Rawalpindi writes:
31 jan, 2008
Its So Sad
Lalarukh from Rawalpindi writes:
Wed, Feb 13, 2008 at 8:28 AM
May his soul rest in peace and May Almighty Allah Give u strength to endure this demise.
Article is touchy. voice of heart. Take care and try to overcome this greif.May Allah always b with u.
Unknown SMS from Islamabad:
27 Feb, 2008 12:46
Asalamoalakum I m a regular reader of ur articles. I m really impressed u have done a marvelous job in the article about ur brother death. I literely cry whil reading last line of the article. Keep up the good work. Take care
Abdul Rashid khan from Yangon, Burma writes:
Wed, Feb 13, 2008 at 4:41 AM
Bhaijan assalam u alaikum!
How are you sir. I have been missing you since your departure. Kindly let us know about your welfare. Since your great father was in Lahore when I visited your Gujranwala home, I could not have the honour of meeting him at that time, could you now convey my Salam to him, please.
We received the eulogy to the dear departed Moazzam Bashir Saheb, "My Brother: A walking Lexicon", by our small brother Mahtab Bashir. It is quite touching and naturally full of younger brotherly feelings and at some places it has gone to be innocent like the author himself.
I would share my view with you brother Mahtab later. Kindly send your e-messages on my e-mail address.
Masood Bhaijan please akhhan kholo. Allah hafiz. aRashidkhan, PA to Ambassador, Embassy of Pakistan, Yangon.
Fazeelat Shakir from Karachi writes:
Sat, 8 Mar 2008 21:30:19 +0000
Assalamoalykum! How r you? I visited your blog. Got to know about your brother. Felt really sorry for the sad demise of your brother...an irrecoverable loss!And you have amazing writing style. I read it all. It was very well done!Take good care!Allah Hafiz!

iftikhar alam writes from Rawalpindi:
Friday, February 01, 2008 1:43:19 PM
Asalam O Alaikum!
Mehtab Bashir Saab!
It was very shocking news for me when our orkut friend A Mian (Attiya Imdad) told me that you have lost your elder brother on January 14.
Inalila-hi-wa-inaa alaihi rajighoon!!!
Allah taala unko janat naseeb kary.
You scrapped me few days back about letter to the editor but did not told me about this dreadful event. I know the importance of elder brother, as I am the eldest brother of my brothers, they all respect me like our father and I treat them alike. And I am sure that your brother was also the same. How old he was and what was his profession?
If you want to write about your brother like Attiya wrote about her mother, I help you in publishing it on our city pages.
May Allah keep his soul in eternal peace.
Duaon ka talabgar
Iftikhar Alam

Farhat Akram from Islamabad emails:
Apr 15, 2008 8:30 AM

Dear Mehtaab!!
I offer prayers and Fateha for your loving brother, hope the lesson you or any body connected with him would not go in drain down the life lane ... i didn't know much of the background of the story and this line but i hope what i have told you and sent you my inspiration for this line was not based on this sort of painful experience but the agony i have passed through for the last six years was enough to teach me the lessons Omnipotent taught me. He is excellent teacher Mehtab and teaches the lessons only by letting people go through serious of exercises. If at the beginning of the exercise you raise the cries then HE would be very annoyed but at every step of life one does pay Shukar then i think every step is worthy of His Happiness. Any way
i can speak and go on and on till the end.
I can well imagine regarding your pain and agony you are going through , Allah will help you recover.
I hope things will get better soon.

Aamer W G Chaudhary emails from unkown place:

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:30:45 +0000

sorry to hear about the demise of your brother. I have offered Fateha for him. May Allah bless the departed soul! AmeenRegards

In MEMORY of MY BRO!

Hazaar Rahein mur kay dakheen
Kaheen say koi sada na ayee
Badi wafa say nibhayee tu nay
Hamari thodi si bewafai
Jahaan say tum mor mur ga-ay thay
ye mor ab bhi waheen paray hain
Hum apnay pairoon' may janay kitnay
Bhanwar lapetay huye khaday hain
Badi wafa say nibhai tunay
Hamari thori si bewafai
Kaheen kisi roz yun bhi hota
Hamari halat tumahari hoti
Jo raatein humnay guzareen mar kay
Wo ratein tumnay guzaareen hoteen'
Badi wafa say nibhaeen tunay
Hamari thodi si bewafai
Tumhain ye zidd thi kay hum bulaatay
Humain ye umeed wo pukarein
Hay naam honton' pay ab bhi laikin
Awaaz may par gaeen' dararain
Hazaar rahein mur kay dakheen'
Kaheen say koi sada na ayee
Badi wafa say nibhayee tunay
Hamari thodi si bewafai
Hamari thori si bewafai

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr7sEGHuSwE

A HAPPY COUPLE in 1992

Barisho' kay udaas mosam may

Khud ko dekhoo' to yaad aay koi

Kash aik bar yoo' bhi ho jay

Mein pukaroo' to laot aay koi

It is perhaps the final full-fledged family Reunion, Holiday Inn, Islamabad on 23rd October, 1996

Haadsay waqt kay betaab bata-tay hain mujhay

Jinko miltay hain saha-ray, wo sambhal jatay hain

Ashq bankar wohi ankhon' say nikal jatay hain

Dard ki yaad say armaan' jo pighal jatay hain

IF I HAD ONLY KNOWN...

If I had only known,

I'd never hear your voice again

I'd memorise each word you ever said

& on these lonely nights,

I could think of them once more

& keep your words alive inside my head

IF I HAD ONLY KNOWN...

Please recite Sura'h Fatiha for this gentleman in glasses

Thanx

Even my tears

Belong to you

It keeps on flowing

In memory of you.

-mahtab

Jo khayaal thay na qayaas thay, wohi log mujhsay bichar gay
Jo mohabbaton' ki asaas thay, wohi log mujhsay bichar gay

Jinhay manta hi nahi ye dil, wohi log hain meray hamsafar
Mujhay har tarah say jo raas thay, wohi log mujhsay bichar gay

Mujhay lamha bhar ki rafaqaton' kay azaab aur satain' gay
Meri umr bhar ki jo piyaas thay, wohi log mujhsay bichar gay

Ye khayaal hain saray aarzi, ye gulaab saray hain kaghazi
Gul-e-arzoo ki jo baas thay, wohi log mujhsay bichar gay

Jinhay kar saka na qabool mein, wo shareeq-e-rah-e-safar huye
Jo meri talab meri aas thay, wohi log mujhsay bichar gay

Meri dharkano' kay qareeb thay, meri chah thay, mera khwaab thay
Wo jo roz-o-shab meray paas thay, wohi log mujhsay bichar gay.

Courtsy: Aitbar Sajid

Guzashta chahato' ka dukh hawa may sarsaraay to
Koi bhoola hua lamha achanak yaad aye to
Tum apnay dil ka weerana bohat abad kar lena
Mujhay tum yad kar lena, mujhay tum yad kar lena

Khayaalo' kay mandero' par koi mashal jalaay to
Bahaaro' ka koi mosam tumhay wapis bulay to
Meri yado' ki khushboo sy wafa ko shaad kar lena
Mujhay tum yad kar lena, mujhay tum yad kar lena.

THE REMNANTS

Maryum is the smallest , 7 years old studying in Pepperdine Schools Network. She is so finicky & I pray to Almighty to give me brain to convince this young lady with all my answers.

Xainab, 10, is the middle sister. Famous for her dialogue delivery. mimicking & making faces. Not to forget, she is an addict to Indian soaps.

Noor a.k.a Guriya is the head of this gang. Studying in 9th class of DPS. She is gullible, thori si pagli, thori siyani.

Rehana, 43, my assertive Bhabhi likes poetry & old Indian songs. She is very nostalgic.

For more ... Please visit the following links

http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2008/05/if-i-could-work-miracles.html
http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2008/04/tere-bina-xindagi-bhi-laikin.html
http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-brother-walking-lexicon-walks-away.html
http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2008/03/most-important-part-of-body-is.html

THIS IS WHERE I BELONG:

By Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn9jbE2QPWY&feature=related

Just over two and half decade ago, I came into this world in capital city of Islamabad. Since many years after I took my senses, greenery, cleanliness and serenity were the pet words used to describe my birthplace. Unfortunately, I have lost these complimentary words and my childhood simultaneously. With the restructuring of the roads in Islamabad, Islamabadiites are struggling to redefine their ways of travelling inside their own city. In most recent days, everything is going up including the shirts of young gals in size as inflation rate has added as many troubles as of layers in girl’s shalwar.

Islamabad, where beauty used to intrigue is no more different to other messy places of the country in modern days. The rapid increase of vehicle, traffic jams, lack of parking spaces, air pollution, dust and garbage, dilapidated roads, pollen allergy, no more vegetation (cutting of trees & mountains), high rate of inflation, increase of katchi abadees, influx of people into the city, lack of walking tracks, public parks and picnic spots, security guards culture, impure edibles and bad quality meals, billboards and hoardings everywhere, lack of theater, cinema halls, cultural complexes and public libraries, discriminatory policy against different sectors, minimum social behavior and public interaction, rapid increase in number of beggars, and last but not least disparity between rich and poor are the awfully common deficiencies a dweller of Islamabad city is facing and observing keenly at the moment.

In this age of cutting-edge technology, the most bewildering aspect of humankind is vehicle parking. Islamabad with its newly constructed wider roads may make traffic flow going but unable to create parking space. A multi-national company Metro, cash and carry is just a fresh addition the occupant of Islamabad waiting inquisitively since many months. But to my sheer disappointment even after shopping worth 5000 Rs, I was deprived of taking shopping bags to put all shopping items in it. It is quite an interesting feature of this massive shopping centre that a card holder (a business entrepreneur) is permitted to purchase minimum 2000 Rs, but at the exit point you would be provided plastic bags for the cost of Rs. 16 an ordinary shopping bag with metro written on it and if you are attracted to get thickly designed blue plastic bag you must have 90 Rs more in your wallet. But free shopping bag in reward of 2000 Rupees or more then this still a ridiculous decision.

Islamabad once was a city with a small population, there was less traffic and the flow was particularly smooth. Over the years, the number of people living in the capital or visiting it for work has grown in almost astronomical proportions. As more and more people are buying motor vehicles these days in the same order, adding miseries to the dwellers of this city day after day. Now the capital city is facing traffic congestions, which are at their worst during the morning, afternoon and evening peak rush hours. The hasty increase of traffic in Islamabad has been clogging roads, creating peak-hour traffic jams and causing undue wastage of time that has emerged as a critical issue that requires immediate attention. The whole problem has been neglected for too long and the Capital Development Authority has only recently started a program of widening the roads, especially the ones where the traffic load has increased considerably. A lot more underpasses are being under construction since long. To make the traffic flow leveled, roads and under passes are constructed that deprived this city to its vegetation, greenery and viciously injured the natural landscape of the mountains. Though the CDA has initiated a few fly-overs and a lot more underpasses of few of which already in used but due to constant delay in other projects the city’s roads are dilapidated and full of dust. More miseries embrace citizens of this city when they are forced to take alternative routes that wasted more then enough time. The insufficient parking space for vehicles is the biggest problem not only in this city but everywhere in the world as it is the problem of this century. One of the most detested days for people of my city is when a foreign dignitary comes to visit Prime minister, President or other higher level officials of this country. It takes a whole day in traffic queue waiting long.

Pollen is a major problem in Islamabad, which causes allergies that result in many deaths. Many residents leave the city during March and April to avoid the pollen. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) imported and planted Paper Mulberry in the capital. Paper Mulberry is not native to Pakistan but it was planted because it grows quickly. It spreads because birds carry its seeds. Today, the Paper Mulberry is causing problems in the city. Paper Mulberry has replaced much of the vegetation around Rawal Lake and is a growing threat to the natural vegetation of the national park and other valleys between eastern Islamabad as well. According to a report by the Pakistan Medical Research Council, about 45.5 percent of allergy patients in Islamabad and its sister city Rawalpindi were allergic to pollen from this plant. Similarly, the CDA recently planted Palm trees along some roads under its beatification campaign. During the planting, the public suffered breathing problems because there was a lot of dust on the main roads. Few other plants are also health nuisance for the capital’s people and natural wildlife.

Another problem of this city has been facing over the years is a number of afghan refugees living in Katchi Abadees of different cities. The majority of kids are involved in raising the social crimes such as theft; begging and women are indulged in making money adopting proscribed professions.

The katchi abadis are the home of the city’s workforce that the city does without to make it run: day laborers, drivers, washers, cooks, vendors, low-salaried government employees. Other then these Afghan people, Christian community are also living in about 30 katchi abadees of the city. They are supposedly the ancient inhabitants of the city and earning respectably. The lack of government recognition is usually the basis for the non-provision of basic services such as electricity, water, sewerage, schools and clinics in such lands where these people are residing.

I have no qualms in saying that Islamabad is the most expensive city of the country. From vegetables and fruits to all other commodities of household, all are beyond reach of the lower-middle class. Edibles price is soaring and it never stopped. In recent days tomato’s price is 120 Rs/ kilogram in this city is very fresh example of it. This city has developed a lot socially, yet majority of class is not much aware of who is living in his neighborhood. “No interference”, and “live and let others live”, is the credo of such people. They love to live their lives in seclusion. They are the resident of posh areas generally of F sector. A lot of restaurants, picnic spots, walling tracks, public parks have been developed and constructed but due to price hike, and non-delicious food, people show their reluctance to move to these places. Quality of food and its price would never match to Karachi, Lahore, Gujranwala or other food lover’s city that is what I have experienced ardently over the years.

Islamabad is perhaps the only capital city in the world that has minimum numbers of cinema halls, theaters, cultural complexes and public libraries. In recent months, National Art Gallery has been inaugurated but it has come to know that only members of NAG and elite class would benefit and cherish the art work inside this building. There is a place called the National Library but it is situated too deep in the seat of PM secretariat, and therefore too well guarded, for a commoner to access it. There is hardly any space one can see without advertisement, hoarding, pamphlet, brochure, leaflet, on the walls, trees or poles and gigantic billboards on the roof top of plazas, shopping centers or other buildings of this city. Such advertisements not only hamper the beauty of the place but provide psychological ailment to a passerby.

The government and CDA discriminatory policy against different sectors are also elevate the chasm between the residents of Islamabad. It is observed that mostly development work take place in posh sectors of the city where there is no need for ramification. On the other hand, the sectors which are considered as the under-privileged, the esteemed authority never pay the heed. So one can safely assume that all development work has been taking place in those sectors where white collared are residing. This should be stopped in future to fence the disparity between poor and the rich.

One of the most annoyed things of modern days in Islamabad is the booming culture of security guards. At any time of the day or night there are more security guards in a street than pedestrians. I'm not quite sure what purpose they serve, except keeping an eye on each other, monitoring the comings and goings of female servants, and forming opinions about their character based on these observations. I say that not on a hunch but going by the advice our neighbour's guard volunteered about the two maid servants who came to us looking for work. The proliferation of guards is a fad and a status symbol these days but I can see it as an expression of private enterprise's triumph over the state.

However, I must say that at the same time it gives me great pleasure too when I see so many newly settled pleasant and well-mannered people in Islamabad. increasing its population and making it a success story. The proof of any city becoming a successful viable habitat lies in the increasing number of people deciding to make it their home and my city is passing that litmus test, as more and more people from within and outside the country is making it their home, bringing in their entrepreneurial and social experiences from all over the world. It is increasing not only the richness and diversity of the culture in Capital of Pakistan, but also bringing in more able people to increase its productivity and wealth. I see a great future for Islamabad, but only wish that somebody would take pity on the feelings of a fool like me and take good care of Islamabad as it grows into a metropolis, so that it does not lose that empathy with nature that makes it so unique.

As they say, home is where the heart is and my heart is in Islamabad. Besides all these tribulations, Islamabad is the most beautiful and well-organized city of the world. It is still cool, quite and clean, weather is fine with heavy rains and a lot of foliage. People are soft and buildings are high. Lets pray our country would soar as high with the developed nations as the skyscrapers of Islamabad, the beautiful.

Published in daily The Frontier Post, 13th April, 2008 & in daily National Herald Tribune, 19 Oct, 2007

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

OUR SOCIAL ETHICS

By: Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

Man is the superlative species on the face of this planet, in improved words Ashraf-ul-Makhlukaat. He is sappy and sentimental by instinct that is why he is also known as a puppet of mistakes, but that doesn’t mean he has to commit the same blunder to let others aware, he is a human being after all. May be this is why; he is inclined to show devious attitude of which he is proscribed to do. Not only demonstrates his divergence but to execute it in perfection.

A lot of questions crop up to a thinking mind here. Is it a natural instinct of a man or his own bully attitude wrapped in his own intuition? What is the rationale behind this phenomenon and why man articulates in such way?

Why we feel our ego at cloud nine soon after violating the traffic rules? Why we sense great deal of bliss after depriving off a poor man to his basic rights? Are these acts are really good enough to boost our self-image? Does our society a patient of psychological disorder or do we have limited options? Are these societal felonies individual act or collective? Are we morally a dead nation? How we are contributing to this society with breaking the norms? Social behavior helps building social standards and values that make society flourish.

The foremost recipe of disastrous society is breaking the rules and regulations. If a guilty person is not fervently condemned by others, he without sparing a single second developed it as a habit. Another cause of immature society is helping the same culprit when majority of people embraced his thoughts to give him a boost in sinister activities. Now society is multiplying rogues from one to many.

I never understand why in our society, where we understand the meaning of “No Parking”, yet we park our four wheelers there. Majority of us comprehend “Please don’t sit here” as to sit nowhere but to this very spot. Why we pluck the flowers right after reading the tiny sentence at the same place, “Please, don’t pluck the flower”. Why we dispose off our waste right at the same place where it is written, “Don’t throw waste here”. There are so many advertisement leaflets and brochures pasted on the same wall where it is prominently written, “Please don’t paste any ad here.” Why it happens in our society? Is it lack of understanding due to ill-education? Is it a sign of psychological frustration? Is it because of poor management on behalf of the concerned authority? Or is it a result of clash of mind? Why it happened, no one is ready to accept the flaw; this is why our society is one of the frailest in a living world.

The author is a freelance columnist from Islamabad.
Published in daily The Frontier Post.

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 5256875
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

GAGGING THE MEDIA

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR

ISLAMABAD

mahtabbashir@yahoo.com

The media, print and electronic, are the most influential tools for disseminating ideas, philosophies, ideologies, consciousness of fundamental, civil, human rights, religio-political to socio-economic, and cultural issues for the masses. The media has always been used to endorse the policies of the government of the day.

Brusquely after Gen. Musharraf ordered the suspension of the constitution of 1973, curbs were imposed on the media through amendments in two ordinances. These choke them from printing or broadcasting "anything which defames or brings into ridicule the head of state, or members of the armed forces, or executive, legislative or judicial organ of the state."

The General had promulgated Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Third Amendment) Ordinance 2007 and in this amended ordinance, many amendments were made under Section 20 and 30 of the PEMRA Ordinance 2002. The blanket powers had been given to the PEMRA in the said amendments to seize broadcast or distribution service equipment or seal the premises of the licensee under the garb of public interest. In addition thereto, further unbridled powers have also been given to the PEMRA and its chairman to direct without notice, the closure of any broadcast or distribution network for such period as it might determine. The violation of amendments by media channel owner is liable to be punished up to three years imprisonment or with a fine which may extend to Rs10 million or with both, and in case of violation by distribution service licensee or its representative, they are liable to be punished up to one year imprisonment or with fine up to Rs5 million or with both. This amended ordinance is also applicable to entertainment programming in addition to news and current affairs.
All news channels and other entertainment channels have been proscribed without any justification and cogent reason. All licensees of Pemra and members of the Pakistan Broadcasting Association) PBA were already complying with the Pemra laws, rules and regulations made there under including the terms and conditions of license. After promulgation of the amended ordinance, there was no further justification to pass any directions to cable operators of the country to proscribed the private TV channels throughout the country.

With the dawn of 21st century, Pakistan's media sector has observed a sea change along with mushroom growth of private televisions channels and FM radio stations reflective of present government's unflinching commitment to free press in the country. On the initiative of General Pervez Musharraf, Freedom of Information Law was introduced in 2001-02 and the government relaxed the rules in media sector. However, the history of this country illustrates that freedom of expression and media stay alive as long as it is reflecting government's own agenda. The judicial crisis and its aftermath especially 12th May in Karachi, the launching of a book authored by Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa on the military's corporate entity that highlighted and brought information into the public domain, and last but not least free media trial of present establishment exposed the depth and dimensions of the military thus promptly resulted restrictions on media, after imposition of half-baked martial-law.

The clampdown on the electronic media is unprecedented that all private news channels have been forcibly put off air depriving people of their right to know and express. In the face of strong national and international outrage the government has decided to pursue a policy of divide and rule by driving a wedge within the media. The policy of gradually restoring certain channels while keeping others off air is a sad reflection of this policy. The curbs on media are against the interest of Pakistan and contradict the progress made by the country during the last few years towards a democratic process. Media plays an important and constructive role in holding free and fair elections and a free press always plays an important role in a democratic society but it seems that under emergency and containing the role of media, General wants to play his cards using his ‘discretionary powers’. The media, especially the electronic, has been accused of sensationalizing the present scenario, and I daresay, they may have, at times. But that is for the viewers to decide, No government can proscribe media to its basic functioning, and under such ‘Democratic process” not at all.

Musharraf's attempts to gag cyberspace, however, have proven pointless. Minute-by-minute diffusion of information about the arrests of rights activists and lawyers, their whereabouts and the sharing of information on how to gain access to blocked channels through the Internet is underway like never before. The commerce ministry has given a notification to dish antennae retailers that the import of technical inputs would now be regulated by PEMRA and certain DCO’s have already in their acts to warn those shop keepers to shut down their shops. The only way out to stop trade of dish antennae is to lift the ban from cable TV, can government do it, at present, No way. As long as media is biased in favour of the current government mechanism in power, it will not be censored or strangled, but if it exposes the subjugation and violence perpetrated against dissent by government and its political supporters, the act of censoring takes place. What is worse is the fact that government organs are now leveling allegations against judiciary by crossing its premises. Now the government's boast of having made the media the most free in the country's history has been well-exposed.

The freedom of expression and freedom of press can be ensured in our society only when an elected representative of the country with a democratic process get into an act and makes all institutions powerful under the dominance of constitution and true implementation of rule of law. Unfortunately, the present regime has failed miserably in all aspects of moving things rolled smoothly and freedom of press is just another victim of this 'democracy' headed by a man who proclaimed army uniform as his second skin.

Hukmrano say kaho hosh may ayain Kausar
Hum bhi bethay thay kabhi aisay hi aiwano may
(Kausar Niazi)

Published in daily The Frontier Post on 16th Nov, 2007

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875

mahtabbashir@gmail.com

CJP SUSPENSION - AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEMOCRACY

By: Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

The present judicial crisis, if not resolved soon, could deteriorate and cause irreparable damage to constitutional order in Pakistan. Government must address the fundamental causes of this crisis and to reinstate an original democratic principle that is pivotal for the rule of law in Pakistan - the independence of the judiciary.

It was a bright sunny day of Friday 9th of March, 2007 only nine days after US vice president Dick Cheney visit to Pakistan, when President General Pervez Musharruf in his uniform called upon the country’s top judge Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to Army House (not to President House) and asked him to tender his resignation showing his antagonistic supremacy, the CJP ignored the offer. Chief Justice’s refusal to surrender was unprecedented in the legal annals of the World. Chief Justice of Pakistan was held in Army House for nearly five hours with few other military high-ups. During those five hours, in the absence of the next senior most judge, Justice Rana Bhagwandas, who was abroad, and with undue haste, the next senior most judge, Justice Javed Iqbal, was sworn in as Acting Chief Justice (ACJ). To facilitate this swearing in and the subsequent Supreme Judicial Councils (SJC) meeting, the Chief Justices of Sindh and Punjab were specially flown to Islamabad and reference against Chief Justice was filed and referred to SJC by the President under Article 209 of the Constitution. Remember no Chief Justice has ever refused to resign when called upon to do so by the Executive.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was, “Suspended” right after his refusal to leave his office, on the charges of abusing his powers. The fascinating and attention grabbing fact in this regard is that the allegations have been put forward by a ruler who is globally known for his notorious practice of abusing power and exploiting his authority. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was sworn in the office of Chief Justice of Pakistan in June, 2005 and gained the national reputation because of those cases in which he passed the verdict against the spirit of government of Pakistan. These rulings became undesirable to the rulers and resulted to his suspension.

While reading the charge sheet against the ousted Chief Justice - most of the allegations are completely untrue and childish. So, simply put, there are no double standards here in supporting the CJ - cause the charges are completely trumped up to kick him out. For example, he is accused that he is only allowed one official car. That is an absolute falsehood - so are the accusation about his protocol - once again, that is completely fabricated. The only thing which holds any water is the charges pertaining to his son, Dr. Arsalan, He was given undue favors, and it remains to be determined how many were given just because that’s how the system works, or the pressure the CJ applied. The CJ has been proven of no crime, yet has been illegally kicked out of his job. That’s the real deal here - the abuse of power by Musharraf.

The irony is hard to miss - the same judge, who took a fresh oath of office under a military ruler when several of his colleagues resigned in protest, is now the face of a movement against the President. While one of suspended Chief Justice’s legal counsels, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahson says, CJP took that oath for the salvation of judiciary.

Government officials say that several people have filed complaints with the president accusing Mr Chaudhry of misusing his office and receiving favors. In particular, he is alleged to have procured a top police job for his son. But critics say that concerns about corruption in high places are not an issue with the present government. They pointed out that there are more serious charges - such as financial embezzlement and property fraud - against other top judges. They also pointed to the federal cabinet, many of whose members had corruption cases pending against them in the National Accountability Bureau until they decided to join the government. The chief justice's supporters say that the real reason he has been singled out is because of his past performance, which created misgivings in official circles about his likely role in the coming legal battles ahead of national elections, due later this year.

This is where the problem lies. The chief justice was known for his ‘independence of mind’. Even when other institutions in Pakistan rubber stamped government decisions, he had taken opposing views on some crucial issues. The judge took a strong line against the extra judicial arrests made by General Musharraf’s secret services at the behest of the US. It was also reported that Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry told trainee military officers in February that, in his opinion, General Musharraf could not continue as army chief beyond his present term as president. These incidents and others seemed to incense the dictator and he decided to remove the Judge as he was seen as an obstacle to his plans to stay in uniform and in power. While talking to BBC, General termed his uniform as ‘my second skin’ and expressing his inability to taking it off, clearly indicates his intentions.

The suspension of CJP has literally polarized the country into two camps. Those favoring the sacking of Chief Justice are from pro-Musharruf’s regime while opposition is backing Chief Justice’s decision not to give up against the General. Now the clash between the legal community and the executive has been transformed into the shape of a national movement for democracy as the Chief Justice has been demanding an end to dictatorship and restoration of democracy.
Legal representatives and opposition parties saw it as an attempt to undermine the independence of the judiciary. They vehemently criticized the suspension of Chief Justice of Pakistan. Gen Musharruf wanted Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry out of the way because he was seen as an obstacle to his plans to remain army chief while simultaneously occupying the presidency, majority of them retorted. For weeks the lawyers protested under the burning sun on Constitution Avenue, outside Supreme Court of Pakistan building in Islamabad, demanding the reinstatement of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. “The Chief Justice is seeking justice himself” proclaimed one of many banners.

On 13 March, the Chief Justice of Pakistan was manhandled by the police, to the extent that the police reportedly tore his coat, shoved his wife aside, pulled his hair and tried to force him into a police car. The Supreme Court took suo moto notice of the incident and has called into contempt the Inspector General of Police and the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad, among others. Nevertheless, the question put to the Mission was: If the Chief Justice could be treated in this manner, what could the general public expect from the administration?
The movement has developed from nowhere to everywhere. Soon after small scale demonstrations against the General’s effort "to tame” the judiciary became huge protests - attended by almost all opposition parties - against military rule. A fraternity of lawyers has regularly protested - defying security restrictions and barbed wire barricades - in all the big cities of the country. Political parties soon organized themselves and conducted their own rallies. Party workers, politicians, fundamentalists, human rights activists, tribesmen, media personnel and large gathering from civil society assembled to make a unity- of a common purpose and for a common cause. However, it was lawyer’s community who remained under the sun-light as well as in the lime-light. Someone called it a “black coat revolt” is too early to say. Most commentators agree that these protests represent the most serious threat to President Musharraf since he seized power in a military coup in 1999.
The show of support by the legal profession of Pakistan in defence of judicial independence is unprecedented and involves almost all the legal profession. The opposition political parties have also joined the legal profession in solidarity. Some quarters in the Government view this as the legal profession politicizing the issue. The demonstrations, in all the provinces, indicate that other sections of society are joining in the show of solidarity.

The Government, regrettably, is now mobilizing members of the public to demonstrate on the street in support of the President, to counter the wide support shown for the Chief Justice. This sort of public show of strength by the Government is an inappropriate and ineffective way to resolve the current crisis. This was seen clearly in the demonstrations of 24 April.
The peak of this agitation was on 14th May 2007. For the first time since General Musharraf took over the power in October 1999, whole of Pakistan shut down. It was the first political strike in seven years. It was also the first political action that was not initiated by the religious fundamentalist forces.

On a demonstration of 6th of May in Lahore, Punjab wrote a new chapter in its history. It was a night to remember-tens of thousands of people across Punjab flooded on the roads of Lahore from Mall to Shahdara to welcome the suspended Chief of Justice. It took the Chief Justice of Pakistan 26 hours to make his entrance in the city of Lahore from the capital city of Islamabad. CJP Chaudhry Muhammad Iftikhar went inside the LHC building to address the lawyers. His speech was precise with the theme that dictatorship which ignore the rule of law face "destruction".

No one in Pakistan, even from a General’s cabinet members/ advisors would have thought of a mass movement erupting in the near future with the potential to overthrow this regime. He had the illusion that nothing would happen and business as usual would go on. He had done it in the past successfully. But this time, General’s general notion proved way off beam.

The 12th May saw some of the worst episode of direct carnage of innocent citizens and political activists from different opposition parties in Karachi. All the roads linked to Shahrai Faisal, the main road to airport were blocked by huge containers and trucks. The purpose was to stop people coming to the main road. A private TV channel, Aaj, tried to show the firing by the gangsters. So the semi-fascist groups when fired at the TV channel building for over six hours. The local police and rangers had given a free hand to “deal” with the opposition. The chief justice was blocked at the Karachi airport alongside with 25 advocates. They were held for nine hours at the airport. The state authorities wanted him to go by helicopter to Sindh High Court building to address the Sindh High Court Bar Association. This was to avoid the reception of the people outside on the main roads. He refused to go by chopper.

As they stopped the chief justice at the airport, the private army of the MQM opened fire on all those who came in processions to receive and welcome him. Thus a firing drama lasted for over 14 hours, resulting in the deaths of over 40 by midnight. The same night on 12th May, the conservative Muslim League Q had planned a “mass” rally in Islamabad in support of the sacking of chief justice. This rally was planned weeks earlier to counter the growing sympathy for the chief justice.

All went against the regime. Their rally in Islamabad was a failure. Their strategy to stop the reception of chief justice resulted in bloodshed. They lost their support among the middle class, the traditional support for the military regime and MQM. The representatives of over 480 markets of Lahore announced, and acted upon, the call for a shut-down strike on 12th May. It was mainly announced by former supporters of the Musharraff government.
Now the worst case scenario for President Musharraf would be for him to relinquish some or all of his powers as a result of the continuing protests. While that seems unlikely at the moment, opposition parties appear to be growing ever more confident as they have already called for his removal from the presidency and his removal as army chief. Can Washington extend its help to save Musharruf’s regime?
"It is a defining moment," said Imran Khan, a living legend of cricket turned politician. "The chief justice was supposed to uphold not only the rights of individual citizens but also of institutions and the Constitution. When the state cannot protect his rights, how can it protect other individuals' rights?

Edmund Burke once said, “In politics there are no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, just permanent interests. In the last few years, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif - the two arch rivals - have come together under one umbrella, can they be united to make a political alliance? Or is Pakistan peoples Party (PPP) going to take shelter under military umbrella? To make things worse for Musharraf, Bhutto has categorically said that she can't even think of a deal with the military government, thus ending speculation of a possible coalition between Musharraf and PPP.

Meanwhile, the people of Pakistan will continue to suffer because of poor governance, growing insolvency and attrition of hope for a better future? A seemingly endless punishment for the sins of their rulers. Allow me to quote a poetic line from Munir Niazi to wrap up this piece of writing, he says, “Jurm Adam Nay Kia Aor Nasl-e-Adam ko Saza, Kaat-ta Hoon Zindagi Bhar Meinay Jo Boya Nahi”.

How and when Musharraf will step down, who will take over, will it be another general to hold general elections or a transitional government of some alliances? These are some of the commonly heard questions. One thing is absolute sure that Musharraf is weaker to an extent never seen before. He can not last long as he had planned. Many have started counting the days. However, the course of action that the PPP will take in next few months, will define the future of country’s politics.

The writer is a freelance columnist and a political analyst from Islamabad.
Published in daily The Frontier Post, 29 may, 2007

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875
mailto:mahtabbashir@google.com

Unholy Alliance Signals Bad Days Ahead

By: Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

An eight-year stint of an autocratic rule in this superfluous olden imperial fashion should have been enough for a mortal soul but General wants it till eternity. Nothing evidently harms his conscience so for even while promulgating the NRO, giving the blanket amnesty to Benazir Bhutto, our twice elected prime minister and twice-dismissed on corruption charges. In the name of National Reconciliation, General Pervez Musharraf allows to pardon every massive corruption allegedly committed by ‘daughter of the East’. Both General and BB are serving each other's vested interests in the name of the people of Pakistan and democracy.

With the promulgation of much-talked about the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) this Friday, which provides across-the-board indemnity to alleged corruption and corrupt practices by politicians and holders of public offices in the past from January 1, 1986 to October 12, 1999, will be withdrawn and terminated with immediate effect, amounts to nothing short of opening this country and its assets to anyone who is willing to loot it and get away with it as long as he/ she supports the General for his presidential aspirations. It has exposed the bare bones of General Musharraf’s lust for power and in order to satiate it, he can go to any extent. The black ordinance has exposed the nature of his willingness to cling to power even at the cost of selling the whole nation away. The Ordinance also seeks to terminate all cases initiated in foreign countries by the government during this period, clearly benefiting Benazir Bhutto. The full scope of this indemnity also covers bureaucrats and bankers. The NRO has also clipped the powers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) regarding arresting parliamentarians without the prior permission of a newly formed Special Parliamentary Committee on Ethics.

The General calls it a landmark while independent voices call it just about the most discriminatory piece of legislation in the country's history. Whether it actually does qualify the latter dubious distinction or not, it is nonetheless not too proud a moment in our constitutional history.

The government is selling the Ordinance as an attempt to avoid the politics of political vendetta and victimisation and is heralding its promulgation as the dawning of a new era of tolerance and fair play. The message that has been sent to ordinary Pakistanis is that it pays to be a politician and it pays to involve oneself in corrupt practices.

Meanwhile, Benazir Bhutto seeks the instant withdrawal of letters and communications that the government had sent to the foreign prosecution authorities in Switzerland, England and Spain against her, fearing that the local courts would strike down the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) anytime. Sources having knowledge of what has been discussed between the two sides before the promulgation of the NRO, reveal that both the sides know well and discussed it too that the most controversial ordinance of the country's history would be struck down by the court of law as soon as it is challenged.

It is more interesting in knowing that BB charged with corruption worth Rs 90 billion in NAB courts set up my General’s regime himself. Now she has sought indemnity for herself and her likes in the name of "democracy" and made Musharraf dance to her tunes. It is not a crime, it is called political maneuvering, in better words political sagacity.
Full marks to Naseerullah Babar for resigning from PPP and hats off to Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, who dared to call a spade a spade, and voiced his opposition to such an amnesty for a "selected few". Knowing well that her leader is the mover of this shameful demand, he said that any law offering amnesty to a selected class of the society would be immediately struck down by the Supreme Court.

Addressing the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz described the NRO as an important step in creating an atmosphere of tolerance and harmony in national politics, free of vendetta and polarization that marred the national political scene in the decades of 1980 and 1990. He highlighted the fact that the proposed ordinance includes important elements to ensure transparency of the election process. He said his government was proud of the fact that it took this decision in the best interest of the country where the election process had in the past been subjected to accusations and counter accusations.

Chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party Benazir Bhutto gave her concurrence to the NRO, as she herself, her spouse Asif Zardari and several key PPP leaders would be the major beneficiaries of it. The prestige and dignity one was the eminence of PPP now a history.

The late ZAB was a man of sterling qualities. He built-up a plat-form of democratization to this country through his unflinching determinations. He studded this nation with nuclear capabilities. He defied the army dictator and opted death to surrender down. In contrast, his daughter played the game just opposite to father’s legacy. Apart from aching her father’s soul, daughter of the east also lacerates the millions of activists who have been working selflessly for a cause of restoration of democracy. This deal surely exposed BB’s crooked intentions.
This Musharraf-Bhutto deal would be remembered as “marriage of convenience”. Under the provision of this ordinance, the NAB chairman shall not be able to arrest any sitting member of the Parliament or a provincial assembly unless he secures the consent of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Ethics, both at the federal and provincial levels. The NAB chairman will have to produce entire material and evidence before the committee.
However, those proceedings shall not be withdrawn and terminated which relate to cases registered in connection with the cooperative societies and other financial and investment companies or in which no appeal, revision or constitutional petition has been filed against final judgment and order of the court or in which an appellate or revision order or an order in constitutional petition has become final or in which voluntary return or plea bargain has been accepted by the chairman NAB under section 25 or recommendations of the conciliation committee have been accepted by the governor State Bank of Pakistan under Section 25-A.

Asked during a live TV interview whether this "reconciliation" will also extend to Mian Nawaz Sharif, the General replied: "After the election, we will see about (Nawaz's return) and reconciliation." Clearly, this is a People's Party affair; the rest of the acquitted were just lucky enough to get in the way.The cheekiest thing about the Ordinance is the mockery it makes of the basic concept of the rule of law. If Benazir Bhutto were adamant that the cases against her were false, politically motivated ones, it would be a seemingly incorrect but not absurd claim; court cases being used for political victimisation is, after all, an old practice throughout the developing world. But the way to get around that is to have the courts themselves acquit the accused parties through the law of the land. The sadder part is that even if this piece of 'legislation' were not an Ordinance, but a bill, put before any chamber of legislature during the specified period, it might have been passed by an overwhelming majority: why shouldn't it? It grants near total immunity to the ruling class. There has always been cut off between the rulers and the ruled.

The 10-member bench of the Supreme Court has ruled that the presidential poll could go ahead as scheduled but its result be not notified until October 17 when it is expected to pass its verdict on the petitions challenging the eligibility of Musharraf’s candidacy. Whatever, the Premiere Court makes the ruling, would augment political instability and insecurity for a time being.

Other than the once Royal couple or future Royal couple I may say, the MQM, a powerful ally of the (Musharraf Military) Government, also stands to benefit through this ordinance following last-minute changes to the draft. Thousands of its workers charged with serious offences during the period also stand to get a clean chit.Now the country is passing through the days where there will be surprises, unpredictable developments and uncertainties very frequently. Let us see what happens in the future but giving indemnity to the corrupt people would surely open the gates for massive corruption in the future.

However it is apparent that both the principal players will go all-out to assail the Islamists who are usually called "Taliban" and "Al-Qaeda" members. The result would be more sufferings for Pakistan and its people because the country would turn into the main combat zone for those opposing American hegemony and Washington and its supporters who are bent upon in avoiding what they called "terrorism". Confinement of security forces personnel and recovery of disfigured bodies of three hostages in South Waziristan is an obvious pointer to the terrible days ahead.

The promulgation of NRO also puts a lot of reservation over the justification for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) which has, over the years, received the infamy of being a partisan institution. In April this year, the government’s decision to abolish the Special Operation Division of NAB that had been set up as its subsidiary to investigate cases of corruption against politicians had caused ripples in the political circles. The move was viewed in the context of reports about ‘secret’ negotiations between President Musharraf’s representatives and Benazir Bhutto for a power-sharing deal. Now that the rationale behind the existence of NAB has been washed away by the NRO, it can be argued that it should be wrapped up. So interesting in knowing that instead of tightening the noose against crooked politicians, the institutions of nabbing these persons are being closed forever.

General Musharraf has been under pressure to strike a deal with the PPP for two reasons. The US has urged General Musharraf to make a deal with Benazir as she represents an ‘enlightened’ and ‘liberal’ political party inside the country. The question is, will this marriage of convenience promise stability to the already fragile political structure of Pakistan? Given our past record, it seems unlikely that the upcoming political dispensation will solve even the basic political snags Pakistan has been facing for decades. Another query that cropped up in many minds is who will enjoy the lion’s share in this ‘unholy alliance’.

Billions of taxpayers’ money is spent on the prosecution of corrupt politicians. With the signing of national reconciliation ordinance these corrupt politicians will be washed of corruption and Gen. Musharraf would become an elected president for the next five years. What the nation would get from this ordinance?

The Supreme Court and Lahore High Court have already been requested to adjudicate the legality of the recently promulgated National reconstruction Ordinance (NRO) that patently and manifestly violated Article 25 of the Constitution because it provided for withdrawal of cases only against public office holders. This ordinance is also in contravention of the principle of equality of status under Article 2-A, Article 4 and Article 8 of the Constitution. The ‘Mal-intent behind issuance of the ordinance’ should not be ignored because it gave protection to people accused of plundering the national exchequer. The NRO has been promulgated after talks with a political party while under the Constitution; an ordinance could be promulgated only in national interest. The timing of the promulgation of this ordinance also reflected that General Musharraf had done it to perpetuate his rule. The NRO is a reward for plunderers of the national wealth and a tool for new rulers to steal people’s wealth again.

Reconciliation at the institutional level must be done in a manner where relationship becomes impartial, strength of institutions is shared, and each institution needs an internal look on its own overhauling. For citizens when institutions become law abiding, the rule of law becomes the order of the day and justice in all spheres of life becomes the trademark of society. A just society is based on equality, esteem, and shared objectives No reconciliation can take place if the individuals and respective institutions do not function in a defined framework. Two power-hungry putting 160 millions souls on stake, for what? Astounding yet deplorable.
The truth is that General Musharraf’s government spent billions of taxpayers’ money on the print and electronic media for self-projection. I would round off this piece of writing in saying that, Musharraf's regime shall ruin this land if he will stay longer as his good governance, harmony, and reconciliation are mere rhetoric when measured on a fact sheet these days. General has already eight years and failed to deliver, so now he must step down from everywhere. Save the army, save the nation, save the country.

The country can't afford a president, who is the object of people's hatred, whose presence triggers odium between law enforcing agencies and civilians, who compromises on national security, who subverts the Constitution, whose leadership weakens the centre and widens the chasm between the provinces, who can't defend the country, who is battling a proxy war against the people of his own country, and last but surely not least who provides shelter to corrupt persons under NRO and named it an act of reconciliation in national interest. God bless this country!

The author is a freelance columnist and a political analyst from Islamabad.

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

DEMOCRACY: a road less traveled

By: Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

Baitullah Mehsud, the belligerent commander who had threatened suicide attacks on Ms Bhutto well before her return has denied that he had anything to do with the midnight explosions of 18th of October. which went off near a truck carrying Benazir Bhutto through Karachi airport to Quaid’s mausoleum to Balawal house. Shortly after Ms Bhutto in a press conference stated that General Zia’s remnants are responsible for this assassination bid. More later, she accused three persons behind the whole plot including two provincial ministers. Question still lingers on who was behind this carnage? The establishment, agencies, remnants of Gen. Zia, Taliban, Al-Quaeda, or other Jihadi elements, or Benazir Bhutto herself or some other force? One has to wait with no time frame. There are two questions cropping in my mind since Karachi bloodbath occurred, Firstly, Why Gen. Musharraf repeatedly suggested PPP Chairperson to avoid entering in Pakistan? These suggestions indicate that blasts were anticipated? Secondly, according to “dealers” of the NRO, this deal would help burying the hostility between the political parties. BY naming the three persons masterminding Karachi blasts, one can think safely isn’t Benazir herself airing the hostility between the political parties through blame game?

This attack has once again underlined how militancy has become one of the major security concerns in today’s world, specifically in Pakistan. Blame game is surely never going to help any political party, neither it is a solution of such crisis country is already going through.
It is hard to contemplate about the motives and the forces behind the ghastly disaster, but one can argue that the second blast was directed closer to the ground and away from the indestructible truck that was used by the leadership of PPP. It is said that due to this tragedy hundreds of PPP workers will remain maimed and handicapped for their lives, hardly a matter of conciliation. It is hard to believe that nature could be so sympathetic and merciless at the same time. On one hand it spares the lives and well-being of every single member of PPP leadership, and simultaneously it blew up hundreds of its workers towards heaven. A coincidence, one in a million?

With elections approaching so near, the NRO and Gen. Musharraf’s dual office holding petitions are in SC, PML-Q’s role in political prospect, future alliances, all developments are signifying that country has been experiencing a serious political crisis, which has both short-term and long-term repercussions. The country is heading towards a disgusting Political turmoil due to short sightedness of our political leadership and sadistic political culture.

An eight-year stint of an autocratic rule in this superfluous olden imperial fashion should have been enough for a mortal soul but General wants it till eternity. Nothing evidently harms his conscience so for even while promulgating the NRO, giving the blanket amnesty to Benazir Bhutto, our twice elected prime minister and twice-dismissed on corruption charges. In the name of National Reconciliation, General Pervez Musharraf allows to pardon every massive corruption allegedly committed by ‘daughter of the East’. Both General and BB are serving each other's vested interests in the name of the people of Pakistan and democracy.

The Supreme Court will announce its verdict on petitions challenging General Musharraf's nomination papers within few days. To me, whatever judgment made by SC in next few days would create a ‘between the devil and the deep blue sea’ situation.

The political and constitutional fiasco will continue to gain momentum as long as military rule persists. Lawyers are still very much vibrant along with journalist community backed by civil society. It's time for political parties to get their acts together to get rid of military rule and to restore democracy, the only way out to dominate present constitutional and political crisis. This country can not afford such turmoil created by a General for the sake of his power-corrupt motives. General's 'good governance' has torn down the political and constitutional structure of the country. The deportation of Nawaz Sharif despite the SC verdict in his favor to stay in his country has badly damaged the faith of the civilians in the country, raising the specter, even in the minds of the non-political and non-partisan folks that this land belongs only to the military leadership. The people's feeling is one of living in a big prison, with their constitutional, legal, and political rights being as abridged as that of a sentenced criminal. He cuts the deal to let in one politician, Benazir Bhutto purifying her from all NAB cases and reopened the files against the other, Nawaz Sharif. How his election commissioner, not Parliament, amends the Constitution overnight, exposes how the laws bend the Musharraf way, and also why the constitutional setup might not retrieve itself. So, where does Pakistan move from here? The direction is so lucid.

The country can't afford a president, who is the object of people's hatred, whose presence triggers odium between law enforcing agencies and civilians, who compromises on national security, who subverts the Constitution, whose leadership weakens the centre and widens the chasm between the provinces, who can't defend the country, who is battling a proxy war against the people of his own country, and last but surely not least who provides shelter to corrupt persons under NRO and named it an act of reconciliation in national interest.

Nothing in the world has ever changed, until and unless people with willpower to change. So to me, who wants to change the whole picture, must take the initiative to his own will, which is long, long overdue to make a change. As God helps those, who help themselves is the age-old credo.

The work, just like anything else, is very grueling but the change will be very pleasant for everyone eventually. What more, you would not need a gun or gunpowder to bring such a welcome change. The very first change that will need to take effect has to be in our minds. We must make a resolution that we the people, alone through self help will work to bring a change. It means that to bring that transformation we shall think beyond what Musharraf, Aziz or any contractor (political party) can give us. We have danced enough on the tunes of these people, who are dancing on someone else’s for the last sixty years. What we get in response other then violence, unemployment, inflation, and political bedlam. Self-help is the best help as a sage told me, “none will improve your lot, if you yourself do not”. We should or we must spurn replying on our rulers and keep relying on almighty Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. And if we are waiting someone to do it for us, then we will keep waiting forever. We have already frittered away six decades, now it is time to make efforts collectively for the benefit of all.

Our society stands upon five pillars of the state, i-e judiciary, legislative, executive, armed forces and clergy. Over the last sixty years, steadily each pillar got eroded for various reasons, corruption without an iota of doubt, topping the list. When the pillars which hold a society get weakened by erosions, they start shaking creating a pre-collapse societal chaos, followed by caving in as blunt revolution. We are at the edge of revolution. But what type? After seeing the pillar of judiciary revamped on July 20, 2007, it is hoped that a bloody revolution be averted. It all depends on the decision by SC in the ongoing case of presidential election. If the judiciary ignores the main framework of Constitution and opts, yet again, for ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ it will be opening the door to a bloody revolution, instead of mild revolution without bloodshed.

Presently, not just Gen. Musharraf is making last-ditch efforts to cling to power but there are others in the race. It seems that the ruling PML-Q stands divided between pro-Benazir and anti-Benazir groups, as far as national reconciliation efforts are concerned. In the pro-Benazir camp are few politicians who have been left with no option to resort to their strength lies in perpetuation of the military hegemony, directly or indirectly, in politics. On the other hand, the Chaudhrys of Punjab, belongs to the anti-Benazir camp, the potency of whom rests squarely on their own political legacy which is a outcome of the past atrocities, allegedly, committed by the PPP regime.

Instead of further strengthening the national reconciliation so that forthcoming elections are held in a free, fair, transparent and orderly manner in a congenial ambiance with maximum turnout of the voters, the political leadership is further polluting the atmosphere. The political and religious parties leadership should realize their obligations and support, promote and strengthen the national reconciliation sans NRO.

The bottom line remains that today everyone is construing the Constitution of Pakistan according to its own liking, the opposition is divided and seems unproductive; the government party is trying to secure next tenure by all means; and the common man is distressed due to prevailing political mayhem and uncontrolled inflation. The only solution to this ongoing turmoil is that political actors should work in harmony and respect the constitution in its spirit, so that country should leap forward towards a more participatory and pluralist political system.

The late Habib Jalib rightly underlined such political pandemonium some two decades back.
Mohabbat golio’ say bo rahay ho
Watan ka chehra khoo’ say dho rahay ho
Gumaa’ tumko kay rasta kat raha hay
Yakeen mujhko kay manzil kho rahay ho

Restoration of democracy at any price through free, fair and transparent elections with no General in khaki or civilian is the only solution of present political crisis.
God bless this country!

The author is a freelance columnist and a political analyst from Islamabad.

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING

By: Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

Ours is certainly a confused society, we are neither an Islamic State nor enlightened moderate. This regime of General Musharraf failed miserably to cop fundamentalist as it fails to define who is extremist and who is not. On one day we doubt, whether action against brothel-house and its owner is legal or not in Islam, hugging publicly to a man (not husband) is lawful or not, players with long beard is the actual cause of our defeat in World-Cup Cricket 2007, burning the porn videos is an act of cruelty by the fanatics. On the very next day we considered our self as a staunch Muslim, shunning the very basics of Islam. To me this is the recipe for disaster; our rulers are engaged in making. We being a moderate state (as proclaimed by state) can exhibit our wrath if an extremist damages a holy place of worship from other religions but we shut our eyes when mosques and madaris are being razed by the hands of Muslim with the voice of our masters.

The two clerics and brothers. Maulana Abdul Rasheed Ghazi, the deputy khateeb of Lal Masjid and Maulana Shah Abdul Aziz, the director of Jamia Hafsa and Faridiya and the imam of Lal Masjid with students of seminary resolutely believes that loose ethics, brothels and waywardness in this society must be destroyed by vigor and a sin-free society must be established. The action and grit by these two backed up by hundred of students created ripples in the establishment in general and in the ranks of enlightened moderates in particular.

Islamabad, is morally and relatively a clean city with decent educated people everywhere, yet there is no doubt that there are hundred of prostitution houses smoothly running in the city, with call girls using cell-phones and pimps and mafia are actively engaged in ‘flesh business’. Establishment and law-enforcement agencies and institutions are blindfolded because they are patronizing this massive business. Many feels this is an act of sheer exaggeration but it is an aggregation within a limit.

Just take up the example of Madam Shamim Akhtar Naqvi, supposedly she was a destitute (when started) with no earning to survive hence stepped in this profession. Just asking a single question to her, is she still living hand to mouth that she can never imagine the idea of quitting this profession? Islam is a religion of clemency, it shows mercy to all sinners but THE WILL must be there. I don’t dare to blame only professional women in such degradation but men are equally responsible who force women in this filthy trade.

Many opine, the Jamia Hafsa have been constructed on illegal occupied land and requests made by concerned government departments to the interior ministry and local police to stop this construction were ignored. With confidence by the involvement of official institutions, the seminary students subsequently occupied the adjacent Children’s library in January this year. Again the government showed its (intentional) carelessness.

Subsequently, no action was taken against Ghazi Abdul Rasheed who was all behind the move to occupy government land illegitimately. It is heard that a police official who tried to arrest him was transferred. Religious Affairs minister, Ijaz-ul-Haq visited Lal Masjid and apologize for nuisance caused to the clerics.

A common perception indicates that the government and those running the seminary were enjoying close and cordial links between them. According to a report in a Sunday paper, “Government and its affiliated departments have tacitly been supporting this construction of Jamia Hafsa, illegal occupation of Children’s library and strengthening of Ghazi Adbur Rasheed and his self-militia”.

This report raised many a questions and a lot many understandings what is cooking. Firstly, it is supposed my many that this incident is too old but has been elevated though agencies themselves to divert the focus from Justice Iftikhar’s case. Secondly, from General’s point is to let Bush administration know, that the genie of extremism and fundamentalism is still not bottled and only he is the man who can do it, as he did after 9/11. Can this strategy work? Only time knows or the US then administration. Lastly, the government’s long standing links with religious parties who are still a part of the ruling party in one province indicate that behind this move, stands a mutual understanding.

Whatever the objectives behind this entire move, it appears to me that extremism has been nurtured by state agencies in Islamabad for hidden motives.

It is positive to note that the government has opted to pursue talks with Lal Masjid clerics. Though there are talks of a crackdown in the hub of Capital city, the government seems to be interested in resolving this issue through dialogues. Negotiation is the best way one can avoid the bloodshed. The whole tussle has an alarming trajectory in a couple of month. However, the administration of the Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid must show some flexibility. If they have a set of views on certain grounds, they should participate in positive political framework that the constitution stipulates. Arms vigilantism and using the other means of force is definitely not the way out to go about it. This issue must be resolved just in the same manner of mutual understanding as it was initiated.


The writer is a freelance columnist from Islamabad.
Published in The Frontier Post, 15 April, 2007 & in daily The Post, 15 April 2007.

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875
mailto:mahtabbashir@google.com

BE GOOD TO YOURSELF’

By: Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

With the catchphrase of Quaidian once- Quaidian forever, I feel nostalgic yet proud whenever I see sky blue buses running on the roads of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. As an ex-student of Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad, one of the top public institutions of higher education in the country with its qualified faculty members and researchers, it is not just reminiscence of spending time at the campus but getting a quality education to broadening my mental horizon through extensive knowledge imported by a team of professionals.

It is with heavy heart to read the lines of Khateeb Maulana of Lal Masjid interview, aired on 12th of April on FM Radio. Maulana quite drastically molded this place of excellence in education (QAU) into a filthy place of brothel. He further said,” Its (QAU) female professors and students roam in objectionable dresses. I think I will have to send my daughters of Jamia Hafsa to these immoral women. They will have to hide themselves in hijab otherwise they will be punished according to Islam….Sportswomen are spreading nudity. I warn the sportswomen of Islamabad to stop participating in sports or my daughters of Jamia Hafsa will punish them in public.” Female students also issued the threat of throwing acid on the uncovered faces of women, which later on negated by Maulana himself (due to unknown reasons).

I feel no respect to a person, who makes such remarks for character assassination of students and faculty members (all females) who come along across the country to fill their thirst with the liquor of knowledge or to export knowledge to younger generation. Does Islam encourage such words to make publicly when you do not have solid evidence? Is this “all respect” women has in Islam?

I vehemently condemn the derogatory remarks of cleric of Lal Masjid, as this is not at all a way of preaching of religion. No one has the right to say whatever he intends to. I may be in favor of Jamia Hafsa administration in their stance on razing of Mosques and Madaris on different places but I must say them goodbye in digestion of this way of prevailing Islamic values.

We being a Muslim in general and being a fundamentalist in particular never realized what our actual Islamic duties are. From where our limits begin and at what destination it ends up? Quite often we heard and read in newspapers a man of religion involved in adultery with minors and that too in premises of holy place.

Islam is a religion of tranquility, serenity and clemency. It never supports a Muslim to throw acid to other fellow or to punish others publicly. Khateeb of Lal Masjid should depict the soft and enlightened values of Islam without tarnishing the real image of it. You may carry a horse near to a well with force, but you can never force him to take a drink. Showing strength generates strength in opposite. Just be calm, collected and flexible in preaching of Islamic teachings and if possible demonstrate practically to others what you do in rhetoric.

In our current social scenario, we are under constant threat of transformation from good to bad. This is because of the influence of western media, obviously altering our value system. We must put our acts together instead of criticizing immorally to each others. I have a simple dictum fits in such atmosphere, “Be good to yourself and you will find one rogue less on the face of this planet”.

The writer is a freelance columnist & a political analyst from Islamabad

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

CONSERVE ENERGY ANYWAY

By: Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

Businessmen have had mixed reactions to the government’s decision to make markets shut down after sunset in a bid to reduce load shedding all over the country. Shopkeepers complained that they were being penalized. They also believed that the government had failed to control the vast theft of electricity. People shop after work. Customers start coming in after Maghrib. They cannot come in the afternoon because the weather is too hot. And when the weather is not a problem, the men of the house are too busy at work. Also, the women do not shop alone all the time. A majority of them wait for their husbands. So shutting shops after dusk is not feasible, in any case.

WAPDA has not been able to manage the demand that is mounting at an average rate of about 7 percent yearly, resorting to load shedding due to energy deficiency. The peak capacity shortage often reaches 30 percent of the fixed capacity, of which the energy shortage is estimated to be about 3 percent of WAPDA's total twelve-monthly generation.

The federal government’s energy preservation plan has been rejected by traders and shopkeepers throughout the country when many shopping arcades, markets and big shops remained open till late at night in all cities of the country and Lahore and Karachi in particular defying the government’s order to close by 8:00 pm. Wedding halls also remained open after 10:00 pm — the time for their closure according to the conservation plan. Traders had earlier claimed that if their shops were closed early, their business would go down as people preferred to do shopping at night to avoid the heat during the day. They had offered to extend the closure time to 9:30 pm.

The plan of early closure of markets has been devised to meet the shortage of electricity. Pakistan faces a shortage of 978 megawatts (MW) of electricity. This is estimated to increase to 1,500 MW in the next few weeks. The conservation plan is designed to save some 500 MW of electricity while the rest of the shortage will be met through load-shedding. Given the extent of the problem, the energy conservation plan seems to be the only option available at the moment. But to make it work, a considerable awareness campaign should have been launched by the electronic and print media to prepare people for it mentally. It has been estimated that 1,700 MW can be saved if the 17 million electricity consumers in the country switch off just one 100 watt bulb. It will remain difficult for the government, and the defiance of the ban has proved it, to implement the plan without first creating sufficient awareness about it. Once the plan is successfully implemented, people will adjust their daily routines according to the new timings of the markets. The shopkeepers also have the option of opening their shops a couple of hours earlier to make up for the economic loss.

On the other hand, multinational food chains had been ignored, along with a popular courier services, medical stores, paan kiosks, federal and provincial government offices and railway offices. The Shop Act was a worldwide phenomenon, which allows offices and shops to run under certain timings of the day. It was ironic that the act was not implemented here otherwise all markets would be closing by dusk. The act should be enforced throughout the year. The government's decision was completely inappropriate. The after-dark timings for shopkeepers are crucial, because business started after dusk.

The traders of Karachi are of their opinion that "The city of lights is being forced into darkness. Karachi seemed so lively and bright. And now the same Karachi is sinking into darkness. No one will appreciate Karachi for its night life ever again if this continues." 'Close off neon signs, not shops'. Shopkeepers demanded the government to implement a ban on all the illuminated billboards and neon signboards in the city instead of closing down the city's market by 8:00 p.m., if they are serious to solve the power crisis. Markets traders said they were ready to switch off 50 percent of the lights of their shops in order to save electricity but warned that they would resist any forced attempt to close down shops after dusk.

Shop keepers also said that they would have no qualms running their shop on a generator. “But why should we”? We pay all our bills. The government doesn’t go after the robbers, and they fail to notice the streetlights that are on in the daytime,” majority of them maintained. In my opinion this decision would not help because if shops are closed people would stay at home and use electricity anyway.

A lot of people criticize Government decision as people have all the rights to roam about freely. If there is a power shortage then the government should use the taxpayer’s money to install more grid stations. As it is, the government has stopped the Indian channels, which was a good source of entertainment. Now they are stopping them from shopping. The governor should rethink of another way to save electricity.”

Give me a rebate to decrease my power bill by 10% and I will think about it, but when I pay in full, and I do not get any rebates, only taxation on the tax itself (tax on tax) then I first have the right to complain if there is no electricity in my home at night and to top it up, if I have to run a generator on the fuel I buy myself to keep kids from crying through the night, then I think we have the right to complain if the government on its own decides to close the shops. Last year closing shops did not affect the load shedding at all, it just created more mess!

One idea of conserving energy is of offering prepaid electricity?
It can be a novel idea in our country but in developed countries it is ancient. Electricity meters are installed inside houses and key to be inserted into pre-paid electricity meters. If you run out of units, take the key to shop keepers and he will recharge it.

Here in Pakistan, most of the new malls are using power generators anyways. Old malls are converting to generators as well. It is not a bad idea at all for giving up the kingly lifestyles and start our days early, like it happens all over the world. In big cities like of Lahore and Karachi, most shopping malls aren't open until noon, seriously, we need to go back to basics- Early to bed and early to rise, that’s the common sense but our society needs an enforcement of these small little things, Can we change our life-style? Can Lahorites and Karachites go to bed early? Only individual who has a thinking brain can help conservation of electricity. It is all about responsibility, co-operation and selfless gains. If we are not thinking collectively with consensus and execute our policies, strategies and planning in better way, our efforts would go in smoke, otherwise.

Allow me to write concluding lines here, whether or not this policy implemented, it is a good idea, nonetheless. In fact it is a general strategy of developed nations to start day early and close it at 8 PM sharp (and they certainly do not face any electricity shortage). Majority of places abroad, it seems you are in ghost town as soon as dusk prevailed. I think it is a great idea and shop owners should follow it, they should stop waking up at 12 pm! Early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. But what, if they occupy their shops at 8:00 am sharp and customers starts walking into their shops at evening time? The only question lingers on.


The author is a freelance writer and a political analyst residing in Islamabad.


MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875
mahtabbashir@yahoo.com

MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

First it was US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Hussien Obama who threatened attacks on Pakistan’s Tribal Areas against alleged Al-Qaeda bases, which incensed the people of Pakistan. Now Republican presidential hopeful a Colorado Congressman, Tom Tancredo has come out with a bigger bomb shell that the best way he could think of to deter a terrorist nuclear attack on the US was to bomb Makkah and Madina, the Muslims holiest spiritual places, even more revered than the Vatican for Catholics. He said a terrorist attack on America was “imminent”. Both statements are not only irresponsible but provocative that exhibit their apparent ignorance about international politics and global diplomacy. Such narrow-minded demagoguery is no way befits presidential candidates neither helps in maintaining the peace in anywhere on this planet. Both statements made by presidents-to-be not only illustrate US policy of ruining the sovereignty of Muslim states as well as of Pakistan. This also helps ending the debate here that democrats are pro-government in Pakistan or republicans.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson has rightly disposed the threat of US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Hussien Obama that if he were to win the election he would order military strikes on terrorist sanctuaries in Pakistan's territory unless President Musharraf took care of them, as views of "individual politician".

The opposition and treasury members in the National Assembly, infuriated by the impish statement of the US Republican presidential hopeful, staged here a strong protest with one voice and decided to hold debate in the House on Monday on the five-points including the country's foreign policy.

The Opposition and treasury benches in the National Assembly (NA) Friday (3rd Aug) staged a strong protest against Tancredo’s remarks and criticized the recent wave of criticism being leveled against Pakistan from several quarters in the US. It was a matter of “grave concern that US presidential candidates are using unethical and immoral tactics against Islam and Pakistan to win their election,” said Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan. Other top officials have also condemned these careless remarks. The US State Department denounced Tancredo’s suggestion, saying the idea is “absolutely crazy”. President Bush telephoned President Musharraf and assured him that the US fully respected Pakistan’s sovereignty. Obama’s rival for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, Hillary Clinton, said that Obama’s comments were careless and unpresidential.

One does not know where the Colorado Congressman got his information from, but no American intelligence agency has given an indication of a threat of this sort being “imminent”. And even in Britain, where the intelligence agencies periodically discover a terror plot involving, mostly, Britons of Pakistani origin, no one has come up with such a preposterous claim. When Muslim groups in America protested against the Tancredo balderdash, his campaign manager said that Congressman Tancredo stood by his statement. This is not the first time that Mr Tancredo has made such a threat. Two years back, in 2005 in a radio talk, he called for striking at the Islamic holy sites.

As a man, Tom has always been articulate in expressing his hatred of Islam and immigrants - no surprise there. In his arrogance, he chooses to disregard the existence of millions of law-abiding Muslim American citizens. What is surprising is that as an elected representative, someone who should be working towards collective safety, Tancredo chooses to throw more fuel on the fire with his hateful words. He is surely irresponsible with his congressional authority and is knowingly creating a more dangerous environment for all of the Muslims around the world. Tancredo should focus more on building bridges with the progressives in the Muslim world rather than burning the few bridges we have left.

These statements from the Presidential hopefuls have swelled the infuriation of the Pakistani nation as these are highly provocative and clouts of mental insolvency and totally devoid of ground realities. Makkah and Madina are the spiritual centers of over one billion Muslims while the people of Pakistan hold the two sites in high reverence and dearer than their lives.
Statements being made by people like Tom and Obama should be a source of serious concern for governments and people around the globe and particularly for the Muslim community as to what will happen if any of them is elected as President of the sole superpower. This world would be more dangerous place to live on for Muslims in particular.

The words by both senators undermine the war on terror, add to America’s enemies and vindicate the extremists’ hate philosophy that expose America as Islam’s enemy number one. The extremists in the Muslim world are guided by America’s support to Israel’s killing of the Palestinian people, its tacit approval of Israel’s usurpation of Jerusalem, its invasion of Iraq without a valid reason, and its occupation of that country resulting in the death of civilians whose number ranges between 200,000 and 600,000. Nearer home, thousands of civilians have been killed in Afghanistan as part of collateral damage and there is no sign yet that the Taliban are on the retreat.

The assertion of congressmen, Obama and Tom would have a serious repercussion in the Muslim world as it reflects the emerging mindset in Washington and is taken very seriously. It is high time that the OIC Countries should start serious thinking and devise a collective strategy to face the future confrontation.

Nobody in the Bush administration or outside seems prepared to take into account the fact that 800 Pakistani soldiers have been killed in the fight against the terrorists, in addition to hundreds of civilian casualties in a series of suicide bombings by religious fanatics. Instead, while some grudging praise is doled out, what Islamabad gets mostly is an order to “do more”. This speaks of the general Musharruf’s regime failure: it has been fighting terror since 9/11 with all the power at its command, suffering casualties and facing intense domestic criticism from both right and left. Yet it has failed to convince America that it is doing all it could possibly do to root out terrorism. Perhaps it’s a time for a change of regime?

The problem in Pakistan is that all foreign policy issues are hostage to US policies. While it is true that the make-up of a regime determines its world view and shapes its foreign policy outlook, there are broad contours of that policy on which there must be a national consensus. Yet in Pakistan, the opposition plays politics with even sensitive issues like nuclear policy or the ongoing alliance with the US. While the government itself has failed to carry the opposition along, the opposition has not come up to the broad approach expected of it in the realm of foreign policy. What is in the state’s interest cannot be sacrificed at the altar of partisan politics. But one thing is for certain, Washington never accepted the foreign policies of Pakistan and keeps on overruling it. Though the US state department has already come out and condemned the statement, calling it “reprehensible” and “absolutely crazy”, it needs to be understood that Tancredo represents the views of many ordinary Americans, who perhaps out of ignorance or hate, or a mixture of both, have such strong views against another religion.

The US and especially US politicians are no way near to discriminate the difference that “War on terror” is against terrorists not against any sole religion. Why then Islam is being targeted? If a Christian, Hindu or Jewish terrorist group hits the US, would the US launch a crusade against Christianity, Hinduism or Judaism? If not, then why single out Islam? Muslims will inevitably perceive these statements as anti-Islam and there is a great chance that now, more than ever, al Qaeda and other Muslim terrorist organizations will hit the US. Majority of Muslims may sabotage the peace around the globe not at all because they are radical force but in reaction of these assertions.

The author is a freelance columnist and political analyst from Islamabad
Published in daily The Post, Weekly Independent, August 13-19, 2007

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

The role of religious schools in education system of Pakistan’s development

By: Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

The Education Sector Reform plan presented by the government In January 2002 aimed at modernising the education system. A major objective was to develop a more secular system in order to offset mounting international scrutiny and pressure to curb religious extremism in the wake of 9/11. But as in the past there has been poor follow-through.

Madrassa is an Arabic word colloquially means school. In its secondary meaning, a madrassa is an educational institution offering instruction in Islamic subjects including, but not limited to, the Quran, the sayings (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad, jurisprudence (fiqh), and law. Historically, madrasas were distinguished as institutions of higher studies and existed in contrast to more elementary schools called kuttab that taught only the Quran. In other words, madrassa is a primary, secondary or advanced levels school that promotes an Islamic-based curriculum also refers to Islamic religious school.

Although some madrasas teach secular subjects, in general madrasas offer a religious based curriculum, focusing on the Quran and Islamic texts. Beyond instruction in basic religious tenets, some argue that a small group of radicalized madrasas, specifically located near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, promote a militant form of Islam and teach their Muslim students to fight non-believers and stand against what they see as the moral depravity of the West. Other observers suggest that these schools are wholly unconcerned with religious scholarship and focused solely on teaching violence.

Education in Pakistan has preformed abysmally ever since the country’s inception, further deteriorating after Pakistani dictator General Muhammad Zia-ul-Huq’s implementation of programs which emphasized Islam over secular instruction in the early 1980’s. From 1947, the year of Pakistan’s independence, to 2003 the percent of the literate population grew by only 19% (16% to 35%). India by comparison increased its literacy rate in the same period of time by 47% (18% to 65%). These numbers help explain the current disparity in the prosperity levels of a escalating India and stagnant Pakistan. The Minister for Religious Affairs, Ejaz ul-Haq, son of the late former President Zia ul-Haq, is responsible for implementing madrassa reform. It was Zia ul-Haq's Islamization policies in the 1980s that resulted in an expansion of the madrassa network to support the Afghanistan jihad against the Soviets and that incorporated militant interpretations of Islam into the public school curriculum. Minister Ejaz ul-Haq has so far been reluctant to confront the prominent religious parties that have ties to foreign-funded madrassas and are resisting government reform.

A strong and effective madrassa education system in Pakistan will help to ensure that the country steers toward a path of stability, moderation, and prosperity in the years to come, and should therefore be a top priority for Washington in its relations with Islamabad. Lack of adequate education opportunities in Pakistan has contributed to the development of extremist ideologies that have fueled terrorism and sectarian tensions as well as stifled economic growth. Fostering development and reform of the public education system will not only contribute to Pakistani economic prosperity and social tolerance, it will help improve the image of the United States by demonstrating American interest in the human development of average Pakistani citizens.

The role of the madrassa in Pakistan and its contribution to Islamic militancy has been the subject of intense debate in U.S. academic and policy circles. Observers have been unable to agree on the actual numbers of madrassas and madrassa students in Pakistan, and some studies reveal that the international media has exaggerated these figures during the last few years. A World Bank study from 2005, for example, says Pakistani madrassas account for less than 1 percent of total academic enrollment in the country. In April 2002, Dr. Mahmood Ahmed Ghazi, the former Pakistani Minister of Religious Affairs, put the number of madrassas at about 10,000, with 1.7 million students.

While most madrassas in Pakistan are not churning out terrorist foot soldiers, there are a handful of religious seminaries that promote anti-West, pan-Islamic, and violent ideologies. Many of the older madrassas have well-established reputations for producing serious Islamic thinkers, while others provide welfare services to the poor through free religious education, lodging, and food. A madrassa student learns how to read, memorize, and recite the Quran, and those with advanced theological training become Ulema (religious scholars). Each of the different schools of Islamic thought in Pakistan, including the Sunni Deobandis, Barelvis, Ahle-Hadith (Salafi), and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) as well as the Shiia, runs its own seminaries.

From a counter terrorism perspective, U.S. policymakers should focus their attention on the handful of madrassas in Pakistan that have well-established links to terrorism. These madrassas are likely well known to the Pakistani authorities and increasingly to U.S. intelligence and policy officials, and deserve special focus in our counterterrorism policies. The Darul Uloom Haqqania located near Peshawar in the Northwest Frontier Province, for example, served as training ground for Taliban leaders and a recruiting center for Pakistani militants fighting in Kashmir.
The Musharraf government promulgated the "Paklistan Madrassa Education Board Ordinance 2001" to establish three model madrassa institutions in Karachi, Sukkur, and Islamabad that would include English, math, computer science, economics, political science, law, and Pakistan studies in their curricula. Through the "Voluntary Registration and Regulation Ordinance 2002," the government promised funding to madrassas that formally registered with the government. In a more controversial step, the Pakistani government demanded that madrassas expel all foreign students by December 31, 2005. Islamist groups vehemently resisted the government's efforts, however, and authorities backed down and made public statements indicating that they would not use force or shut down noncompliant madrassas to enforce the directives.
The U.S. should refrain from getting involved in Pakistan’s broader madrassa reform efforts and accept that many of the traditional madrassas serve a useful purpose in educating Islamic intellectuals and providing shelter and food for impoverished youth. While a few Pakistani madrassas represent an international terrorist threat and deserve American scrutiny and condemnation, most madrassas should be left alone.

To conclude, U.S. efforts to encourage education reform and development in Pakistan should be consistent, sustained, and multi-pronged. Ensuring transparency and efficiency in the education bureaucracy is equally important to encouraging local community involvement and accountability in the day-to-day functioning of individual schools, especially in poor, rural areas. The development of a strong and effective education system in Pakistan is central to promoting moderation, tolerance, and economic development. Convincing the Pakistani government to take firm action against the handful of madrassas supporting violent extremism also is necessary, not only for the future stability of Pakistan, but also to prevent future international terrorism.

Pakistan hosting over 10,000 madrasas, Pakistan’s religious and public educational infrastructure are of ongoing concern in the United States. In an economy that is marked by extreme poverty and underdevelopment, costs associated with Pakistan’s cash-strapped public education system have led many Pakistanis to turn to madrasas for free education room, and board. Links between Pakistani madrasas and the ousted Afghan Taliban regime, as well as alleged connections between some madrasas and Al Qaeda, have led some observers consider the reform of Pakistan’s madrasa system as an important component of combating anti-U.S. terrorism and in helping to stabilize the recently-formed Afghan government.

A report says that one of the four suicide bombers that carried out the July 2005 terrorist attacks on the London transportation system had spent time at a Pakistani madrasa with alleged links to extremists. In response, Pakistani authorities renewed plans to require all madrasas to register with the government and provide an account of their financing sources. The government had previously offered incentives to madrasas that agreed to comply with registration procedures, including better training, salaries, and supplies. Madrasa leaders reportedly agreed to the registration and financial accounting requirements in September 2005, but succeeded in preserving an anonymity provision for their donors. As of January 2006, approximately 7,000 of Pakistan’s estimated 13,000 madrasas had registered with authorities. In a more controversial step, the Pakistani government also demanded that madrasas expel all of their foreign students by December 31, 2005. Of an estimated 1,700 foreign madrasa students, 1,000 had reportedly left Pakistan by January 1, 2006. Some nationalist and Islamist groups have vehemently resisted the government’s efforts, and authorities have made public statements indicating that they do not plan to use force or shut down noncompliant madrasas in order to enforce the directives. The Brussels-based group in a report on Pakistan’s education sector points out that the public, government-run schools, which educate the vast majority of children poorly rather than the madrasas or the elite private schools are most in need of significant reforms and an increase in resources to reverse the influence of jihadi groups, reduce risks of internal conflict and diminish the widening fissures in Pakistani society. Both the government and donors urgently need to need give this greater priority, it recommends. “The state is falling significantly short of its constitutional obligation to provide universal primary education. And while the demand for education remains high, poorer families will only send their children to a school system that is relevant to their everyday lives and economic necessities. The failure of the public school system to deliver such education is contributing to the madrasa boom as it is to school dropout rates, child labour, delinquency and crime. In the absence of state support, powerful Islamist groups are undermining the reform initiatives of civil society to create a sustainable, equitable and modernised public education system that educates girls as well as boys. Despite its stated commitments, the Musharraf government appears unwilling to confront a religious lobby that is determined to prevent public education from adopting a more secular outlook. Public school students are confined to an outdated syllabus and are unable to compete in an increasingly competitive job market against the products of elite privates schools that teach in English, follow a different curriculum and have a fee structure that is unaffordable to most families.”The public school system’s deteriorating infrastructure, falling educational standards and distorted educational content impact mostly, if not entirely, on Pakistan’s poor, thus widening linguistic, social and economic divisions between the privileged and underprivileged and increasing ethnic and religious alienation that has led to violent protests. Far from curtailing extremism, the public school system risks provoking an upsurge of violence if its problems are not quickly and comprehensively addressed.” The government should coordinate the madrasa curriculum with the public school curriculum until the Curriculum Wing completes a comprehensive review and reform of the national syllabus.For months, Pakistani President Musharraf has been locked in a fierce political struggle with leaders of Pakistan’s religious schools, or madrasas. Represented by the powerful political organization Wifaqul-Madaris, the madrasa leaders have promised to ignore or resist Musharraf’s recent efforts aimed at expelling foreign students from the nation’s thousands of religious schools.

This battle is far from an inconsequential political struggle in some far off land. Critical to America’s long-term efforts in combating Islamic extremism will be our ability to promote gradual reform in Muslim countries that maintain friendly relationships with the United States. In assisting states such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan in developing democratic and prosperous societies, obstacles will inevitably arise. Nowhere is the extent of this challenge more evident than in Pakistan, thanks in large part to their counterproductive education system Currently, one to two million children are educated in the more than 10,000 madrasas operating in Pakistan. Reports have indicated that about 10% of these religious schools have links to Islamic militants. Thus, 100,000 - 200,000 students are currently educated in madrasas with ties to militant groups, making Pakistan a virtual factory for producing Islamic extremists.

Unfortunately, as bad as the madrasa situation is, it is not the only educational problem in Pakistan, the public school system has also suffered due to a strong influence of extremist ideals. Fundamentalists, through the Islamic Ideology Council, have wielded considerable influence over Pakistani education, especially in the selection of textbooks. To offer a sample of the general persuasions of the Islamic Ideology Council, one must look no further than the Pakistani daily, Islamabad Khabrain. Its pages celebrated that; “The Islamic Ideology Council has said that the imposition of a ban on jihadi activities is synonymous to preventing the Muslims from performing a religious obligation.” Thus, it is no surprise that students are taught disdain for the West, the importance of jihad, and the ideal of resurrecting the Caliphate.

By adopting and redefining a moderate curriculum unanimously, in madaris of Pakistan, the image of so called terrorist curriculum and radical ideology under the roofs of these madaris can justifiably be averted, so that the a clear and vivid picture can be portrayed not only inside Pakistan but across the world. And in such ways madaris education system can also boost the literacy rate of the country.

Published in daily THE POST.

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875
mahtabbashir@yahoo.com

DEFINE LAWS, PLEASE!

Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

The issue here is not of feminism or lesbianism but the issue is can our close society has such laws to cop with unprecedented situation that is turning into a new direction with every passing moment.

Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif of the Lahore High Court (LHC) sentenced Shumail Raj and Shahzina Tariq to three years of rigorous imprisonment in jails at Lahore and Faisalabad respectively and Rs 10,000 fine for each. He said failure of fine payment would add a month to imprisonment. The couple was jailed because they had lied about Shumail’s sex, who pretended like a male. The lovers, also cousins were sentenced to put behind the bars because of same-sex marriage and perjury which is against the injunctions of Islam and unlawful but no case could be instituted under Section 377 PPC, the commission of unnatural offense. On the other hand, couple proclaimed they love each other and only death could make them apart. It was also disclosed that Shehzina’s father wanted to sell her off into marriage to a man much older than her and that Shumail (Nazia) married her (Shehzina) in order to save her from this fate.

It was not the very first case in the history of Pakistan but in sub-continent. Shumail Raj ‘the husband’, 31 and Shehzina Tariq, the wife, 24, were truly, madly deeply in love with each other, when they fled from Faisalabad to Lahore after resistance shown from girl’s father. The couple just after made their entrance in the city of Lahore captured by Lahore Police and case was sent to Lahore high court for further proceeding.

During proceeding of the case Shumail (she turned he), who was wearing jeans and shirt admitted that he was a girl. His wife Shehzina also confessed that she knew that her spouse was a girl, when she was asked by the court. Then why Shumail told a lie to the court earlier? Shumail replied that she had made wrong statement as some of her intimate friends were present under the same roof. The judge also made query why she had removed her breasts and uterus? She did not reply to this.

During judicial proceeding the judge asked Dr Asif, who had been summoned by the court as Shumail had stated on last hearing that he (Asif) had removed her breasts, to explain as to under what law he operated upon Shumail. But surprisingly, Dr Asif categorically denied the charge, saying Shumail did come to his clinic complaining pain in the chest. “When I asked her certain questions she revealed that she might be feeling pain as she got removed her breasts about 10 years ago from a doctor whose name she did not reveal and left his clinic in anger. And now she came up with an allegation against him.” Shumail however, insisted that Dr Asif removed her breasts. As the court found it difficult to reach a conclusion, it ordered SHO Jhang bazaar Khalid Maqbool to register a case against all those who took part in removing the female characteristic of Shumail. Doctor Abdul Hafeez Kardar, who allegedly operated upon Shumail Raj to remove uterus told court that Raj could still conceive a baby. Doctor further told that he helped Raj remove her uterus from a gynecologist in Faisalabad about her menstrual cycle excessive bleeding, but that doesn’t mean she is he (male) now. The court remarked: No professional ethics, code of conduct or laws of land allow a doctor to remove characteristics of a person.

Additional advocate general Khawar Mehmood Khatana vehemently opposed the argument of giving pardon to this couple by saying that punishment under all offences should be handed down with the intention to reform the society. Crimes could not be controlled if the offenders are not punished. He maintained that it was an unprecedented case and boldness of both of them required deterrent punishment to set an example for the rest of society. The brief fact of the case was that Shumail Raj (Nazia) and Shehzina Tariq were cousins. They contracted ‘marriage’ nine months ago on September 09, 2006. However, father of Shehzina, Tariq Hussain registered a case of kidnapping against unknown persons.

As the matter turned controversial, Shumail was subjected to medical examination that revealed that she was born as a girl and continued to be a woman. Later, they deliberately avoided appearance before the court as they were making an attempt to flee the country. The court issued their arrest warrants. Meanwhile, on the application of Shehzina’s father their names were put on exit control list. Finally they were arrested and the court sent them to separate jails, Shumail to Kot Lakhpath jail at Lahore and Shehzina to female ward of Faisalabad district jail, where they would now be imprisoned.

Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif said he had awarded a “lenient” sentence, because the couple had apologized. The maximum sentence for telling a lie before the court is seven years under section 193 of Pakistan Penal Code.

Talking to media men outside the Lahore High Court building after the court had sentenced them, Shumail Raj , the ‘husband’ said that they would also appeal to President Musharraf to help them out of such ‘inhuman’ injunctions. Raj hoped that President Musharraf would provide them some relief. Replying to a question that how would they spent a long period of three years in jail, Shumail said that they would withstand all odds. “We love each other and only death can make us apart,” she maintained. However, she said that the jail authorities were not treating them well even they were not allowed to meet their families. “Other inmates in jail used obnoxious language and continuously gazed and stared at me,” Shumail protested.

In my views, the court ignored the fact that it is not only biology, but psychology that defines a human being. As per medical ethics, sex relocation therapy is not a crime and is practiced the world over. The court ruled that ‘same-sex marriage’ was un-Islamic. It would be in order to bring to light some important facts relevant to this case.It is well-known scientific fact that a certain percentage of children is born with indistinct sex. On reaching puberty, they start developing characteristics of the opposite sex due to hormonal deviations. Like in the present case, Shumail grew a beard at the age of 15, and decided to go for a mastectomy and later a hysterectomy. Shumail however had not yet undergone reconstruction surgery. Research shows that nearly 40 percent of untreated transsexuals are either institutionalized or die prematurely. However, if properly treated, they can become fully functional members of society.

Another weird decision made by the judge was, to issue show-cause notice to Dr Abdul Hafeez Kardar, who had allegedly performed surgery on Shumail Raj, that under what law he was authorized to perform an operation of the nature. I argue if Raj was not feeling comfortable under female characteristics, is it any harm to make his life comfortable? It also needs a serious thinking especially for the days to come.

Pakistan is a ridiculously closed society, but sometimes one is in shock at the misinformation and prejudice even among more broad-minded circles. This case is the first of its kind in Pakistan, but our neighbouring Muslim country, Iran, is no stranger to transgenderism or to sex-change surgeries. We have a healthy precedent in the example of Iran. Ayatollah Khomeini first issued a fatwa declaring it not only Islamic but advisable to undergo sex reassignment therapy, so that a transsexual does not live the life of an unacceptable person. Iran has not only passed legislation based on social and scientific evidence to make sex change legal, such individuals are financially assisted by the state to have surgery for the purpose. Iran has gone so far as to achieve scholarship in social and legal issues arising from such sex-change. I suggest that the people and the government of Pakistan must learn from the experiences in Iran and do not repeat the same inhuman and unscientific patterns of injustice and prejudice that are pervasive in a world that insists on staying to ridiculous caricatures of what it means to be a ‘real man’ or a ‘real woman’.

The courts and the government should recognize this phenomenon and take affirmative action to accommodate such individuals in society rather than shunning them in ignorance. It is the first ever time this issue has attained fame at the national level. We as a society need to rethink our attitudes. Not only should legislation be passed in this regard, the government should make arrangements to rehabilitate transsexual communities. The case of Shehzina Tariq and Shumail Raj should be reconsidered in the light of above facts as it invites civil society in particular to play its pivotal role in such regard.

Last but certainly not the least, the court should also have given due consideration to the circumstances in which the couple contracted ‘marriage’ nine months ago on September 09, 2006. In their statement, they said that Shehzina’s father wanted to sell her off into marriage to a man much older than her and that Shumail married her in order to save her from this destiny. It was in order that the court should have ordered an investigation into this allegation and, if found true, awarded punishment to the father of Shehzina, and if not, couple will have to carry on their life within a cell for three years or they may be relieved earlier.

Published in The POST, weekly Independent & Weekly BLITZ international

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

WHERE IS INTERFAITH HARMONY?

By: Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

Giving a knighthood title to someone who is the most detested figure in the Islamic community is surely an act of blatant offense exposed by the British government against Muslim world with hampering interfaith understanding. This act shows that insulting Islamic sacred values is not accidental, it is planned, organised, guided and supported by some Western countries.

Britain is a country which proscribes mosques from using loud speakers to announce call for prayer (Azaan) and yet its own churches ring loud bells every Saturday and Sunday. Britain is a nation which does not believe in moral values, religion or faith and yet poses before the world as the strictest of law enforcement society. Britain is a society which encourages gay rights, abortion, live-in without marriage and yet spares no one who evades taxes. Britain is a society which openly condemns terrorism and yet acts as the right hand for all actions leading to mass massacre and terrorism in the Muslim world. Britain is a country which does not spare traffic offences and yet gives shelter to terrorists under political asylum from across the world. Britain needs no democracy as it has the highest level of hypocrisy in every aspect of its social life. Last but surely not least, Britain is a country which speaks of no ill-feelings to the Muslim world and yet slaps hard at the entire Muslim faith by knighting infamous characters like Salman Rushdie.

Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie, 60, one of the almost 950 people to appear on the Queen’s 81st Birthday Honors list, was knighted. On Valentine’s Day in 1989 the spiritual figurehead of the Iranian revolution pronounced on Teheran radio that: “The author of The Satanic Verses(1988), which is against Islam, the Prophet, the Qura’n, and all those involved in its publication who were aware of its content, are sentenced to death.” Since then, Salman Rushdie lived as a virtual prisoner, changing addresses constantly, and protected around the clock by British security at an estimated cost of £10 million.

Salam Rushdie’s fourth book - The Satanic Verses in 1988, described an enormous battle between good and evil and combines fantasy, philosophy and travesty. It was immediately condemned by the Islamic world because of its perceived blasphemous representation of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Born in Bombay now Mumbai on 19th June, 1947, Rushdie has accumulated for himself a fair number of distinctions over the years; among them the Booker of Bookers prize for Midnight’s Children in 1981, the Whitbread novel award (twice), the James Tait Black memorial prize, and a fatwa from the Ayatollah Khomeini calling for his immediate assassination. And latest distinction for the author was a knighthood, recognising the services to literature. "I am thrilled and humbled to receive this great honour, and I am very grateful that my work has been recognised in this way," the newly-minted Sir Salman said in a statement.

The question of profanity in The Satanic Verses, Salman’s 1988 tale of a prophet deluded by the devil, remains an ultra-sensitive issue in much of the Muslim world and the author’s inclusion in the Queen’s Birthday Honours has inflamed anti-British response.
Britain's decision to award Salman Rushdie a Knighthood set off a storm of protest in the Islamic world today, with a Pakistani government minister giving warning that it could provide justification for suicide bomb attacks.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett defended the award of a knighthood to Sir Salman Rushdie, but said she was "sorry" if the move had offended some Muslims. A diplomatic row has broken out over comments by a Pakistani minister that Salman Rushdie’s knighthood could justify suicide bombings. The minister, son of Zia ul-Haq, the military dictator who died in a plane crash in 1988, later withdrew his statement in parliament, and then told the AFP news agency that he meant to say that knighting Rushdie would foster extremism. "If somebody has to attack by strapping bombs to his body to protect the honour of the Prophet then it is justified," Mr ul-Haq told the National Assembly. "If someone blows himself up he will consider himself justified. How can we fight terrorism when those who commit blasphemy are rewarded by the West?" he questioned? He said Pakistan should split diplomatic ties with Britain if it did not withdraw the award, adding:"We demand an apology by the British government. Their action has hurt the sentiments of 1.5 billion Muslims."If Muslims do not unite, the situation will get worse and Salman Rushdie may get a seat in the British parliament." Ejaz-ul-Haq maintained.

Pakistan's lower house of parliament passed a resolution proposed by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, who branded Sir Salman Rushdie a "blasphemer." He said the honor had hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world. "This is an occasion for the (world's) 1.5 billion Muslims to look at the seriousness of this decision," Mohammed Ijaz ul-Haq, religious affairs minister, later said in parliament. Robert Brinkley, Britain's high commissioner to Pakistan, defended the decision to honor Rushdie for his contributions to literature. Rushdie is one of the most prominent novelists of the late 20th century whose 13 books have won numerous awards, including the Booker Prize for "Midnight's Children" in 1981.

"It is simply untrue to suggest that this in anyway is an insult to Islam or the Prophet Muhammed, and we have enormous respect for Islam as a religion and for its intellectual and cultural achievements," Brinkley said. Asked if he was concerned it could provoke unrest in Pakistan, Brinkley said, "We will just have to see where it goes from here. There's certainly no reason for that."

Jonathan Heawood, director of the English branch of Pen, said: "We have argued for a long time that Salman Rushdie should be recognized by the government as a giant of world literature. The decision to award the knighthood was entirely in the hands of the honours committee and the government. "We don't regret it. We will continue to support Salman Rushdie as we support over 1,000 writers around the world who have been persecuted as a result of their writing." The axis of evil, comprising the USA, UK and Israel has left no stone unturned to damage and destroy the already weak Muslim Ummah and the Islamic world. The axis of evil has begun a War on Terror to overshadow the spirit of Jihad. While every terrorism is condemned by the people of faith and the non-believers alike, yet the actions by the axis of evil are no short of a terrorism at mass scale, which can only be responded by a similar action of coherent and strategic warfare utilizing the combined resources (financial, military, infrastructure and intelligence) against the axis of evil by the entire Muslim World, today.

The axis of evil and their peripherals in likes of Rushdie have forgotten that ‘IF YOU HAVE FAITH YOU DO NOT FEAR’. While the feelings of the nations belonging to the axis of evil will not be damaged if someone humiliated their religious prophets, however it is time for the Muslim World to see the reaction of the axis of evil, if some one tried to humiliate the Queen or the US President and then the humiliater gets the highest medal of honor from all countries of the Muslim World.

There's very slim chances that British Government can annul the knighthood award, it would make them look weak and not possible either to make requests to a stubborn nation to retract this title from a blasphemer. It would be appropriate for Rushdie to make the decision not to accept this award, is the only way out to pacify this highly inflammable issue. He does, however, have time to reconsider since he is unlikely to be formally presented with the award by the Queen until the end of the year. No date has been set for the investiture. Two ceremonies are due to take place next month but they are likely to be for those who were named in the New Year's honours list. Rushdie could become Sir Salman in the next batch of investitures between coming October and December or early next year.

Awarding knighthood to Rushdie amounts to a blatant anti-Muslim bias, and Muslims all over the world condemn this move. This knighthood is just another example of just ousted PM Tony Blair and his government’s attempts to secularise Muslims and reward apostates. Rushdie is a disgusted figure across the Muslim world because of his insults to Islam and honoring him to insult the religious values of Muslims, will have ramifications here and across the globe. There is obviously a real danger that the knighthood controversy could ignite religious-incited violence. Other Muslim countries may also seethe in the flames of religious passion. What the UK has done is just an act of irresponsibility right at the crucial time.

Why Muslim concerns are consistently ignored by the West is point to contemplate. Why have the Muslims, especially those living in the West, not been able to counterfeit interfaith and intercultural dialogue to define the parameters of the Western belief of freedom of expression? Last but not least, will OIC member countries and Muslim all over the world alter their approach to avert further humiliation? This is an eye-opener for Muslims to make west realize that we are just as hyper-sensitive as Jews and Christians are when someone offend their religious characters/ incidents. If Rushdie’s knighthood honor is a product of his literary work, then where is interfaith harmony?

MUHAMMAD MAHTAB BASHIR
House # 2026, Street # 32,
I-10/2, ISLAMABAD.
Cell: 0300 52 56 875

Published in The Weekly Independent
mahtabbashir@gmail.com