ASIF HUSSAIN SHAH – A CABBIE ON A PEACE MISSION

MAHTAB BASHIR
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
03335363248
ISLAMABAD

The foundation stone of a prosperous nation is embedded in peace and social justice. Unfortunately, both virtues are nowhere to be seen in our society. Plato believed that social justice was ‘doing one’s own’- which means that every one must practice one of the occupations in the city for which he is naturally best suited.

Carrying this message of Plato – not only for an individual but for a societal change – a taxi driver, Asif Hussain Shah, 51, who wrote a unique book titled ‘For Hire’ to relate his experiences on the wheel, is now working to promote peace and social justice as a message on his cab, ‘Peace & Justice for All’.

SHAH- A REFORMIST: Capturing the tales of desires and struggles of the common man, Shah has compiled a moving account of life around him in his first book titled ‘For Hire’- the first ever book written by a cabbie in Pakistan. Being a taxi driver, he takes the reader on a ride through pain and pleasure on the road of life in a quest for self-confidence.

Shah, while talking to this scribe, said he wanted to promote peace throughout the world and ultimately intended to auction his cab. “I want peace not in Pakistan but everywhere in the world. I am really disappointed what Indian PM Narendra Modi is doing with the Muslims of India on the name of “New Citizenship Law”. People in Indian Occupied Kashmir are suffering with the atrocities of Modi Govt. How they call it the world’s biggest democratic country when all (such brutal acts) are visible to the World, Shah maintained.    

SHAH – A MARKETER: Shah went a step further and used his cab as a moving billboard to advertise his book. He used the space on sides and behind his taxi to attract more buyers of his book and spread the words about himself. The painted advertisements on his taxi mention his book and ask people to search for it on google, youtube, and facebook. Though he himself does not have any official website for himself but relies on what other people post about him on the internet. A number of TV and Radio channels, and newspapers and magazines have also covered him.

“Wherever I go, people click my cab’s photographs, ask me a number of questions, and get an inspiration of hope,” said Shah proudly. His idea of online marketing through an offline ad worked like charm and now, one can find thousands of online posts covering him and his book.

SHAH – A PREACHER: Shah wrote his book not only to have another source of income but also to preach the values of Islam, highlight socio-economic, political and religious issues in the Pakistani society and ways to cope with them. Ferozsons published his book in January, 2009.

Shah still continues to write as he drives his taxi, dropping the passengers on their desired places in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Shah said he quit studies after grade 12 but his quest for learning raged. “I drive taxi to make ends meet. Sometimes I feel on the verge of a breakdown. All the same, I decided to pen down my experiences in the form of short stories and I did it,” he said.

Born in Quetta, and hailed in Lalamusa, Asif was a plumber when he got married and came to Rawalpindi in 1993. He took to driving taxi, which he felt adventurous. “Time is money for me. I don’t while away on roadsides, taking tea and smoking. Rather I read people and note down my experiences,” he said. “I have met some very interesting passengers over 25 years of my experience as a cabbie. I thought why not write short stories on them in simple language. Slowly I ended up in writing this 120-page book. Soon it will be translated in English,” he said.

SHAH – A COMMON MAN: With four kids studying in schools, Shah said it was hard to live in meager resources. “People appreciate my innovative style of advertisement on the cab which I change time to time. I am a taxi driver by profession and a writer by choice. My taxi is now historic in the world and I will auction this historic taxi in Dubai or in Europe for charity,” he said. “I have decorated my cab not from outside but interior of this cab is also fascinating. I do not believe in one liners often written on other cabs like ‘G Raja G’, ‘Mastani’, ‘Prince ko Janay Do’ etc. I condemn the most read one liner on the taxis, ‘Ye Sab Meri Maa Ki Dua Hay’. “This is ridiculous! Do mothers pray for her sons to be a taxi drivers”, Shah questioned.

SHAH – A RESEARCHER: At the end of the last year, Shah conducted a survey, which revealed that 65% local public demanded reduction in constitutional tenure from 5 years to 3 years. Shah said that he conducted two different surveys from 1,000 travelers sitting in his cab.

“The outline of my survey forms in hard copy comprised of three questions each, and travelers filled those forms immediately,” he said, adding that survey was the quickest way to assess a particular situation, be it literary or political.

It the first survey, Shah focused on getting opinion from the public on ways to get rid of the government if it failed to deliver. In that survey he said he added questions such as ‘How can we get rid of the martial law and the midterm election?’ The other survey dealt with the citizen’s kitchen expenditure. Over 65 percent people were of the opinion that if the government failed to satisfy the masses, parliaments’ constitutional life should be limited to three years instead of five. In the second survey, over 70 percent people opined that they were not satisfied with their current salary to meet domestic expenditures.

SHAH – THE PRIME MOVER: Shah said so far he had not asked for any help from any of government department and faced all on his own. He said despite those suffering, he intended to write another book on ‘Traffic Reforms’. “I intend to go to Karachi to spread this global cause but I had to return back from Bahawalpur because of gas shortage. The closure of CNG stations has brought more miseries for the working class,” he said.

Few years back, the Punjab Government launched a ‘Yellow Cab Scheme’ and I request authorities to promote my message of peace across the world. “The criterion of getting a new taxi under this scheme was too tough, and I didn’t have sufficient money. I requested the government to make the procedure of this scheme people-friendly,” Shah added but nothing worked.  

However, amidst all the troubling news around, Asif Hussain Shah is optimistic to reclaim the old glory of the country with his positive attitude. He hoped that through positive thinking and focusing on the areas concerned, people could bring about a positive change in their lives. “We should cultivate a habit of patience within us and to respect interfaith harmony that can help eradicating violence and extremism in Pakistan”, he concluded.

A ROLE MODEL ROLLS OFF: RIP MASOOD MALIK

Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad

03335363248

mahtabbashir@gmail.com

He was a man of integrity, an uncompromised journalist, a down-to-earth professional, a committed unionist, a role model in his field, a workaholic writer whose staple diet was offering prayers and recitation of Quraan, a caring husband and an illustrious father, once the head of premier state-run news agency APP, and an erudite editor of many national newspapers.

He was Masood Malik- whose’ contagious smile remained intact until he slipped into the deadly tentacles of cancer before he left this world to meet his maker on the International Human Rights Day (December 10, 2019) - just to give an intimation to his hundreds of mourning fellows, disciples and relatives that it’s not the fame but ‘the care for others’ that stays behind forever.   

 

Started his career in 1974 from a daily ‘Tameer’, Massod Malik later joined PPI, Daily Nawa-e-Waqt (Chief Reporter), Daily Express (Editor), Daily Ausaf (Managing Editor), Daily Dunya (Editor) and later in 2015 he was appointed as Managing Director (MD) of APP. Meanwhile he ran his own Daily ‘Islamabad Times’. All through his exalted career, he remained an ideological journalist and an upright officer with flawless character.   

Having luminous career spanning over 4 decades, Masood Malik belongs to that rare breed of journalists who has answered my FAQ silently, before his disappearance that “who is the role model in our whole media industry”?

On and off, I have had chit-chat with this thorough gentleman on various events informally when I was associated with Daily Times/ Pakistan Today. In 2013, I met Masood Malik officially when he joined Daily Dunya as its Resident Editor. During his stint at Dunya, I found him courteous to staff members, dedicated to organization and humble to each lower staff.

He defies the dictator President. Gen. Pervez Musharraf when his contemporaries dare not. Malik stole the limelight in Musharraf despotic era as he asked a pinching question in a Presser from the dictator which made him torrid to an extent that Malik was shown the doors from his working organization. Later his movement was restrained and put under surveillance- a brutal act whose’ impact surrounded Malik’s head and heart until he breathed his last. The Special Court after a week time of Masood Malik’s death (Dec10) awarded death-penalty to Musharraf (Dec17) in a high-treason case. 

For the last many years, I’ve been debating the difference between Urdu and English journalism and its working environment prioritizing English journalism for many reasons. However, as soon as Masood Malik appointed as Resident Editor of Daily Dunya, this debate suddenly stood nowhere as I found him a through professional, soft-spoken and friendly-natured. 

I distinctly remember the day when I filed my first exclusive story (in Urdu) about mismanagement of Quaid-i-Azam University (in 2012-13). After seven years spent in English journalism, it was a bit difficult for a rookie to compose Urdu story. However, while finishing the story I made a call to QAU vice chancellor for the version. We had a long chat on the issue but at the end VC stopped me giving his official version saying ‘This conversation is off the record’.

Now I was in a state of confusion what to do. Meanwhile, Masood Malik while hovering around in reporting room asked me ‘Han Mahtab, Aaj kia dy rahay ho’? I told him about QAU mismanagement exclusive story. He said OK, and left the spot moving to his room. Now it was not possible for me to stop the story neither to file it. I thought a bit and then started winding up the story “...While talking to this scribe, QAU VC on condition of not to be named said …”and file the story. As soon as this story reached to Malik sb, he could not stop laughing. Malik sb, later on, many a times recalled this (style of version) of story and kept on smiling.

Smile was his trademark. And I often had seen him smiling in pressure situations. On one Friday, Malik told me to join him at Preston University on a seminar on “Role of Journalism in Disaster Management’ where he was invited as a chief guest. I reached there few minutes ago before Malik concluded his lecture. He said “the floor is open for all, you may ask questions’? I raised my hand from the rare seats and promptly ask the question referring destruction of Atta Abad Lake and Raymond Davis incident (recently occurred)… Sir, as media plays a role of “watchdog” why it was unable to pass on information (of these incidents) in real-time, was that due to lack of media access, or it was controlled, or “gate-keeping theory” was applied? He smiled and agreed with me saying yes; sometime, like other factors, like the influentials’ do control the media. I promptly raised my hand again. But this time Malik smiled back and said in a low voice “Yar… tum baaki sawalat daftar pohnch ky kar laina, main bhi idhar sy sidha daftar hi jaoon ga, chalo, shabash, baki bachy bachion ko sawal karny do”. I got embarrassed but found everybody laughing in the auditorium. Later, Malik shared this incident with office colleagues and kept smiling for a long time.

Tariq Aziz, a senior journalist and one of Masood Malik’s close associate, in retrospect, says that “Malik was one of the fearless journalists who defied the oppressor of the time- Gen. (R) Pervez Musharraf. Later, Malik was tortured financially as well as mentally to an extent that he could not be able to break the shell of that trauma for the rest of his life”. Aziz continued, “Malik sb was my mentor, boss, and more than this he was like my elder brother. He taught me the methodology and techniques of journalism that one could not find in text-books. He was humble, sympathetic, chic and always in hurry to help others. May Allah give him superlative spot in heaven.”

In 2015, when Masood Malik was appointed as Managing Director (MD) of APP, I visited him frequently. In one meeting, he asked me about his assignment given to me many months ago. Few months ago Malik told me one of his relative is waiting for degree from AIOU and requested to do it. I told Malik it needs Rs. 2800/- to get the DMC. He gave me three notes of 1000. Few days after, Eid holidays started and those 3000 were consumed by me.

After resumption of office, Malik asked me laughing “Mahtab, ki kita ee meray kam da, Eid ty kha pi ty nahi gia 3000”. I smiled in response as he understood. Months later, in his office at APP, I called him to inform about the task and handing over the documents, he told me he is on way to airport for an official visit to Singapore but told to pass on those documents to Zahid Baloch.

Zahid Baloch, a young energetic journalist is another close associate of Malik. Baloch who considered Malik as his mentor was in anguish as we both reach to graveyards (H-11 and H-8) on the night of December 10. Sharing memories with Malik wrapped in trance, Baloch said “Malik sb was my mentor, my benefactor. In his last days, he used to call me and kiss my hand, I promptly ask… what’s you doing Malik sb and in reply he always said, “Thank you for your help. You are like my real sons. Thank you for everything.”

I told Baloch, I’ve been a frequent visitor of these two graveyards, not because my brother and my father is resting here but also it was Malik sb who assigned me to do write-ups for the legends who are buried here.

It was a day, when Malik as Editor of Dunya, called me in his room and said, “Yar hamary pages main koi ronak nahi hay. I want to see few of features or surveys/ write-ups on these pages. What you suggest”? In response, I told him there exists few of historical and cultural sites, we can file feature or write-up on these sites on a weekly basis- and not on daily basis, because these are not in great numbers. Malik looked upon Sami Ibrahim (who was sitting next to him and was a part of Dunya News at that time). I told Malik there are few of many legendary figures living in CDA graveyards (of H-8 and H-11), if you agree upon, I may file a write-up on each person taking pictures of grave, epitaph (Katba) and then would get the views from the relative(s) or associate(s) of the deceased. Malik nodded in affirmation and said, “OK… do it”.

From the very next day I started spending my day-time at H-8 and H-11 graveyards. Within first ten days, I filed a number of write-ups with the title “Katba Kahani” of Qudrat-ullah Shahab, Mumtaz Mufti, Altaf Gauhar, Maulana Kausar Niazi, Josh Malihabadi, Mansha Yad, Tufail Niazi, Perveen Shakir, Brig. Sadeeq Salik, Ahmed Faraz and there was never ending list….!!!  

I continued to write “Katba Kahani” for almost three and half months (on regular basis). Its feedback was immense as much as a lot of people contacted me with a request to publish ‘Katba Kahani’ associated to their deceased relative(s). Few of them came to my office with the pictures of grave and gravestone and hand-written profile, of which I never denied to file.

Fast forwarding, ultimately, a day comes that put an end to this series. After months, I went to H-8 graveyard just to say thanks to Razzaq sb (Assistant. Director, Graveyard Services). Walking on the track between the graves, all of a sudden I spotted a “Katba” bearing name of Masood Malik. My first reaction was, “it must be of that renowned ghazal singer (hum tum hon gay badal ho ga fame)”. I came closer and started reading. Paying tribute to his sentimental voice a one liner “Jo apni awaz ki ghambrita mein amr ho gia” inscribed on the epitaph was enough for confirmation.

Instead of stepping towards the office of Razzaq sb, I went to office and started writing the “Katba Kahani” of a legendary ghazal singer Masood Malik. It was published in Daily Dunya on March 13, 2013. Next morning around 7am, my cell phone bell started ringing. It was Masood Malik- my Editor’s call. As I receive the call, Malik sb first laughed and then swung to serious mood said, “Ajj kis py likh dia hay? Fajr ki namaz parhty hi mujhy calls ani start ho gai hain. Log pooch rahay han… Malik sb tusi theek ty ho? Ajj di Katba Kahani parhan dy foran bad tuwanu call kar ray an…” he kept on talking. I replied, “Oho … Malik sb.. It’s about a ghazal singer Masood Malik… who sung that “hum tum hon gay badal ho ga, and lay ga or kia zaalim, imtihan sheeshy ka….”, Malik interrupted me using Urdu, “Bus.. ab bohat ho gaya, qabaristano sy niklo, or zinda logo pay likhna shuru karo”. Before he disconnected the call, I said in a low voice hoping he would not listen my words, “Malik sb… zinda log is kabil kahan hain, kay unpy kuch likha ja saky”, but Malik understood my murmuring well and started laughing again.

Shahzad Farooqi, another senior journalist told this scribe that though he is not Malik’s contemporary, but he was blessed to spent major chunk of his life with him. “I’m still in trauma and it will take ages, perhaps never, to recover this loss. I want to write something about Masood Malik, but I am not in a state of mind to even adjoin words to do it. I’m in pain, he said. He, indeed, was from a rare breed of journalists who could not be forgotten, Farooqi maintained.    

 

Now, as I’m standing in front of his grave, shower rose-petals and offer the Fatiha, I gaze his grave. And suddenly a voice whispers with the same words- “Bus... ab bohat ho gaya, qabaristan sy niklo, or zinda logo pay likhna shuru karo”. “Malik sb… zinda log is kabil kahan hain, kay unpy kuch likha ja saky”, with the same answer, I move out the raod, leaving Masood Malik smiling again in the air of Heaven.

PAKISTAN ALL SET TO ‘ENGAGE AFRICA’

Mahtab Bashir

Islamabad

03335363248

mahtabbashir@gmail.com

With the world now crossed by a latticework of connections, the age of territorial conquest is largely over but skirmishes are not. Now, it’s an age of connectivity and those who are good in bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation are the one who follows the cliché ‘survival of the fittest’ no matter what.

With this belief and commitment, the ambassador of Pakistan to Morocco Hamid Asghar Khan said that ‘not missile-race but strengthening of economy and regional connectivity are the tools to dominate the region’.

Hamid Asghar Khan in an informal chit-chit at Islamabad Club said that China has a trade volume of US$ 150b with African. India, to whom we take on as our foe, has US$ 70b, Turkey having US$ 50b and Pakistan’s trade with African countries is merely by US$ 4.3b adding Africa will emerge as a World Big Market in 2020 and Pakistan will have to catch Africa at African Union partnership levels.

The ambassador said, he categorically told the Prime Minister that over the period of 12 years, Pakistan has not sign any agreement, treaty, deal with any African Country- that has pushed us way back.”      

In a context to a two-day Envoy’s Conference titled ‘Engage Africa’, the ambassador told this scribe that he had given a comprehensive presentation to the Prime Minister Imran Khan focusing Pakistan’s trade, economic and cultural ties with the Morocco in general and African’s countries in Particular.

On a positive vibe, the ambassador said Pakistan has decided to set-up six new diplomatic missions in African countries on an urgent basis in a bid to improve trade ties with them. “These countries include Djibouti, Angola, Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana and Ivory Coast.”

Khan said besides, Pakistan will also open commercial sections in Algeria, Ethiopia, Senegal Nigeria and Kenya. He told that press attaches will be posted in seven African countries. “Next year (2020), Pakistan will organise an international investment and trade conference in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi”, he added.

The ambassador said “We are particularly interested in four areas to promote and project our foreign policy in African. They are namely, political engagement through Pakistani missions, commercial engagement through chambers and business and commerce forums, military to military cooperation and projection of soft image.

Ambassador Hamid informed that Special Assistant to PM on Information & Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has directed the PTV to provide popular TV dramas to Pakistani missions in Africa free of cost so that they could be dubbed in the local language and telecast on their TV channels.

Sports diplomacy is also part of our policy to bring Pakistan and the African nations closer, he said. “Pakistani top movie star Humayun Saeed has agreed to shoot his next movie in Morocco and Pakistani mission will extend all possible support to him in this regard,” he said.

A seasoned diplomat who joined Civil Services in 1992, Hamid Asghar Khan said an Africa task force has been formed at the Foreign Office to implement the decisions made at the recently concluded ‘Engage Africa Conference’ in Islamabad. “Africa is the second largest continent in the world, spreading over 20% of the world landmass and a collective GDP of over $2.3 trillion. It offers an import market of around $500 billion”, he said adding India has signed a number of trade agreements with African countries but we are progressing with snail-pace.

 

He said Pakistan currently has 15 resident missions in the African countries. “India will have 47 missions in Africa, Turkey has 46 out of 54 total number of countries in the continent”, he said adding these countries already has grown up trade of 70b.

During the conference, the ambassador said, diplomats discussed ways to enhance Pakistan’s diplomatic, economic and cultural ties with the continent. Several think-tanks presented their viewpoints on increasing access to African markets. At the conclusion of the conference, proposals from experts were presented to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Due to its rich natural resources and growing middle-class consumer market, the World Bank has predicted that most African countries will reach middle-income status by 2025. This presents a tremendous opportunity for Pakistani goods and services, Hamid Khan said.

Terming Africa a continent of the future, the ambassador said the current “age of geo-strategic connectivity” demanded of Pakistan to be part of it and address the growing traditional and non-traditional threats in domain of economy and security.

Hamid Asghar Khan said in his ‘candid and hard-hitting’ presentation, he said Prime minister was not aware of facts and figures (of trade volume) with African countries. “They (Africans) are not living in caves (as we presume), they are the emerging world economy, Morocco has signed FTA with EU, it is exporting electricity to Spain, EU considered Morocco as Prime Favoured Partner (PFP)”, he told.

He regretted that ties with African countries were not given priority in Pakistan’s external relations in the past because there was lack of innovation and creativity in running the foreign policy.

The ambassador called for appointments of cultural attachés, increasing the frequency of business interactions, high-level contacts and close people-to-people relations. “Pakistan is committed to a substantial policy on maintaining a meaningful relationship with Africa. Only through constructive engagement, we can achieve the goal of economic integration for win-win solutions”, he concluded. *