Not human...?!

A nice breeze was blowing, the weather was lovely and delicious smell of grilled kebabs and tikkas was wafting through the air, making the mouth water when suddenly my eyes fell on a young boy sitting on the darkened steps of a closed shop, crying and rubbing his eyes.

 Don't worry this isn't a scene out of some fictional drama, rather it is the reality of Pakistan that i witnessed less than 30 minutes ago!

What has this country become, heaven for some and hell for others. The great big politicians, the fancy elites don't care if 90% of the country is without electricity, water, gas or food. Would it be wrong to ask someone that how the kebab go down their throat when they see that boy crying on the stairs? Or is it not their fault and they simply missed him on those steps? I don't know what the answer is but it is definitely a lesson for everyone.

Think about this young boy when you whine the next time you aren't able to get some luxurious item, or when you make a face at some dish on your table just because you didn't like it. Think very hard the next time you waste food on your plate, or make  a face at 20 dresses hanging in your closet just because they are 2 months old.

How many times do you sit and ponder over such kids? Does it break your heart to see such scenes?

O Imam(ajtf) it is another eve of Friday and the world is still without you, the oppression is increasing. O imam(ajtf) please come soon...he heart cries for you.

Ray of Light...

I realize that everything in Pakistan is a disappointment these days, not a waking moment goes by when you feel this depressive feeling and heart sinking when thinking about whats happening to this country. I think i have now gone into denial mode about the condition of Pakistan by following the policy of "ignorance is bliss". I don't remember the last time i had something to smile about when thinking about the country or seeing the people around me, that's why i was really pleasantly surprised by an incident this morning.

As i was parked at a red light, i suddenly heard people arguing loudly. Upon turning i saw a middle aged woman with her daughter fighting with the driver of a rickshaw. The guy was literally in the woman's face, screaming at her. And once again i got that sharp depressive feeling realizing what has happened to this society where a man can't even respect a female enough to talk to her politely and with respect no matter how angry he is. Not only was this guy screaming at the woman but he was doing so loudly that all the traffic that had stopped  at the light was looking at what was going on. Now just imagine, standing at the road side with your young daughter while a guy is screaming at you and you are exposed to every strange eye. How worse can one feel?!

Just when i was about to enter that dark place of depression thinking that Pakistan has really become a hellhole(even that sounds a polite way of saying what is happening to the country), the shouting and arguing stopped. At that moment i realized a guy on a bike a few paces away from us had given money to the rickshaw driver, ending the argument and putting the woman out of her misery. Suddenly a ray of light pierced the dark place spreading a warm feeling in me. It made me realize why this country is still functioning...MAYBE JUST MAYBE a few decent people are still left in the country.

Do you realize what a small action of that guy did? You should think about such things when you complain and rant and wonder whats happening to the country....think about how such little acts can better the country. Although the pessimist that i am, i will not fail to mention(Ha Ha) that not a single male present in the long cue of traffic had the decency of getting out and telling the driver to back off and leave the woman alone. Anyways gotta take the little rays, maybe one day we might just have sunshine!

Female Integrity

What kind of times have come? Day by day i am more shocked and depressed. There was a time when females were synonymous with modesty. It was an understood thing that a wife would be loyal, would guard herself. It was implicit that the most important thing to a female would be her modesty.

BUT what is happening now? Wives are having extra marital affairs, girls are prettying themselves up in immodest fashions just to gain attention. And to top it all up it doesn't even shock anyone anymore. A true reflection of this degradation can be seen from the media. They are showing females in the most disgusting and immoral roles. Its amazing to see that this is being churned out of the so called *Islamic Republic of Pakistan*. I feel sick of this setup and immorality. It seems their is no escape, everywhere you turn its the same. *Sigh* world has become a messed messed up place and Pakistan seems to be at the center of that mess.

Why?

Is Pakistan not a Muslim country? Was Imam Hussain(a.s) not the grandson of Holy Prophet(saww)? Did the Prophet(saww) not love him? What in the freakin hell is then the problem with people that they kill innocent people just because they love family of Holy Prophet(saww)? Since when has it become a crime?
What is wrong with the people of this nation? Why have they become dead and insensitive to the continuous atrocities? May Lanat fall for eternity on the killers and the like of them...May they rot in hell forever and ever.

Wake up people before its too late. Stand up for your rights and see whats happening. Don't close your eyes, your blood is not cheap. See what the enemy is doing! Please for heaven sake before its too late to counter the damage!

See the pictures below and think about the families who are left behind? Does your heart not cry at these images? Aren't you a little bit saddened? Or are you still going to go on with your frivolous life style, go visit expensive restaurants, spend on designer clothes, dance to Bollywood songs while your sisters and brothers in faith are killed? Are you not becoming part of oppressors as well?

Propaganda

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=65824&Cat=4&dt=9/4/2011

After reading this above item i have been shocked at the level of propaganda. First shia are killed everyday in the country and then they are the ones that are implicated in crimes. And the funniest thing is that hezb which doesnt have any presence in Pakistan is named here.
And even funnier than that is the fact that while shia are killed everyday, some so called fictional shia group would train shia guys to look banks and create mayhem in Karachi while their brothers and sisters die in Parachinar. None of it makes any sense.

While the terrorists roam free and are freed everyday, victims are made out to be the terrorist. MashAllah at the level of justice in the country!

Sentiments of a shia pakistani...

I think these words truly depict how i feel at least. Whenever people ask me about Pakistan i always struggled with an answer BUT finally i found the words that explain all.

Yahan Har Shakhs, Har Pal Target Hone Se Darta Ha [ everyone is afraid of becoming a target]
Khilona Hai Wo Mitti Ka Fana Hone Se Darta Ha  i[he is toy of clay which is afraid to die]

Ghar Ke Kisi Kone Me Ik Masoom Sa Bacha   [an innocent kid in one corner of the house]
Barron Ki Dekh Kar Lashen Bara Hone Se Darta Hai  [is afraid to grow up after seeing the dead bodies of his elders]

Ajab Hai Zindagi Ki Qaid Me Es Sheher Ka Insan  [The person of the city is in a strange trap]
Rihai Mangta Hai Aur Riha Hone Se Darta Ha  [He asks for freedom but is afraid to be free]

Mohabbat Itni Gehri Hai Ke En Weeran Galiyon Se  [ His love is so deep for these lonely streets]
Nikalna Chahta Hai Par Juda Hone Se Darta Hai   [ wants to leave but is afraid of the separation]

Heaven to Hell

Salam and Hello everyone,

So i had gone to Iran for ziyarat and it was the most amazing experience one can ask for. You must be wondering why i named this post heaven to hell...well someone jokingly said thats what we should name our trip from Iran to Pakistan...:P.
To all those patriots out there please put a hand on your heart BUT it would be the truth when i say i truly realized the dire state of Pakistan after visiting Iran. I have realized that our government treats us much worse than animals. It amazing how one comes to accept the treatment they are given when one remains in the same state for a long time. I think that's what has happened to us as Pakistanis as well. A breath of fresh air from Iran gave me a new perspective on the place where our country is heading.

It may seem a dumb thing to many but it was a novelty to me when i was able to roam the streets of Iran alone as an unsupervised female without any security issues. Imagine the deprived lives we live here in Pakistan...we cant even walk out alone.

*Sigh* feeling too sad to write any more...but insha'Allah have a few issues in mind that i want to talk about. Insha'Allah soon when i get out of my bluesy mood.

Adios till then!

Solution?

I write this entry with utter distraught and despair. A few incidents further deepened my helplessness and depression about my country. I thought maybe writing about it might make me feel better. Its utterly and extremely sad to see a country that has been made by so many sacrifices going down the drain...:(

I met with a young girl of 18 today. After talking a bit with her she opened up to me and slowly revealed to me her situation. Her father died and her mother was married again to the younger brother. We might stop and ask why? And the answer even in the young girls words was to give protection to the mother and take care of the children left behind by the first father. But hold on...lets continue with her story and see just how much of a protection she was given?! The girl told me that her father hits her mother many times and even this morning he had hit her...and told me to subtly look at her mother's neck...which would bear the marks of the beating. I was so surprised to hear that because the woman was smiling when i had met her and had a pleasant disposition. How depressing imagine! Has the woman become so resigned that this is the only way she sees of remaining sane?!
The poor girl had so much ambition and told me how she wanted to study and liked reading books but didn't have any means to do it. She was so fascinated by the novel i was reading and asked me many questions about it. Is this the point we have reached where people who like to study and read don't even have access to books whereas those that have access kick it aside?! She subtly told me how desperate and bad she felt when her mother had to beg others for money and stuff. She said that she wished she could run away someplace and study. She was sick of the constant fights in her home and wanted to provide a comfortable life for her mother.
Let me stop and ask you...What hope has she? What hopes does this nation give her? Is there someone whom she can turn for protection. How many such women and girls die a death each day while still being alive? HOW MANY? WHO WILL COME AND RESCUE THEM?!!!

The second thing that made me depressed is the state of  the country. I had gone to an office to get some documentation completed. I decided to take the straight and honest way and stand in a line to get my work done. BUT wait...can someone do this in Pakistan without being tested to the utmost of their patience?! No how could that be...would this still be Pakistan then? Anyways while people stood in the line....those who had given extra money(read bribes) were taken aside, bypassing the line to have their work done much quicker. So while the rest burned in the heat...those who had paid went inside comfortably.
After much frustration when the people in the lines screamed at the guard....he audaciously replied that why dont you pay the extra money so you dont have to stand in the line as well!!!

Is this a freaking country with laws? It has started to look more like a jungle everyday. where to run to and whom to complain to? How long will this go on?

May Allah(swt) have mercy on this nation...Ameen

Pakistan Resolution-March 23 1940

On the eve of another Pakistan resolution day when we are more excited about the prospect of a holiday than pondering on what the day means i feel compelled to share my thoughts with others. Its really sad how we have forgotten the essence of what such days mean and just celebrate them for the heck of it. The biggest tragedy is that if you were to ask a kid of this generation they would fail to tell you about the meaning or significance of this day.

How ironic it is to note that the resolution which called for protection of minorities sees them being killed left and right.There is no rule of law left...the inspiration that was this resolution has been left into nothing but ashes.

What must the Quaid now feel after seeing us fall into the depths of destruction?!
Is this not a time to ask ourselves what Pakistan means to us? Where we want to see it?
Or will we go on like zombies celebrating all the important holidays meaninglessly?!
What will it take to make this nation to wake up and realize the lost dreams of Quaid?
We should just hope that when we finally wake up its not too LATE!

Adios for now fellow Pakistanis and well wishers. I hope these words wont also be mind shredded and put in that place of the brain where we habitually put all our humanity and ethical emotions that might actually make us think!

Finally!

So after like a gazillion years i finally decided to start a blog. Although i kept on posting stuff and notes on different social networking sites...i never did get around to writing formally for a blog. So dont get too weirded out if you see so many posts on my blog in a single day...they are all old posts that i imported here...:P.

Living in Pakistan, its only through writing that one can vent their frustrations otherwise it can eat you up from inside. There is so much wrong with the current Pakistani society that i cant even begin to explain it BUT i will leave that for another day as i gotta run and do some errands now...so stay tuned for more...:P

First class or second class?!

As a kid i was under the illusion that being a Pakistani meant that i was allowed freedom in this country, that i would be allowed to practice my religion, that i would be allowed to air my opinions...AFTER all Pakistan was meant to be an Islamic country that would give the sub continent's Muslims freedom, at least that was what Quaid envisioned!

BUT the sugar coating slowly melts away when you look around...:/!!!
A few years back I went to a school trip to badshahi mosque happily admiring our cultural heritage...well what do i see written on a fountain there...i am sure intelligent people would be able to guess...the usual statement accusing certain Muslims to be kafir...>:!!!

So lets fast forward to current times...and what do we see happening...everyday people come up and kill shias in majalis, imambargahs, mosques...they haven't even left funerals.

Is this what being a first class citizen means?!

Not being able to practice your faith?
Shutting down all shia channels?
Discriminating them in uniz, jobs etc?
Killing them in their places of Ibadat?

Be fair and evaluate!!!AND then people have the audacity to say...BE Patriotic...Love this country...>:...you are a first class citizen here...look how they treat Muslims there...look how they kill them?!

TAKE OF YOUR ROSE TINTED GLASSES PEOPLE AND LOOK REAL HARD AND THEN ANSWER...:*(.

Too bad these people haven't left anyplace for us...non-pakistanis discriminate us because we have a green passport and we are Muslims...OUR own country discriminates us...can someone tell me where we go...:*(...?!

Reflection of What...?!

A major question to ask ourselves is about the content being shown on TV...does it show our *progressiveness*, our Indianization or our *artistic flair*...?!
Some of the latest trends these days on TV is to show people openly swearing at each other, drinking whenever in some sorta issue,flirtations being carried out openly, reality dancing shows, vulgar jokes being cracked, no sanctity of marriage(female liking big bro but getting married to younger bro to get close to the older bro to marry him once being divorced from the younger one...:/), no level of respect between children and parents etc. The list is an extremely long one!
What is all this and how will it affect our society? Has any of the media related people like respected writers, artists, directors ever given a thought to it? How is it shaping our future generations and contributing to the current social dilemmas and loss of national identity?

Can we as the next generation get together and boycott such stuff...or is it us that push up the GRP's?!
Please think about it!

Confused Media?

What exactly is our culture?

Hasn't this question been doing rounds since so many years...BUT we have failed to get any solid answer up till now? Now instead of helping clear this confusion, the media is adding to it.

A few days back on valentines day, the media was obsessively showing stuff related to the event. They went to the extent of setting up dates between actors and audience...! AND now on eid-e milad un Nabi(saww) the same channels are having naat khawans as their guests, all adorned in dupattas, males with beards etc.

Is it just me or does anyone else feel the contradiction...*huh*?! Imagine i am a non-Muslim looking in on the Islamic teachings and culture...what do i see? On one side i claim to be a Muslim following the teachings of Holy Prophet(saww) and on the other hand i support events related to valentines. wouldn't that person logically conclude that this is what Islam promotes?

Seriously when will we wake up?! Either we can stop acting as ambassadors of Islam and distorting the image or we can realize for once what is our true identity and choose that instead of confusing everyone around us. This especially goes for our MEDIA!

Sliding Morality?

Its amazing how the Pakistani society has changed over the years yet remained the same. From the dupattas sliding from the head to the base of the head, distance between males and females becoming reduced much has changed and become accepted in the media. These might be just random stuff which were destined to change after Zia...BUT whats more disturbing is the way the morning and Live shows are becoming. This is the second time that i saw random guys calling and singing songs for the female guests and anchor.I mean what is happening...how is it right for some strange guy to call up females and start singing songs with weird lyrics...*nuts*...!!! Aren't they just making this practice acceptable...where has the respect one shows for females gone?

The irony is that this superficial modernism is progressing at a rather fast pace where as the reality on ground remains the same...honor killings, domestic violence, no rights whatsoever are still as rampant as they were when the media was all hush hush.

The question remains that till when will we improve just superficially...from the concept of independence to the basic rights of humans? when will the time come and we will realize that we need to do more...go much deeper.

OR might we just change the name of the country to superficilistan...since the country is becoming acceptable towards name changing...!!!

Why the silence?

These questions are for all my non-shia brothers and sisters...WAIT...let me edit and add some Shia's to this list as well:

How may of you know that a place named Parachinar exists in Pakistan?

How many know that taliban have been killing shia's there for a very long time now...the place is besieged and there is no supply of food, water or medicine for them?

How many know that even now fighting is going on there, more than 25 shia men have been killed and their families displaced...the village over taken by the taliban?

How many know of all the kids and women that have died there and are still dying?

Every heart aches for kashmiris and palestinians...all of you sit and curse indian army and israeli's for their oppression....what about the oppression going on in our own backyard?

Are these people not worth a thought 'cuz they are shia? is their blood not of value?Why doesn't the media show such an important issue that is taking place inside the country? how come all the leaders and religious scholars are mute on the subject?!

WHY?!

Everyday the level of my dissappointment in us as a nation reaches a new level...the pit seems to have no bottom.

May Allah(swt) have mercy on us...ameen.

http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=204295

http://www.abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=190888

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/editorial/parachinar-residents-270