Islam & Pakistan! Technology & Me!
People
Salman Taseer Assassination
01 year ago
Governor of the Punjab Salmaan Taseer. Image by Flickr user Salman Taseer. CC BY-NC-SA
I had the opportunity to write on the Salman Taseer Assassination for the Global Voices Online, an international community of citizen journalists. Although this is not the first time I’ve written for them, the topic chosen was both sensitive and important.
I have tried to drill some sense into the issue which has seen an uproar from both sides, the Religious Extremists and “Liberal Extremists” and I have tried to keep things even as much as possible.
Some people were of the opinion that the Governor over-reacted to the Aasia Bibi case, a woman who is currently under trial on blasphemy charges, and went a touch too aggressive with the words and the tone he chose to express his anguish. But regardless of that, his comments focused more on the blasphemy “law” that is manipulated by some, usually powerful, people to victimize others.
And the crisis deepens in my motherland
11 year ago
With every sunset passes a day that deepens the many problems that engulf my country, each new sun-rise brings with it its own challenges and hardships. This is a country where the elite continue to enjoy the bounties of life, earned through means that are not even taxable, yet, the ordinary man is all set to be crippled under a new wave of tax impositions and price hikes with the introduction of the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST).
Our government and forces seem to be in a never ending battle with insurgents and Islamic fascists who continue to target innocent civilians at mosques, markets and work places with suicide missions and gun-fire.
Everything aside, they say, at least we have democracy! What use is such democracy where men, women and children die of hunger and helplessness, are tore to pieces in bomb attacks and what not. For now, even this so called ‘democracy’ is all set to be ran over by none other than our ‘democrats’ as a fragile coalition in parliament fights for its survival. Maulana Diesel (read JUI-F) has already quit the government and its three ministers are out, one having been fired. This is a country where not even the annual pilgrimage of Hajj was left un-plundered.
The PPP and the MQM are at loggerheads over Karachi matters. If the MQM quits the coalition at this critical juncture, the government in the center is all set to come down hard to an absolute collapse. There has been no governance any way for the past 2 years. It appears as if mid-term elections will finally become a possibility, but I am afraid of its fall-out and all that could potentially happen given how badly we’re effected by terror.
Electricity and power, economy, finance, railways, infrastructure, floods, corruption, US Pressure, IMF promises to be met. What do I write about? There is so much to say. There is so much to write about. The crisis deepens. With every passing day. May Allah help us all.
Bombs don’t scare us anymore!
01 year ago
This is a fact, and this is what I observed last year and again this year in Moharram. Instead of a reduction in the mass public gatherings we have in Moharram to mark the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS), I can tell for sure that more and more people have taken to the streets and Imam Bargah’s this year.
Bombs don’t scare us anymore. Bomb’s are for cowards. Cowards like the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan. A nexus of evil funded and support by Israel, India and its allies.
We know and understand your conspiracies and if you think you can stop us, well, it has been over 1430 years we have faced oppression and moves to suppress us.
Labbaik Ya Hussain!!
Karachi Bleeds
61 year ago
[Update 4:00 PM, 20th October, 2010]: Dawn News is reporting that a decision has been taken to impose curfew in certain areas and launch operation in Karachi.
Today, armed terrorists sprayed bullets on a used spare parts’ market killing 12 innocent people and injuring many. Three were reported killed near Radio Pakistan, two in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and one in North Nazimabad. All within a span of three hours. 17 others were reported killed earlier in the day.
The port city of Karachi continues to grow with every passing day. It is heaven on earth for those looking for opportunities to earn. True to this notion, hundreds of thousands of people from all over Pakistan have come in and settled down in Karachi for opportunities to live a better life. Karachi today plays host to, on a very safe estimate, over 20 million people. Karachi is practically Pakistan’s spine that feeds the economy throughout the year. Over 75% of Pakistan’s revenue comes from this huge metropolis. Historically, ever since the creation of Pakistan, Karachi has had an Urdu Speaking majority, most people who migrated from the Indian side to celebrate an independent homeland.
Today, this city is bleeding. I don’t call this ‘target killing’, the rhetoric being followed by government officials and the media. This is outright terrorism. Where on earth is the killing of innocent people defined ‘target killing’?
The MQM and ANP have both pointed towards terrorists coming from Liyari, a PPP stronghold. The MQM has gone head-on and blamed the Sindh Interior Minister, Zulfiqar Mirza, as the ring-leader of these Liyari based gangs and are claiming to have provided Rahman Malik with credible evidence.
Mr. Mirza has also announced a little while ago that they have started conducting ‘surgical raids’ to curb the situation that is spiraling out of control. He has also threatened to use the CURFEW option in certain areas along with the possibility of calling in the army to take control of the city. Absolute failure of yours Mr. Mirza if you have to call in the army, isn’t it?
The situation is very serious. I am expecting the MQM to quit the government. They will soon find it difficult to convince their own people why the MQM is still part of a government that is itself a source of unrest in the metropolis. The ANP, well, they have a plan of action and will go ahead with it as dictated by their boss(es) from the frontier and Washington.
Karachi is a battle ground of the ruling coalition. The PPP, the MQM and the ANP, all three coalition partners are battling each other on the streets. The PPP, as the larger coalition partner, seems to be playing a dirty double game. The other two seem to have had enough of Rahman Malik’s assurances that he comes up with every time the situation gets tough in Karachi.
This battle has to stop. The people of Karachi need peace. The Pakistan People’s Party should not fight for the survival of its rule in a city it does not belong to. Period.
After Every Rainfall must come a Rainbow!!
31 year ago
And a quick message from Outlandish:
The official music video of After every rainfall must come a rainbow. Shot in 1 night in Medley Studio Copenhagen. All the involved people worked for free including our guitarist, cameraman, lighting engineer, video editor and producer. A special thank you to VesterKopi for delivering the 1400 printed photo’s free of charge.
Indeed, After every rainfall MUST COME A RAINBOW!!
Recent Comments