The Young, Urban, Middle-class Pakistani’s Manifesto

Lately i had been reading, witnessing and encountering anti democractic, anti american, pro army and pro taliban attitude of Pakstani middle class.

Nadeem Paracha in his recent blog, explains it well for me and many others.

This blog was co-authored by Nadeem F. Paracha and Abbas Baloch;

The young, urban, middle-class Pakistani’s manifesto: 1. Asif Ali Zardari is the devil incarnate. 2. The Pakistan Army is the saviour. 3. The Taliban are resisting American imperialism. 4. We hate American foreign policy unless it suits us. We are against American imperialism if it means we have to ditch the Taliban as that would be against the aspirations of our founding father, Mohammed Bin Qasim. We will no longer shop at Marks and Spencer because they are somehow connected to Israel. However, that does not mean we will switch off our computers and cell phones whose chip technology has been made possible due to major contributions from Israeli scientists. 5. We don’t want to sell our honour for American money unless it is for our private hospitals, textile exports, NGOs, or for completing degrees at American universities. 6. It’s not just Zardari who is the culprit. It’s also Benazir Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Fatima Bhutto is fine, though; she is dating George Clooney. 7. It was all milk and honey till Bhutto came along. Damn him for nationalising my father’s 15 mills, seven textile units, and 11 banks! I still remember the good old days when Nani ji, Dada ji and their friends brought hundreds of textile licenses from Gohar Ayub for US $ 200,000 a pop. There was no corruption and no labour unions until this Sindhi feudal and closet Hindu agent named Z.A. Bhutto came along and enforced his Zionist agenda and made all our urban serfs so uppity. 8. We are against feudalism unless the feudals in question do not support the PPP and allow us to rape the ecology of Sindh and the Punjab on our weekend hunting trips. Some crates of mangoes from their farms also help. 9. Some of us feel we know what’s best for the PPP, i.e. to banish Zardari and his kids and ditch the legacies of ZAB and BB. We have never voted for or supported the PPP (actually we never vote all!) but we still feel that we are in a better position to understand the party’s dynamics. Also, as educated, refined and objective leaders and captains of industry, we are against dynastic politics. However, we are fine with Fatima Bhutto, Hamza Sharif, Solaiman/Essa Khan, Monis Chaudhary as well as the privileged alumni of Karachi Grammar School, Aitchison and Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, ruling us. Just as long as they are not descended from the Zionist agent Benazir and her corrupt husband, Zardari. 10. Democracy is a deeply flawed system that has destroyed the world. Totalitarian monarchies with entrenched security and bureaucracies are much better and in line with our Arab origins. Please do not compare us to India. We have nothing in common with them except our DNA, culture, cuisine, language, music, and geography. 11. Our ideal form of government is the modern day Caliphate, or, as we like to call it, the rule of technocrats. In this form of government, our posh uncles will pass stern orders in their clipped Oxbridge accents and Italian suits that will be supported by a medieval council of jurists whom we like to call the independent judiciary. 12. Lately, we have been reading some Chomsky, Klein and Zinn (all five articles) and appreciate how these believing Muslims provide us with the intellectual ammo on exposing how the perfidious Jews conspire to rule the world.

 13. We are essentially a good people who are suffering because the world wants to take over our nukes and is conspiring to destroy our country. They are using the Taliban, who themselves are essentially good people who are bravely fighting American imperialism.The Taliban just suffer from bad press, and we know who controls the press abroad. Here, the press is controlled by democratically elected anchors and media analysts who are fighting for justice and against corruption. 14. The Taliban who are killed in the drone attacks are simply pious Muslims who are doing charity work, such as digging canals in arid, mountainous zones – it’s called the Mars project. Also, the burning of Christian villages by Taliban affiliated and state-sponsored sectarian militias is a figment of the imagination of the liberal fascists. They are doing their best to curb crusaders of truth and justice such as Geo TV. The real problem is Blackwater/Xe, fools. 15. The Taliban are an expression of Pushtoon nationalism as they have done their best to cleanse the United Emirates of Peshawar and FARTA from pagan Pukhtoon influence. The Taliban are a legitimate resistance movement against the occupation of the United Emirates of Peshawar and FARTA by ANP, Shia parachinaris, Sikhs and, of course, female students. The only genuine Pathans are Imran Khan, Hamid Gul, and Zaid Hamid. 16. Sipah Sahaba, Jaish, Lashkar Taiba, Lashkar Jhangvi, Jamaat Islami … who the are they? Figments of the imagination of liberal fascists. We should be more concerned about the Ahmed Rashids, Kamran Shafis, Amir Mirs, Arif Jamals, Najam Sethis, Tarek Fatahs, Irfan Hussains, Pervaiz Hoodbhoys, Fasi Zakas, Ayesha Siddiquas, and Nadeem Parachas.… They are CIA agents. 17. India is stealing our water and is destroying the country via its Sindhi/Balochi/Pushtoon/Gilgiti/Hazara/Hingora/Makrani/Seraiki proxies. Damn this fifth column riff-raff. We brought them the glorious Islamic civilization from the latest Nasim Hejazi novel and look at how uppity they have gotten since. We gave them commerce (Gujrati), language (Urdu), and agriculture (Punjabi) and they still want to maintain their identities and celebrate their vernacular religious practices which our pure Arab background forbids. Feed them to the Taliban. 18. We, the members of civil society, are essentially a liberal lot who are imbued with socialist values. Our ability to engage in massive socialising (through Facebook) makes us socialist in the true sense of the word. Lately, we have also dabbled in Marxism at cafes where we blow off half a month’s average national salary on lattes and cappuccinos whilst we construct our neo- Marxism around the tacit acceptance of the Taliban’s superior Arab cultural identity. We salute Abul Ala Marx, Lenin Bin Laden, and Mulla Mao!

 19. These are difficult times for civil society. While the tyrant Zardari is destroying the country with a ‘progressive agenda’ (another Zionist conspiracy) that involves legislation about women’s rights and the enfranchisement and autonomy of minority provinces, our brave and independent judiciary is fighting a Herculean battle to free the champions of our true Arab identity like Hafiz Saeed, Maulana Aziz, and Masood Azhar. These tireless crusaders are fighting our battle against Hindu hegemony in Pakistan. We need to applaud the efforts of the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court in exposing the Hindus. 20. As Zardari loots and pillages Pakistan via the nefarious use of his handle bar moustache and cheery demeanour, we have to appreciate how our Taliban investment is saving our economy by killing thousands of our citizens and costing billions of dollars in damages and lost investment and trade opportunities. We are a financially and arithmetically gifted segment of society that can expand US $66 million to $1,500 million if it means that we can lynch Zardari (and free Aafia). 21. While our existential adversary India is investing billions of dollars in Afghanistan’s infrastructure and municipal training, we are using our billions to create the ultimate strategic depth in Afghanistan: macho Islamist brutes who will eventually recreate the Islamic State that made Afghanistan the model of peace and prosperity from 1996 till 2001.In conclusion we would like to part with a speech from one of our greatest representatives, Zen Farman Wamid, which he made at the historic Dillee Kebab House. The topic of this grand speech was, “Today Dillee

Kebab House, tomorrow Delhi Fort”:

“Assalamualaikum, my dear and superior Muslim Pakistanis. By the grace of God, I am proud to announce from this wonderful kebab house that we are now ready to invade India. This invasion has taken a lot of planning and effort by my young upwardly mobile comrades and for this we would also like to thank our friends in the electronic media and inspirations such as Yahya Khan and Ziaul Haq. Dear muscular Muslim boys and petite Muslim girls, I had been planning this invasion for a very long time, even before my blessed birth when I was just a spirit floating over Pakistan – even before Pakistan was made. My spirit swooped down when it saw the great Muhammad Bin Qasim invading Sindh and defeating Hindu scoundrels as well as Mohajir, Sindhi, Balochi and Pakhtun nationalists. We will vanquish them in the Islamic Emirate Caliphate of Punjab … I mean, Pakistan. Damn those who say that Pakistan was made in 1947. That’s a lie, I tell you. It was made in the seventh century, when Kalashnikov Bin Qasim, Allama F-16 Iqbal, and Inzimamul Haq defeated a million-strong army of that secular tyrant and usurper Raja Bhutto and his side-kick Mohindar Singh Dhoni and announced the creation of the Islamic Caliphate of Punj … I mean Pakistan. So wake up, Pakistan, and let’s invade, loot and plunder like those great Muslim leaders, Mahmud Ghazni and Mr. T.

My next address to you all will be from Delhi Fort and anyone who disagrees is a traitor, a Hindu agent, or a student of the Peshawar University. Allah Hafiz! Punj … I mean, Pakistan, marhabba marhabba.

A Brand New World!!!

Brands are becoming a new lingua franca for consumers all over the globe. One may like or dislike, brands are reality and no one can scape. Well, there are people around us including me prefer brands because it is all about quality. To an extent it is true, if more people buy brands better the quality becomes. Price equates quality and brand competition means continuous improvement. We are becoming so global, in spite of our likes or dislikes, it is a reality, falling trade barriers to regional trade integration, movement of people to telecom and internet boom. World is becoming truly a village, more we get connected more we become global citizen sharing common culture. Many people at Harvard University believe that "consumers look to global brands as symbols of cultural ideals. They use brands to create an imagined global identity that they share with like minded people. Global brands make us feel like citizens of the world and they somehow give us an identity". There are brand skeptics believing that brands are all about western culture but if we look at hundred of brands in terms of their value, Coke is number one "An American Brand" but Nokia, a Finish brand on no 5, Toyota a Japanese brand on no 8, Mercedes a German brand on no 12, Honda a Japanese brand on no 18, Samsung, H&M, Nescafe, SAP, IKEA, Sony, Canon, Nintendo, Reuters, Philips, L’Oreal, Siemens, Zara, VW, Nestle, Adidas, Blackberry, Rolex, UBS, Panasonic, Cartier, Allianz, BP, Nivea, Prada, Giorgio Armani, Lexus, Puma and Burberry all are non American brands.

Click here for best global brands list. We have to live in a global village and brands are reality, major question comes, it is fine brands are all about quality, they also create a global culture but the need of the hour is how much socially responsible organizations are?? To make world a better place, NGOs, consumers and human rights organizations' role has become more critical along with media. We have to collectively act as watchdog and consumers can use their buying power to punish socially irresponsible brands through product boycott. Let me share an interesting story about anti globalization and anti brand crowd, the other day I watched a video, most of the protesting guys were wearing branded shirts, Levis Trousers, Swiss Backpack, Apple iPods, Caterpillar Shoes, Police Glasses, Puma Shoes etc. Similarly anti west clerics in Pakistani helped KFCs Ramadan Iftar deal. It is need of the hour, we have to be more realistic and practical, on the one hand not ignoring our social responsibility and on the other hand saying no to mindless emotional outcry against brands.

Privacy is No Longer a 'Social Norm’ !!!

You must be wondering what the limits of privacy are, well, lately, Google COO Sheryl Sandberg publicly said that privacy is no longer a social norm. As student of social sciences I always come across the sentence that social norms change overtime. However it is also believed that core values hardly change over the period. On the one hand, when gadgets like IPod create social isolation, people end up saying ‘hey IPod stop causing social isolation’. On the other hand social networking mediums like Facebook and Twitter connect us, people end up saying “hey Facebook stop privacy invasion”.

There are people who are convinced that too much isolation and too little privacy are the biggest social problems of our time. Google COO believes that “People have really gotten comfortable not only sharing more information and different kinds, but more openly and with more people.”We have witnessed that our networking journey in cyber age, all the way started with basic chat site to video talk, personal information sharing on web to new phenomenon of blogging and social networking like Facebook & Twitter. These days people are asking questions "Is too much information available to public not an invasion of public privacy, enabling people to stalk and access all the information"? Well, on the one hand people believe that we have choice through privacy setting, what to put on the Facebook and what not? Who should be able to view and who should not!!! On the other hand people believe that Facebook makes people to make more personal information publicly available without realizing it.

There may be many views on privacy debate but one thing one should realize that as per Newyork Times, Google and Microsoft Bing has signed an agreement with Facebook, to allow people’s status updates to be indexed by both search engines in order to enable the search giants to provide real time results. Is human society redefining the social norms pertaining to privacy or we are going to face the maliase of no privacy, spread by social networking medium. Let us see, time will tell.

Cultural Heritage Lost in Chaotic Pakistan

Tragic 28th December incident in Karachi, death of over 40 people during Muharram procession and aftermath carnage reminds me of Taliban. These days I am forced to think about Bamiyan Statue of Buddha, known as wonders of ancient world, I remember the way Taliban destroyed it, forcing my heart to bleed out of anger, pain and helplessness. Great Indus Valley Civilization is lost in the dust of religious fundamentalism. Indus men smiles on modern day Pakistan, everyone is sad to see the way security establishment drags the green Indus land to get attached with extremist desertland of Arabia.  The road where carnage took place in Karachi has some of the finest historical buildings built during British rule, most of them burnt and destroyed. These buildings are just one and half kilometer away from historic KMC building and Merewether Tower. There are around 60 historical buildings, majority of them protected under the Sindh Cultural Heritage Protection Act. It seems there is no place for art, culture, history and heritage when it comes to modern day extremist Pakistan. Moen Jo Daro and Harrapa question us but we have no answer!! is anyone listening ???

I Hate You !!!!

Whenever I discuss social issues with friends and look around chaotic societies, such as ours, I come across a lot of burning desire inside people and society, one may call it hate.Frankly speaking I may dislike people or things but hate is not my cup of tea. At times I wonder what really hate is and why do we hate???

Today I was scanning the online newspapers and came across New York Times, freakonomics section article “Why Do We Hate” ??It writes “What makes hate tick? How can we stop it?” These are the questions that Jim Mohr, director of Gonzaga University’s Institute for Action Against Hate, asks himself every day as he develops a new field of study around hate.Mohr explains that hates may be by-product of fear, greed and the desire to belong.

I never imagined, our universities would be conducting detailed studies on Hate Science !!!Everyone knows anti-Semitism, Aryans, Bosnia to all across Africa, hatred based on religion or nationalism is caused havoc to human civilization.

I tried to find out the real meaning of hatred, as per Aristotle “hate is the incurable desire to annihilate an object”, whereas Sigmund Freud defined it as an “Ego state that wishes to destroy the source of its unhappiness”Both definitions are deep enough to enable one to understand the emotional make up that is called HATE.

We know hate is part of all of us, but as civilized human being we have to learn to control it.People believe hate thrives in areas not illuminated by education, it is also believed that people dehumanize people and justify violence against others.

Let us wait for the hate study findings, hope we move forward as civilized and mature human society.

No Public Display of Affection- LUMS!

As LUMS student, I am sad to hear that premier institute has taken away the personal rights of students, when they announced ban on KISSING on campus. I had been following the email threads and discussions on pros and cons on Public Display of Affection, but I tend no to agree with argument that anything against the social norms should be banned.

Issue was raised when a student peck her boyfriend on the cheek during Ramadan. It was not a French Kiss rather a simple PECK.

Public display of affection is a debatable issue; everyone has his or her limits regarding how much is too much!! Socially if I look at, on the one hand there are many of my friends who do not shake hands on the other hand there are female friends who shake hands as well as kiss on the cheek. To me it is one’s personal choice and matter of comfort, no one should have right to dictate someone what is right or wrong.

Behind the doors as hypocrite society everything is acceptable but in public, majority wears a social mask and looks pious and expects others to behave as per THEIR defined framework. Was Peck on the cheek alarming or during Ramadan, well its personal choice if someone doesn’t follow religion, it is his or her choice. It doesn’t mean that if someone doesn’t follow the defined code of behavior, he or she is being disrespectful to religion or society. Come on, peck on the cheeks is simply a sweet natural human behavior, what is harm in it.

I have seen LUMS in harmony, students working under the umbrella of LUMS religious society, whatever they do they have liberty, similarly music society , Arts and Drama society, girls and guys attending prayers in the central mosque or students dancing in campus concerts, girls in Hejab and girls in Capri’s or Jeans with low neck are not frowned upon. To me, as long as if anything doesn’t affect others people should not have any issue.

I have seen female students sitting on the lap of fellow male students, why one should raise eyebrows, it is such a simple and natural human behavior.

Universities are places, students do not follow conventional wisdom and norms, Hippie culture was the by product of campuses, students defied the prevailing culture. LUMS is a place I came across students questioning the existence of God and relevance of religion, it is positive thing that one must question everything under the sun but at the same time one should not have any right to disrespect or hurt anyone’s feelings.

I guess to regulate student behavior is not going to help; if someone wants to get intimate I hardly think anything would stop him or her.

Its better to discuss the pros and cons of socially acceptable behavior and let students decide out of choice to practice socially acceptable norms or go their own away.

I expect LUMS would relook this; else Student bodies should challenge the behavior regulation.

This blog excerpts published in prestigious Indian media;

Zee News

(http://www.zeenews.com/news571784.html)

Deccan Herald

(http://www.deccanherald.com/content/31284/to-kiss-not-kiss-keeps.html)

Times of India

(http://iplextra.indiatimes.com/quote/0gqK9Zcdv27Ei?q=Pink)

The Statesman

(http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php

Are We Living in the Age of Bullets & Ideas!!!!

A University Professor from Balochistan believes that we are living in the age of bullets and ideas, sharing his thoughts with a friend and it is so profound yet true. Since childhood i had been taught that ideas are powerful than bullets, as i grew up, I witnessed that bullets are powerful enough to silence brilliant minds and ideas. During 16th century, one of the philosophers ‘Machiavelli’ advised to Italian king in his book Prince, that power is reality rest doesn’t matter. Those were the dark ages in Europe but today when I look around I simply say power realism is the order of the day. I still believe that ideas have enormous power, since they form the frame of our understanding of the world, inform our beliefs and drive our behaviors. Great ideas are so profound and frame-shaking that they quickly topple many of the things we believe, and transform our worldviews, our values and hence our actions. I still believe that we need more great ideas, and a deeper understanding of how and when they transform our understanding, our culture, what we do and who we are. There are two best known cases when great ideas were not accepted like Galileo’s discovery and Darwin's model of the evolution of all life so threatened the orthodoxy of ideas that to this day, centuries later, religious fanatics remain in denial about its validity, and try to deprive it of its credibility by calling a 'theory' rather than 'truth'. Looking back socially, there are people in Pakistan come up with better ideas for making a difference in the lives of people; they share new form of relationship between state and its people. Ideas focus on State ensuring the welfare of people and acting like a father further ensuring the socio-economic and political rights of people.

 On the other hand we see ideas generated on political platform for better tomorrow are simply washed away with the power of bullets, be it Balochistan or any other part of the country. Religious minorities are silenced in the name of blasphemy; peaceful gatherings or processions are threatened with suicide bombs, hotels are attacked, mosques are bombed, even girls schools are not spared, people are forcefully kidnapped, tortured in the name of national security and at times political voice is silenced with the power of bullet. Hope emerges, when I see people coming up with better ideas for tomorrow and better future for all of us living in Pakistan.

Don't Tell My Mother That I am in Pakistan !!

Don't Tell My Mother That I am in Pakistan is the title of revealing National Geographic documentary on Pakistan. It is about the hidden, unseen and unheard aspect of Pakistani society, i would rather say a journey to under-ground Pakistan. Whenever I travel abroad and interact with people, when they hear about Pakistan, only terror and Taliban related thoughts come in mind. It is not their fault because media only reports the negative aspect of Pakistani society. National Geographic team visits the sex toy product manufacturing factory in Pakistan, it was surprising to see sex products manufacturing facility in conservative and deeply religious Pakistani society. There are few people who may object but liberal and educated Pakistanis do not have problem as long as these products are not publicly marketed in Pakistan. Overall attitude is tolerant and it may surprise those who believe that Pakistan is a stone age society fueled with extremism.  

Next story shows a dance party where girls and guy dancing and drinking freely on the beach. National Geographic guy interviews dancing and drinking couples and was surprised to see the hidden parts of Pakistan, where people live life, have fun and free to choose whatever is acceptable to their value system. In general Pakistani masses are touchy about sex, dancing and drinking and it is considered taboo, if any girl indulges into dancing, smoking or drinking , she would end up carrying social stigma. I always question, to me, in general, our society has double standards, people lie, evade taxes, back bite, corruption, electricity theft, you name it, most of the nerve wrecking practices one could imagine are part of our society. If we get a traffic ticket, we wont mind bribing and do all above without feeling shame. Civilized societies prosper on the basis of ethical behavior, however morality is debatable subject. In our society, we put ethics aside and focus on morality mainly revolves around controlling women and socio-sexual behavior. Instead of social policing, it is the need of the hour to debate and discuss ethics and morality with rationale mindset for social progress.

Hope sanity prevails !!!

Who, Me!!!…Not Mugged Yet; Are You Sure You Live In Karachi!!!!!!

I hardly know any of my friends, who have not been mugged on the streets of Karachi. Every person has his or her terrifying story; the feeling of insecurity is the order of the day.

You go on shopping you get mugged, you stop on signal you get mugged, you visit someone you get mugged, you walk on street you get mugged, if your car broke, you get mugged…..there are so many situations I can go on and on. I was mugged yesterday on Main Shahrah e Faisal, lost my brand new Blackberry Curve along with few thousand bucks & It was my third such encounter in Karachi.

Feeling of insecurity leads to stress and it is one of the most common commodities produced in Pakistan. People, surroundings, society, politics, economy, media etc everything add their bit of contribution. The by product of stress is the social abnormality all around. Posttraumatic stress disorder (abbreviated PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to one or more traumatic events that threatened or caused great physical harm. It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to an extreme psychological trauma. Safety is one of the basic needs, no one denies, living life with feeling of insecurity creates extreme level of stress disorder. Many of us living in Karachi must be going through same, but compromised to live with it. Lately one of my friends house was robbed twice, she lost her life long work and over thousands of precious pictures stored on Laptop. One of my friends husband was made hostage in his car and finally was mugged, leaving him in trauma. Other colleague also lost his blackberry on a bridge on main Shahrah e Faisal “its like Broad Way of Karachi’. Helplessness, fear, chaos, lack of governance is creating extreme abnormal behavior. Whole Karachi is engulfed with fear and insecurity, we are just living each day. Everyday on one side thoughts of leaving Pakistan occupies mind, on the other had career, family and friends stops. Whole nation is robbed, we are mugged directly on streets, indirectly by state, bureaucracy, military, police, politicians, cleric , you name it. At times I feel, an animal living in Namibian Jungle would feel more freedom than a common person living in Pakistan.

How Much is Too Much??? No Affection in Public!!!

Showing affection and love in Public is taboo, that’s what many people believe, in our society it’s considered criminal. If a couple on Clifton beach in Karachi, tries to smooch, get close, hold hands, sit next to each other and see in the eyes, they may be inviting the risk of public and police harassment. Police may intervene and end up asking for Nikahnama ‘Marriage Certificate’!!! Such a sad society we live in , one can not show his or her affection, smallest bit of love, just holding hands makes people raise their eyebrows.

I fail to understand, how much is too much. Other day I had interesting discussion, few friends lament that they, at times feel like holding their loved one’s ‘wife or girl friend’ hand in public but everyone raises their eyebrows. My friends support public display of affection saying “Life is all about love, affection and small gesture makes a big difference”.

On the other hand, there are people who believe that seriously, what is cool about displaying affection in public? Is it not supposed to be something private and intimate? Why do some couples insist on sharing it with the entire world? One may agree that public display of affection starts with, a mother, holding her son and ending with two people making out. Most of the people still think about display in sexual way. Let me ask a question, what is wrong in holding hands for a while, a hug or a quick kiss and it depends how much is too much.

Very interesting discussion, I never knew, my married Pakistani friends miss so much displaying their affection to their wives or loved ones in public. They envy whenever they travel abroad. I guess cultural norms and values are not infinite, it is time to re-look and get comfortable with nature. We are humans, there should not be any harm in taking every chance to mean a little more to a person we love.

Obama’s Ramadan Message; Positive & Promising

As a Muslim, when I saw Obama’s Ramadan Kareem message it reminded me of his powerful Cairo speech. Reaching out to Muslims, burying past, promising a better tomorrow and beginning with the process of better understanding through listening and reaching out.

Ramadan is the ninth month of Islamic calendar, a time to practice patience and modesty, pray extra and refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn until sunset.

When he says “On behalf of the American people – including Muslim communities in all 50 states – I want to extend best wishes to Muslims in America and around the world. Ramadan Kareem”, we as Muslims feel that these words have deep meaning; it shows that US is moving forward and genuinely trying to understand and bridge the gaps between Muslims & US or West.

He also reminds the importance of the month, our responsibilities as human being to one another, he says “Ramadan is the month in which Muslims believe the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, beginning with a simple word – iqra. It is therefore a time when Muslims reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with faith, and the responsibility that human beings have to one another and to God”.

It is generally believed that religion ‘Islam’ breeds hatred and terrorism, however, Obama shares that “These rituals remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam’s role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings. On political front, Iraq withdrawal is already welcomed by Muslim world, however US engagement in Afghanistan and Pakistan is much needed to wipe out common enemy. Obama’s promise towards the isolation of violent extremists through empowering people is very positive and promising for regional peace, leading to global harmony. Occasional ceremonial communiqué with Muslim World, have deep impact, it defeats the cynics and more concrete steps towards better understanding is much needed at faster pace. This would help us in getting rid of common enemy, it is not only a plague for Muslim world but for human civilization at large. I hope we may see more concrete steps towards learning from each other, respecting to one another and seeking common grounds.

I am sure; America can be a partner with 1.5 bill Muslims around the world, as per the Muslim World’s aspiration.

Burnt Alive; Simply Barbaric!!! Aaah Image of Pakistan!!!

 Six Christians burnt alive in Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Such news depicts a picture, only few words come in my mind, mind-boggling and simply barbaric. Lately, I had been discussing with my Pakistani friends about the image of Pakistan in the minds of my foreign friends. I was trying to portray or share the true picture of progressive society of Pakistan, which is unfortunately not reported in foreign media. Such sad incidents make me and my friends helpless in carving an image which is progressive “still largely is”. Well, as per media reports “Six Christians have been killed in religious unrest in Pakistan's central Punjab, after days of tension sparked by the rumored desecration of a Koran”. The four women, a man and a child died as Muslim militants set fire to Christian houses in the town of Gojra, officials said. TV footage showed burning houses and streets strewn with debris as people fired at each other from rooftops. Officials said the rumors which led to the unrest were false. Desecration of any religious script is not acceptable but burning people alive on the basis of false rumor is simply mind-boggling and barbaric!!!!! Neither Islam nor progressive Pakistani society justifies such acts.

Hey Guys, Why Do You Stare ??? What are You Looking at Asshole??

 In Pakistan girls are stared to death, we love staring & it leads to visual harassment, annoyance and discomfort for girls. Today my female friends posed this question to me; in return I posed same to my male friends in the evening. My friends gave me a scientific answer; "guys are visually stimulated, and girls are emotionally stimulated. It all boils down to that.

Yeah, we all love a good backrub, but for guys it starts with visual stimuli.It's not necessarily a compliment that a guy is staring at you but it's just nature at work.

I have noticed girls reading sensual novels such as Sidney Sheldon or teenagers into M&B stuff and guys running after visual treat through erotic web sites. I have suggestion, If a guy just stares, all you do, let him stare, then there's nothing going on here. Meanwhile, catch his stare next time, look back and smile, don't look away: P

Jokes apart, I have noticed,closed societies are more hungry for glimpse of women, in open societies it is rare that people notice. Be it open neck, cleavages or skin tight top or girl in two piece bikini, it is rare anyone stares". Does this mean, answer lies in freedom????

One of my American friends shared with me that staring gets back to the sexual repression of Pakistani society. Staring is very socially unacceptable in the US and very often can illicit a response like,"What are you looking at asshole?" LOL

Another American friend believes that "here in the US when a woman looks at you its okay (they even pass a remark like...he's sooo hot) but when a guy does it, it becomes socially unacceptable. The western society is no better than Pakistani...women, they are all essentially the same wherever you go my friends. The so-called civilized ones are even worse. Men, in the US, do sometimes get an illicit response like "what are you looking at ASSHOLE?". And they sometimes get a reply like, "AT YOUR FUGLY FACE YOU BITCH" LOL"

My Nigerian friend BUNMI believes that "Interesting i think ur girls also need to stare back and stare hard well its not in ur culture to do that but if they adopt this the men will learn to take things easy.Men! MEN!! its just that we can't do without each other, the Mystery of life??Its in born in you(Men) to admire, ogle and stare at Gods Unique being Women(lol) u can't help it yea?"

No offense, these are just views of my friends, one may agree or disagree :)

Pakistani Nation is Living by Default!!!

It is easy to live by default, go with the flow just like Alice was lost in wonderland. Few days back, I came across a basic yet an interesting concept, which says there are two type of people, one who live by default and other by design. People living by default, focus on area of concerns, issues beyond their solution or reach. They tend to blame others, always are reactive and never take charge of their life and always feel dependent on others.

On the other hand there are proactive people, they live by design, they are independent people, strongly believe that they make their own destiny , never blame and always focused on creating their future. Strong focus revolves around the things they can influence or change.

If I apply above on Pakistani nation, we tend to find reasons, at times blame Jews or American for the plight of present day Pakistan. What Taliban are doing, we blame that its infidel conspiracy to weaken Muslims. We are such fatalist, never take any positive step to create better future rather react, blame and remain dependent. At times we bring religion and blame NASEEB “Fate”, there are virtually thousands of reasons we invent. Nations exist by default, always remain dependent. Progress is all about independent thinking, taking charge, being pro-active, not blaming other and creating our own future with firm self belief.

I lament all is missing, when I look at Pakistan nation.

Judgmental; No Please!!!!

I love my evening jog in awesome serene surroundings with my cool friend and we end up discussing something interesting. Have you ever thought, why as a society we judge people, we look at the world with our own goggles, be it transparent, red or blue. These colors represents the biases, what we perceive, we store it in our mind, process it using our biases and experiences, in the end, form a big picture or a mental map about a person. Let me share, perceptions are always wrong, without knowing or putting one's feet into other’s shoes it is virtually impossible to get to know the real thoughts. Biases and past experiences are here to distort, and we often form an image which is far from reality and this would always weaken the relationships. At least I try to avoid judgments, try to communicate before forming judgment based on false paradigm. As a society we do not give personal space or freedom to other person, always poke our nose into others affairs and always try to be judgmental. If two friends ‘male & female’ going out for a dinner, all kind of fishy expressions initiate backbiting. No matter its friendly dinner or a date but we simply do not have patience to hold on before getting to know the reality. Immature societies or people rely on judgments, maturity believes in open communication.

Stop Backbiting; Evils of the Tongue

Backbiting is sort of our national sports, in general society loves it, mostly liked by women folks “let me be honest, very few women may not practice but its common, one may like it or not”. From social or ethical point of view, backbiting is looked down upon in any civilized society. Today, I came across to an interesting book written for Muslim Women “Nasihat Ul Nisa, The Advice to the Women”. Focus revolves around women and backbiting, it explains that hadeeth reported ;

“Do you know what backbiting is?”

They said: “Allaah and His Messenger know best.”

He said: “Mentioning your brother with that which he dislikes.” It was said to the Prophet (PBUH): “Even if what I mention about my brother is true?”

He (PBUH) said: “If what you have said concerning him is true, then surely you have backbitten him; and if what you said isn’t true, then surely you have slandered him.” Reading another interesting hadeeth says that “These are the people who ate the flesh of others (by backbiting) and trampled upon people's honor.” I just look around, our society loves talking in the back, backbiting and hypocrisy is the love in the town………so sad !!!!!!!

Dubious Single Women & Marriage Talk!!!!

Today I came across an interesting discussion on single women and marriage talk on ‘first blast’ Dawn TV. It is interesting to note that it is very difficult to be born a woman in Islamic Republic of Pakistan. A society driven by conservative religious cum feudal socio-cultural norms and values.

Generally our society still considers women a commodity and a sex toy or an instrument to deliver babies. It is ironic, when a woman gets married; society thinks that marriage gives her license to live, to be with someone who can give her sense of protection. If a woman is not married, she is singled out with dubious gestures. On the other hand women live under so much fear, complete focus revolves around marriage, what if they wear tight trousers, will they be able to get married!! What if they wear loose shalwar instead of jean, will this give a conservative look or what if someone wears a Hijab 'veil', will this affect the chances of getting married. To me, women in our society are forced to choose or appear, as if they are a saleable commodity and everything revolves around marriage. Well guys around 35 also attract a lot of suspicious gestures but women are completely singled out. It is also general belief that if a relationship goes sour or successful, everything rests on a woman; she ends up compromising the most. I lament, things are changing but with a slow pace…. I wish a renaissance hits Pakistan that leads women to liberty and allow them to make choices with respect. I wait for the day when everyone thinks twice before violating the sanctity of a women, isn't she a human first ??

Hey Pakistan, Please Be Civilized; Already Been Over 60 Years!!!!

It has been a while I managed to travel from farthest away country on the east of the globe “Japan” to west side “Seattle, USA”. Also managed to go through the airport security checks, which includes worlds three best airports including Osaka, Nagoya and Kuala Lumpur along with range of other airports from Dulles in Virginia, Newark in New Jersey, Heathrow in London, Charlotte in North Carolina, Atlanta in Georgia, Salt Lake City in Utah, Seattle in Washington, Chicago in Illinois, Narita, in Tokyo Japan, Dubai in UAE to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok Thailand. I am amazed, the way one has to go through complete uncivilized behavior at Pakistani airports; it reflects general mindset, social norms and values. Last week I had to attend a conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it was late planned. I was rushing to airport, and on my way I was stopped by Airport Security Force ASF at Airport entry check post. I stopped my car and opened car truck but ASF guy came and knocked on driving side window, I unfastened my seatbelt, the guy asked me (Nechay Utro) get down so that guy could check the car trunk, making me stand. Finally after spending few minutes, guy could not find any BOMB or EXPLOSIVES sigh…they allowed me to proceed. My mother dropped me, I entered, at international flight entrance gate, ASF guy asked me to show the ticket, guy took a while to read photo copy of an e ticket, I made him read the details. I guess, guy was illiterate, may be trained to read PUNJABI or URDU ‘local languages of Pakistan’. As I entered to put my luggage on scanner, before that a rangers guy rushed and stopped me before putting my luggage on scanner. He rushed fast as I was carrying a suicide bomb with me to blow them up. Anyways, we had following strange conversation; Rangers Guy: What’s your name? Me: Imran Rangers Guy: Where are you going? Me: I am flying to KL Malaysia. Rangers Guy: Why are you going? Me: I am attending a business meeting. Rangers Guy: What do you do? Me: I work for a business organization. Rangers Guy: What is the name of organization? Me: XYZ organization. Rangers Guy: What is your designation? Me: Senior Planning Officer. I was sweating and surprised I was going through an intimidating interrogation by a semi literate cop, trained to secure our borders, it is us the tax payers paying their salaries to protect us not to intimidate & harass with their uncivilized behavior. Well, still the Q&A was going on, the guy asked me about my luggage, I thought he would ask me to get it passed through scanner, rather he asked me to open it, I was surprised, I told him that I am just carrying few clothes and assured him that I can put it on scanner. But he simply put blind eye, deaf ear and I opened my luggage, he took every thing out and my bag was upside down. The guy did not find anything and asked me to go; I had to put my ass on the floor to re pack everything. I guess these stupid, illiterate guys do not know that science has been kind enough to give the humanity many gifts, scanner is one of them and it can scan a sealed luggage to securitize deep inside human body. Of course, how would a Rangers guy know about it, they are trained to be our gate keepers or security guards, with the expense of tax payers’ money!!!!! Whole episode reminded me of my US trip, well in Dulles I was greeted by a girl, only on my way from New Jersey to North Carolina, I was asked to go through red scanner, security guy apologized many many times and after the checking, his smile was enough for me. Furthermore, it also reminded me of my first ever landing in Japan at Nagoya Airport, when I exited, two cops greeted me, first they apologized and then asked me few question, once our conversation ended, and they again apologized saying that it’s their job. Their smiling face and civilized behavior made me to say SAYONARA with smiling face. Well at Karachi Airport, once I got the boarding pass, I had to go through FIA endorsement on my passport, there were two queues, one for Pakistani and other for Foreigners. Few Pakistanis, with NOORANI FACE ‘with beards’ insisting FIA to let them use foreigners queue, anyways they were forcefully removed. I always carry a book, whenever I am traveling; Pakistani airports are the only one, with sheer distraction and noise, it is impossible to read a single page in a fish market sort of environment.

Anyways, when I landed in KL, it was smiling lady, greeted with welcoming tone. To cut it short, when I traveled back to Pakistan, plane was full of Pakistani, completely chaotic. When it landed back to Karachi, even it did not stop completely, most of the passengers unfastened their seat belts and were trying to rush out to save each and every minute in their busy life. When I grabbed my backpacks, a guy with Noorani Face “with beard” was pushing me to go ahead, once, twice and thrice, well finally I was out of the plane and asked the guy to please move ahead. Well, I was standing in a queue to get exit stamp on my passport, most of the guys did not go through the process, and the FIA guys got them out of the queue. I just thought this can never happen any where in a civilized society except in a mediaeval society of Pakistan. For a moment I started thinking that it was not in my control where to born but it is in my control where I choose to live.

Burqa Vaganza !!!!

Ajoka Theater is one of the serious avenues that raise voice against social injustices through creative vigor, a message of resistance communicated with bit of creativity. It interesting to come across the drama BURQAVAGANZA. It is general belief in our rural society that female species is something to be hidden, something to be ashamed of. Ironically most of my close friends are females and I am proud of them!!! Many intellectual believes that “The obsession with burqa, face-veil, niqab, hijab, parda has very little to do with religious beliefs and everything to do with the patriarchal, tribal, feudal mindset and value system. Whatever the rationale for covering women's faces in the primitive or medieval times, it has absolutely no justification in the modern times. No society encourages indecency or immodesty, but the standards differ from time to time and from society to society”. It is believed that “The current fixation with niqab and burqa is a product of the Pan-Islamic fundamentalist political movement and supported by despotic Muslim rulers and the Western powers. In Pakistan, the Zia regime actively pursued this policy as a part of the West-supported policy to promote religious militancy”. In the Islamic world, or more specifically in Pakistan, the premise is quite different. While very few would support a Turkey-style ban on burqas, a vast majority believes that their faith does not reside in the burqa or hijab. In Pakistan those who want to force women to wear burqa or veil are a small intolerant ultra-conservative minority. The debate on whether to wear a veil or not needs to be conducted in the modern human rights and liberal context.“Burqavaganza” is a play written to challenge the mindsets, provoke the audience to rethink and break the chains of prejudice and outdated values. I am waiting for the play, my friends when it comes to Karachi, let us enjoy the play, dance to the tunes and relax. After all this an extravaganza! 

Eat LAYS Chips; Halal & Haram !!! I SAY LAY IT DOWN N TAKE IT OUT LAYS

Today I came across an interesting TV advertisement, showing singer turned religious guy, Junaid Jamshed. I did not believe, a multinational brand is selling CHIPS through JJ. Later I discovered that some of the people propagated that Lays are made in PIG Fat…whatever. The advertisement reminded me about the story of Mongols, when Mongols were about to invade Iraq, the Iraqis were debating weather a CROW is Halal or Haram!!! (Halal (حلال, ḥalāl, Halaal) is an Arabic term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. It is the opposite of haraam) Just look at MNCs advertisement, Lays is trying to convince the Pakistani society to buy Lays because its Halal and look at the Indian society they show their culture, music, dance in their creative yet captivating advertisements. These advertisements tell volumes about each society. I fear days may come, when LUX would be showing a girl wearing Hijab and convincing users that its HALAL and Pig Tallow has not been used in the process. I remember during my daily interactions with various business entrepreneurs, most of the trading community or SME sector guys are deeply into religion (on surface) and most of them find modern banking, HARAM. Oh that reminds me various HALAL banking products are being launched all across Pakistan. These same religious minded entrepreneurs evade taxes, lies, overcharge, black marketing, hoarding and all sort of un Islamic business means are used to maximize wealth. On the other hand they claim that material world is short and one should be caring and thinking about life hereafter. One should also teach the hypocrite society that lying, tax evasion, hypocrisy, back biting, overcharging, black marketing etc all are HARAM. World is moving faster unlike us busy in sorting out Halal and Haram.

Lays tried to counter ONE RUMOR and took all the FUN OUTTA JUNK FOOD MUNCHIES! I SAY LAY IT DOWN N TAKE IT OUT LAYS