I am a humanist; is it too much to ask for my rights?

So let's get this straight right at the start. I am not a feminist but I am a strong, independent, highly educated, intelligent young woman. I am a humanist. Period. Why is it so hard for some people, or may I say a large number of people, to accept this?

I am not here to rant against men - I would rather speak up against attitudes that some men and women have. This has nothing to do with Trump being elected as President of the United States, though that is an example of how sexism and bigotry is a norm almost everywhere. I used to think the West may not have such problems but the longer I lived there, the more I realized that people and trends are the same regardless of location. Men simply do not like strong, independent women who also happen to be successful. Of course, this problem can be disguised or suppressed in the developed world mainly due to a culture of political correctness, discrimination laws, equality and diversity, etc etc. The developing world has some of these laws but none of the enforcement. Result: a grossly misogynistic culture where a successful, single, independent, strong woman has to be suspected because she is such an anomaly in a patriarchal society.

I may be feeling the effects of reverse cultural shock. My years in Europe may have changed my thinking. I may be too highly educated and have a high moral compass. But there are many other men and women like me. What I don't get is when these educated people show similar orthodox tendencies. Why are women such enemies of their own sex? Why do men see an intelligent woman with a mind of her own as a threat? Why is being traditionally conservative a virtue and originality of thought a sin?

I realize that the world is not black and white; there are good people everywhere. I am just writing about tendencies which are there, despite decades of progress and education. I despair sometimes of these prevailing attitudes, though I see a silver lining through the clouds. Either I am a misfit in a traditional society which I choose to call home and love despite its faults or I am too naive to admit that some things just don't change. It does not matter if a woman is intelligent enough to beat most of her contemporaries - she is still a woman and is expected to compromise and bow out of the race or at least accept that she will not win. There is nothing wrong with preferring family over any thing else - indeed, I do it myself. But it does hurt when you are judged solely on this ability and you see men of much less ability being able to get away with almost every thing.

As I said, I am a humanist. I believe in a balance of rights regardless of gender, location, ethnicity, faith, etc. It is clearly too much to ask in Pakistan. I will always be judged on my age, sex, family status, ability to compromise, etc and not on my capabilities, intelligence, efficiency. If I am in the West, I will probably be sidelined in a few places because I am not white, a Muslim, an outsider and a woman who follows her faith. There are too many stereotypes and too many fault lines and there are days when this oppresses my spirit. However, a fighter fights his/her way through and I am a fighter and a rebel. Always have been, always will be.

Dr. Faroha Liaqat

http://avoiceforislam.blogspot.com

Pakistani Society: Morals vs Materialism

Sometimes I wonder what kind of a people we are turning into? By "we", I mean the Pakistanis in particular. Make no mistake - I love my country, absolutely love it and there is no place that gives me more happiness. However, I am sometimes amazed at the recent change in the attitude of the youth here. So much materialism, so little value for character! I belong to the same generation and yet I find such a widely different viewpoint in most people few years younger to me. Maybe my years of travelling abroad and living in Europe have made me wiser - some would say I have become an idealist. However, as the years pass, character and morals become more and more important to me. I am not swayed by materialistic things as easily as I see many people affected around me and it saddens me greatly.

I have left a job in UK recently because it made me unhappy - miserable even -and I felt Pakistan was calling. This was a step that I don't think many people would have taken but I made the gamble. Back in Pakistan now, I am dismayed by people's attitudes - all they want is to move abroad, by hook or by crook. I do understand the lure of foreign lands, prosperity and travel but what saddens me is the extent to which people are willing to go to achieve their ends. There is no decency in any argument unfortunately and God forbid if a girl chooses to argue! The older generation was more polite - the current one is losing manners (not all, I hope).

I do not regret my decision to be back for now but I do wonder about the future. Travelling changes you and places change you. I am a very different person than the innocent, shy girl who ventured abroad to study 7, 8 years ago. I think independently and have strong opinions; I value character and honesty; and I hate hyprocrisy and duplicity - something that made my workplace miserable for me in UK. I see a lot of duplicity around me. I don't understand the need of invoking Islam at every point when you don't let the Deen seep through to your heart. If faith doesn't make you a better human, you are a lost soul and there is no need to pretend otherwise. Maybe it's just been a week and I would change again, though I am very much afraid to be disillusioned by the changing place that is Pakistan nowadays. Progress is good but it need not be at the expense of decency.

Dr. Faroha Liaqat
http://avoiceforislam.blogspot.com

Being different!

I sometimes wonder about the burden of being different - different in the sense of having the courage to make your own path instead of following the mainstream- different because your life follows a pattern that is not the norm. It does not mean at all that the norm is not good; I often think that most of the people leading average, ordinary lives exactly like their neighbors, colleagues, friends are often the happiest and the most satisfied. It is a blessing in a way to be doing what others are doing, to be leading a life where familiar patterns occur, to be in the mainstream.
It takes a lot of toll on one not to be a  part of the mainstream, to be always carving a narrow road for yourself that has not been trodden before. It makes one wonder what is wrong with oneself; why it has to happen in a different way but I have learnt now that this is one of the things that fate decides rather than us. There are some people to whom things happen, whose lives are full of dramas or experiences which are not common and they can do nothing about this. It is a sort of path one is forced to follow.
I am not sure if I am making myself very clear here or as to why I am writing this, probably to get out frustration about the whole poetry of it. Many people would say it's a blessing to be different, to be carving your own niche, to be leading life in a way that's not boring and I would agree with them for the most. However, I frequently wonder how burdensome it is in our society, how one constantly faces challenges and questions just because one happened to be having a different education, career, travel plans, life incidents and so on. It's a constant struggle to confirm to expected standards and discover in vain that this is not to be. We do not decide how our life shapes up, Allah does it for us. We do not decide our Rizk, relationships or place of residence - they choose us and I again find that nothing buut acceptance and faith in Allah will soothe a fluttering heart. In Allah, so we trust.

Dr. Faroha Liaqat
http://avoiceforislam.blogspot.com

The Pakistani Society - the good, the bad and the ugly

Let me be very clear at the start - this is not a post thrashing Pakistan and its people. I could never dream of doing it. This post mainly invites the Pakistani people to introspect and look at how we are evolving as a society - perhaps this introspection could make some of us strive for betterment.

Writing, for me, always comes out of frustration. These words are a means by which I get rid of the demons tearing me apart and these days, I am being increasingly bothered by the crass attitudes of many people in our society. Not to forget, Pakistan boasts of some of the nicest, friendly and hospitable people I have ever encountered. Our society is full of people who offer help, advice, support without any ulterior motive.This is what separates us from the West - I have lived long enough there to witness the self-centered behavior and the consumerism of the Western society. I always longed to be back among my own people, where one is never short of shoulders to cry on, help that comes out of the blue, a coherent family structure and an abundance of love.

Let's come to the frustrating part now. Sometimes, we in the Pakistani society, take our interference in others' affairs too far and the sky is the limit for many of us. I am sure each of us has encountered nosy "aunties" inquiring about your personal affairs, "uncles" who provide advice with thinly veiled disapproval, women who are jealous of another woman's success, men who think a girl who knows her mind and is vocal about views is to be looked down upon. The cutting point is that all of this is done in the name of Islam. I mean, seriously! The Islam I know does not allow jealousy, envy, hatred and backbiting. The Islam I know does not count prayers as much as it values your honesty, truthfulness and a pure heart. Do we forget that it is not our bodies, glittering jewels and fine clothes that impress Allah but it is our pure heart and Imaan that Allah values? What kind of a society are we turning into? A society that is blindly following Western consumerism on one hand and ultra conservatism on the other? Have we forgotten the importance of striking a balance between Deen and Duniya? Why do I witness so many hypocrites around - people who do not tire of preaching a set of values they do not practice?

I am not talking about the Mullahs. I am talking about the normal people- educated people like us who have such double standards. I am not angered but hurt- deeply hurt - by the things I am seeing very frequently all around since I have returned to Pakistan. I was never one to be impressed by appearances but I am amazed at how important the exterior - beauty, wealth, status, job, money - has become for us. People do not tire of saying how important manners, education, character, truth and honesty are but they will never prefer these characteristics in real life in a poor and average looking person. I am also a part of the same society and I am disgusted at what we are fast becoming. Thankfully, I dislike consumerism; I still abhor a false character and lies; I still value character over money but I wonder for how long? I fear about the impact of this society on our lives and I am disturbed at the careless, unfeeling attitude of the people around. It hurts me to see people who have one standard for others and a different moral standard for themselves. Things like this make me hopeless. It gets stifling sometimes and I wish we evolve as a society in the way Islam defines a perfect, moral human being - just, honest, truthful, patient, tolerant and helping.

I wish I could end at a cheerful note but it's just one of those days when a weight bears down upon my soul. I am sure this world is full of nice and kind people - I just wish we have some more.

Dr. Faroha Liaqat
http://avoiceforislam.blogspot.com

Wonder and Thankfulness

For the first time that I have wanted to write in a while, I am not writing a blog with a heavy heart. A heavy heart somehow gets lightened by getting those thoughts out on paper as words which keep bothering us. However, this is not the case with this post; these words are written with a grateful heart , perhaps with a touch of wonder. Wonder, at the way things unfold in life. Amazement, at the way prayers are listened to and thankfulness, at how Allah takes us out of distress when we see no way out.
This is not to say that life is without its fair share of trials and tribulations. Hard times are a part and parcel of life and are necessary for a person's emotional and spiritual growth. Problems keep on coming but what keeps me going through them is perhaps a deep belief in the love that Allah has for its creation. I have never been disappointed in Allah whenever I have asked Him for something. It has nothing to do with me; rather, I always think about this in wonder and look back with thankfulness in my heart.
I don't know why I am writing these words. They won't mean much to any one except me but perhaps, they may serve as a message of hope to people who are going through hard times and keep wondering about these trials and taking them as punishments. This is just an answer to all those people who think like I did; why me? The answer is simple. Trials are not an obstacle but a step onto a higher platform. Allah does not burden us beyond our capability and Allah does not leave us. One thing is for certain: whether times are good or hard, they do not stay. What stays is a belief in Allah, an ever-growing belief in His mercy. He does listen to prayers and He does have a plan for us. Things take their own sweet time to get right and when they do, they may not be in a way that we wanted. BUT they are in a way that Allah decides for us. As Mumtaz Mufti used to say, "mannay mai bara sukh hai". We must accept and with acceptance, comes peace.

Faroha Liaqat
http://avoiceforislam.blogspot.com

The Pakistani attitude!

I wonder why it is sometimes so hard in this big world to make someone understand your point. The curse of being misunderstood follows me every where. Generally, I like to keep away from arguments among Pakistanis. Sadly, we Pakistanis love to argue without being neutral and unbiased. We usually tend to do every effort to prove our point bringing in religion, society, old age prejudices,and our own thinking. I have often found myself in situations where every sane argument is thrown out of the window and bias decides who is the winner. Today is one of those days I am fed up. Where is the dispassionate, out of the box thinking we desperately need as a nation? Why are we still so blindly prejudiced by sect, caste, religion and the system? Why do we love to harass and ridicule any one who dares to differ?

It is not to say that every one is like this. However, I am alarmed by the growing intolerance in all sections of our society. I am not talking about extremism but our general attitudes. We Pakistanis, lack the patience to stand in queues, we do not agree to give any other our way on the road; we refuse to budge on our position on societal issues; we refuse to appreciate an opponent's view even when he is right; we love to distort history and questions any one's patriotism when some one points out the error and I have not even started on how people manipulate religion to suit their needs. The list is never-ending.

This kind of behaviour irks me, specially when I find it among well-educated people. Why do we always tend to divide society among "liberals" and "conservatives"? Why do we have to prove our adherence to religion, to people instead of God? As a society, this kind of questioning and bias is not going to do us any favour. Every one of us must learn and implement the core concept of Islam; it is a "Deen" and not only just a religion. It is a way of life. A Muslim is a character; not a mere figurehead. The virtues of patience, justice and tolerance are highly valued in the Quran not only because they are good but because they serve a purpose.

Iqbal saw this duplicity long ago when he differentiated between "Kirdaar" and "Guftaar" ka ghaazi. This is the irony; we all say we love Islam but do we? If we loved it, we would have entered into it with our heart and soul. If we feared God, we would have feared hurting His creation. if we knew what fasaad was, we would have stopped being "liberals and conservatives" and start being human. How saddening and ironic.

Faroha Liaqat
http://avoiceforislam.blogspot.com

And Pakistan dares to hope!

I have been slowly driven to write this post, impressed by the sweeping tide of patriotism around me. It came gradually but now it is in full swing, this sense of Pakistan being on the verge of change and the hope it brings. Every where I look, every one I know, irrespective of where they are, are infused with an energy that is intoxicating to say the least. Pakistan has finally dared to hope and the reason is Imran Khan.

It is hard not to be impressed by Imran Khan. The guy is absolutely indefatigable, courageous and persistent in the pursuit of victory. It takes guts to challenge the status quo in Pakistan and he has done it. Everyone told him he was a political outsider and Pakistani politics is not a game of cricket. People laughed at him and he took it all, sacrificed his marriage for the sake of his cause and came all this way to become a serious game changer in Pakistan. One can have problems with some of his ideology or plans but it is impossible not to admire him. He simply refused to admit defeat and gave his all to one cause. It is a great example of single-mindedness and purpose. Some people always remain in the spotlight, for good or bad reasons. It seems to be Imran's destiny to always be a hero. He is an achiever, he is lucky and that's part of his appeal to the people of Pakistan.

However, his hero status is not the reason of my writing this post. I write this as I am simply thrilled to see Pakistan changing in front of my eyes. It is not a concrete change in the system; it's the change in the people that is so inspiring. We, the people of Pakistan, who had lost all hope of ever putting things to right, have finally woken up and are advocating for change, a "Naya Pakistan". It is astonishing how people from all sections of society believe in Imran's message of hope. I do not know why it resonates with so many people; may be this was what we all secretly wanted but knew would never happen; may be there is a romantic in all of us; may be it is his philanthropy and honesty that draws us. It is impossible to lay a finger on what is the exact reason of why people believe in Imran Khan. We just do. For my part, I think he is honest and has good intentions but for me his biggest achievement is something else. He forced us to wake up from slumber and claim a stake in Pakistan. I am moved by his love for his country and by the change he has inspired in people. Pakistan will never be the same again.

I do not want to sound idealistic and I am not. Nothing's going to change overnight but one irrevocable change has already happened. We, the people of Pakistan, want to vote. We think change can come through the ballot and we are willing to bring about that change. It does not matter now if Imran Khan becomes PM this time or not. He is already a winner. He may be naive, a novice to the art of politics but I do not doubt his intentions. He has infused Pakistan with hope and something to look forward to.I can feel the pulsating rhythm and be proud to witness that finally, we own our land, our problems and want to fix them. Imran Khan, you may win or lose the election but you have definitely won our hearts. May Allah bless you

Faroha Liaqat
http://abvoiceforislam.blogspot.com

Missing Pakistan

I always used to wonder why people write so much about their feelings in "Pardes". I felt they usually exaggerated the feeling of being an alien in a foreign land. Of course, i liked the poems of Faiz Ahmed Faiz and songs portraying the feeling, but I never understood it.....that is,till now.
        Now I understand the yearning that Faiz felt when he wrote "Meray dil meray musafir"....Now I identify with the verse "Sar e koye nashaniyaan hamay din se raat karna.....kabhi is se baat karna, kabhi us se baat karna".....I feel more and more the worth of living among one's own people, breathe in the same air as your loved ones do, be in constant contact with family and friends,eat your own food, speak the same language and feel the care around you. It is a great deal to identify with one's surroundings and to own the land you live in....I realize it now that these things are so far away.
       It sounds a cliche but I still have to say that I miss Pakistan. Despite everything, all the troubles there and the calamities and what not, it is home. It is my land and one that I love very dearly. At this hour late at night, I miss the silence of Islamabad; I miss sleeping in my own bed and waking up to run away to the university with ami saying "beta, nashta kar lo".....I miss the constant sms of my friends and the care that was showered daily. I miss the rain, having dinners with family, never caring about things....In short, I am feeling exactly as a pardesi would do.
        I will never understand people who want to settle abroad. I fail to understand the logic. For me, Pakistan seems to be heaven on earth, a place that is very close to my heart and one that has given me every thing. I have every facility and comfort here in my temporary home, but it still doesn't feel like home. Home is where loved ones are and for me that will always be in Islamabad.
       God bless Pakistan

Deliberate provocation or freedom of expression?

       I fail to understand why they keep doing it again and again? Haven't the people advocating freedom of expression understood by now that depictions of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are considered blasphemous and will cause fury int he Muslim world?Yet, they publish and re-publish the caricatures,  make crude references in comedy programmes and now run sketching contests on facebook! Does the world really feel that this time, the Muslims won't be hurt and will take it in their stride? Every Muslim is a fundamentalist when it comes to protecting Muhammad (PBUH)'s honour and it's a truth the sooner the world learns, the better.

       That said, I must say I don't like the way Pakistan has reacted to the online contest. Of course, everyone is hurt and angered; I was distressed when I saw some of the depictions on the page, but is banning whole websites the solution? Now, there is a huge vaccum in the cyberspace that the growing middle class and urban population used to vent their opinion in.Pakistan could have blocked the specific URLs, compalined officially to facebook and youtube, made diplomatic remonstrances; we could have countered the hatemongerers via the media they had used; but now there is vaccum. the world cannot hear the Pakistani voice.

       I wish there could have been another way to show the world that we care about this sensitive topic, that we are hurt by your actions and you should listen to why it is blasphemous. But there seems to be no way the deaf world can hear our protests. Even now, they seem to be wondering what's all the fuss about. I know that even if facebook is restored today, many users would delete their accounts; it has lost its respect but do we, the western world and the Muslims, need to resort to such extreme measures to tell the other side of our view?

      I often wonder what the Prophet would have done. He would most probably have ignored the whole episode and have tried to explain to the other people why depictions of any prophet are blasphemous in Islam. Sadly, we, the Muslims, rarely wonder anymore what the prophet would have done. We love him too much and give knew-jerk reactions. Muhammad (PBUH) was patient, loved people, genuinely cared for them, was tolerant and would never have resorted to violence to fight people for his own cause. We have come a long way from the spirit of Islam in Medina and I long for the road that would make us go back or rather forward towards peace.

Faroha Liaqat

Jinnah- A better Muslim

Some people are revered in their life and some after their death. There is no doubt that Jinnah was a legend in his own lifetime and lives on in people's memories long after he is dead to the world. But he continues to be one of the least understood and enigmatic leaders in history. It is a strange fact that Jinnah is revered in Pakistan as the Quaid-i-Azam (The great leader) but portrayed as a villain in neighboring India. He is termed as arrogant, a divider and a cold-hearted man; yet in Pakistan he's seen to be a man of principles, a just and truthful, honest man. Yet how can the two faces of the same man so irreconcilable?
Ali Jinnah's biggest crime in the eyes of Indians is the division of United India on the basis of religion; yet the same man is considered to be the saviour of Muslims of the Sub-Continent by demanding and achieving a state for them. Yet why did a man perceived to be secular demand partition on the basis of religion? There can be two reasons for that; the first being the biased attitudes of the nationalist Hindu leaders that led him to believe that progress of Muslims in a united India, after the British left, would be difficult under a resurgent Hindu majority. What, for me, is the second reason is that Jinnah may be a secular man in his daily habits, but he is the perfect example of a Muslim in his character. He was truthful, incorruptible, honest, a constitutionalist, just and loyal to the people who trusted him. I can only marvel at the honesty and sense of responsibility of a man who had the unwavering loyalty of the people and power; yet he refused to even eat a meal at his country's expense. I am amazed at his love for principles and his penchant to stand for truth. How many examples can a Muslim world boast of in recent history, that may even come near to Jinnah's stature? None. If he isn't a true Muslim in character, I don't know who is.
The problem with the present Muslim population in India is that they tend to see Jinnah as someone who divided India and left them at the mercy of the majority. They fail to see that this is exactly what Jinnah was trying to save them from. If partition had not happened, this would have been the exact fate of all the Muslims, not only the Muslims in present day India. Whenever I go out in the streets of Pakistan, I feel I have a right to this land; there is no one who claims to be more Pakistani than I, but an Indian Muslim cannot say the same thing, as his patriotism is always called into question on the basis of his religion. Why should not, then, the Pakistanis revere Jinnah as their great leader? I was deeply saddened when, on a recent visit to India, I had to hear anti-Jinnah remarks. A remarkable example of what teaching distorted history can do to minds.
As this December 25 passes, I again feel the pull that the great Quaid has on people's hearts. I pray that Allah bless him and enable us to be as honest, as incorruptible and as loyal, as Jinnah was.

Stand up to fight for our land!

This is going to be a fight to the finish, a fight we simply cannot afford to lose. We, the Pakistani people, are faced with a dilemma and thankfully, most of us, specially the younger generation taht constitutes about 60% of the population, have made the right choice. We are going to fight any one who challenges our right to Pakistan, our life styles, our freedom to pursue life as we live. We have started asking questions; questions that are addressed not only to the politicians, the Government, but questions that challenge some fundamental assumptions that are taken for granted.

In these days of uncertainty in Pakistan, the most heartening factor is the resurging patriotism and nationalism in the Pakistani youth and an emerging middle class that is increasingly vocal. We are no longer prepared to accept things just because they have always been done before. We are no longer afraid to voice dissent with the pre-established values because we have the media on our side that carries our voice to every home. We are no longer disappointed with the legal system because sometimes, amid all the clouds of corruption, we can see light at the end of the tunnel.

Sometimes, I am amazed at the changes around us, and heartened by the will to fight for our land among the common people. The common man of Pakistan is much more patriotic and nationalist than the so-called defenders of the constitution. Every where I go, I hear concern for Pakistan, underlining a deep love for the country we live in. I sense a feeling of ownership, which was never theer before. I sense the emotion among the youth to serve our land and their confidence that tehy can do it.This is heartening. It is as if we are witnessinga revolution, a changing trend in society, a willingness to break away from tradition and an intention to bring about a better change. Atleast, people feel the wrongs that have bene done and react to them , instead of calmly accepting them as "something that has always happened, will always happen".....A changing Pakistan in short.

Come, let us fight for our land, our values, our home. If the terrorists want us to shut schools and universities, we should react by facing the threat and going to the universities and vowing not to be afraid. The bombings will go on; they won't stop overnight but our resilience and our courage will subdue them. It's a battle of nerves; and God is always on the side of the brave and good. Let us create history by fighting for the ideology of Pakistan. 60 years have gone by without its being achieved; maybe this is the time of struggle again.

Wake up, Pakistan

My documentary on climate change

Check out my documentary by UK's Nature on climate change at the link

www.nature.com/lindau

The movie is titled " Climate change -The two degree target"

A much needed victory

It feels great. Pakistan is starry-eyed today. We are the T20 world champions and it feels so, so very nice. Cricket is a passion for the Pakistani nation, yet this victory is more than just winning the final in a game. It has given us hope.We needed this so desperately in the bad times we have been going through. It's been a long time since we had a good news and when Pakistan beat the Proteas in the semi-finals, Pakistan suddenly woke up. We were all so happy and life was still for two days waiting for the final. TV screens were set up, especially in the refugee camps and the captain of the Pakistani team also said we will dedicate a victory to the internally displaced people. We won!

It is celebrations though all the length and breadth of Pakistan. People have spilled on to the streets, dancing and waving the Pakistani flags and singing national anthems. We are so so happy. God has given us hope again. We had lost belief in ourselves and suddenly we feel confident again. We ahve shown the world we are not just a bunch of terrorists; we have life, laughter, a sense of camaraderie, sports, love of life, everything. We have always felt in our heart we can bounce back when the whole world believed Pakistanw ill fail, either in sports or in national life. Our belief stands justified. Congratulations Pakistan! Way to go!

A martyr for Islam and Pakistan

An incident that depicts how the Taliban have nothing to do with Islam or human rights or plain decency! The killing of Dr Sarfaraz Naeemi in Friday's suicide blast has saddened all of Pakistan, even people who have never been to a Madrassah in their life. He is a true martyr, a man who lined on a Government scholarship of just 6000 Rs per month, a man who ran the most modern madrassah in Pakistan imparting modern as well as religious education, a man who was a true religious scholar, who gave a compelling edict against suicide bombings, declaring them to be completely forbidden in Islam, a man who openly said that Taliban were a stigma to Islam. Pakistan has lost a true patriot. But the martyrdom of Dr Naeemi has not fractured the nation. Instead, this incident has united Pakistanis to take revenge from the Taliban.

We clearly see now the real Islam as followed by Dr Naeemi, a live and let live based humanistic religion. And the false so-called Islam of the Taliban. Even a lay man knows now the reality of the Taliban.

These are sad times for Pakistan but also a time of great oppurtunity. We can either fall apart or glue together to make a strong nation. I hope that the sacrifices of countless people like Dr Naeemi do not go into vain. I believe they will not go into vain and we will rise to be a stronger country

Hope for our homeland

I am sick and tired of all these doomsday scenarios about Pakistan in the national and international press. Many columnists in Pakistan's newspapers even rant almost always about how almost everything is wrong with Pakistan. I don't deny that the country is in a dangerous situation and has many problems, but don't these columnists understand that people need hope in these times; they are despondent enough.

My generation, the young of today, are fed up with the older generation who are always saying that Pakistan doesn't have this, Pakistan doesn't have that. Don't they understand that it's because of them that Pakistan hasn't had those good things they admire in the west? If they cannot do anything for their country except complaining about it, then please do not demoralize us atleast. I feel the younger generation to be much more nationalistic in its thinking and has a socially active attitude. The New York times recently reported how some young students in Lahore started a campaign to pick up garbage in their area on sundays, because they were tired of their parents complaining that the Government doesn't do anything. We need this approach, not the arm-chair complaining that goes on all the time. Give us a break! Pakistan is here to survive and stay and we will do whatever we can for it. It's our home, our land, and we are not going to let the follies of the older generations to destroy our future. Let us join hands and strive for a better future. Long live Pakistan!

A migration of my people, from fear to where?

It was inevitable, yet it's so disturbing. The humanitarian suffering of this offensive against the Taliban is huge, to put it mildly. We all knew in our hearts that people will try to move to safer areas, but suchan influx of people out of Swat, Dir and BUner! It's staggering. These people have ;left their homes, cattle, standing crops, some even their children, in short everything they ever strived for in their life, behind.....They have moved out of fear, amid intense shelling, gunfire and curfews, to safety. Yet, what awaits them? Can Pakistan really cope with this crisis?

It's true the arrangements could have been much better. It's true that the Government, after having had loads of experincing in hosting so many millions of Afghanis for three decades, should have known better, but it is to ask for too much. The Government cannot cope individually, unless the international aid agencies and most of all, the people of Pakistan come out.

We have seen the generosity of spirit the people showed during the 2005 earthquake. This problem of the IDP's (internally displaced people) is on the same scale and requires as much, if not more. These refugees within their own lands are proud people, yet they need our help. We must assist them without compromising on their pride and customs, their honor and dignity. They are our own people. They deserve our love and support. It's heartrending to see their plight. O God, what's the world coming to?

This is the largest migration of people in Pakistan since partition in 1947 and it requires the same spirit.....These people are emulating what Muslims did 14 centuries ago when they migrated from Mecca to Medina, to escape the cruelties of the Quresh.....God has put them through suffering to check their patience and our generosity...They are the Mohajirs,so when are we going to become the Ansar?

I wish I could do something, with my hands, physically, to lighten their burden in some way. I hope this conflict ends soon and people can go back to their homes and live in peace. God save Pakistan

What wrong did the people of Swat do?

It was heartrending....The spectacle of a teenage girl being publicly flogged by Taliban send shivers down everyone's spine.Pakistan is ashamed and stunned today. This 2 minute video has brought the reality home to many of us; the reality that not only our way of life is in danger but every concept of good and evil we hold is being hijacked slowly by these extremists. If for nothing else, we have to fight for Islam, to stop our beloved religion being disgraced by such brutalities and narrow interpretations.

What was the crime of that girl? Even if it was adultery, the Quran places strict pre-requisites for the crime to be proved. IT requires 4 witnesses of good character and repute, who don't lie. THe judge or Qazi should be well-versed in matters of Shariah, be of good caharcter, never had his reputation stained in any way.....THe conditions are so severe taht in 99 cases, the crime cannot be proved unless it takes place in broad daylight,in utter violation of all sense of propriety....Ultimately, it's a sin between man and GOd...The punishment is so strict, therefore the conditions of proving guilt are so difficult as near to impossible. So how can these Taliban punish a girl when there has been no Qazi, no trial, no witnesses, and yet they assume taht she has committed adultery? What kind of Islam they think they follow? DEfinitely not what the Quran preaches, definitely not what Prophet MUhammad (PBUH) practised; definitely not with any humanity as its message.....

My heart bleeds for the people of Swat, who are forced to face such brutalities.....I cannot understand such Taliban and I cannot condone such behaviour.. I have a feeling that neither would the prophet condone this behaviour.....Islam is such a peaceful, humanitarian religion and it is being hijacked by these few extremists, who are bringing such a bad name to it.....This video has sent a shockwave through Pakistan and rightly so. We need to wake up to the fact that this is a war between two mindsets; one, a balanced, live and let live approach; the other, a barbaric, brutal attitude......We, the moderates, desperately need to win. And I hope and pray, that we do. We can't afford to lose.

We won !

Jubilation in the streets of Pakistan.....A great showdown and a historic outcome......People's power at its best.....Judiciary is restored and all the struggles of the people of Pakistan for the last two years have been vindicated......But go ahead Pakistan...this is only the beginning.....May God be with you

March on Pakistan! May God be with you

Pakistan is seemingly on a standstill;yet a new life is surging through the people.On the surface, the major highways, connecting roads between provinces, have been blocked...yet people are moving. They catch trains where they are stopped from getting on planes, they go in rallies and if stopped in groups, they even start walking when they are stopped from going in cars......All of these enthusiasts are trying to converge to Islamabad. They have one aim in view....restoration of the judiciary that had been sacked by General Musharraf, ex-President of Pakistan, when they refused to validate his extra-constitutional measures.From that day, a movement has been born. It inculcated into common Pakistanis an urge to have justice, awill to stand up and fight for their rights.....It changed Pakistan.

Two years have passed, yet theese people are still struggling. Yet again, the people have been duped, this type by acivilian Government, which is unwilling to restore the judges because it is afraid of its own past corruption record. The silence was deafening before this storm but now that it has unleashed, this movement has swollen into an epic story of a fight between right and wrong. Curbs on media have only strengthened people's resolve to fight any dictatorial moves. The civil society, lawyers, opposition leaders, human right activists, media, students, former diplomats, ex-army men, all are on the streets, demanding their right to be heard. This is a revolution

Today as I sit besieged in a forlorn capital and wait for tomorrow, I have a feeling that these long marchers will somehow come to Islamabad, no matter how they are stopped. There is a feeling of deja vu in the air.The atmosphere is so tense that it seems to be electric. There is fear in the hearts of the Government at such an unexpected showdown as was seen in Lahore today. Masses everywhere, families, children. The heavy-handedness of the police and Government forces seems to have strenthened people's resolve to go out and register their protest. This has become a massive anti-Government referndum. The foreign Governments, especially the US, should learn what comes of supporting the most unpopular leaders in Pakistan for their own ends.People now quote an american justice who had said at a court ruling " this is a court of law, not a court of justice". The writing on the wall is clear. We want justice.

March on Pakistan. May God be with you

The common people are the special people!

Sometimes, when I get tired of all the bad news around, in the press, in the streets, on T.V; when everyone says this is a wicked world; when people here, in pakistan, say that the future is bleak and go away from the country; when I hear the common phrase that " Is mulk ka kuch nahi ho sakta" (Nothing good can come out of this country); I wonder whether there is no such thing as hope left. Why are we always willing to talk about evil in the world, but are always surprised when something good happens....It may be a bit difficult and I have started this topic on the risk of being incoherent, but have we really forgotton that humans are not entirely evil or good. There are no black and whites, only greys.

I feel that the world is going on because even now, the good in people far outnumbers the bad. Oh I know, it sounds idealistic, but very often, when we are so tired of finding bad traits in everyone, we do come across a few examples of good people doing good deeds without any expectation of reward. Today, I learnt that a man in Islamabad, Pakistan has been teaching free of cost to children, youngsters,anyone in short in an open ground for the last 18 years. He goes to his job in the morning and then comes back and teaches to poor people free of cost, come rain or whatever. At one time, there are about 300 students and up to now he has taught about 5000.With no help from Government or any NGO, this man has kept this going on for 18 years. Now, many young girls and boys have joined him as teachers....I find this great. These people are our real heroes.

Few people know that Pakistan is the country with the highest number of charitable donations. We tend to remember only the suicide bombings. Whenever one's car break downs in an out of the way spot, one can usually find someone who comes to help, does it and goes off before you can say thank you. There was one professor in my university who could go home walking because he had given all the money in his pocket for a poor kid.

There are countless such instances. These incidents touch me, because these remind me taht there is still much good left in the world and all is not lost, yet.