Global Voices » Kumail Ahmed

PHOTOS: Pakistan's Countrywide Shia Solidarity Protests End Peacefully

Kumail Ahmed — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 22:44:43 +0000

Shia solidarity protests held in over a hundred cities across Pakistan have finally concluded. They were triggered after bombings killed more than 100 people of the Hazara Shia community in the southwestern city of Quetta on January 10, 2013.

The bombings marked one of the goriest days in the history of Pakistan's southwestern province Balochistan. Members of the banned militant group Laskher-e-Jhangvi claimed responsibility for the horrendous crime.

Following the attacks, members of Quetta's Hazara community gathered on Alamdar Road and started their peaceful sit-in. As images of them sitting in icy rain along with the coffins of their relatives, spread across social media, solidarity protests in form of peaceful sit-ins spread like fire across the whole country. Pakistanis from all sects and tribes joined hands to condemn terrorism in the name of Islam.

Protesters in Quetta had a single-point agenda:

“Put Quetta city under the control of Pakistan Army and invoke Governor's Rule.”

It took the government four days to sort out this matter; finally, signalling an end to the four-day long peaceful sit-ins. Moreover, the relatives had refused to bury the dead bodies of their loved ones until their demands are met. As the protest has concluded, the victims are now being buried.

Citizens organized sit-ins across the whole landscape of Pakistan. Protests took place on main railways lines and also on highways. According to reports, sit-ins were registered in more than 100 cities and towns. Sit-ins were organized even in Skardu city, where the night temperature was -14 Celsius. The goal was simple:

Accept the demands of the protesters in Quetta.

What follows is a pictorial view of some of the protests in major cities of Pakistan:

Karachi

Protest in front of Bilawal House against Shia Killing. Source: ‏@ArsalanMKhan

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Protest infront of Bilawal House against Shia Killing. Copyight: Facebook\Syed Sabih Abbass Rizvi. Used with permission

Protest at Karachi Press Club. Source: @‏faisalkapadia

A child during a Shia Solidarity Protest near Numaish Chowrangi. Source: @arifaBatool

Here is a video of Numaish, Karachi Protest.

Hyderabad

Protest near Hyderabad Bypass. Source: ‏@ImZeesh

Lahore

#WeAreAllHazara protests in Lahore. Time: 2:00 am. Source: ‏@XumarShirazi

Protest infront of Governor House Lahore. Time: 11:30 pm. Source: Qurrat-ul -in Haider (‏@mojesma)

A young Shia girl asking her “Sunni Brothers” to join the protest. Source: ‏@annyzaidi

Sit in continues all night. Source: FaceBook\Taimour Mubashar

Islamabad

Women and children during a peaceful sit-in. Source: ‏@Zulfi25

Trying their best to fight the cold climate. Source: ‏@Mehr_Shah

Peshawar

A youngster participates in the protest. Source: ‏@Khushal

Peshawar Sit-in. Source: Hassan Turi (‏@spin_ghar)

Quetta

People sitting in Quetta with the cadaver of their loved ones. Source: Humayoun Behzad (‏@behzadjee)

Hunger strike organized by Hazara Development Party (HDP) in Quetta. Source: Humayoun Behzad (‏@behzadjee)

People sitting firm. Night temperature in Quetta stays below zero degree centigrade. Source: Humayoun Behzad (‏@behzadjee)

Mehzar – Pakistan's Youngest Victim of Violence Against Shias

Kumail Ahmed — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 10:30:34 +0000

Syeda Mehzar Zahra is one of the youngest victims of the ongoing assault on Shia Muslims by terrorists and extremists organizations in Pakistan. The 12 year-old girl – who has been called Pakistan's Anna Frank – was shot while her father, Syed Nazar Abbas, was taking her to school.

It was the morning of November 30, 2012 when bullets were fired at their car reportedly by the radical-sectarian militant organization Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan. Her father died on the spot and Mehzar survived with severe bullet wounds.

Mehzar Zahra – screenshot from a video courtesy ShiaKillng.com

Mehzar Zahra was rushed to the doctors, and now she is battling for her life at a local hospital in Karachi.

Ali Mehdi tweets:

@dosra_janum: #Mehzar: Spinal cord damaged, stomach ruptured, one kidney failed. She is completely paralyzed and cannot move her legs. Please pray for her!

Syeda Afrin Abbas tweets:

@Afrin_Abbas: Next 24 hours are very critical for #Mehzar. Doctors are losing hope! #PrayForMehzar @>Darveshh < @AbdulNishapuri @TahirImran

It was unfortunate that Pakistan's broadcast media did not make this a trending story. This important issue was not even discussed in the days following the horrendous attack. Many twitter users were upset and shocked by the silence from the broadcast media (as well as print media) about the incident:

Yusra Askari tweets:

@YusraSAskari: Where are the media and the so-called civil society and human rights activists? http://bit.ly/VsIDCE #Mehzar #ShiaGenocide

Also, social activism for Mehzar was close to zero when compared with the world-wide support Malala's shooting managed to gain. (See this Global Voices Report ) from October.

A Shia Hazara girl tweets:

@ShiaHazara1: If not equal important to, an inch of sympathetic wishes to #Mehzar should have been forwarded. She is not #Malala, because of her faith!

Mahwish Raza complains:

@jkitsmawish: ”Much as the #Malala [...] #Mehzar was also doing the same [...] where are the #media&the so-called civil society& #humanrights #activists?”

It was mostly prayers and sighs that were registered at twitter. That's simply what can be done if terrorists are running free without being punished. Pakistan's Ambassador for the United States Sherry Rehman, tweets:

@sherryrehman: Praying for the little girl @MehrTarar: Humbled,F @faisalsubzwari: Hats off 2 ur passion abt the issue n poor #Mehzar (Link)

Mehr Tarar tweets:

@MehrTarar: #Mehzar in ICU. Please pray for her.#Mehzar needs prayers of the entire#Pakistan. She is 12; she is fighting for her life. #PrayforMehzar

Recently, President of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, traveled to visit Malala, who is currently under treatment in an UK hospital. A similar presidential visit was demanded for Mehzar Zahra in Karachi.

Abdul Nishapuri tweets:

@AbdulNishapuri: ”Prez Zardari to visit Malala in UK on Saturday.” That's good news. Also please visit #Mehzar in Karachi when you return to Pakistan.

Ali Natiq and Ali Abbas Taj started a new hashtag[ur] called #iammehzer. Unfortunately, it could not become a “buzz word” in the community. Only 113 people shared it across the community this month.

Shia muslims make up about 10% to 15% [pdf] of Pakistan's total population. While sectarian violence is a longstanding problem in Pakistan, attacks against Shia muslims have increased in recent years. According to the Human Rights Watch, in 2012, at least 320 members of the Shia population in Pakistan were killed in targeted attacks.

Brad Adams, the Asia director at Human Rights Watch recently said:

Deadly attacks on Shia communities across Pakistan are escalating. The government’s persistent failure to apprehend attackers or prosecute the extremist groups organizing the attacks suggests that it is indifferent to this carnage.

Pakistan: Five Bomb Explosions Rock Three Cities In A Day

Kumail Ahmed — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 05:45:51 +0000

Wednesday, November 21 was a horrendous day when Taliban attacked Imambargahs, Muharram mourning processions, and law enforcement agencies in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Quetta. In total, 20 people lost their lives and more 43 people got injured.

Taliban spokesperson Ehsan Ullah Ehsan bluntly accepted the responsibility for the sectarian attacks on Shia Muslims, and vowed that more attacks of such magnitude will continue to take place in future.

Bomb Blast in Karachi

Two bombs exploded consecutively near an Imambargah in the area of Orangi town. The bomb was planted inside a rickshaw. Mourning processions were not taking place at the time of the blast. Security forces swiftly surrounded the area, pushing the crowd and media people out of danger. Suddenly, a second blast erupted. Major causalities were not reported.

People and Security officials gather at site after bomb blast near Imambargah Hyder-e-Karrar in Orangi Town in Karachi. Image by Owais Aslam Ali. Copyright Demotix (21/11/2012)

On 18th November, a bomb blast exploded in front of an Imambargah in the locality of Abbass Town killing 2 people and left 15 injured.

Bomb Blast in Quetta

This attacked was explicitly targeted on the law enforcement agencies. A 15kg bomb was planted on a motorcycle near the main gate of the district jail. 7 people were killed including 3 personnels from the Frontier Constabulary (FC). More than 16 people got injured.

Bomb Blast in Rawalpindi

A suicide bomber – probably 17 or 18 years of age – exploded himself in between a mourning procession in Dhok Sayidan area. The technique was similar to that used in Karachi. Two bombs exploded one after the other with a forty minute gap in between. This was the most sanguine act of all, killing 23 mourners that included 8 children.

People gather around to look at the destruction caused by a suicide bomb in Rawalpindi. Image by Sajjad Ali Qureshi. Copyright: Demotix (21/11/2012)

Reactions

Human Rights Watch vocally condemned the terrorists acts against Shia Muslims in Pakistan:

“Pakistani authorities need to address the severe danger faced by the Shia population with all necessary security measures. They can start by arresting extremist group members responsible for past attacks.”

Twitter users and netizens condemned these acts of terrorism.

Marvi Sirmed tweets:

‏@marvisirmed: dear LeJ, many Shias dead. Islam saved. Right? La'anat tum logon per.

Dear Lashkar-e-Jahangvi [A banned extremists organisation], , many Shias dead. Islam saved. Right? May God damn you.

Shamama Abbasi tweets:

@shamama_abbasi: Heart goes out to victims n their families in rawalppindi,karachi blast,what a senseless and tragic act of terror. Salaam Ya Hussyn [Peace be upon Hussain]

Many noted the fact that acts of terrorism perpetrated against Shia Muslims didn't get the same level of attention compared to Israel's attacks on Gaza Strip (See Globalvoices report)

Ghaffar Hussain tweets:

@GhaffarH: Dozens of shia killed in bomb blast in Karachi but the victims aren't Gazans and the killers not Jewish so move along, nothing to see here.

Rohan comments:

I wish pakistan will accept the extreme Islam as their main threat, rather blaming India. I hardly see any gathering or rally protest in streets for these killing. But you people worried about gaza, barma, assam. ?? Dont you feel ashamed about everything??????????

In his blog post, Abdul Nishapuri asks a very pertinent question:

“Why are 6000 Shia children killed in Pakistan less worthy than a few dozen Palestinians?”

Shafi Sial tweets:

@Sahfisial: People in #Pakistan cry loud for Gaza which 90% of them have only heard of whereas#Shia #Hazara & #Ahmadis being killed in their own land!

Basit Saeed tweets:

@basit_saeed: We protest against killings in Gaza but don't even bother condemning Shia genocide! Shitty standards! #Karachi

Thousands Celebrate Malala Day & Sign Nobel Peace Prize Petition

Kumail Ahmed — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 01:32:24 +0000

15 year-old Malala Yousafzai was shot on 9 October 2012 by members of TTP (Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) [The Pakistan Taliban Movment] because she was a fearless activist of girl education in Swat. Malala is slowly recovering. She is not totally out of danger, and a complete recovery will take sometime.

Petition for Nobel Peace Prize
A petition has been placed by a Pakistani-British woman living in Birmingham, Shaida Choudry, to nominate Malala Yousufzai for a Nobel Peace Prize. Nominating Malala for the Nobel prize can be achieved if ‘national politicians’ take interest. Shaida Choudry wants William Hague, David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband to go forward with this task.

Till now more than a hundred thousand people have signed her petition. The reason why a Nobel prize must be presented to Malala is stated here:

A Nobel Peace Prize for Malala will send a clear message that the world is watching and will support those who stand up for gender equality and universal human rights, including the right to education for girls.

The #Malala hashtag has been shared by more than five thousand people over twitter. The #Nobel4Malala hashtag has been shared by approximately nine hundred people just in nine days. Expressing her reason for signing the petition, Farina Alam writes:

…Malala gives me hope

Stephen Furlong comments:

“Such bravery and belief at such a young age should be recognised and serve as an inspiration and as a beacon of hope to people young and old across the world”

Celebrating Malala Day
The United Nations has announced celebrating November 10 (Saturday) as Malala Day. People around the world celebrated Malala as a beacon for 32 million girls who can not go to school. In Pakistan, demonstrations in support of Malala were held in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. This day was celebrated in more than 100 countries across the globe.

But in Malala's hometown open house events couldn't be organized out of fear of possible terrorist attacks.

The UN special envoy on global education growth, Mr. Gordon Brown was in Pakistan on Friday (9th November) in order to discuss the future of girls education in Pakistan. Speaking to AFP he said that a country can not prosper if only 2% of the economic budget is spent on education.

Political party MQM (Muttahida Quami Movement) [United National Movement] officially celebrated Malala Day at their headquarters in Karachi called nine-zero:

MQM celebrating Malala Day. From Twitter @SahilMQM

Kainat – Malala's friend who was with her during the attack- said that she's still terrified and cries whenever that incident comes in her mind. Unfortunately, no celebration took place in Swat due to possible terrorist threats.

For to express her love for Malala, 11 year-old girl, Bushra Siddique, writes on her blog:

In my view Malala is the ray of light and hope for Pakistan. May Allah Save Her!

Twitter response
Salman Ahmed tweets:

@sufisal: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” ― Aristotle#Malala Day

Somuya Singh tweets:

@soumyasinghs: #Pakistan marks Malala Day.. Poor#children will get cash if they'll attend school… Just hope they actually go nd#learn something..

Ali Salman Alvi comments that the Terrorist apologists are trying to belittle Malala's act of valour:

@alisalmanalvi: On social media it was Malala vs Al-Qaeda & Co (its apologists) on Malala Day. #Pakistan

Pakistan: Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy fired from LUMS

Kumail Ahmed — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:08:28 +0000

MIT alum and preeminent physicist Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy has been fired from LUMS (Lahore University of Management Sciences). Dr. Hoodbhoy's contract will not be renewed for the next term starting January2013.

Dr. Hoodbhoy's contract was buzzing news in the twitter community.

Dr. Hoodbhoy's Perspective

In LUMS he initiated a course titled “Science and the Contemporary World Order”. The course discussed the relationship between science and religion in our modern world. The reason for introducing this course was to bridge the gap between science and art students at LUMS.

Dr. Hoodbhoy believes that this course provided the ideological impetus to fire him from his job. In his letter to Mr. Adil Najam (Vice Chancellor LUMS), he writes:

“I have been left bewildered by the decision-making process under your watch, and the fact that during the meetings over the past year I was presented with an ever shifting set of reasons for why my contract would likely not be renewed.”

Hoodbhoy says that the reasons given for not renewing his contract are ‘illogical'. One of the reasons stated is that he gets a big salary! Another reasons states that Dr. Hoodbhoy is above 60 years and hence it's against LUMS policy to renew the contract. On this point, Hoodbhoy says that there are many professors at LUMS that are above 60.

Other reasons, as presented in the article, are either vague or open ended. He ends his letter with the following remark:

“It seems to me that while the reasons given for not having me at LUMS have been readily reinvented from time to time over this year, the outcome seems to have been decided quite early on.”

Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy. Image by Scularpakistan courtesy Wikipedia

LUMS’ Perspective

Mr. Adil Najam, Vice Chancellor LUMS, says that there was no hidden ideological motive behind this act. He makes a different point. Speaking to Express Tribune, he says:

“Dr Hoodbhoy is not being expelled, terminated or fired…. [He] was on a contract which ends in December”

He fails to give a logical reply to Pervez Hoodbhoy's letter. He goes on to admire Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy's contributions and says such decision are hard to make and ‘anyone can agree or disagree with the decision'.

Twitter Users’ Perspective

A majority of twitter users disagree with this decision:

@SarahMunir1: extremely saddened by the #LUMS vs #Hoodbhoy debate. regardless of right or wrong, its sad that sides need to be picked even in academics now.

@zubartorwall: Murder of critical thinking! On the prestigious campuses in Pakistan the lovers of Taliban teem in. #Hoodbhoy #LUMS #QAU

Salman Sikandar tweets:

@SALSIKandar: @beenasarwar #Hoodbhoy is nothing but name of pride for any university and country. Shame on Pakistan and LUMS.

Syed Ali Raza Shah tweets:

@legelSubtleties: #Hoodbhoy is the only local name that comes to mind after Dr. Salaam. Both great scientists troubled in this country they called own. #Sad

An online petition was signed by 1215 people who support that Dr. Hoodbhoy should be given an extension at LUMS.

Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy has taught Physics at Qauid-e-Azam University, Islamabad for 36 years. He is also a recipient of the UNESCO's Kalinga, American Physical Society's Joseph A. Burton Award, and Abdus Salam Award in Mathematics.

Saad Durrani comments:

I hope we keep him here in one of our universities, rather than getting him exported.

Pakistan: Developing Viewpoints on Malala Yousufzai

Kumail Ahmed — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 22:02:35 +0000

It has been ten days when Malala's story first came out on the global screen. Today, Malala has become a symbol for an enlightened and moderate Pakistan. Her name is being eulogized in prose and poetry. People are praying for her better health. Malala can be found in every newspaper and every social media website in Pakistan.

Without doubt, this is the Golden Age for a modern progressive Pakistan – a country where girls have an equal right to get education.

Sabir Nazir writes in Dawn blogs:

The image of Malala on every chowk, newspaper, profile picture, status update and TV channel….. Let us celebrate this golden moment in the history of Pakistan that might not last for very long.

For the first time religious extremists, such as Taliban, are being vehemently criticised in the public. During an address to a public rally in Karachi, MQM's head, Mr. Altaf Hussain, described Taliban as ‘inhumane, stone age people’.

Moreover, Malala has helped in consolidating the anti-Taliban forces in Pakistan. Across the political landscape, people are on an outrage against Taliban:

Saman Jaffery comments:

“If Taliban is a mindset, then Malala is a mindset, too. It's a mindset of educated and empowered women.”

Ashwer Waqi, a participant of MQM's political rally in support of Malala Yousufzai comments:

The message is right here … all these people. They are condemning the act of the Taliban

Social media has applauded Malala's stance against religious terrorists. The following picture was shared on Nosheerwan's fan page:

Source: Facebook\Nosheerwan's Fan Page

More than 205 people shared this picture on Facebook. This was just one of the thousands of shares people made to show their love for this little angel.

Across the border, in India, sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik constructed a sculpture to honour Malala. The following message was embossed on it:

“MALALA GET WELL SOON”

World famous American actress and director Angelina Joli proposed a Nobel Prize for Malala's determination for spreading girl education. She writes in her blog:

Still trying to understand, my children asked, “Why did those men think they needed to kill Malala?” I answered, “because an education is a powerful thing.”

Moreover, Government of Pakistan has planned to confer Sitara-e-Shujaat for her valour. A bounty of $1 million is also placed on the head of Taliban's leader involved in killing Malala.

Gedrosia tweets:

@Gedrosia: Proud of you #Malala - #Taliban you all can go to hell

The following two Urdu poetic verses have now being attributed to Malala. Years ago, Pakistan poet Habib Jalib wrote these verse for the assassinated prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto. Saad Khalid shares [ur] these verese with us:

ڈرتے ہیں بندوقوں والے ایک نہتی لڑکی سے
پھیلے ہیں ہمت کے اُجالے ایک نہتی لڑکی سے

Gunmen are scared by an innocent girl
Radiance of hope spreads due to her

On the other end of the world, Mrs. Laura Bush, former first woman of United States compared Malala with Anne Frank.

Anti-Malala Campaign

Although Malala has been praised around the world and more specifically in Pakistan, an Anti-Malala Syndrome has also developed simultaneously.

People belonging to this school of thought either try to allude or delude Malala's achievement. They are trying to create a soft corner for such terrorist act in the minds of the commoners. Jahanzaib Haque has written a detail blog where he elucidates tactics Taliban-sympathisers use to debase Malala.

Their central thesis revolves around the following self-created conspiracy theories:

1) Attack on Malala was purposefully perpetrated by the United States

Taliban sympathizers try to equate Taliban's attack on Malala attack with US drone attacks in the Waziristan region in Pakistan (see Global Voices report). A fake picture was shared on twitter that shows an innocent girl who is sitting on a wheel chair:

Fake picture of an innocent girl depicted as being injured in a drone. Source: @Khuram_PTI

Text in the picture reads:

Innocent girl Laiba, who was injured in a drone attack, questions the Pakistani nation!!

“Oh! The people of Pakistan, am I less innocent than Malala or is my patriotism under question? [If not] then why isn't anyone speaking for me? Is this because United States is responsible for this act?”

Let Us Build Pakistan (LUBP) debunked this picture. In reality, the girl lost her limbs in a suicide attack perpetrated by terrorists while she was doing shopping for the Muslim festival of Eid in November 2008.

2) Malala maligned Islamic symbols

Another fake picture that spread like fire is a deliberate concoction in Malala's memorable diary that tells about the degradation of girl education and destruction of schools during the Taliban rule in Swat.

False Propaganda about Malala's diary. Source: Facebook\Hasan Nisar

The message in the picture reads:

Malala wrote none of the following statements in her diary:

“Seeing a veil reminds me of the Stone Age, and a beard reminds me of a Pharaoh”

This is a false propaganda, which is being carried out by Taliban-supporters ans those who are against woman education.

Whenever you see such news on social media, do ask for its source. Malala's diary can be read on BBC Urdu website.

Hasan Nisar wrote on his facebook page:

People are doing propaganda against Malala, by spreading false information, and by other cheap stunts.

3) Attacks on Malala is a diversion tactics

Yet another perceptive says attack on Malala is a ‘deliberate attempt‘ to divert Muslim attention from the recent blasphemy film.

Twitter users gave the following reactions to such ‘absurd theories‘ [ur] :

@arslajawaid: hameful *that* conspiracy theorists label#Malala a US spy/CIA agent. Shes just a child who showd us up with her courage.inferioritycomplex?

@Anas_Abbas: World is praying for Malala from West to India but Pakistanis are busy classifying her CIA agent as she didn't have Aafia's credentials.

@adeel_azhar: So the extremist mindset trying to prove#malala is herself a CIA agent..wonder what's next Malala, a freemason? Malala a devil worshipper?

@MhwshB: Haan haan. Bana do Malala ko yahoodi, CIA, RAW agent. Pehle goli maro, phir us ko agent keh do. Bas TTP ko na kehna kuch. Khabees.

@MhwshB: Yes! Yes! Now make her a Jew, make her a CIA or RAW agent. First shoot her, and then call her an agent. Just don't say anything to TTP. Pathetic!

An apt response to all such conspiracy theories is given by Nosheerwan on his face book page:

“People who are saying that Malala is an US agent are accomplishing nothing other than giving US agents a good name.”

Malala's love for education will continue to reverberant in the hearts of the peace-loving global majority:

Source: ‏@LuvVictoria_XOX

Pakistan: Religious Extremists Attack Malala Yousufzai

Kumail Ahmed — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 01:43:08 +0000

Extremists severely wounded a 14 year old education for girls activist, Malala Yousufzai.

Malala was intercepted by the Taliban, and bullets were fired on her as she was returning home from school. A bullet pierced through her neck that had put her life in acute danger. Recent media reports say that the bullet has been successfully removed, and the girl is out of danger.

Who is Malala Yousufzai?

Malala Yousufzai is a Swat girl and an ardent education for girls activist. She openly speaks for the right of girls to attend school. Moreover, she publicly criticised the Taliban's attack on girl schools in the Swat valley.

Picture extracted from youtube.com

She came on the global scene in 2009 when she wrote a diary for BBC URDU. The ‘Diary of a Pakistani Schoolgirl‘ originally appeared on BBC URDU with an anonymous pen name of ‘Gul Makai'. The chronicle speaks about the atrocities Taliban did against girl education in the swat valley.

During the time when extremists controlled swat, girl schools were forcefully closed down and right of education was exclusively granted to boys. It was Malala who wrote down about the atrocities committed by the Taliban. Here is a small excerpt from her diary:

Only 11 students attended the class out of 27. The number decreased because of Taleban's edict. My three friends have shifted to Peshawar, Lahore and Rawalpindi with their families after this edict.

Malala Yousufzai was also nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize by advocacy group Kids Rights Foundation in 2011.

She is the voice for the thousands of girls who want to be educated, and play their role in the uplift of the society.

Taliban's Stance

The banned terrorist group, Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), swiftly accepted the responsibility of this horrendous act. The groups says that Malala's work was spreading moderation in the society and ‘whomsoever will commit so in future too will be targeted again by TTP'. Taliban spokesperson also said that “whom so ever leads a campaign against Islam and Shariah is ordered to be killed by Shariah.”

TTP spokesmen, Ehsanullah Ehsan, said in an interview:

[Malala] has become a symbol of Western culture in the area…[and the attacks were justified because] she was promoting Western culture in Pashtun areas.

Activists of Minhaj-ul-Quran Women's League hold photos of Malala Yousaf Zai and chant slogans against the attack. Image by Owais Aslam Ali. Copyright Demotix (10/9/2012)

Societal Reaction

The attack was criticised across every spectrum in the society. Not a single tweet was present that supported the Taliban's justification of gunning down a 14 years old innocent bairn.

Twitter users condemned this attack in the severest words:

@SabahatMS:An 11 old Rimsha Masih was a danger to Mullah's Islam & 14 year old Malala Yosufzai a threat to Taliban's Islam!! #Disgusting #Pakistan

@EeshAsh: To what extent can #Taliban go to? All prayers for #Malala. May Allah grant her speedy recovery

Mubashar Shah comments:

Malala Yousafzai is [the] *daughter* of Pakistan and also *daughter* of world. *God* bless you.

Pervez says:

Malala Yousufzai is decidedly an exceptional person and brave beyond her tender years. The TTP are cursed but those behind the TTP are doubly cursed.

A flood of netizen prayed for the better health of Malala. They took a deep breath when the news came that Malala is out of danger.

Feroz writes:

I hope the inspiration shown by Malala will make a marked impact and the younger generation throws up Malala like souls in the thousands. Those attempting to push Pakistan into the stone age must be repelled in every way possible. Malala, the entire world is praying for your speedy recovery.

The female literacy rate in Pakistan stands at a low 45% (2009). The threat by Terrorist against female education will take this number to new lows.

Adam B Ellick recalls about the time he spent with Malala Yousufzai. Malala took him to her ruined school that was converted into debris. On the wall of the her school it was written: ‘This is Pakistan'. Upon seeing this, Malala said impromptu:

“Look! This is Pakistan. Taliban destroyed us.”

Pakistan: Polio Vaccination Ban Affects 240,000 Children

Kumail Ahmed — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 12:31:03 +0000

Close to a quarter million innocent children are at risk of catching the crippling disease, due to a recent ban on polio inoculation by the Taliban in Pakistan's FATA (Federally Administrated Tribal Areas) region.

Pakistan Taliban chief Hafiz Gul Bahadur has banned polio vaccination in protest against US espionage and drone attacks in Waziristan, FATA.

Pakistan is one of three countries left in the world, where polio is endemic. The latest anti-polio campaign launched by the government of Pakistan targets 35 million children under the age of five. With the recent ban, the health of 160,000 children from South Waziristan, and 80,000 children from North Waziristan hangs in the balance.

The Pakistan Taliban are suspicious this anti-polio campaign is as actual a cover for espionage. In May 2011, a fake anti-hepatitis immunisation campaign was launched by the US through a Pakistani physician Dr. Afridi in Abbotabad, Pakistan, which led to the eventual capture of Osama bin Laden.

In a handout distributed by Mullah Nazir, a spokesman of Pakistan Taliban, he condemned the immunisation campaign because “infidel forces are using media, education and development as a tool to gag Muslims.”

A health worker administers the polio-vaccine drops to a child during a three-day anti-polio campaign in Chaman. Image by Owais Aslam Ali. Copyright Demotix

In a jirga (tribal meeting) held by 200 Pashtun leaders on 18 July 2012, the ban was supported as a protest against US drone attacks. The chief of Turikhel tribe, Malak Mamoor Khan said drones are more dangerous than the polio virus, because a ‘child rarely dies of polio while hundreds of children have died due to drones.’

Another development that has been a major blow to the Pakistan polio eradication campaign was the recent attack on a World Health Organization doctor from Ghana, who was inoculating children in the outskirts of Karachi, a southern port city of Pakistan. Two gunmen fired at his vehicle, as he was leaving a heavily ethnic Pashtun slum (where some of the inhabitants have fled violence from Pakistan's north-west and FATA region). He was severely injured, but survived. It was not clear whether the doctor's attack in Karachi, has any connection with the tribal and Taliban decree banning polio vaccinations in the FATA areas.

Apart from this, local newspaper report that a polio vaccination team was beaten up in the capital Islamabad, and bullets were fired at a team in Jacobabad, Sindh. In another development reported from Muzaffargarh, a district in Punjab, a local cleric declared the polio campaign to be anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan.

Mirza aptly comments on such attitude from the clergy:

“Instead of declaring Jihad against illiteracy, hunger and disease it is ironic that the mullah are declaring jihad against vaccination. Yet again police could not arrest the mullah, what is new? No mullah is ever punished for their wrongdoings and abuse of religion. No mullah is going to issue fatwa against him.”

A health worker administers the polio-vaccine drops to a child during a three-day anti-polio campaign in Chaman. Image by Owais Aslam Ali. Copyright Demotix

An anti-polio drive in the country makes many speechless. Ian Fairley comments on a post:

“Here we go again, grown men exercising their power over the women and chilren, brutality at its worst because they do it in the name of religion, put these hero's in front of proper men and they use the children as a shield to hide behind”

Some tweets consider extremist ideology to be an existential threat to Pakistan. Ali Abbas Zaidi tweets:

Drones or no drones, Taliban ideology will shut down girl schools, kill, ban polio vaccinations, enforce & impose their version of Islam

— Ali Abbas Zaidi @Ali_Abbas_Zaidi July 19, 2012

Salman tweets:

Taliban is in the business of blowing up limbs, don't expect them to understand the life long disability caused by polio. #Pakistan

— salman (@salman2979) July 19, 2012

Aly writes:

Don't understand the Taliban's polio ban strategy. Are they trying to guilt trip the Americans by putting thousands of children at risk?

— Aly (@Repatriated) July 19, 2012

On the other hand, UNICEF has hired Pakistan's star crickter Shahid Afridi in a fight against polio. Shahid Afridi is an ethnic Pashtun and has a large fan base amongst the community. He has joined Rotary's “This Close” campaign to support the fight against polio. Recently, Asifa Bhutto Zaradri, Pakistan's polio ambassador and the daughter of Pakistan's president, has also joined this campaign.

Eradication of polio endemic requires a joint collaboration between the government and the people. The clergy, commoners, and civil society must be taken on board and convinced about how important polio vaccination is for Pakistan's future.

Afridi vs Polio tweets:

If you want to see #Pakistan among #PolioFreeCountries then you have to take interest in #polio. Today #Pakistan needs our help.

— Afridi vs Polio (@AfridivsPolio) July 19, 2012

According to statistics collected by the National Institute of Health Pakistan (NIHP) in 2009, 2010, and 2011 there were 116, 144, and 173 reported cases of polio respectively.

Pakistan: Angry Mob Lynches Alleged Blasphemer

Kumail Ahmed — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 20:15:49 +0000

In a shockingly outrageous incident in Bahawalpur, a metropolitan city in Punjab, an angry mob attacked an alleged blasphemer and burnt him alive. According to local reports, the alleged criminal was in police custody when a mob of 2000 frenzied people broke into the jail building and demanded the police to handover the prisoner to them. When the police refused to comply with their illegal demand, the mob started a riot and caused havoc. As a result the police was forced to use tear gas to disperse these rioters. Unfortunately, tear gas and shell came to no avail. The mob broke inside the jail, took the alleged blasphemer outside and burned him openly.

The mob says that the person had desecrated the Muslim's holy scripture, The Koran.

A girl reciting the Noble Koran. Photo by YIM Hafiz on Flickr

Was he a blasphemer?

There is no shred of evidence to proof that the person killed was a blasphemer. According to police reports, the person was mentally ill; he was taken into police custody when some people alleged he desecrated the Muslim holy book.

Nadeem F. Paracha, a notable columnist, considers him to be a vagabond. He had a Sufi background with no sense of the present world and time. He was a follower of the Mansur Al-Hallaj – the famous 10th century Sufi saint, scholar and poet who was put to death by the authorities in Iraq for committing blasphemy.

Can a mentally sick person be called a blasphemer? Is vigilantism a sane behaviour in any civilized society? Can an angry mob be the upholders of God's justice in the present world? Did they think God's ultimate mercy will come to them? Answer to all these question is a simple ‘No'. Nadeem Paracha writes:

“The nation heard and saw its faith and holy texts being ‘avenged’ not by God-fearing men, but by a mob of retarded, subhuman filth.”

The man burning on the street helplessly cried, while hundreds of men saw this barbarianism with their eyes wide open. Wajiha Noor aptly comments:

Maybe I am illiterate or don’t belong to their religion but I know no book of God that preaches such bigotry and brutality.

Past precedence

Blasphemy is a thorny issue in Pakistan. Last year, Mr. Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab, was killed by his own security guard on the pretext of committing blasphemy. The governor was killed in broad daylight, while the killer is now considered a hero in Pakistan. He had sympathized with a poor Christian woman who was arrested after being accused for blasphemy when she was forcefully being converted to Islam.

A reason for the continuation on such horrendous acts is the improperly worded Blasphemy laws in Pakistan. An Amnesty international press release says:

Pakistan authorities must also urgently reform blasphemy laws to ensure they cannot be used maliciously to settle disputes or enable private citizens to take matters into their own hands.

A large proportion of people charged under these laws are Muslims. Mostly, these laws are used to settle down personal feuds and disagreements. It has nothing to do with religion whatsoever.

Secondly, the radicalization of Pakistani society also catalyses such acts. The electronic media is also a source of radicalization in the country. Mumtaz Qadri was inspired to kill Governor Taseer by a cleric's sermon. The government of Pakistan fails to handle media and the clerics in Pakistan, causing nuisance and terrorism everywhere inside the state.

Condemnation

Although words cannot cover up this barbarianism, the incident was condemned vehemently by the society at large.

Zara Mazhar comments:

“I have only got one thing to say – their God is going to burn each and every one of these in the same way.”

Suroor says:

“Islam DOES NOT teach this ,the uneducated barbaric MULLAHS are responsible for brain washing the uneducated!”

The Bishop of Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Rufin Anthony, condemned this act in the strongest of words.

HRCP (Human Rights Commission of Pakistan) vehemently condemn this incident:

“HRCP also strongly condemns not only the burning to death of a man in Bahawalpur, who had been accused of desecrating pages of the Quran, but also the authorities’ failure to prevent a horrendous crime that was not at all unexpected

Salman Taseer's daughter, Sara Taseer tweets:

Recieved so many messages after lynching in Bahawalpur, #Pakistan still a chilling reminder of dangers of blasphemy laws @SalmaanTaseer

— Sara Taseer Shoaib (@sarataseer) July 6, 2012

Tufail Malik criticised the crime of silence:

Our electronic media is seen silent in many critical issues like, burning incidence in Bahawalpur ,bus killing in Turbat , drone attacks

— Tufail Malik (@mTufailMalik) July 6, 2012

Fizza Arrehman wants justice:

Came to know about the Bahawalpur incident. Sad enough. Such people should be hanged to death :/

— ChuLLbuLee (@fizzarahman) July 6, 2012

Zafar Malik criticises the role of Islamic clerics:

Mullahs and their brain-washed followers are turning Pakistan into a Nut-House. What a pitty.

Latest Developments

As of 6th July 2012, two FIRs (First Investigation Reports) have been filled against the 2,000 people who broke into the jail. Meanwhile, not a single person is yet to be arrested for the crime. An investigation is also need to be done on the role of police. Feroz comments:

The first matter that needs investigation is the true role played by the Police in this incident and their claim that they put up heavy resistance.

On the other hand, the identity of the alleged blasphemer is yet unknown. Probably, we'll never know it as his family would be afraid to come out in the public.

Pakistan: Women's Rights Activist Killed

Kumail Ahmed — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 11:24:58 +0000

Fareeda Kokikhel Afridi, a prominent and tireless activist from Jamrud was shot dead in cold blood by armed gunmen. She was the head of a women's rights NGO, SAWERA (Society for Appraisal & Women Empowerment in Rural Areas) that strives for the betterment of local women in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. According to local newspapers, Fareeda was shot dead just a kilometre away from her home. She was travelling to her office in Peshawar, while four gunmen killed her along the way. In all likelihood this killing was executed by Taliban who have killed another prominent Human rights activist Zarteef Afridi on 8th of December 2011.

source: http://sawerapk.org

Who is Fareeda Kokikhel Afridi?

Fareeda graduated from the Allama Iqbal Open University with a Master degree in gender issues. She with her sisiter, Noor Afridi, co-founded an organization with the goal of improving the female literacy rate and women empowerment. SAWERA is a voluntary based, non-profit organization working for the accomplishment of these goals.

It was a radical move in a culture where women are often forced to live within the confines of their homes. In tribal and religious societies, women are not allowed to participate in the mainstream. Men force them to strictly wear the veil, which reduces human interaction. As women are sidelined, education becomes a much sought dream that is never attained.

25-year-old Fareeda knew about these challenges when she founded SAWERA in 2004. She wasn't against tribal value; rather only wanted to raise the standard of living in her area.

Condemnation for Afridi's killing

The HRCP (Human Rights Commission of Pakistan) has strongly condemned this brutal act. HRCP commented:

“It is a matter of grave concern that the risks facing human rights defenders and those working to ameliorate the lot of marginalized segments remain very high across the country”.

The End Violence Against Women/Girl alliance in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and FATA also condemned the murder.

Tribal NGOs Consortium also severely condemned her assassination. A press release issued by the organisation said:

“We the participants of civil society organizations in Peshawar strongly condemn this tragic death and vow to raise our voice against this tyranny and brutality at the hands of anti state elements who have been given free hand to kill people of civil society.”

Netizens have also condemned this incident. Although the issue has not been highlighted on twitter, comments on news articles and other social media sources reveal reactions to this horrendous act.

Usman comments:

Along with her, a part of Pakistan’s soul also died.

Charnushah says:

It is so tragic. It seems that with the arrival of these beasts called Taliban we Pakhtuns have also forgot our glorious traditions of Pakhtoonwali as well. So sad

Shakeela khan writes:

Ms. Afridi was a ray of hope and an example of bravery and courage for all the women and especially of FATA. Her sudden and brutal killing is indeed a great loss for us and a discouragement for all those who worked for the development and empowerment of the marginalized people especially women.

Shaad Begum — a women's rights activist who recently received an international award for her work in the field of women's education and health — sees no hope in future. In an interview to VOA urdu [ur], she says:

“مجھے نہیں لگتا کہ اس طرح کی صورت حال میں اب فاٹا (وفاق کے زیرِ انتظام قبائلی علاقوں) کی کوئی لڑکی کام کرنے کے لیے تیار ہو گی۔”

I don't think in such conditions girls in FATA (Federally Administrated Tribal Areas) will be ready to carry on with there work.

The government needs to work for the protection of such inspirational women. As more human rights activists get killed, the militants are winning more space to preach their irrational ideology. Hafeez comments:

“The only way to encourage such women/men working for upliftment of lives in dangerous areas is for the government to bestow some medal of honor and money to the family. Such workers are our assets.”

Fareed Afridi will always remain a shining example for all activists around the world her her daring stance. Here is to hoping that her work will be continued by others.

Pakistan: Who Killed Pashto Singer Ghazala Javed?

Kumail Ahmed — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:21:24 +0000

Ghazala Javed, a charismatic Pashto singer was killed in the city of Peshawar. During her lifetime, she always defied Taliban pressure to stop singing. According to reports, Ghazala and her father were shot six times outside a beauty salon. The perpetrators successfully ‘fled leaving them in a pool of blood.’ Pakistan's police investigators suspect her ex-husband, who she had filed for divorce from last year, is responsible for the murders. But some speculate otherwise.

Defying the Taliban

Ghazala was born in the Swat valley which fell to Taliban rule in 2007. When Taliban captured her home town, she was forced to migrate 170 kilometers away with her family to the city of Peshawar.

a Youtube video." src="http://globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/ghazala-323x300.png" alt="Ghazala Javed singing a Pashto song. Image taken from a Youtube video." width="203" height="189" />

Ghazala Javed singing a Pashto song. Image taken from a Youtube video.

Taliban rule reached its epitome when the Pakistani government was forced to sign a peace agreement with the militant groups Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammad (TSNM.) The agreement was titled the Nizam-e-Adal (Order of Justice) regulation, and was signed as a cease fire between Sufi Muhammed of TSNM and the government. But TNSM breached the agreement, making an army operation inevitable in the region. It 2009, the militants were exterminated from Swat's main town, Mingora, by the Pakistan Army.

Ghazala was a brave women who fought with the traditional and social ethos of her society. She wasn't scared by the Taliban decree banning singers from singing. Fawad Khan aptly comments:

Considering this vile and blind male dominance [in KPK province], Ghazala Javed was a voice to set all these women free and became a hope for every one who wished to pursue their desires.

She frequently travelled to Afghanistan and was highly applauded by Pashto speaking teenagers. A popular Pakistani singer, Bkktayar Khattak calls it a great loss for the future generation:

“Her death is a great loss to Pashto music. She was an inspiration for the fresh batch of singers coming into the Pashto music industry.”

A protest walk was organized by the Tahkleeq Development Foundation (TDF) condemning this horrendous act of terrorism. Arshad Hussain of TDF comments:

“Today artists of this region are again being harassed and scared because the government and human rights organisations have failed to protect the artists. It is an attack on freedom of expressions, and Takhleeq Development Foundation along with its 98 members and other culture organisations and individuals condemn the incident.”

Likewise, Netizens have condemned this act in the strongest tone. Some consider it a move towards greater Talibanization (aggrandizing of Taliban thoughts) in Pakistan. Rizvi comments:

The same old fanatic repeat of events. Only this time more grueling (sic).

Possible honor killing?

But the confusion remains whether the Taliban or her ex-husband killed her. Ghazala married Jahangir Khan, a businessman, in 2010 but six months later, she discovered that he had another wife, and demanded a divorce. She also said that he tried to stop her from singing. Anwar Shah Sadaf writes:

“here is no any relation of Taliban with this latest murder, she has shouted by her previous Husband , because she left him 7 months ago, by the force of Court…. I am very sorry for her, she was my best for ever i can not forget her…”

Mike Jenkinson believes the Taliban ideology led to her killing:

I remember a piece about a movie maker in Afghanistan and the problems he had with the taliban. Sad to see these narrow minded idiots are willing to kill someone who doesnt agree with them.

Some comment this murder is a result of the prevailing patriarchal mindset. Muhammad Rizwan A says:

She was killed, because she was woman, women has no life in Pakistan, they can not live their life.
God save Pakistani women…

Whatever the reason, the bottom line is that a nightingale has been silenced. She will always be remembered as an endearing voice of our times.

Pakistan: Suspected Honor Killing of Five Girls for Celebrating with Boys

Kumail Ahmed — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:24:37 +0000

Update (17 July, 2012):

The Supreme Court of Pakistan dismissed the honor killing case on 20 June, 2012. Court documents state that the girls are alive and reports of their killing were untrue. These developments took place after an independent commission including well-respected rights activists Dr. Fouzia Saeed and Farzana Bari, visited the village where the girls were allegedly killed after a jirga decision. Farzana Bari reported that she met two of the girls who were shown in the video and wrote an analysis of the whole episode, which generated this comment from Parveen:

I really appreciate Court’s quick action on Kohistan’s issue and media as well. Jirga system and acid throwing on women should be strickly ban and implemented to become civilized society.

According to reports, a jirga (assembly of tribal elders) in Kohistan district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, has ordered the killing of five girls on the allegation of dancing and listening to music with boys during a marriage ceremony in their locality. Afzal Khan, the brother of one the accused dancing boys, has claimed that the girls are already dead.

The women were shot dead by their families in the remote village of UC Peesh Bela. The tribal code of life supported by narrow-minded religious interpretation has killed many innocent people in that region. A similar case was reported four months back when a local jirga ordered the killing of four girls and two boys on similar allegations. They were sentenced after a mobile phone video emerged of them singing and dancing at a reception in the remote Gada village in the mountainous district of Kohistan.

Such an act of horrendous terrorism was done by issuing a ‘fatwa‘ (religious decree). The members of the jirga consider singing and dancing a strict violation of the tribal code of life. This violation became the basis for condemning these five girls to death.

Tazeen at The Reluctant Mind highlights the outrageous fatwas issued by a Kohistan former legislator:

Maulana Abdul Haleem, of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazlur Rehman, came up with a series of misogynist fatwas, clearly detailing what should be the priorities of his political and religious followers. For starters, the fatwa declares formal education for women to be unIslamic. As just declaring the act of going to school and getting some education irreligious was not enough, he also had to reprimand the parents who send their girls to schools in Kohistan and asked them to terminate their education. [..]

The fatwa does not end here. It goes on to declare all the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the region as ‘hubs of immodesty’.

Conflicting reports are coming from the KPK government officials. The Information Minister of the KPK province, Mian Ifthikhar Hussain, says that the news related to the killing of the five girls is “wrong and baseless“, although his claim lacks evidence.

To solve this ambiguity, the supreme court of Pakistan has taken a suo motto notice on the Kohistan killing. It had ordered the KPK government to produce the five girls, but the government has failed to do so.

Kohistan scene. Image from Flickr by yumievriwan. CC BY-NC-ND.

The vibrant civil society of Pakistan has so many times spoken for a complete ban on the jirga system. Shereen Kamaal of the Aurat Foundation (Woman Foundation) strongly condemns such brutalities.

Idress Kamal, a tribal elder, says that neither Islam nor tribal values allows such action of mammoth brutality.

Nasr Ahmed rightfully tweets:

@Nasr_MTA: The Pakistani Auschwitz are Khoistan, Balochistan, Sindh or wherever the Honour killing is taken place

Sonia Wahab writes:

There is just digust in honour killing.

Malik Hamza comments:

disgusting (sic) and insane radical people making our religion a shame.

There are more reactions and updates in Twitter:

@shahbazzahid: Overheard a resident of #Kohistan saying this > “now, I have started thinking the girls are not alive”

@shahbazzahid: Maulana Javed, head of some jirga in #Kohistan ordered for the killings – says Muhammad Afzal Khan

@beenasarwar: RT @AleemMaqbool: team of pak officials has landed in pattan, kohistan to find out whether or not 5 women have been killed for celebrating with men at wedding.

Pakistan: Partition Era Writer Saadat Hasan Manto Lives On

Kumail Ahmed — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:14:08 +0000

Saadat Hasan Manto (1912-1955) was a short-story writer, a dramatist and also a translator from Punjab. Today the people of the sub-continent are celebrating his 100th birth anniversary highlighting his significance in the India-Pakistan partition era. Art councils in Pakistan, press clubs, and literary clubs are organizing festivals to remember his legacy and his importance in today's society.

Manto's basic contribution to Urdu literature (with respect to partition) is that he considered the killing of thousands of Hindus and Muslims during migration as a massacre of humanity rather than of any single religion. He said:

Don't say that a hundred thousand Hindus or a hundred thousand Muslims have been massacred. Say two hundred thousand human being have been slaughtered.

Saadat Hasan Manto. From twitter: @siddharth426

This was Manto's message at the time when religious division was at its peak. People were divided – rather isolated – on religious differences and did not consider killing a major crime against humanity. In such times, Manto rose as a messenger of humanism in the subcontinental literature. He wrote dramas like ‘Toba Tek Singh’ (name of a village in Pakistani Punjab), in which he highlighted the miseries of partition.

But is Manto relevant today? Yes! He definitely is relevant. His criticism on the hypocritical societal values, his attitude towards social taboos and ethos [ur], and his whimsical remarked towards United States makes him a living legend. Manto, as Zahida Hina rightly says, was a visionary.

Manto's writing can today help Pakistan to come out from the abyss of fundamentalism and extremism which is increasing day by day. The cultural and political crises which Pakistan is facing today were seen years ago by Manto in his article ‘Allah ka bara fazl ha’ (God's benevolence is infinite).

Social media was flooded with comments regarding Manto's life and his work.

B. P. Singh praises Manto with the following words:

Perspicacious man, a real human being, I have acted in one of his plays in India, and truly I follow some of his writing religiously. If the mankind seriously follows his writing spirit, the world really will become a heaven! True homage and salute to a nice person ‘Manto'.

Some tweets:

@navedjaved: Remembering a prolific writer and a genius of his times, Saadat Hasan Manto on his birthday- RIP Legend!

@manish0891: Its 100th birth anni.of Saadat Hasan #Manto, one of the best short story writer of the Urdu language.

@osamamotiwala: Saadat Hasan Manto, although you are just a memory, but some memories last forever. Shine on you crazy diamond.

Manto was never frightened from expressing his thoughts. He had to go to court for his writings. But, Manto only wrote what he saw. Nazir Ahmed Minto comments:

Manto only wrote what he SAW,…… and which those people did not want too see !

Naveeda Valentina tweets:

@NaveedaV: Janam din mubarak (Happy Birthday) Saadat Hasan Manto! A man who pulled no punches indeed. *jaam chalkaoing*

@NaveedaV: Happy Birthday Saadat Hasan Manto! A man who pulled no punches indeed.

Manto is being given overwhelming coverage in Pakistani media (for English see: DAWN, THE NEWS). This fact is praise-worthy enough to be quoted. Although fanaticism has risen in the soicety, but Manto's voice still lives on.

Ahmed Shakeel tweets:

@Ahmed_Shakeel: It is heartening to see birth centenary of short story writer in Urdu Saadat Hasan Manto finds wide coverage especially in non Urdu media.

Manto died on 18th January 1955 at the age of 43. His thoughts will always be with us. Vivek Martolia comments:

manto sahab amar rahenge hamesha ke liye , he is alive in his stories.

Manto will live forever, he is alive in his stories.

Pakistan: Public Reaction on PM's Contempt Verdict

Kumail Ahmed — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:03:19 +0000

The contempt case against Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has finally come to an end. The court's verdict gave the Prime Minister a symbolic punishment of 37 seconds, ending the three month long judicial process. Analysts say that the decision would not end the prevalent constitutional confusion, rather, only have increased it.

Furthermore, it has started a new public process in which people are divided either in support of the Prime Minister or against him. People came on the road in support of the democratic process in the country. On the other hand, some say that the supreme court has the right to elucidate the constitution.

Supporters of ruling Pakistan People Party shout in the protest. Image by Rajput Yasir. Copyright Demotix.

Many people have commented that the Supreme court has not played a democratic role in pursuing justice.

Nazar M. Chohan comments:

CJ and his Supreme Court judges loves polarising the society beyond repair…keep it up!!!

Imran calls this a redundant activity. The Supreme Court had always played a role in belittling democracy and always supported dictatorship. He comments:

Not surprised…. SC is just keeping up to its reputation.
1. Okayed Ayub’s martial law
2. Okayed Zia’s martial law
3. Hanged a prime minister
4. Dismissed Benazir’s government twice
5. Approved Musharraf’s martial law
6. Allowed Musharraf to amend constitution
7. Allowed Musharraf to run for president while serving in army

Yesmeen Ali tweets:

@yasmeen_9: You know the law.Civil Contempt does not disqualify the PM.

Ahsan Riaz Chaudhary tweets:

@chahsanriaz: My lord #CJ is all set for “adhocism” in his zeal to send PM #Gilani home! #SupremeCourt #Pakistan

Some people call this decision a triumph of justice. People say that PM Gilani should resign from his premiership and implement the order of the higher judiciary.

@hamza101: Gilani is not just in contempt of court, but now has committed high disloyalty with #Pakistan..!#PPPFail

@alihzinsaf: #Gilani has been convicted. A convict cannot be#PM. A #PM should have ethics and high moral ground and shd be a role model citizen of the state

@malikakissxkhan: #Gilani You integrity and self respect is 0. Your loyalty to Pakistan is 0. Your right to appeal is a joke. Im not laughing. Resign

The bias either in support of Prime Minister or against him can be easily observed. The opposition parties, PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz) and PTI (Pakistan Tahreek Insaf) are asking the Prime Minster to resign as soon as possible.

“Will the PM resign” is a million dollar question. The aftermath of this verdict are still premature, but the ruling party wants to complete its constitutional tenure.

Pakistan: Incessant Violence in Karachi

Kumail Ahmed — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:25:32 +0000

The bloodshed in Karachi which has killed more than 300 people in the last three months hasn't come to a halt. The latest spree of bloodshed started after the killing of a political activist, Mansoor Mukhtar, who belonged to the MQM (Muthida Quami Movement) – the largest political party in Karachi. The next day – 28 March, 2012 – a political worker of ANP (Awami National Party), Mr Zianulabdeen was murdered by unknown terrorists.

These murders, backed by extortion activities and targeted killing, started a brutal chain reaction which has gloomed the port city's landscape. Dawn's timeline aptly summarizes all the events which have occurred till the 9 April.

The million dollar question is, ‘why does violence always return in Karachi?’

Rangers stand guard next to a burnt out car that was set on fire after a shooting incident, which killed Awami National Party (ANP) activist in Karachi. Image by Mohsin Hasan. Copyright Demotix.

Last year 1,175 people were killed. There are many reasons to this violence. Some reasons are:

The city is divided around different fault lines. These fault lines are based on ethnicity, culture, language, and sect. Furthermore, there are fault lines inside different communities. Such conflicts catalyses the ‘war dialectic’ in the city. Different interest groups have different pursuits. Naturally, the pursuit of power is one of them. A single spark is all what is needed for a violence spree. In the last four months, Karachi hosted the largest number of political rallies in the country, i.e. rallies by Tahreek-e-Insaaf ( Movement for Justice), MQM (United National Movement) women wing, Right wing Defa-e-Pakistan (Defense of Pakistan), right wing JUI (Assembly of Islamic Clergy), JSQM (Sindhi Nationalist Movement), and right wing Defa-e-Tashishu (Defence of Shia). All these rallies gathered a large number of supporters, which shows how much the city is divided on ideological lines.
Political parties have alleged military wings. According to an HRCP (Human Rights Commission of Pakistan) report, all major political parties in Karachi have private militias. They use these militia groups for securing vested interest. This balkanizes communities and hence foster violence. Last year, the Supreme court took a suo moto and ordered the abolishment of all band militias. No pragmatic progress is seen on this order.
Overpopulation and lack of planning. The city's population has grown from 0.5 million (1947) to 5 million (1970s). Today the number stands on a staggering 20 million. On the other hand, no massive infrastructure development has taken place to tackle this huge population inflow. Combination of these two variable deteriorated the economic conditions of the dwellers. This allowed criminal groups to exploit economic conditions for personal gains.

Pervez Hoodbhoy explains the effects of overpopulation with an analogy with fishes. According to a research, fishes have to two goals: 1) they want to increase access to available space, and 2) increase access to the amount of habitat complexity (presence of obstacles and hiding places like rocks and plants) within the tank. As more fish are added, amount of space becomes less available. Hence aggressiveness increas.

According to Hoodbhoy Karachi is no different. The infrastructure has depleted over the years. He quotes Eqbal Ahmed, who writes:

Karachi is starved of the wealth it generates. The city contributes more than sixty per cent of the federal and Sindh governments’ revenues. Only a fraction of it is invested back in building its infrastructure. To make matters worse, under successive Karachi governments, land and other resources have been prey to the greed of those in power.

People gather at the house where the dead bodies of five people were found. Image by PPI Images. Copyright Demotix.

The common people of the city are extremely dejected by the present conditions of the city. Teenagers don't see any positive development in the near future. A shadow of hopelessness overwhelms their remarks. A plea to God for a prosperous future is all what they have. Teenagers gave the following remarks when asked about the turmoil in Karachi:

Natasha Faisal comments:

I look around myself and wonder how we will ever prosper when we are divided into groups which bring no development in the country. I wonder why we have become so hardened that we no longer mourn the death of our fellow Karachiites.

Mirha Khan comments:

With the amount of violence we have witnessed in Karachi recently, I often wonder if the city will end up burning to ashes.

Malika Niazi comments:

All we can do now is pray for Karachi’s future. People are, indeed, dying and it really isn’t that safe to be roaming about on the streets unarmed.

Twitter and Facebook were flooded with remarks of despondence and criticism on the government to stop violence.

Jawad Hussain: The city of Karachi is once again under a wave of violence. What I saw this morning was that some miscreants setting ablaze a mini bus in Gulistan e Jauhar area while reports are there about killing innocent people in different parts of the metropolis including Baldia Town.

@parasabbasi: Saw a weird dream today where I and two other friends were going to buy medicines and became target of firing (#Karachi violence)

Nadeem Paracha asks about the real terroists in Karachi?

@NadeemfParacha: So many reports on Karachi violence in today's papers and not a single one mentions who was/is killing whom.

The government must take actions as Jaffrry tweets:

@Jaffrry: Authorities must execute appropriate strategy to stop violence in #Karachi.