Justice, Courts, And Home-Education

The year was 2007 and the month was December. I was in Pakistan for holidays. General Elections in Pakistan were about to take place. 27th December, 2007. I was at home. Sitting in my room I was browsing the internet — the updates on late Benzair Bhutto’s jalsa at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi. Since I am not a big fan of TV, I mostly tune on to internet for live updates. The Jalsa was over in sometime. As I was sitting in my room I heard the increasing volume of TV from the TV lounge. That unusual volume compelled me to go see what is going on. Before entering into the TV lounge I heard via the loud volume of TV that Benazir Bhutto is injured in the firing. Soon the news broke out that Benazir is dead. That was a bombshell. For everyone who was at home. For every Pakistani. And for the rest of the world. At that moment I saw something that literally startled me. My Mom was crying. She literally burst into tears. It startled me for two reasons: 1) She had never supported Benazir Bhutto’s politics then why crying? 2) She is a woman of courage who wouldn’t lose her patience and emotions in such a flash.

Despite that she was crying. I hold her and soothed her. And then I said, “unfortunately in this country the political leaders are expected to meet the same fate — fate of bullet. Maybe she deserved it.” Mom retorted with teary eyes and sluggish voice, “whatever .. she didn’t deserve to be killed like that. No one can kill anyone like that.” I kept myself quiet. Surely that wasn’t the time to argue or pass comments on a person who is now dead.

I never understood immediately the significance of what she retorted then. I just thought it was better to stay silent. The moment wasn’t that nice to bug her even. Or, perhaps, I felt she was right!

I, rather unconsciously, adapted myself to her words in my daily life which she said to me, then, with teary eyes. Time moved on. There occured many bloody events in Pakistan where I saw people endorsing and condemning ambivalently the mob-lynching, vigilante justice, drone attacks, suicide bombings, and bloody murders. Every time such events took place, the words of my Mom echoed in my mind: “No individual has the right to murder anyone like that.” Some of these bloody events I can recall well: “the burning of dacoits in Karachi by the mob; attack on Ahmadis Mosque; cold-blooded murder of the two Sialkoti brothers; and of late the heinous murder of Salman Taseer.”

It aches me to see that people are endorsing something that is supposed to be injustice. Why had there been courts in the era of Khulfa-e-Rashideen? Were Caliphs not even good enough to adjudicate any kind of issue suo moto? But the courts still existed, and functioned – definitely for a purpose that we, today, most surely reject to believe. No religion in the world allows vigilante justice.

Guess what it makes me think today after the brutal murder of Salman Taseer? Have the parents stopped educating their kids about not taking the laws in their hands? Do the parents not teach their kids that no religion bestows on any individual the right to take the law in his hands, including the execution of an individual? Few things are taught and learnt at home as well apart from schools, colleges, universities and madrassa’s. It is a right time to mention that my Mom is quite a religious person. And, of course, I am not as much a practicing Muslim as she is.

I am deficient of words to pay homage to my Mom for educating me on the real mode and medium of justice. Ultimately, I can just say briefly: “Thank you, Ammi, for such an excellent home-education.”

Tolerance In Politics

The war of words between MQM and PML-N is brewing in again. Interesting it would be to see if either of them make a coalition government sometime in future. Much possible — for the sake of de facto national interest and not-so-applicable-and-appreciable democracy.

Altaf has called PML-N for the debate regarding the allegations levelled by PML-N leaders against MQM. PML-N has accepted it. But where should the debate be held if Zaeem Qadri of PML-N also intends to participate? Zaeem Qadri can’t step in Karachi as he’s being threatened, live, by MQM’s Mustafa Kamal for the reason that  Zaeem Qadri uttered blasphemous words against the holy revolutionist Quaid-e-Tehreek Janab Altaf Hussain Bhai. Strictly intolerable and unforgivable by any “Saathi”!

In Pakistan 24/7 the subject of discussion amongst the youth and on the media is that of bringing the revolution and changing the country’s direction towards progression, and between all that the much forsaken issue is that of “morality”, whether it be about corruption, lavishness of MNA’s/MPA’s or personal behavior. Between all this schemozzle regarding Pakistani politics, how much emotions, corruption and lavishness is too much bad? The quantity of every bit of it is always hinged upon personal discretion derived by loyalty and support for the affiliated political party.  Retaliatory politics, yet by means of abuses and insults and also by means of emotions, is as much a practicing trait as the musing on the revolution in Pakistan. With such a  burden of hypocrisy we are on for an impossible change in Pakistan.

Last year during the Arts Council exhibition in Karachi, some Jiyalas’s destructive frenzy was unleashed upon the Arts Council. Property was destroyed, banners were torn down and filthy abuse was hurled at the organisers and the visitors. The reason was just that one of the artworks of late Benazir Bhutto offended some of the visiting Jiyalas there. Then it was, by many, described as a terror by intolerant Jiyalas. MQM “saathis”, rather unofficially, condemned such a sheer bigotry. What about now, Mustafa Kamal and Saathis, I ask?

The purpose is not just to criticize MQM and letting go off Zaeem Qadri of PML-N from all charges of provocation or amorality. But the fact is that when a political party that claims itself the most educated political party of Pakistan cannot put a pause on its tongue and emotions despite provocation, then it fails to authenticate the superb education it takes pride in. Difference between the alleged feudal-laden and self-claimed most educated political party of Pakistan should be prominent, distinguished by tolerance and fine behavior.

When a kid abuses or badmouths someone, observers largely say: “Must have been taught by parents.” But when political leaders abuse or badmouth against their opponents, I’d say: “Must have been taught by their party chiefs.”

I say, you think! Please!

Shameful — Zaeem Qadri of PML-N vs Mustafa Kamal of MQM:

Full Episode: Watch here

Thousands of Pakistanis missing: Is anyone listening?

Published in Express Tribune Blogs

The families of missing persons have been unsuccessfully campaigning to have their loved ones return.

As I write this blog, I sit in my living room miles away from Pakistan. I miss my loved ones; my parents, my siblings and acquaintances a lot.

But thank God, despite being away from them, I am in constant touch with them and they know about my life and the freedom I have.

But as I write all this, I think of those unfortunate people whose loved ones are lost – or rather haver been snatched away. I thank God and feel blessed.

Since the time I wrote my last piece on missing persons, which was nearly three months ago,  I have seen that no progress has been made on the issue. Thegovernment has been incompetent in following the orders of the Supreme Court, whereas the SC has been indecisive in making the government follow its orders. The country, therefore, hangs in a strange system of democracy and justice. Between this two-sliced fudged sandwich of democracy and justice are the ingredients of missing persons. Who is cooking this savory-for-some and bitter-for-many sandwich?

Someone with the authority to rebuff the orders of the court and certainly has the authority to violate the constitution of Pakistan. Eleven people were allegedly picked up by intelligence agencies from the Adiala jail, despite their acquittal by a court in a terrorism case. Dawn reported that the federal government contacted all departments including secret agencies, but they declined their possession. This leads to a simple query: who is holding them? Who is lying?

A number of times, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has submitted its report on the issue of missing persons to the Supreme Court, but it has yielded no results. In the words of Amina Masood Janjua at a rally held in the support of missing persons on November 2,

“Certainly, I stand at the same place where I stood five years ago in search of my husband. It seems to me that we are still living in a dictatorial era. Democracy and independent courts are delivering us the same thing: injustice.”

In my opinion, the judiciary and the so-called democratic government can be compared to George Orwell’s Ministry of Love. It seems that love for the nationally-powerful Big Brother is holding those two departments from easing the pain of thousands.

Besides, in my considered opinion, I daresay that the amount of support by civil society for the cause of missing persons has increased substantially – though not adequately. From the south to the north of the country, Amina Masood Janjua has commanded good support from civil society. In spite of this fact, 11 abducted prisoners were relocated to secret locations in broad day light. If civil society were to stand against such injustice more passionately, we could address it more effectively.

In October 2009, the government amended the country’s anti-terrorism laws through a presidential ordinance to further curtail the legal rights of terrorism suspects. Under the ordinance, suspects can be placed in ‘preventive detention’ for a period of 90 days, without the benefit of judicial review or the right to bail. What does the government have to say about people held for 91 days-or seven years, for that matter?

Gone were the days when the same reinstated judges alarmed the establishment and a military dictator and thence earned a pretty penny. More hope, more sweating and more patience is demanded of the families of missing persons and in Pakistanis at large. How much time is too much time? Chief Justice of Pakistan, I ask you again: are you listening?

To Thatta With A Question: Do We Deserve This?

As soon as the people see a truck (even if it is not a relief truck) they gather around it. At times they loot the truck too.

While our car, and the truck, approached towards the Thatta, one question kept echoing in my mind: do we really deserve to see our country in such an agony? The answer to that was “yes”. Regardless of that it was painful to have this answer — decided by both heart and mind — I wasn’t able to ignore it. It was that that we — me and my friends — were taking the relief goods to distribute amongst the flood-stricken IDP’s who are settled down in Thatta too.

After crossing the Dhabeji, I started witnessing something which, before that, I had been seeing only on the media: the flood ravaged people camping on both sides of the roads waving hands towards the cars passing by. Our destination was Thatta. Stopping in between, as we were advised, was risky. It was solely not the uncompassionate behavior. But then, it was better to dish out with proper management without inviting a big crowd invading and looting the relief goods trucks. If anything, there are local people in disguise of IDP’s as well. It reminds me of what Khaled Hosseini writes in his legendary book The Kite Runner: When you cheat, you steal someone’s right to the fairness.

When Gharo started, we were stopped at the police check post. It was told to us by the policemen that the situation is unwell ahead and that it is being ordered to the police that those trucks traveling without private security should be escorted to Thatta by an armed police mobile. It was quite a bit responsible behavior from the part of our police that pleasantly surprised me. The convoy of 4 trucks was setup by the police which was then led by a police mobile.

Journey was going fine when suddenly a tire of the truck deflated. We were last in the convoy which was led by a police mobile that was seemingly gone far ahead — unapproachable. Unfortunate to have had the incident since 10′s of people, camping on the either side of the road, gathered around the deflated truck. Some were trying to uncover the truck which was covered with canvass. It was near at hand that looting and snatching of relief goods — and maybe of us too — was about to begin, when we saw and heard a Rangers mobile coming towards us — wailing the alluring siren that cautioned the people who were about to explode on the truck. Upon reaching towards us, the Rangers guys hopped out of the mobile quickly. It made majority of people from the crowd dispersed. Some remained standing there who were later removed from there by the Rangers gently.

Despite that I disagree with police, rangers and army on many issues, I would really appreciate them the way they have been coping with the looming IDP crisis. At least I have had experienced their activeness in Thatta and would certainly like to give them a three cheers!

Besides, it is a usual situation wherever the IDP’s are camping that as soon as they see a truck (even if it is not a relief truck), they assemble around it. At times they loot the truck too if it is seen without security. I cannot say they — the IDP’s, or even the poverty-stricken locals, who attacked our truck — were wrong, but all I can say is that we are facing such a catastrophe and uncivil behavior of these people due to our own ignorance by ignoring these people and other relevant problems during many past years until this moment. If only we had justice with equality, we would not have been facing such a cataclysm, yet a high ranking poverty and illiteracy. Chief Justice of Pakistan, are you listening?

It again made me mull over the question I had been asking myself at every moment of the journey: do we really deserve to see our country in such an agony? 63 years are, maybe, not enough to eradicate the poverty and illiteracy and to create a bridge between urbanites and ruralists, but 63 years are still enough to give more people more basic facilities of life. 63 years are still enough to build small dams. If in 63 years we had not straightened out water management of our country to advantage, how many more years do we still require to make it better if not a step further than better?

But all my surprise in regards comes to an end when I recall a short event I encountered in the course of last week of fund raising at Tariq Road, Karachi. A guy, certainly not immature and apparently not a pauper, whom I asked to donate for the flood-stricken people, retorted: “Allah Malik Hai”. Shehzad Roy has said well for these people: “Bus Allah Hi Tera Hafiz Hai.”

With such an outlook, ad nauseam certainly, for the countrymen who are suffering, I will recall the answer of my heart and mind: yes, we deserve all this!

Pakistan: An American Occupied Territory?

For sometime I have wondered that General Kayani is the Queen (piece) of Chess. While Gilani may have the power of a King after the 18th amendment, but certainly on the chessboard of Pakistani side politics and maneuvering it is the General Kayani – or by and large the army – that takes a lead in making the wider and crucial steps in deciding the fate of the country.

Around half year back, there was a interesting news on the media. Veteran Chief of General Staff (CGS) Lt-Gen Shahid Aziz revealed in a talk show on one of the private TV channels that the former President Gen. (retd.) Musharraf obliged US without informing corps commanders. He further revealed that he, along with other senior Army officers, opposed to give Pakistan’s Jacobabad airbase to the US.

According to the news report:

Lt-Gen Shahid Aziz said the Pakistani troops were moved from Quetta to Jacobabad for taking control of the local airbase, but, according to him: “we were surprised when our troops informed us that the US Army had not allowed them to enter the Jacobabad airbase.” He said that after sometime, he came to know privately from a PAF officer that the US had also taken over the Pasni airbase and as the CGS, he was not aware of all these developments.

What was done was done. Musharraf was still given a nice and lofty farewell despite of his unwarranted actions like the contracting of Pakistani airbases under the pretext of de facto national interest. Once the national assets – the sensitive ones – were dispensed to the United States, Pakistan became worst than a protectorate state – the manifestation of which has been witnessed by Pakistanis perennially.

Today, somewhat similar news popped in on the media which startled me yet again. The excerpts of the news say that “Health relief operations in Jacobabad are not possible because the airbase in the area is controlled by the US.”

This statement which is yet surprising to an utmost extent has been made by the Health Secretary Khushnood Lashari today during an appearance at the Senate Standing Committee on Health.

According to one of the Senator Semeen Yusuf Siddiqui of PML-Q, it is very unfortunate that Americans can launch a drone attack from Shahbaz airbase but the government is helpless even in using the country’s base for relief operations.” She further said that the health ministry should have requested the army to ask the US to allow relief operation from the base.

Understanding the sensitivity of the situation where the flood has submerged 1/3rd of the Pakistan and still wreaking havoc in the country, I assume that – if the news is true – it makes one of the most egregious news concerning the United States of America. At first place, Pakistan shouldn’t be passing around its airbases or such sensitive assets to any country, yet not on contractual basis under any such sensitive situation. Under the present state of affairs, it appears that the whole Pakistan is under the full order of United States. Therefore, talking about one base [allegedly occupied] virtually looks ridiculous but that is how it is: a Pakistani airbase is apparently incapable of providing relief to the Pakistani flood victims. Here, the reason is ridiculous rather!