Progression first, Philanthropy later or vice versa?

Yesterday, I read this news that a meeting of MQM delegation with President is underway regarding the funds demanded by MQM from Federal which will be spent on development work going on in Karachi. The meeting also discussed about IDPs and some other discussions.

The President showed a green-light and approved a number of 12 projects that include: building of parks, beautification of certain areas and tree-planting in the City Karachi. These projects after the valuing costs Rupees 22 billion.

So, as the Cowasjee says, let’s set the priorities first. And before that, let’s take an example to help setting up the priorities: If your garden needs attention whilst in your house you have a sick child, what is your first priority? — A question asked from Cowasjee.

It may seems a critical evaluation of MQM and President, and I don’t know if MQM will agree to it or not. To me, it makes a grand sense. The comparing of a sick child with the renovation and beautification of garden is a considerable example.

Should the ‘Green Karachi’ project not be slowed down, with money diverted to relief camps for those displaced persons who are seeking refuge? Yes, we must have the parks, but for the moment, until some sort of normalcy is returned to the country, they can be fenced in and measures taken to ensure that there are no encroachments. The large shady tree-planting, not an excessively expensive exercise, should go ahead forthwith. But it is the homeless and dispossessed who have sought hospitality who must take priority when it comes to spending the people’s money. [DAWN -- Cowasjee's article]

President Zardari was on official trip of begging globally. He was begging on the name of IDPs in particular and Pakistan in general — his bank accounts in both particular and general while it’s unknown how much he spent from his wealth. Zardari on his yesterday’s trip to Karachi pleaded the business community in Karachi to step to the fore and help IDPs wholeheartedly. This all he expressed, but again, none of us know how much is spent by ministers and president themselves.

It has also come in to notice that one of the minister from PPP on his visit to US spent thousands of clams on luxury while his 3 million countrymen are homeless – living a very unfortunate life. These people are hopeless case – the retard politicos of our nation.

My personal opinion is, we should be helping dispossessed people more than elevating the developmental work. We can develop our country – our city in sometime in near future as well, but presently, the unfortunate 3 million people are contingent more upon the mercy of Allah and the attention and aid of His beings. At this phase of time, we should be giving them more attention and care than spending billions on developmental work.

PS: Some of the excerpt is taken from Cowasjee’s article “I own Karachi … and can sell it! – 3″.

Reference to excerpt: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/columnists/16-ardeshir-cowasjee-i-own-karachi-and-can-sell-it-3-159-hs-06

Resentment against Pakistan’s nuclear asset

Is it a short-term bravery or just a political-spoof? — As of late DG ISPR brusquely iterated that US should stop worrying about Pakistan’s Nuclear Arsenal and should better take care of its weapons in Afghanistan which were found stolen and later it was noticed by Pakistan Army that the same stolen weapons are being used by the larcenist Talibans in Swat and FATA. To my astonishment further, DG ISPR Major General Athar Abbas also said the terrorists in FATA and Swat were getting material and financial support through the Afghan border and and some hostile foreign agencies are abetting them.

And today, I read this news which says India’s Army Chief iterated that world must put a pressure on Pakistan to restrict its nuclear capabilities – to which Islamabad responded that Pakistan is determined to maintain the nuclear deterrence since its rival India has also beefed up its conventional forces.

Including the Unites States and India followed by a number of other countries in the list – denouncing Pakistan’s Nuclear Program by saying that the wretched security condition in the country could endanger Pakistan’s Nuclear Assets. On the other side, the stealing of US weapons in Afghanistan by Talibans, and the number of separatist movements in India along with the lately witnessed poor security condition and terrorism manifests that none of these countries too are qualified to have nuclear weapon.

Talibans — the intransigent conservatives, a stratagem or beyond it?

Years have passed now so far listening to the cries of civvies on Taliban and Talibanization. Many doesn’t know the history of the origination of Talibans and many are determined to learn. Youngsters have started believing them as hobgoblin, few adults conceive them as “Snakehead” — a villain in a movie “The Medallion” of Jackie Chan — so some have started learning Judo Karate to overcome the Snakehead, the collared ones repent .. repent, and towards the west — has been complying of modern warfare which soon will become a living fiction.

The chronicle says that Alexander invaded Afghanistan. His expedition was kind of successful, but he was miserably failed to subdue the people of Afghanistan — Afghani’s in general. History repeats itself, and sometimes repetitively. Soviets met their fate once. Err!! Uncle Sam can’t be Alexander. It’s unfortunate to see the way modern movies depicted the character of Alexander. Alexander was a dignified warrior. Today, after 2,361 years, he’d be rather mystified to see himself over big screen if he walks into any of the cinema and learn that a great part of his life isn’t being played on screen — only the flaming invasions!

Let’s move to the current Talibans and Talibanization. The Talibanization in Pakistan dates back to the time of invasion of Soviet over Afghanistan. Pakistan was an interlocutor — used as a tract to breed the Jihad — sending Jihadis to Afghanistan for fighting against Soviets. USA kept on helping Jihadis, in fact the support Afghanistan got from USA was coming via Israel — including the heavy munition and financial aid. Soviets were booted out by Afghans and Jihadis. It was the time for USA to attempt its luck for invasion. This time Pakistan was also a collateral target.

To target the NATO forces and infiltrate into Afghanistan whenever needed, and then boomerang to Pakistan since Pakistan itself was a  greensward — a heaven-place — for the freedom fighters later tagged as Talibans when the master Yankee-Doodle raised the eyebrows and declared itself a Superpower by attacking over Afghanistan a few years after the Soviet Union collapsed.

Today, I was discussing situation of Afghanistan with one of my Afghani friend who’s a very close friend of mine — a pro-Pakistani. His words were, no matter what USA is doing in Afghanistan — they can’t fulfill their purpose of subduing Afghanis. He further said, it has been long since Afghanis are fighting to see Afghanistan as independent nation — first against Soviets, then Talibans, now with both USA and Talibans.

Talibans weren’t bad people as they’re today. The oppression they’ve faced increased their bedevility hence making them cruel more.

Pakistani government has a history of treating Talibans as their hero. If stratagem of dealing Talibans had gone good in the past, we would not have been facing such disastrous times today. It’s our luck we’ve written for ourself — and it’s we ourself who can revert the mistakes committed.

These days Talibans are disseminating all over Pakistan trying to enforce Shariah — a Shariah of an unknown Islam. So far, they’re successful in the implementation of Shariah in Malakand Division with the help of TSNM and Provincial Government. The loud lyrics in favor of TSNM is being heard from the people of Swat. As yet, things are still not clear if the real peace will be restored in Swat in a literal way. My views doesn’t matter, albeit I’m in favor of this truce, but simultaneously also believe that the elimination of the cannibalic ideologies of Talibans is mandatory.

TSNM is a separate outfit having different purpose. If Talibans were a part of TSNM, they would not have abstained from the Buner Peace Jirgah today (26th April, 2009) where they were invited to hold talks and the practical measures for the enforcement of Adl regulation there. Although a threat has been issued to government to restore the Adl regulation in Buner otherwise TSNM is compelled to join TTP and their barbaric activities. Is it the envisioning of Mullah Sufi Muhammad who cries about Islam, and on the other side believes on the atrocities just on the name of Islam?

Many believe these barbaric people as foreign agents. Not agents, but sure foreign funded.

Still, things aren’t clear so far what will be the role of Pakistani Government, what TSNM will be doing and how TTP can be eliminated. I, personally favored NAR in Swat due to the reasons of the restoration of peace there which was once in the times of Wali Ehad of Swat. Things were good back then. The modernistic way of Islamiztion and restoration of peace is yet different from that of past. Things are hazy as of now.

15,000 miscreant Talibans and 500,000 of Pakistan Army — can not fight against the handful of miscreants segregated at different places? Pakistan Army can, but they don’t — that’s what I’ve started believing.

In all the major cities of Pakistan, the threat of Talibanization is yet there to make people fright. People are fright due to obvious reasons. But the another factor is, people are divided themselves on the basis of ethnicity, raciality, linguistic, provincialism, and thoughts. If that’s all we’ve to demonstrate, no wonder our remorses and downfall is reasonable — in fact very fair.