Phalasteen

Yesterday, I was talking to my brother and was asking him if he has written something regarding the current issue. He replied that he hasn’t, and continued to say that what is there to write?! Today, as Isat down to write something, my heart skipped a beat, my chest felt contracted as if my heart is constricted and there is not place for it to beat. And I felt his words weighing heavy on my chest and I sit here, and I’m thinking, my words are just mere words.. no one reads my blog anyway, but still, what will my words do?! When there is need for an active combat, words are worthless. I sit here and feel as if my existence is worthless for not being able to do anything for my brothers and sisters in Ghazza or Phalasteen. As I sit here with my blood boiling, I wish I were able to do more even if it is hurling one stone at the occupying forces.

I can’t wrap my head around the fact that how can one think it is okay to bomb hospitals, residential areas , mosques and churches. How can all these people say it is okay to annihilate a whole area where 2.1 million people live where 50% of them are children? How can you not allow food, water, medicine and electricity to hospitals, and innocent civillians. This is not new. People don’t even know that Israel has time and again, even before October 7th, has bombed schools, hospitals and civillian population. They have time and again used tanks and bombs and white phosphorus over civillian population not just in Gaza but even in the West Bank. I had written on Gaza and Palestine over and over again in the past 10 years of my blogging era, and Israel has always breached international laws, and has committed war crimes time and again without any remorse. They think they have a right to exist and in this right, they will trample over other people’s right to exist. The existence of the ‘other’ is a threat to mine. It’s ironic that the people, who came as refugees to Palestine, took over the land, houses and the rights of the people who already were living there by killing them, by driving them out of their houses and bombing them with support from USA and British.

The Israeli minister said, that their babies do not have a right to exist only our babies have. The US presidential candidate said, kill them all. The Israeli minister said that they are dogs. Their language is the same as Winston Churchill when he said that they were right in killing blacks of Australia, Red Indians of US, browns of the subcontinent, claiming whites being a superior race and ‘others’ are animals and do not have a right to exist.

The West hs always been like this. But Oh Ummah! Oh Leaders, Kings, Prime Ministers of the Muslim World… Where art thou?! Where is the united army of 40 countries? Where is Raheel Shareef? Where is Khalid tank? Ghauri missile? Where is the ISI? Where is Asim Muneer? Do we not have any duty in the current state of affairs?!Oh my heart!!! How will I face my Lord on the Day of Judgement when I know that this was not a time to write but a time to fight…

‘SPINE’

The time has come again for the Prime Minister to show some ‘spine’; simce it has been so long since we last saw someone show some stature, some depth, some insight into things that needed them. The conflicts, the situations in the Muslim countries doesn’t look good at all and we wonder, being the sole nuclear power, where we stand when the poor Muslims need us in these troubled times.

The morning of the decade 2020 doesn’t seem to have a promising day ahead. The Muslims, be it in China, Myanmar, Kashmir, India, or the gulf states, are not just being marginalised and penalized for being Muslims, but are brainwashed and killed too.

Coming to the country who is dear to me like my baby, it hurts me Every time when we take bad decisions, when we make mistakes that make us look like buffoons in the international community but all I can do is just stomp my feet and fume over the stupidity of the most ‘respectable’ electables.

The recent issue of the extension of the army chief has again made everything look like a joke too. The prime minister, who once was against any extension being given to the army chief, is now making extra efforts to extend his tenure. The Prime Minister should have shown some spine and should have stuck to his decade long stance against any extension being given to anyone.

Now the question will arise about the recent escalation in the middle East; the US ‘foreign Secretary ‘ called out to Pakistan’s counterpart, General Bajwa, about the situation that they have ignited in the Muslim World now. Now it’s time for the Prime Minister to show some ‘spine ‘ and not dive into the war like Mushy did when Collin Powell called on to him.

The time of war, the time of decisions and the time to show some spine has come. The world doesn’t look good whether it is the fire in Australia, or the fire in the Middle East, third day into 2020, and we are admist bloodshed, wars, and global warming.

The Verdict!

‘If he dies before getting hanged, drag his body to ‘D’ chowk and hang him there for three days!’

The ‘note’ after the verdict said that. So yes, everyone starting going bonkers. Everyone kind of started questioning the words the judge used for the verdict. Moeed Pirzada started wailing like a baby, all others started saying that this should not have been the end of such a ‘patriotic’ leader. He is a hero and what not.

Just a few questions to those who deem him the epitome of patriotism:

1. If he was such a patriot, how could he sell his land, his military bases to US military?

2. If he was such a patriot, how could he sell people of Pakistan for US dollars?

3. If he was such a patriot how could he let American drones target tribal areas of KPK and Baluchistan?

4. If he was such a patriot, how could he let Blackwater Army roam freely around the country?

5. If he was such a patriot, how could he let US open up a fortress in Karachi in the name of US Embassy?

6. If he was such a patriot, how could he humiliated the hero of the nation, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan?

The questions are numerous. The General did not only commit crimes against his own people, his own country, the neighbouring country, he committed crimes against humanity.

He shouldn’t be charged only with treason but with murder of thousands of people, of torturing thousands of people and of human trafficking.

In my honest opinion, there is no punishment in this world that can do justice to what he did when power was entrusted to him.

The World of Contradictions?!

As Pakistan is still under the threat by the war that is helicoptering upon it’s borders, the internal affairs are still very much the same. The opposition and the government are on the same page as far as the state of affairs is concerned in the International Arena. But other matters are just as horrifying at the moment.

The inflation is on the rise and the common people’s sufferings have not yet been addressed. Every day, or every other day, the government comes up with one thing or another that makes it a laughing stock or either makes me wonder if they really are serious about solving the issues or not. The recent turn of events have made us more suspicious about the actions the government is taking to actually solve the real problems of the common people.

The Punjab Assembly just passed a bill where the salaries of the ministers were increased three folds. It was not unprecedented but the reaction that came after from the Prime Minister Imran Khan seemed like a joke. He claimed that he was very disappointed by the bill. And I was wondering, is it not his government? Doesn’t he own the manifesto of the Punjab Assembly? It only means that IK has no say whatsoever in anything, people he has given seats to do not follow him nor do they beleive in his vision nor are they part of the campaign that IK started of simplicity and cutting down of expenses. It raises questions on his ability to lead, to govern and to move forward and the status of his being the harbinger of change that everyone claims him to be.

The other news that the news channels started boasting about is the fact that PIA has been cleared for it’s direct flights to US. Another credit being given to the ‘charming personality’ and the ‘corruption free’ status of IK. But what people seem to be missing out are the news items that became the headlines; the one where US senator talked about the joint military actions, and then the US Army saying that Pakistan has been cooperating with us for the past 8 months the way it never has supported us in the past 18 years! This not only raises questions on the role of Pakistan in the region but what services are being provided to the US Army and what assistance has been provided to US but also what are we getting in return. Is it something like what Musharraf did with the US that not only provided with air bases to them but also welcomed terrorist organizations like Blackwater to work in the country! These are serious concerns. I hope we get answers soon before the damage done is irreparable.

Let us see where we end up in a few days… The future seems bleak to me…

Maya Pakistan has started to haunt me now!

The Mess

The mess that started a few days ago has long lasting impact on the mind of those who can actually think and see far better than those who can not see beyond the heroism of one man. Anyway, Pakistan was attacked earlier this week by Indian forces. Indian Airforce claimed that it killed around 300 militants in Pakistan, whereas, only trees were destroyed in the Balakot area. The whole International media took it as if nothing has happened and that Pakistan is the country that harbours militants and should be treated as a country any one can go to and drop their missiles and bombs. This is what has been going on since 9/11, since Musharraf gave a green signal to the US to use Pakistani soil and to bomb it via drones or missiles whenever they want. The mess that we have harboured in the name of ‘war against terrorism’!

Musharraf has made a huge mistake handing over our bases to US and handing over a Muslim country to US over a phone call. Not only that he gave them permission to attack our people living near Durand line because these people were closely related to the Afghanis across the border. The drones killed innocent civillians more than it killed militants. Anyway, the point is, when a free ticket was given to one country to attack our people, without any proof, that they were terrorists, not only made the world believe that we were harbouring terrorists and have camps in our country that anyone, anywhere in the world has a free ticket to bomb! The most perfect Intelligence Agency had let the US come in till Abbotabad and allegedly took OBL from there and did nothing to stop it or condemn it. Anyway, my point is when you let one country in your borders and let them play dirty, how will you stop your arch rival from doing the same when they claim that you are fuelling terrorism in their country.

International media will never see the picture in objectivity as it does not sell. Muslims will always be a white man’s burden and they will continue to be portrayed as the real evil in this world, no matter how many atrocities the Hindu extremists would do against the Muslims in Kashmir, Jammu or Gujrat. Because, as Muhammad Asad puts it, the hatred for Muslims that the West harbour in their hearts,brains and DNAs dates back to the times of the first Crusades and they can never detach themselves from it. That is why the International community and media stood and sympathized with the Indians even when they escalated the Pulwama incident, knowing fully well, that Pakistan was not involved!

The only reaction that came from the International community was after the MIG 21 aircraft of the Indian Air force was shot down. And that be asking for restraint from the Pakistani side. Not a single newspaper of any country, blamed India for escalating the tensions between the two countries. This, not only showed the bias of the International Community but also that no matter how much a Muslim country is their ally, a non-muslim country will always be a more favoured nation. And since Musharraf had always submitted in front of the US and NATO forces when they attacked the tribal belt, everyone was made to believe that Pakistan has terrorist elements.

The Prime Minister Imran Khan, announced the release of the Indian Pilot caught the next day calling it a ‘gesture of peace!’ The immaturity of the decision cannot be measured by any yardstick! Pakistan had an upper hand and what Pakistan could have done was that at least,should have involved a third party and diplomatic corridors should have been used. The whole world was all praises for the Prime Minister but this International Community did not question Indian action in any way. They did not push, nor tried to de-escalate the situation as was. No international pressure was exerted on India whatsoever. Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister failed miserably in calling out to friends, and allies alike to diffuse the situation. Pakistan, has foolishly, believed that India would take it as a gesture of goodwill whereas, if we look at the history of India, be it BJP or Congress, they have always been anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim and never have taken Pakistan’s peace gestures as a joke. A treaty, a third party involvement, could have reaped not only better results but would have at least put things on the table, even Pulwama incident. It could have brought forward the Kashmir issue, and other issues too and case could have been made in front of the International community that Pakistan is willing to take things forward and not down the hill.

One of the blunders that could have been avoided by the Prime Minister was the blunder of waiting for three days ,after Pulwama accusations made by the Indians, before replying. He should at least would have taken that very opportunity of MBS and should have asked them to mediate between them and the Indians; and like the foreign Secretary of KSA said that we will try to diffuse the situation between the two countries, this opportunity should have been availed there and then. A third party should have been called in as soon as the accusation was made and shouldn’t have been waited on!

India, will never sit quietly with this humiliation of two jets being shot down by Pakistan. Things will not die down. The role of UN, US and other countries is pathetic on the whole scenario. I hope better sense would prevail and we avoid a war because this war will bring such destruction that is beyond anyone’s imagination.

War Mongering

Have you ever seen the footage of the people living under siege, of people living in war zones. Have you ever met the people who have fled war zones? Have you ever listened to the horrors of what they went through trying to flee those areas? Have you heard them telling you that their loved ones are left behind? Have you seen the dead bodies washed ashore trying to flee the war zones? Have you seen the pictures of crippled people who were bombed, attacked and were shelled?

War is never going to bring peace! Modern warfare is soo different from one to one combat! It is one missile doing soo much damage that we will not be able to fathom the result it will reap. Be it Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria, have we not learnt enough already to plunge our self in a mess that can not be cleared up even after decades!

Having said all that, I am of the opinion that we should not let these war mongers have their way. We should answer them in a way that they should never try do that again! And time is of prime importance. And wars are a very serious matter and should not be made fun of!

The Royal Visit

Oh my! From where should I start? There are soon many thoughts in my mind right now that I don’t think I’ll be able to organize them on paper (digital paper that is)!

Anyway, the whole affair, is given soo much attention, so much details that it makes one think if the whole thing is actually real? I mean how can one go out of his means and back on his words and everything that he stands for just because a royal person is coming. Maybe, it is all because money makes the world go round!

Anyway, when the royal plane entered the Pakistani airspace, the PAF’s F-16 fighter pilots gave it a royal protocol, I am sure that a country whose whole economy is drowned and is in jeopardy, could have afforded it. The whole of Capital was shut down, I am sure we are a nation that could have afforded it! The whole of Ex-PM house or a University( still don’t know what it really is) was refurbished, given a face lift, made fit for the Royal Prince. I wonder where that money came from?! The shahana protocol seems as if we are a very rich nation and would welcome all our guests like that but hey!money makes the world go round! We would sell our self and our self respect for money. The other details just leave the mind of a very stupid person like me bonkers. Sadgi and simplicity gone down the drain!

The most respected Prime Minister saved fifty bucks of the chauffeur by driving the car himself!

The Blame Game Continues

The incomplete JIT report is here and it confirms that the driver,’Zeeshan’, was a terrorist. The so called ‘operation’ was done on the information provided by the Intelligence Agencies! The Operation was done in such a professional way that they opened fire at the car after hitting the car and the car stopped. Then they took out minor children and opened fire again and then left the children at a petrol station. Wow!

I mean it is the same old Pakistan not the ‘Naya Pakistan’ as it was claimed to be by the C.M. Buzdar or Chauhaan or F. Chaudhary! The CTD officers, who carried out the so-called operation, will be tried under the section 320 and the I.G being transferred or dismissed. How can the higher officials roam around freely like that. Is this how an organisations carry out ‘operations’… what is this non-sense?! Why weren’t any arrests made? Why was there a need to open fire at point blank? If it really was an operation, where was the backup team? Who was giving instructions from the headquarters? Which intelligence agency was involved? Who gave the orders? Why didn’t they secure the area?

The whole JIT is questionable! This is the same game which the previous governments played! This has soo many loopholes that the whole report seems a joke. The same cover-up games so that the people responsible can get away and the aam awaam can be fooled!!!

Or is this a going to be the catalyst to extend the military court’s time period. Just like Swat flogging incident that triggered Swat operation! It seems to be a part of a bigger plan; a plan that will trigger other operations.. a plan that can ensure that we do need military courts, we need jojnt military action plans, a plan that US can again infiltrate and do what they did durjng Musharraf’s era. I still have this strong feeling that the US delegation that came and said that PM Imran Khan has been right all alond and we need to go for joint military operations has something to do with this incident! Only time will tell…

All of us had soo many expectations from.this government and yet it has failed us in such a short span of time. This incident will always be marked as the lowest point of the current government as not only they failed to point at the culprits, but also provided leverage to them!

Justice Denied

And when the songs were made by the ISPR and their thinktank invoked the emotional nerve of the people, we were shocked to hear that the Baldia Town Factory incident was not an accident but was a crime conducted by the political party, MQM; to whom the owner couldn’t pay the ransom money. The media did try to cover the report but it didn’t get as much air time as the previous incident of the APS! And this kills me from the inside that why one fraction of a society is treated with so much royalty while other rots in the dark corners of a dungeon.

The Military, Intelligence Agencies and the government made sudden arrangements for the formation of the military courts in the wake of the Peshawar attack and the culprits awaiting capital punishment were soon sent to the gallows but… BUT the only people who were given punshments were those who were involved in the attack against the former dictator, Musharraf or the likes! This again would lead to a lot of debate as to why the others did not get as much attention? Why was there a need to create a divide between those who tried to kill Musharraf and those who, for a long time, have done targetted killings of the civillians of Pakistan? Why did it take two years for just the report to come out in the open that people were burnt inside the factory by the armed wing of the political party. Now Dawn Newspaper reports that the suspect has gone missing! Why is it that the law enforcing agencies have tried to bring such peace to Karachi?!

The incident of Baldiya Town is not something that we can ignore so lightly but why is it that they have said that they will write a report again? Have they made a deal with the culprits or the poltical party? But THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION WOULD BE: WHY DID NOT THEY SENT THIS CASE TO A MILITARY COURT?? When APS got them all charged up and they wanted a full throttle impact on Waziristan, why did not those 300 innocent lives, lost to the inhumane terrorist act of the armed wing of MQM, enraged those who wear uniforms? WHY Oh! WHY? Weren’t those people Pakistani???

I am at loss to describe how I feel for those who die everyday because they are present there where the incident would take place. They are killed for no reason that is comprehensible to the humannlogic. And the class divide makes it worse, where one man, responsible for the deaths of many can be a political leader and is not bound by the law whereas people like Dr. Afia are being sent to torture cells for dollars!

Bleak Future

tIt’s been few days now since all of us felt immense joy when MQM leader was arrested in Britain. And since yesterday, the joy’s been eaten by the terrorist attack on Quaid-e-Azam International Airport in Karachi! It’s been one whole day now and some people are still stuck inside the old terminal. The whole episode made me sad, angry, furious as I cannot fathom the fact that they let the building burn and took no notice of it! I just want to smash the heads of all the authorities in question with metal chair! I know I don’t seem right in my mind but how can I be? Don’t all this effect you in anyway? It is killing m from the inside that all those “jialas” who lightening earthen candles with their blood two days back just because Altaf Hussein gave blood for tests, can’t come upfront and save their people! This is how dead we are to feel the pain of people burning inside that building!

The whole episode raises serious questions and I am sure none of our leaders; either of political parties or security institutions, will be able to answer. Why don’t DG ISI resigns from his job for this utter security lapse which has made a laughing stock of them? Aren’t they suppose to claim responsibility for such breech? Will no one com upfront and admit that it is their fault. Karachi, which is so under MQM influence, where MQM has amazing intelligence network, couldn’t see it coming? Why doesn’t Governor Sindh resign? Why doesn’t he admit that it was under their reign something this serious has happened and they should stop taking government’s money when they are not able to perform their duties. Or maybe they are just there to fill their pockets with people’s money! 

Some questions that need answers and that raise concerns:

1. Why is Nawaz Sharief so dying to go and having ties with India when clearly Indian weapons and injections were found with the terrorists? Indians haven’t stopped blaming and accusing Pakistan for Mumbai attacks, so why are we so dying to have soft policy where we should be dealing things with iron hand?

2. When we have earlier faced attacks like that of Mehran base, why didn’t anyone make extra security efforts? 

3. When soldiers were killed in Salala camp, when US took Ben Laden from Abbotabad, when India blames Pakistan for Mumbai attacks, why doesn’t army reply to any of it? Why can’t you stop drone attacks? Why do they always think that operation is the key solution where clearly it is not! I don’t even think that all these people heading the institutions of Intelligence, security forces and others are all uneducated lot as are our Prime Minister and Presidents. How can they make things right when they don’t understand them!

4. Stop congratulating each other and ask yourself, why did we let it happen in the first place? Why did it ever came to this point? Why couldn’t we stop it even before they entered the airport premises. 

I’m just so angry right now! Khel samjha hua hai mulk ko! arghhhhhh!

“na samjho ge tu mit jaoge aye Pakistan* walo
tumhari dastaan bhi na hogi dastaanon mein”

*Hindustan is the actual word here