The day I became an “Ahmadi”

28 May 2010.

I was about to eat lunch in my office’s conference room with two friends. A colleague walked in asking if I knew there had been an attack on the Ahmadi mosque in Garhi Shahu. I checked my phone but there was no sms or missed call. I told him he must be mistaken but got up anyway to turn on the television; as I was walking out of the room, he mentioned that the Model Town mosque had been attacked too. 

The news hit me with a sheer, naked wave of panic. My brother goes there for prayers. Half of my family goes there on Friday.

Time to clean our house

In the aftermath of the attack on PNS Mehran Naval Base in Karachi, there are conflicting reports emerging about the attack itself and the operation. Initially the media reported that up to 15 terrorists attacked the naval base simultaneously from three different sides. However, after the operation ended, Interior Minister Rehman Malik declared that the base was attacked from one vulnerable area; in a surreal scenario, four to six militants apparently used a ladder and cut barbed wires to climb over the wall near Malir tributary. The next day, police officials, citing the initial case report, said there were up to 12 militants involved in the attacks. It will take a few days to establish what exactly happened at the naval base for those 17 hours. But the implications of this attack are already clear and, unfortunately, staggering.

Refusing American Aid

At face value, the idea of relying on one's own resources and renouncing foreign aid rings a patriotic bell. However this move must be looked at within the framework of practical implication and political mileage.

The Return of the IDPs

In March, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government started the process of rehabilitating the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) living in Jalozai camp near Nowshera. More than 15,000 families from Fata have taken refuge in this camp. However, the government-sponsored rehabilitation drive has not seen much success so far as most of the IDPs have refused to return till their demands of security and financial assistance are met.

Education can cause some problems: Prime Minister Azad Kashmir

At a time when a state of education emergency has been declared in Pakistan, I present to you a statement (allegedly) by Prime Minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan. Alleged because I don't know the source or the date of publication. However, at face value, it seems fairly recent given the event at which the PM spoke. I'm just reproducing the image of the new story below with translation. (Thank you Abid Hussayn for sending it to me and helping with its translation.) 

Business Plan for Pakistan's Political Parties

Between the rule of General Zia and General Mushy, whenever a new government was elected, the most common feedback heard was, “corruption ki intiha ho gayee hai” (corruption has exceeded all limits). 

Now that all the major political parties have had their chance in the government, and have made their share of the money, I propose a siraat-e-mustaqeem for the smaller political parties—a business plan. The parties can brand and market their election symbols and earn revenue. Examples:

Vacation Woes in Sindh

EDITORIAL  (May 11, 2011) : The Steering Committee of Sindh Education Department has decided to delay the summer vacations by a month to July/August, as announced by provincial Minister for Education and Literacy, Sindh, Pir Mazharul Haq. The decision has been reportedly taken after the committee received suggestions from various quarters to include the month of Ramazan in the vacations. The schools are now set to reopen after Eid-ul-Fitr.

Alternate offense by the establishment

Amidst the slow reaction from our military , intelligence, government/foreign office, an alternate counter offense seems to be unfolding. Last night, Junaid Saleem on the programme Hasb-e-Haal asked the following questions about the "alleged" operation in Abbottabad. The relevant parts of the programme can be watched here (01:20 onwards) and here (07:00 to 07:30).

Jang group at it again

While searching for an authentic source of the press statement issued by the Vatican about the killing of Osama bin Laden, I came across this news story at AsiaNews.it. According to them: 

The Pakistani newspaper The News reported today on its website only part of the Vatican statement, saying: "The Vatican said that" Osama Bin Laden was gravely responsible for promoting division and hatred between peoples". No word on the Vatican’s call "not to rejoice" over the death of a man, or create opportunities for "further growth of hate". 

Three Cheers on Osama's Death?

Osama bin Laden, the most hunted man in modern history, is finally dead. Bin Laden, as repeated over and over again, was the most prominent face of Al Qaeda and the terrorism against the United States and its allies. The United States went into Afghanistan looking for him. For this reason, the news of his death was welcomed by most people. As the American news channels started airing the news while waiting for President Obama to speak to the world, groups of people started arriving in front of the white house in Washington D.C. and in New York.