A look into the sordid state of Health Care Delivery Systems in Pakistan; Deaths from the so-called “P.I.C Syndrome”; How it has shaken our trust in the pills we buy and the leaders we “TRY” !

On Dec 15, 2011, 56-year old Abdul Ghaffur (AG) reported to Mayo Hospital Lahore with bleeding from his nose. AG was a known patient of Diabetes and also Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), a condition that leads to heart attack if not managed continually for life. Although he didn’t complain of fever or body aches, and the cold weather didn’t suggest Dengue Fever, yet his Dengue Serology was sent as the City had just three months back recovered from the worst Dengue Endemic. What the Mayo doctors didn’t know was that scores of patients with similar complaints were presenting at all other major tertiary care hospitals Jinnah, Allama Iqbal, Ganga Raam, and Lahore General Hospital. It was a trailer of what was to come in the running month, hordes of heart patients with bleeding from nose, in stools and in vomits, rashes, and various grades and types of skin darkening reported to the Emergency Rooms of the above facilities.

What set these patients from Dengue sufferers was the absence of fever and an abnormally cold spell that was unfavorable to any Aedes Aegypti larval growth. And what bound them was their P.I.C cards and the common illnesses for which they received free medicines from P.I.C. AG’s Dengue Test turned up negative and it took the most skilled Physicians at Mayo almost 19 days (4th Jan, 2012) to realize that AG’s bone marrow(BM) had shut down and he had a mysterious darkening if his face and limbs. By 11th Jan, 2012 a one-off inter-hospital coordination established that all 465 patients belonged to P.I.C. AG died on 15th Jan, 2012 despite the best available care. His White Blood Cells_ the cavalry of human body’s defence against any bug entering it had fallen too low after the BM stopped making them and his Diabetes had further weakened his ability to fight the massive infections that ultimately took his life.

By Jan 26th, 2012 seventy-nine of the ‘465’ patients died. By 2nd Feb, 2012, the count had soared to 130 odd. Almost all of the dead dying because their old age, weakened defences and a bone marrow that failed to regain its functions despite treatment, made fighting the subsequent infections impossible with antibiotics alone. Even today, despite the Royal Free Hospitals’ (Britian) suggested treatment (Leucovorin/Folinic Acid) few more lost their life…

So was the Anti-Malarial Drug, Pyrimethamine the real bugaboo behind this massacre? (as suggested by the Britians’ Medicine & Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) preliminary findings). Does it explain all the complaints these patients presented with at hospitals or is something else at play? How can our health care professionals miss the classic presentations of Pyrimethamine Toxicity if the patients only suffered its excessive dosing?

Political zealots like Mian Shahbaz Sharif talk of devolution of Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) and bashing of Federal Govt over its clandestine plots to kill Punjabis, but even prior to this 18th Amendment did we really have a DRA? One word, NO! We never had a Drug Adverse Effect Reporting Centre (AERC) or a Defective Medicine Reporting Centre (DMRC), both of which work under the MHRA, and we can always lease out the job of finding the solution to our drug-disasters to such ‘Farangi’-agencies! This same MHRA carries around 1000 inspections on the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and wholesalers every year. Ostensibly, we never felt any need for such meticulous checks on anyone making faulty drugs or recycling infected and used syringes and selling them in bulk to anyone interested. Even after 65 years and a P.I.C massacre all we see is a ‘Zardari’ sitting in Efroze Chemicals Karachi and secretly plotting against Punjabis! Bollocks!

Our ‘thirst’ to discover the secrets Pharmaceutical Industries lock in their pills is quenched once we validate the existence of the active-ingredient in the pill. A pill is alot more than just the active drug. It’s an amalgam of the active-ingredient in marriage with certain binding agents and additives that influence how fast the drug gets released from the pill, protect it from destruction and help it get absorbed in the body. Leaving the Pharmaceutical industry unchecked over how it formulated its pills was a grave error we have committed for almost four decades now. Our Drug Testing Labs (DTLs) are ill-equipped to detect any intentional or accidental adulteration beyond quantifying the presence of the one active drug-ingredient in a pill. “The Drug Testing Lab just carries on tests to confirm presence of active ingredients in the specimens & the other materials or excepients in the medicine are not tested” (C.M investigation team report(CMIT), Para 5).

Pharmaceutical industries blamed the P.I.C doctors for giving an overdose of Cardiovastin (Simvastatin), alleging that 80mg was prescribed to patients. And that the brown spots on Cardiovastin tablets (normally white in color) was due to the Calcium Carbonate coating that oxidized and changed color. Both these claims apparently had the aim of spreading confusion and creating diversion to save their necks. No doctor prescribes Cardiovatin over 40mg owing to the severe muscle pains that the patients suffer as a side effect of the drug. And CMIT report clearly states in paragraph 5 that the brown spots were present not only on the surface (where tablet is coated) but also on the inner core, thus refuting these claims. The Drug testing Lab also declared two out of five Cardiovastin samples “substandard” – a term that apparently meant the tablets lacked the quantity of the active drug as stated on the pack.

Could an expired Cardiovastin or Isotab ever cause such fatal reactions? Drugs only lose the strength in their actions when expired. Never turn in to poisons or evoke fatal reactions.

Propaganda from Pharmaceutical Industries is a knee-jerk reflex from their perspective. Absence of any Drug Regulatory Authority in Pakistan has dealt a severe blow to them as well. International market now sees the lack of any DRA and DTLs as a potential hazard and have backed out from importing drugs from our generic-dominated Pharmaceutical industry. Indeed the export vision of USD 500 Million Dollars by 2013 will be hard to accomplish for this industry unless the govt treats this issue with seriousness of intent. Yet the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) doesn’t even deem it fit to address this issue on their official web site or press releases.

We have failed once again. We failed to analyse the preliminary Reports from Britians’ MHRA Labs corroborated by Intertek Analytical Labs Switzerland and later by Central Drug Labs (CDL). They have set off as many queries as they answered.

MHRA report detected presence of Pyrimethamine in two out of four Isotab-20 samples (not all four) detected by employing Liquid Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), both of which we lack the technological capacity to perform. It only estimated (didn’t confirm) that 50mg of Pyrimethamine was found in each of the two Isotab-20 tablets. The Intertek Analytical Labs Switzerland employed a more precise and accurate method to test and quantify the Pyrimethamine_ Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) in addition to LC-MS, and their results were: 20mg Pyrimethamine and 15mg Isotab in a tablet that should have had 20 mg Isotab (Isosorbide-5-mononitrate). The Central Drug Labs estimated 56mg Pyrimethamine in the Isotab tablet they analysed.

If all these findings are considered reliable, it reflects strongly on two aspects, one, how poor the quality control is that exists at the manufacturing level that the drug not only had been contaminated with large quantities of an Anti-Malarial but even the active ingredient (isosorbide-5-mononitrate) was only 75% of the stated quantity on the pack (15mg instead of 20mg), two, the lack of standard at our Drug Testing Labs which failed to even detect the lower than permissible quantities of active-ingredient in Isotab-20 or deliberately tempered with reports that they published out of collusion with the suppliers. “This is an open secret that DTL tests are arranged by the supplier companies and no due care and caution is taken by the purchasing authority.” (C.M.I.T report, Paragraph 16).

Did our Doctors also fail to zero in on the cause of the Bone Marrow suppression suffered by these patients? Bone Marrow suppression caused by Pyrimethamine high therapeutic dose or overdose has a classic picture: the patients’ blood cells have larger than normal size. A finding termed in medical jargon as Megaloblastic Anemia. Fact is, almost none of the patients had larger than normal Red Blood Cells on their Complete Blood Picture (CBC). Any able Pathologist can detect Megaloblastic anemia even by looking at a Cervical Pap Smear, a clinical test performed routinely in women over 40 years of age, such is the classic picture of the condition. Yet, we didn’t see it. Govt Hospital Labs lack quality but such a finding being missed in four major tertiary care hospitals is not even a remote possibility.

The Royal Free Hospital London also suggested in the preliminary report that the lack of liver damage in these patients (no liver enzymes were raised) also does not add up with Pyrimethamine overdose, doubting their own findings yet we totally rushed to conclusions here in Punjab! The finding has alot of bearing. Liver helps the body inactivate and get rid of 70% of the total Pyrimethamine. In case of an overdose, liver is bound to get overloaded with its detoxification function and get damaged itself, which is not the case in our patients!
Lastly, not even Pyrimethamine explains the wide range and intensities of skin Pigmentation and sloughing that these patients have suffered. Some have had their whole bodies darkened remarkably. Some just faces, or limbs or trunk or combinations of these and other body sites.

Most Drugs we use have each been developed after at least twelve years of expensive (100-200 Million USD per drug) and detailed clinical trials in the U.S.A. with experiments and observations ranging from animals to normal people and finally the target patient populace! The adverse reactions thus documented are very exhaustive. Still, is it possible that Pyrimethamine can cause a bone marrow suppression with normal sized blood cells? (a picture termed as Aplastic anemia with Normocytic Normochromic cells). Well yes, new effects of drugs are always possible. Is it probable? No. What is probable is more than one kind of drug reactions or contaminations at work in the affected patient cohort! Certainly, if it’s just Pyrimethamine, the use of Leucovorin/ Folinic Acid should help all patients recover fully within this week.

Mosquitos and their killer-drugs have plagued Punjab and its people for too long now. They need break from such tragic tales of death.

This post was submitted by Talha Bin Ayub.

We are all much aware of the recent Maya Khan ordeal, the appalling and shocking display of chutzpah, airing of unnerving footage, the massive reaction of the general public, media and freelance writers, the outcome of such strong reaction, the termination of Maya Khan, the Production Team, etc. A timely public apology was made by Samaa TV which is appreciable, and that is indeed a lot more than what can be said for Ms. Khan’s apology.

Why was it so unacceptable and why did it turn out the way it did. Was it the content of the program? Was it the values depicted in the program? What was the core of it?

An analysis in retrospect clearly indicates what the issue of the masses was, and why was it so close to every heart. Had it been the content of the program or the conduct or values depicted, it will not be an exaggeration when it is mentioned that more than half the programs will be shut down starting from core news programs to comedy shows to dramas wherein we, as viewers watch genocide of our core values, or rather, what we like to portray our values to be.

What actually was the issue then, with the Maya Khan episode? It was nothing but the invasion of privacy and possible repercussions of the airing of that show within the family and social circles of those who were exposed. The core issue was real life people. The issue was the lies and miscommunication regarding the cameras and the microphones being switched off, the exposure of individuals in mass-media without consent. The key issue being real life people, whose privacy was invaded in the most gruesome demeanor.

Following the airing of the program, there was an instantaneous reaction, especially in the electronic social media (Twitter/Facebook) whereby individuals opinions by writers, human rights activists, including but certainly not limited to some prominently known individuals as well. Soon, a number of common citizens joined in and the voice became louder and louder with every passing moment, resulting in the public apology by Samaa TV and termination of the entire team of the subject program. Following these events, there was a feeling of awe amongst all those who campaigned. A feeling that individuals matter and their collective voice can make a difference. Indeed a reason to rejoice.

Within days, Shamoon Abbasi, a prominent actor, producer, director and most importantly, an entertainer, became the talk of the town as one of his programs “Thori Si Bewafai” was aired exposing personal lives of people. Soon, a similar campaign was brewing and articles were being written regarding the conduct and the content of the program, petitions were being moved, PEMRA was being contacted and as expected, it is believed that “Thori Si Bewafai” was also taken off air while a public apology appeared on Shamoon Abbasi’s Facebook page.

We need to stop and think, was the reaction to “Thori Se Bewafai” justified. Were the parallels being drawn between Maya Khan and Shamoon Abbasi called for? It is of utmost importance to highlight that there is a stark difference between the two. The former being blatant and shameless act of invasion of privacy with possible repercussions on lives of individuals exposed, while the latter was only dramatization, maybe over exaggeration of events which may or may not have any relevance to real life situations. The latter employs actors who are paid for to bring in that “masala” entertainment which we all love to hate but can’t live without. Some more programs in the same league include

“Laakhon Ka Sach” which is currently being run and “Maachis” which was being run ironically on “Aag TV”. Needless to mention that from the eyes of a common man, one was an anchor who is expected to take impartial views, report or discuss issues with an objective of possible amelioration, while the other is an actor whose objective is to entertain and deliver what is in demand.

We all must agree that as much as we talk negatively about programs such as mentioned earlier, it is us only who sit and watch them with interest and hence such productions are there to begin with. Yes, they are in demand. As we, the general public, thrive on “mirch masala” and love to watch and discuss these shows.

Considering all this, was Shamoon Abbasi’s apology called for? Or was it an out-of-context overreaction? If the former is the case, then the writer would surely like to understand what steps are taken to address the content of almost all drama serials which, for some odd reason, happen to be circling around many evils including adultery, alcoholism, etc. Why is it that a drama like “Bol Meri Machli” ends up with awards? Needless to say that these dramas do have some semblance of real life situations/stories. Is the answer simply that these are make-belief stories where the purpose is entertainment? If yes, then what is wrong with “Thori Si Bewafai” which also happens to be just a dramatization with semblance to real life situations while no individual reputation is at stake or no one’s privacy is invaded.

It is indeed heart-warming to see the nation get together and raise a voice collectively to mar a social evil, at the same time, since now its proven that a collective voice can make a difference, we need to be more responsible in who to raise this voice against, why, or how. Need not get carried away.

In the humble opinion of the writer, such drama based programs may not carry as bad a connotation as a mic being shoved in the face of a young daughter who has lost her father due to the alleged medicine crises, with questions lie “aap un ko kya kehti theen?” “Who aap se pyar kertay thay?” “Aap kaisa mehsoo ker rahi hein?”. Or how about an 8 year old passing away as a result of a suicide attach in DHA, Karachi and an anchor actually collecting all his school mates and literally destructing them emotionally by questioning them, asking them about the deceased “was he your best friend” “What was the last thing he said to you” etc. etc. Are these not the issues which actually have a bearing on our emotions or is it the dramatizations as is the case in the programs mentioned?

Considering the above, Shamoon Abbasi’s apology, the channel calling the program being taken off-air, is appreciated but was is required? Or was it a resultant of our over-reaction in the heat of Maya Khan’s episode? Shamoon has already stated much regarding his discomfort on the overall content of the program, yet, it must be considered that such programs are aired because of our demand.

Ali Rahman
ali.sher.rahmanATgmail.com

This post was submitted by Ali Rahman.

In response to citizen’ letter to Zafar Siddiqi, CEO Samaa TV yesterday, he has written back to the group with good news that the Maya Khan & her team will recieving termiantion notices as of Monday.

The letter by Zafar Siddiqi is quoted below, we all applaud this responsible approach by Samaa TV

On Sat, Jan 28, 2012 at 12:28 PM, “Zafar Siddiqi” wrote:
Dear All

Your feedback is appreciated.As a responsible corporate citizen, Samaa TV did what was required under the circumstances. We do not and have not in the past or intend to in the future to take our viewership or reporting requirements without the seriousness that they deserve.

You would appreciate that as an organisation with a functioning management team, we had to conduct certain legal requirements over the past week and internal review processes (which are operational in nature) before procedding further.

As a result of which I can inform you:

1. We asked Maya to apologise unconditionally which she did not.
2. The CEO asked her to do that on friday which she refused.

As a result of which the following will be put in place on Monday,Jan 30th.

1. Maya and her team will receive termination notices.
2. Her show is being stopped from Monday morning.

Our deeds and actions taken since this episode occured are there for the record and hope this will settle issues as far as the station is concerned.

A lot has been written about the race for ratings. Well, we do absolve such behaviour irrespective of ratings that the show was getting.

With best regards and thank you for your understanding.

Zafar Siddiqi

Chairman CNBC Arabiya
Chairman CNBC Africa
President CNBC Pakistan

In continuation with the lobbying efforts of the civil society to curtail journalistic Vigilantism as witnessed in the Maya Khan issue, a number of people have sent a follow up letter to Mr. Zafar Siddiqi, President CNBC Pakistan & CEO Samaa TV, in response to his earlier response to the group (below)

Dear Mr. Siddiqi,

We deeply appreciate your prompt reply and assurance that the kind of show broadcast on Jan 17, 2012, Subh Sawerey Maya ke Saath on Samaa TV will not take place again.

We also appreciate your moral courage in ensuring that Samaa TV made a public, unconditional apology broadcast on Jan 24, 2012. However, we cannot accept Ms. Maya Khan’s words broadcast that morning as an apology. She said she was sorry ‘if’ she had hurt anyone’s feelings without any acknowledgement that what she and her team did was wrong, like lying to people, filming them without consent, making fun of aggrieved couples after chasing them, and demanding their nikahnamas. In fact, her nonchalant attitude and words only compounded social and emotional wounds of the aggrieved citizens as she clearly lacked seriousness and genuine concern for the people and families she has caused harm through her deceitful, defamatory, intrusive and invasive programming, a value which is in complete contrast to your assertion that Samaa TV is a channel with progressive values.

To add salt to the wound, speaking to the New York Times on Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 (the same day as Samaa broadcast her `apology’) Ms. Maya Khan `rejected her critics, calling them “an elite class that don’t even watch my show,” and said the show merely intended to highlight the dangers that unaccompanied youths face in Karachi’.” (NYT, Jan 26, 2012 – http://nyti.ms/wmKAKh).

In your email to us you say, “There are certain other directives that have been put into place as of yesterday” (ie Jan 23, 2012). Such directives need to be made public.

Subsequent to our correspondence with you, we have been made aware of other programmes broadcast earlier as part of this appalling morning show series, in which Maya Khan pits mothers and daughters and harangues young girls in the most indecent way along with her team (as in this show of Oct 2011 – http://youtu.be/gsaBNGc7zKE). There are probably many other shows that you probably have not yet seen and will be horrified, as we were, on seeing, that objectify women `Beti ka Achar -http://youtu.be/uHMuaF5eeVA) and put them at real risk of being killed for `honour’ (`Beti ki kari’ – http://youtu.be/gsaBNGc7zKE). We do not accept the disclaimers that ran in some of these programmes that Samaa TV is not responsible for the content.

In the absence of genuine apology and information about corrective policy directives, and compensation to affected families, we will have to conclude that Samaa TV is not sincere in its apology, and plans to continue with programming that blatantly violates the constitutional rights of Pakistani citizens as well as basic journalistic ethics and constitutes a case of journalistic malpractice.

In that case, it will become incumbent upon us as conscientious citizens of Pakistan to broaden our movement until corrective policies are put in place and made public along with a visible, genuine and unqualified apology from Ms Maya Khan, specifically taking back her words and actions and accepting her misconduct, not just with regards to the show of Jan 17, 2012 but also for previous shows in which she has disrespected families, media consumers and viewers alike.

We, the undersigned, as well as the over 5,000 signatories of the online petition (http://bit.ly/zRmPNZ) that has been communicated to you, are ready to lobby with corporations (and their international offices if need be), that are advertising on SAMAA TV, asking them to look into this issue before advertising with this programme and channel. We also reserve the right to approach of these brands if the need arises.

However, judging by your prompt response and by the apology broadcast on Samaaat your behest, it appears that you, Mr Zafar Siddiqi, while being genuinely well-meaning, have been misled by your producers (your senior producer Sohail Zaidi, for example, defended the programme and told BBC Urdu Radio that he was not answerable to anyone – http://bit.ly/xMc8sY).

Therefore we urge you to:

1. Make public the written corrective directives and guidelines that have been put in place, proactively leading by example as a channel with conscience which is reponsible and cares about its viewers and their sentiments.
2. Ensure a serious, genuine and unqualified apology from Ms. Maya Khan in which she accepts her deliberate misconduct and violation of the affected people, families, media consumers, viewers and the law.
3. Take this appalling show `Subh Sawery Maya ke Saath’ off air, as its very premise is based on the concept of moral policing and interference in people’s personal lives.
4. Ensure that Ms Maya Khan and all your other reporters, producers and hosts comply with the new directives in future, whether they are part of the news team or the entertainment team.

Samaa TV has many credits to its name that we appreciate. As media consumers, we genuinely want to see this channel realise its potential as a truly progressive channel. We assure you that we will support you in the mission to translate quality into greater viewership based on dignity, fairness, respect and equal rights, not tainted by substandard hosts and programming. You may want to have a look at the code of conduct guidelines of the Society of Professional Journalists, to consult while drafting their own guidelines:

Thank you,

Sincerely:

Ali Kazmi, Student, Islamabad
Ali Taj, Hedge Fund manager, Winchester Fund, Cerritos, California
Ally Adnan, Director, Huawei technologies, Dallas, TX
Amna Chishty, marketing consultant, Canada
Asadullah Khan, Head of Programming, Capital TV, Islamabad
Asif Alam, Financial Services Executive, New York, NY, USA
Asif Sattar, Admin Operations at Kiers Facilities Ltd, Slough, England
Dr Awab Alvi, Orthodontist & Social media Activist, Karachi
Beena Sarwar, journalist, Cambridge MA/ Karachi, Pakistan
Danielle Gehrmann, linguist, Sydney, Australia
Hassan Turi, student, Agricultural university, Peshawar
Syed Hussein El-Edroos, Business Development & Training Manager, Islamabad
Prof. Dr. Ijaz Khan, Chairman, Department of International Relations, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Dr Kamran Iqbal, Self Employed · Karachi, Pakistan
Kamyla Marvi, Citizen, Karachi Pakistan
Meera Ghani, Concerned Citizen, Lahore
Mira Hashmi, film critic and teacher, Lahore
Mohsin Sayeed, journalist, Karachi
Muhammad Faraz Faheem, Senior Software Engineer, Karachi, Pakistan
Munnazir Aziz, video producer, Lodhran, Pakistan
Nadia Fazal Jamil, actor, Lahore, Pakistan
Nadir El-Edroos, teacher, London, UK.
Naheed Tofiq Mooraj, Proprietor of Candle Works, Karachi
Naziha Syed Ali, journalist, Karachi
Nighat Daad, advocate, Lahore
Noman Quadri, concerned citizen, Karachi
Dr. Osama Siddique, Law Professor, Lahore
Rabia Akhtar. PhD candidate, Kansas State University, USA/Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Raza Bashir, corporate banking, Karachi, Pakistan
Saadia Toor, professor, New York,
Sahar Habib Ghazi, Journalist, Palo Alto, California
Shah Hayat Ahmad, Citizen, Karachi, Pakistan
Saba Hamid, actor, Lahore, Pakistan
Sabiha Alwy, Educational Psychologist, New York
Shah Nawaz, student, Memon Goth, Malir, Karachi
Shayan Afzal Khan, concerned citizen, Islamabad
Siraj Khan, Financial Executive, Boston MA USA
Tammie Mahmud, Trainer & Education Program Developer, Boca Raton, FL

——

Response by Zafar Siqqiqi on Jan 24th 2012

On Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 12:05 AM, “Zafar Siddiqi” wrote:
Dear All

I have travelled to Khi to look at this matter and yesterday Maya apologised in her program for this. I can assure this will never happen again. Samaa is a progressive channel.

There are certain other directives that have been put into place as of yesterday.

I thank everyone concerned in bringing this matter to my attention. It’s really appreciated.
best regards

Zafar Siddiqi
Chairman CNBC Arabiya
Chairman CNBC Africa
President CNBC Pakistan

An amazing Video by Faraz Ahmed Yar Khan

Dont just support the Change – Be the Change

Subah Saveera with Maya Khan on Samaa TV actually chases people sitting in a park and asks them why are they sitting there. Firstly I believe it is NOT illegal for two people to sit [date] in a park, and secondly it was shocking to see the host and other women running and chasing after individuals sitting in the park to an extent of trying to trap them.

In my opinion they exhibited highly intrusive, invasive and potentially irresponsible behavior – it is the kind of vigilantism which no different than the mob that cornered the two brothers in Sialkot and enforced their own reaction for the benefit of society, Maya Khan may have initiated a precedence today and may potentially open the door for chase and capture vigilantism – Irresponsibility of the highest degree

Liberal Fascist writes: Going through the horrid clip above, you see two dozen women running through a park, shouting “wo hijab waali”, “dekho uss nai hijab pehna huwa hai”, escorted by men with name tags and uniformed men, obviously employed by one or the other private security company. If you had this great “hoard” of judgement come charging at you, anyone would feel intimidated, harassed and threatened. The last time I checked, and I may be completely ignorant about this, when I go to a public space, that is not what I expect, nor is such behaviour condoned by any legal authority.

The 5th Part of the show gets worse, Maya Khan actually hounds the couple on some other pretext and slowly moves in to question the couple on their Nikahnama, when the girl insists to turn the camera off, Maya still continues to record despite her promise – Is this another level of media vigilantism?

Mehreen Kasana writes an open letter: Now if you don’t mind, I have plans to make. I’m spending unmarried time with the guy I like in a few days. We’re so unmarried, it’s amazing. Sometimes in our high unmarriedfulness, I hold his arm and we walk through the park past closet Maya Khans and Zaid Hamids who genuinely detest us for our open display of joy, comfort and affection. I can’t wait to have you show up and ask us for our nikah document. This is what I’ll give you as proof: … Stay out of my park.

A petition has been started to be sent to Zafar Siddiqui, CEO Samaa TV appealing him to stop this stupidity, text of the petition is as follows

STOP Subah Saverey Maya kay Sath vigilantism like Lal Masjid

We the undersigned would like to express our dismay at a morning show broadcast on Samaa TV, Subah Saverey Maya kay Sath, that exhibited highly intrusive, invasive and potentially irresponsible behavior on the part of the host – a kind of vigilantism no different than the Lal Masjid variety. The episode of Jan 17, 2012 in particular was highly disturbing in which the host Maya Khan went after couples in parks.

As viewers and citizens, we not only protest this kind of moral policing, but also point out that this kind of programming is likely to also lead to legal action for violation of dignity of man under the Constitution – which legal action we as signatories will support, propagate and promote.

We hope that Samaa TV will end this irresponsible programming immediately, and look forward to your early response.

Maya Khan – Stay out of our Parks

As you all may have heard about 3 days back Pakistan was abuzz with the abduction of a 14 yr old girl Madinah Anwar, well as the story played out it turns out that it might have been a con job by the father.  Details can be read in the Express Tribune Article “Conman Shamsul Anwar Busted“.

The story of his daughter’s abduction was not newly minted, as Anwar has been portraying himself as a victim of terrorism since 2010. However, when his daughter Madina Anwar eloped to Swabi to marry her ex-fiancé, Anwar decided to take advantage of the situation. But for this purpose, he needed to gain people’s sympathies, for which he needed a story to hit the nail at the right place. Therefore he decided to present himself as a hero before the media, a hero who was being victimised for saving people’s lives. So he claimed his daughter had been kidnapped by the same terrorists who had earlier kidnapped his two sons and slaughtered one of them

In defense of the Social Media that rallied for this cause, I believe we relied upon the authenticity of The News seasoned Crime Investigative Reporter Shakeel Anjum who researched the story [It was also interesting to note that Shamsul Anwar did also convince Express Tribune reporter Sehrish Wasif of a similar story in Dec 2010 [without the Madinah Anwar kidnapping reference]

When TWO journalists [Shakeel Anjum & Sehrish Wasif] from TWO independent and credible newspapers [The News & Express Tribune respectively], fell for the same story, and later that day on the 10th of January when members of the civil society physically called Shamsul Anwar to verify the facts.  We all were convinced this was a genuine story.  Seriously Beyond which how can you physically verify what Shamsul Anwar has to say, short of arresting him and locating the kidnappers to then physically extracting the truth from his grip.

After the incident, and the revelation that this was a hoax, one activist did have a telephonic conversation with Shakeel Anjum and he did verify that he was convinced by the documents that Shamsul Anwar had shown him, but it has been TWO days [13th Jan today] and still no official report or a rebuttal has appeared in The News, so we await an official response from the newspaper group

It is my opinion that in those two hectic days the people of Pakistan, citizen activists and the social media rallied for saving the life of  Madinah Anwar, with the best facts that they had [even after verification].  Though on a number of emails an account number was shared which was effectively deleted a few hours later [but damage was already done, since in the early morning of the 11th some kind hearted people did actually donate for the cause.  The authorities have assured us that Shamsul Anwars Bank of Punjab account has been frozen and any contributions made into that account will be returned, as soon as we get more update in this regard we will share onwards

Let it also come on record, that I continue to suspect there is more to what meets the eye, a retired army Lance Naik who was as per our information [on the afternoon of the 11th Jan (before the arrest)] was supposedly on his way to meet an Army Colonel of his unit in regards to this crisis, is arrested by the SHO and taken to the Westgate Thana where he confesses the fraud.  What statements were made, charges placed, and the subsequent press release made can at best be worrisome, I personally feel the abruptness of the discovery very interesting, I may easily easily be shooting ideas into thin air, but if I were to investigate this issue further, I’d any day trust two seasoned journalists for their documented research well before an SHO of any tom dick n’ harry police station in Pakistan.

I strongly suggest pressure must be applied upon The News & also Express Tribune on how this slipped through the cracks of seasoned criminal reporters, lets make sure that this mistake does not happen from such credible platforms again

Lets not give up on compassion and caring, let us all continue to find good credible causes and continue with the same loving and generous spirit that we in Pakistan are so proud of.  In the two days while I was rallying for Madinah, I felt proud to be in a country, which donates selflessly, we are probably one of the highest paying philanthropic nation around the world who gives literally by the truck loads if it believes in a cause.  Lets keep our chins up and shoulders upright, we have a lot more to do, and Pakistan needs this philanthropic nation to bring relief to the millions that continue to suffer

Today I am shocked at reading an article in The News titled Waiting to receive pieces of daughter’s dead body which narrates a shocking story of a Pakistan Army Lance Naik (r) Shamsul Anwar who is pleading for authorities to help save the life of his 14-year old daughter Madina Anwar, who was kidnapped in May 2011 and the captors have given him till the 12th of January to come forward with the ransom money of Rs. 1.8 Million.

This tragic kidnapping story comes in the shadow of two sons who were previously kidnapped in 2006 – Mohammad Yaseen, 16, a student of 10th class, and Faizullah, 14, a 9th class student of Noor School in Dhoke Gujran — on May 15, 2006. The ransom for the release of both his sons were slated at Rs. 1.4 Million but Mohammed Yaseen was later found mercilessly killed chopped up into pieces on a wood-cutting saw, the entire video recorded on a CD and placed along with his remains in a gunny bag. Fortunately for Shamsul Anwar he did recover his younger son but due to the medicines injected into his body during captivity, is suffering from blood cancer

The story of the should have been highly acclaimed hero, Shamsul Anwar starts in January 2001 where he single handedly save the lives of hundreds of people from a terrorist bomb in Rawalpindi

“It was 1st of January, 2001 when I entered the Jamia Masjid of Dhoke Gujran at Misrial Road, Rawalpindi, at about 2:10 p.m. when the ‘imam’ was reciting ‘khutba’ and I was late. I rushed to the basement of the mosque to perform ablution (‘wazu’) where I saw a man who was planting some explosives packed in a steel box and he was busy in plugging wires into the detonation device. As I was an army personnel and had been serving with bomb disposal unit, I sensed the danger. I clutched the ‘terrorist’ from the back without asking any question or giving him any warning as he had plugged one wire into the device and remaining three were in his hands and he was about to put it into the detonator. I started shouting for help but nobody listened to my cries as the ‘khutba’ was being recited on the loudspeaker. In the meantime, the terrorist, carrying a gun, asked me to leave him otherwise he would shoot me but I refused to free him and entangled my left leg in between his two legs as he could not somersault me. After he observed that I was not going to release him, he started firing aiming at my leg and emptied his revolver. I sustained three bullets in my left leg and remaining three missed.

“Meanwhile, some worshippers gathered there and grabbed him as I told people that his revolver was empty. The terrorist warned me that he would teach me a lesson and make me an example. I was shifted to the CMH and the ‘terrorist’ was taken to an undisclosed place by the agencies. As many as 17 terrorists of the outfit were arrested on information provided by the nabbed ‘terrorist’. I remained under treatment for about a month and sent home with a team of security personnel of the army commanded by a JCO. The security personnel remained with me for about a year and protected my family and me stringently. Finally, the security was withdrawn.

This hero who must have saved the lives of hundreds of people in 2001 is now being made to suffer brutally… is this how we treat our heroes in Pakistan. Lets not let Shamsul Anwar down, lets put pressure on everyone to help this national hero. Pakistan must not go silent

On 1st January 2012 Aman Ittehad will organize public rallies in 140 locations across Pakistan to mark Solidarity Day 2012. Thousands of citizens in villages, towns and cities will join the rallies. They will call upon all state institutions to play their due role within the parameters defined by the Constitution of Pakistan. They will also express their firm commitment to uninterrupted democracy and the supremacy of parliament, reiterating their belief that these are critical for stability and peace in the country.

On Solidarity Day 2012 citizens will express their contempt at the unabated torture and target killings, and kidnappings that continue to cause untold misery to the people across Pakistan, particularly Balochistan. Aman Ittehad demands urgent and exemplary action against all those who have failed to protect citizens’ lives. It urges immediate steps to reject any use of force or coercion and instead devise a political solution to redress long-standing grievances of the people of Balochistan.

Aman Ittehad also condemns all forms of violence and persecution in the name of ethnicity, sect or religion. It demands urgent state action to apprehend perpetrators of the recent spate of kidnappings and killings. The state’s failure to do so has increased the prevalent sense of insecurity and encouraged greater impunity among perpetrators that are allowed to roam free without fear or reprisal. Aman Ittehad reiterates its demand that all citizens, irrespective of sect, religion, gender, class or clan, are protected by the state. It calls upon the state to take effective steps to promote tolerance and understanding between citizens across the country.

Aman Ittehad is a citizen platform that is striving for peace, democracy and justice in Pakistan. Solidarity Day is an expression of the power of ordinary citizens, and a call to exercise their choice and free will.

To mark the solidarity day, Aman Ittehad is organizing a “Colloquium on Peace” at PMA House Karachi. We are pleased to invite you for the event. Details are given below;

Your presence will highly be appreciated.

Elaborate security arrangements are being made, to ensure a peaceful event, with a massive crowd expected, we together need to ensure discipline amongst ourselves

Route Map

Coming from Shahrah-e-Qaideen

1. Barricade will stop all vehicular traffic at Society Office Chowrangi
2. Parking will be available at Kashmir Road
3. Shuttles will transport you to the venue

Coming from MA Jinnah Road

1. Barricade will stop all vehicular traffic at Numaish
2. Parking will be available behind KG Ground
3. Shuttles will trasport you to the venue

Coming from New MA Jinnah Road

1. Barricade will stop all vehicular traffic at Madina Road or Allah Wali Masjid
2. Parking will be available at the CDGK parking lot near Empress Market
3. Shuttles will transport you to the venue

Coming from Guru Mander

1. Barricade will stop all vehicular traffic at Guru Mander
2. Parking will be available in the side streets
3. Shuttles will transport you to the venue

Coming from Jail Road

1. Barricade will stop all vehicular traffic at Peoples Chowk / Secretariat Chowrangi
2. Parking will be available in the side streets and Islamia College
3. Shuttles will transport you to the venue

Coming from Britto Road

1. Barricade will stop all vehicular traffic at Soldier Bazar
2. Parking will be available at Nishtar Park
3. Shuttles will transport you to the venue