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      <title>Pakistani Bloggers - Guest Posts</title>
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						<title>Women Are Equal To Men</title>
						<link>http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/women-are-equal-to-men-t1954.html</link>
						<description><![CDATA[
						
						  I being a liberal Muslim have always looked up to Turkey as a role model for the Islamic world but ever since Recep Tayyip Erdogan came into power, he has followed the agenda of radicalising the Turkish society.  While all his attempts at changing the social fabric of modern day Turkey have been debated upon, it is his recent comments in which he refused to consider women equivalent to men, which have outraged many all over the world.

Some people may not find anything offensive about the words Erdogan had to say, but the way I see the things, Erdogan believes that God created women to 'bear children only'. No words are not enough to condemn this statement, this is ridiculous to say the least.

Erdogan's comments are reminiscent of a typical hard-liner who believes that physical strength is the only formula for success in life. Had this been the case all the wrestlers should have established themselves as great leaders, management geniuses or respected revolutionaries. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), Jesus, Jinnah, Imam Khomeini, Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, none of these great men had extra ordinary physique, yet they are still considered as one of the strongest people to live, this is because their strength came from their minds. It was their mental strength and endurance that makes them stand out as the strongest and most loved people in human history.

It is true that some strenuous tasks should better not be performed by women but this does not imply that women are not equivalent to men. Women have always been an integral and active part of all the popular movements in human history. Be it the revolutions of Russia, France and Iran or be it the independence movement of Pakistan. Women were at the forefront and supported the men in achieving their goals. Those who have read Russian literature must be familiar with famous revolutionary book "Mother" by Maxim Gorky, which underlined the role that women can play for the betterment of society and for bringing a change in the mindset of the people. Pakistan movement too owes its success to invaluable contribution played by women.  

Erdogan's disregard for Islamic history and role of Muslim women has also come out in the open with his biased comments against women. Ummul Momneen Hazrat Khadija (RA) was a successful business woman, Ummul Momneen Hazrat Ayesha (RA) was a great scholar and jurist, our prophet (PBUH) used to seek advise on political affairs from Ummul Momneen Umm e Salamah (RA), no one can deny the status of Hazrat Fatima (RA) not only in this world but also in the world hereafter. 

Who can forget Nusaibah Bint Ka'ab who is often termed as 'Bodyguard of Mohammad (PBUH) for her bravery during Ghazva -e-Uhad? Such was her gallantry that according to some references the Prophet (PBUH) said at the end of the battle, "No man can endure, what you can endure, O Umm Umara (this was Nusaibah's nickname).

Amra binte Abdurrahman was one of the greatest scholars among the second generation of early Muslims. She was a jurist, a mufti and a hadith cholar in the time of Ummayyad Caliph Umar ibn Abdul Aziz, who encouraged Muslims to learn with her. 
Aisha binte Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqass was a jurist and scholar who taught the famous Muslim man jurist Imam Malik, the founder of the Maliki juristic school.Sayyida Nafisah, the Prophet's great granddaughter, daughter of al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, was a teacher of Islamic jurisprudence whose students traveled from faraway places to learn with her. One of her students was Imam Shafi'i, another great founder of the Shafi'i school of law. She actually financially supported him as well. 

Today women are seen playing their part efficiently every walk of life, from flying a fighter plane to being a astronaut and from being a doctor to a computer engineer, women have proved that they are capable of handling every task as good as men. There are many countries which have been or being ruled by women. Benazir Bhutto, Khalida Zia, Sheikh Hasina Wajid, Angela Merkel (German Chancellor), Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (Executive President Argentina), Dilma Vana Rousseff (President Brazil), Atifete Jahjaga (President Kosovo), Helle Thorning Schmidt (Prime Minister Denmark), Erna Solberg (Prime Minister Norway) are among millions of women who are ruling countries, heading large firms and organizations with excellence.

Erdogan is also against giving women the right to have a say in family planning matters. While there is no doubt that perhaps after prophet-hood, the most glorious status to achieve is motherhood, but this should not be considered as an excuse to deny women the right to decide when to start a family or the number of kids they should have. Allah has made humans "The greatest of all creations", this means humans are supposed to think rationally, therefore family planning should be taken seriously and women should be allowed to make the final decision in this regard. It is all the more important in countries like ours where men do not consider the health of women before going ahead with starting a family or expanding it. Every baby which comes into this world should be a sign of love and respect, there cant be a greater disrespect to humanity than an "Unwanted Baby". 

We are not living in medieval times, deep in their hearts all men know that they are nothing without women, same is the case with women. Gone are the days when men could suppress women, the modern woman is aware of her rights and treats love and respect on reciprocal basis, therefore men, Muslim men in particular should learn from the teachings of Islam and Holy Prophet (PBUH) and should refrain from senseless conservative views being propagated by Erdogan. gender equality
						
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						<pubDate> Sat, 29 Nov 2014 05:36:21 -0500  </pubDate>
						<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/women-are-equal-to-men-t1954.html</guid>
						<author> Syed Arsalan Riyasat </author>
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						<title>Flag Bearers Of Self-righteousness</title>
						<link>http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/flag-bearers-of-self-righteousness-t1952.html</link>
						<description><![CDATA[
						
						  We are the flag bearers of self righteousness. 

Extremism is the bud that sprouts from the sown seeds of egotism, discontentment, inequality, injustice and finally self righteousness. Dictionaries and encyclopaedias generally define it as deviation from existing moral standards. But the definition is far more complex. Extremism, as a general rule is by far mostly viewed under narrow spectrum of religious fundamentalism. However, the fact is that every devastating social behaviour has got a confounding relationship with extremism as to who is product of who. 

We are standing against each other, with our faces at opposite ends. 
We need not learn from one-another, for we both are enlightened. 
The sparking light that illuminates us has blinded our eyes. 
Our ears covered by thick curtains of established ideologies 
For strangers now we are; Our hearts have turned to stones 
On cadaver of humanism, humanity sits and mourns 
But; who we are? 

Extremism as a product of simplistic thinking, attempts to define issues only in terms of its two extreme positions, without any middle ground. Non-Affirmation for one extreme by an individual or group is regarded as affirmation of the opposite extreme. 

Extremism can be roughly divided into two distinct classes, i.e.; Ideological and Mundane Extremism. Whatever is the type, extremism in its all forms ends in violence and social disaster. 

Mayhem in the name of religion, ethnicity, race or language, all are more or less modified form of ideological extremism. Victimization of humans on the basis of ideology has a long and continuous history. Throughout history, when an opponent is regarded as "other" based on the idea of religion, race or language; self assumed "superiority" in terms of territory, authority, command and existence is mostly established by manners far from any moral and ethical consideration. The ruthlessness can be smelled well in the words of prominent historical figures driving the concept of racial superiority. Adolf Hitler, German dictator famous for his anti-Semitic approach, has been quoted such from the history; 

"If I can send the flower of the German nation into the hell of war without the smallest pity for the shedding of precious German blood, then surely I have the right to remove millions of an inferior race that breeds like vermin" 

Prominent historical figures acknowledged for their intellectual worth including Charles Darwin, Abraham Lincoln, Napoleon, Stalin and Mussolini have been quoted for similar expressions on ethnic and racial differences. 

Racist behaviour has therefore been a coercive factor in apartheid and riots across the boundaries. Take US as an example where Afro-Americans struggled hard for decades against racial discrimination, injustice, inequality and slavery in pursuance of a status of "as human as the white race". 

Foundations of religious extremism also rest upon same basic principle. As for the racism, where specific race considers itself "superior" to every other race of mankind, religious fanaticism is driven by a deep and inarguable sense of being "the most guided" one. The apocalyptic potential of religious extremism is much greater than racism for the fact that religion is a factor that binds a far greater proportion of the population. 

Oppression of the pagan Roman Empire against Christianity, church's inflicted attitude towards the men of enlightenment, knowledge and science, vandalism of a great treasure of knowledge, art and science after fall of Islamic Spain, victimization of Moorish race and finally crusades are few examples of extremist religious behaviour and their consequences. Crusades are still taken as a metaphor for the final confrontation between the two religions in extremist fractions of both communities. 

"Zionism" is another extremist ideology meant at conquering and expanding the territory by exploiting all possible means, was previously restricted to Jewish doctrine. But post 9/11 scenario has led to the introduction of similar terms for Christianity and Islam also. 

During the past two decades, extremism in Muslim countries, especially in Pakistan has been in continuous up-rift. Like other types of extremism, "Injustice" (in United States foreign policy) has fuelled extremist behaviour in Muslim societies. Injustice and insecurity may provoke the emotions of the common man, its inherent to human nature. However, expression of emotions has to go through certain check points naturally. The responsibility in such cases rests upon those considered as authorities in religion. Unfortunately, these checkpoints failed to respond to the forecast evil. Perversely, mushrooming of hard-line scholars and unchecked proliferation of extremist narrative has altogether changed the overall mindset of Pakistani society. "Jihad" was initiated and called for, without a clear description of rules and regulations of this basic Islamic principle. 

Failure of checkpoints, unbridled misinterpretations and the consequent chaos lead lawmakers to seek for insane attempts of reconciliation. Sir Francis Bacon, a 16th century English scholar considers religion as a chief band of human society lest it is itself well contained in true band of unity. In his essay with the title "Of Unity in Religion" he emphasizes on avoiding two extremes. Where, the first relates to fanatics who are more interested in increasing the number of their followers than in peace within the Church. The other extreme is represented by lukewarm temperaments that are only too ready to reconcile differences in essential points in religion, even when such reconciliation is more ingenious than beneficial to the church. 

The obvious result of such negligence is well explained by William Pickens as; 

"To cheapen the lives of any group of men, cheapens the lives of all men, even our own. This is a law of human psychology, or human nature. And it will not be repealed by our wishes, nor will it be merciful to our blindness." 

Our extremist behaviours are not only limited to religion, instead a sense of being the "most guided one" dominates our routine conduct. Culture of distrust and denial together with a sense of superiority has so much wrapped up our psyche that we have lost the ability to think beyond it. Listening and respecting each other's perspective is now out of question. Expectation of absolute submission from surroundings is a part of the new culture breed. In the prevailing culture, it is becoming our national behaviour that we are always keen to finding and exaggerating the faults in others while overlooking the ones of our own. 

The larger spectrum manifestation of this behaviour can be clearly seen in our political behaviour for last 67 years. It had long been a common phenomenon to call each other "security risk" or "traitor". "Cut-throat politics" well explains the irony of Pakistani politics. Accusations followed by revolts, processions and insurrections have never allowed political stability in the country. Political instability is continuous with economic instability in itself. Further spoilage has resulted when the virus of "Self righteousness" has been transmitted from the leaders to the worker at grass root level in recent politics. Character assassination, disgraceful and abusive word-battle on social media is a shameful documentary evidence of our deteriorating moral standards.

Extremism in all its upshot is catastrophic and devastating in nature. As extremism mounts across the globe, sense of insecurity surmounts the human spirits. Insecurity in turn hurts effective individual share in economic development and when this happens, collective efforts and contributions meet the downfall. Therefore, economic instability as a consequence of extremism has been the basic factor behind the failure of poverty alleviation directives in third world countries. Sri-Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Sudan, Ethiopia and Nigeria, where extremism has either instigated civil war or terror attacks or even unrest, lag far behind international community. 

Extremism in ideological and social behaviour hurts national objectivity. Every nation aims at achieving the exalted status of honour, stability and self reliance among the international community, together with the unchecked economic growth and unchallengeable security. All these objectives are, however, subject to national unity for their momentous achievement. Conversely, extremism in all its forms results in social stratification and deep split in the national unity. It is therefore a serious threat, a fatal poison for survival of a nation. 

Extremism always produces polarity, i.e., extremist narrative at one pole always gives birth to reverse extreme narrative. Quite apparent example is the rise of extreme left liberal myths in reaction of religious fanaticism. At this stage, impact on society is anything but moderation. If pull forces of one section are incapable to attract public, push forces of the opposite side fulfil the purpose. The situation has itself pushed Pakistan into a vicious cycle where people are highly agitated by each other's ultra radical beliefs. 

The most pathetic aspect of extremism is that it deprives the human heart of its divine virtues. Humanism, kindness, love, empathy and tolerance are a few among noble moral traits. These are the traits which are "essential goodness of human heart". Without these traits, man is no better than a beast. As Sir Francis Bacon puts; 

"Goodness, I call the habit; and goodness of nature, the inclination. This of all the virtues and dignity of mind is the greatest; being the character of the Deity: and without it man is a busy, mischievous and wretched thing; no better than a kind of vermin" 

William Huxley in his essay "Adonis and the Alphabet" regarding prevalence of non humanitarian attitude towards animal species relates a story of twelfth century, where blessed saint Sesilia shows us an ugly picture of the church when one day, St. Dominic was preaching to his disciples of her convent when a sparrow began to fly in the air, hopping over their heads. No sister annoyed, but St. Dominic asked one of them to catch it. St. Dominic relentlessly started plucking sparrow's feathers while saying; you wretch, you rogue!!!" amidst laughter from brothers and sisters and many doleful screams from the dying sparrow. Undoubtedly, miserable that is! But more miserable is the time when assassins are started to be identified as "Sons of the nation". And when the whole world, including us, while holding flags of morality, follow the policy of selective criticism and selective condemnation of brutes across the globe. 

The declining sensitivity of heart towards human sufferings and even the devaluation of human blood is alarming for society. Even if I am not the part of any of the two sections, yet there was a time when the murder of a single innocent human being would torture me. And here is another time when the blood of hundreds of innocent men, women and children is not able to incite pain in my heart, for the bloodshed has become a routine phenomenon. The blood of human beings is getting cheaper and cheaper day by day. 

What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow 
Out of this stony rubbish? Son of man, 
You cannot say, or guess, for you know only 
A heap of broken images, where the sun beats, 
And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief,
And the dry stone no sound of water. 
(Wasteland: The Burial of the Dead by T.S. Eliot)

Ideology in itself is never inclined to extremism unless it is not overtaken by the sense of "Self righteousness" and "stubbornness". The same two components constitute extremism in our social behaviour. Extremism always considers unity in terms of uniformity of beliefs and thinking pattern. Unfortunately, we totally overlook the fact that "diversity" is the principle of creation. Hand is a perfect example. All five fingers differ in their length, yet each and every finger has its own importance in functional capacity of hand. Subsistence of individuality in society as well as in ideology guarantees progress of the nation. A stagnant pool, on the other end, breeds only infections and pathogens.

Variance in beliefs is blessing of God, and not his wrath; because it is the only mean to incite identification and dissatisfaction towards acquired if not inherent deficiencies, in our beliefs. Therefore, Prophet (PBUH) said, "Difference of opinion in my Ummah is a blessing."

The disaster is not over, the time is not gone. Saving the left over and reconstructing from the rubble is the only option left for our survival as a sovereign state. A think tank must be founded to sense and respond the risks to national unity by effective strategic planning. Effective planning to combat extremism requires careful observation and identification of the root cause. 

Ignorance is one of the important factors favouring extremism. A man born and brought up in dark cannot conceive light lest he is brought to the light. Only education can serve the purpose of enabling man to understand the clear distinctive line that segregates right from wrong.  However, education does not mean to just inject some pile of books in student's brain. The curricula should be so designed that it can address and satisfy the queries immersed deep into minds. It should be clearly identified that on what foundations the curricula is being designed for urban or rural population.

Injustice, inequality and discontentment, as discussed earlier, are among other prominent reasons. Youth of smaller provinces in Pakistan has been compelled by these factors to disengage itself from pen and book and embrace the opposite. Elimination of the cause, in this case, is the only way to reverse the consequences. Every citizen of Pakistan has to be endowed equal human rights. Corruption and lawlessness must be uprooted thoroughly. 

Radicalisation of society is a serious threat to national integrity, a tool for foreign conspiracies. As the extremist fraction is working aggressively to spread their superficial yet captivating contemplations of religion, establishment of a counter-narrative is becoming an absolute necessity. A narrative that speaks of mercy, peace, love, kindness and humanism as the nucleus of religion. A narrative directed towards self building instead of self righteousness. A narrative which is able to extricate the spirit of shariah laws for a layman.  Inter-sectarian harmony must be brought about by emphasis on respect of each other's faiths and an end to the culture of denial. In addition to, economic reforms have to be brought under consideration to bring out substantial economic development.   

All humanistic figures and intellectual community should come together to implement a full program of social and humanitarian reforms to bring about "Renaissance of humanism". Our dying cultural values and spoiled morality should be restored by collaborative efforts as an important counter-strategy to lessen the nefarious impact of extremism. 

Whatever the solution may be presented, the reality is that there is a deep sleep in the society and among stakeholders. No one is paying heed to our relentless approach towards the disastrous end. Morality, values and humanity are outdated concepts. Eat, Drink and Merry forms the code of our life. We are living beings with dead conscience. The world has become a wasteland, like the wasteland of Eliot;

"Those who were living, are now dead      
Those who were living, are now dying
With a little patience"

However the suffocation is, hope is oxygen for the survival of humanity. We hope for the day when all the nation recognize the importance of Quaid's call for "Unity, Faith and Discipline", when conscience will redeem and revive, when the value of human blood will be restored and when love will surmount all evil spirits in this "Land of Pure".  And how Martin Luther King elaborates that;        

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."   extremism
						
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						<pubDate> Wed, 19 Nov 2014 03:16:13 -0500  </pubDate>
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						<author> Fatimah Saleem </author>
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						<title>Nature Is Marvellous</title>
						<link>http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/nature-is-marvellous-t1948.html</link>
						<description><![CDATA[
						
						  "In all things of nature there is something of the marvellous" ~ Aristotle  

Life has become so fast and mechanical that we are unable to take out some time and wonder about the marvels of nature. The jewels of nature spread around us in all sorts have secret treasures for us. Even the cursory look can reveal the lessons nature has been trying to teach through its astonishing creatures. 

The creator has asked us to observe and has placed signs for those who are intelligent. The man has been taught to bury the deceased through crow. The aero planes and the drones have so much resemblance with flying birds specially martin that carried the stones in its beak. The healthy way of life according to medical science is early to bed and early to rise. 

Isn't it what the bird fraternity has been doing since known? Starting the day from dawn by praising the Almighty, spending the day in search of livelihood, finally coming back to homes before dark and closing the day by paying gratitude to the creator, such a simple and uncomplicated life the birds lead; man would surely be jealous of the peace birds have. Isn't the simple open secret of nature so amazing?

The world is so magnetic that man keeps on running before it. Isn't there a lesson in how stork manages his stay in water? Stork never let his wings get soaked in water where he remains stand by on one leg so that he may fly any-time with ease and with no extra weight. We can follow him by not getting soaked in this seductive world so that when the time to leave comes, we may fly lighter and easier!

The mighty sky which looks tremendous with sparkling stars has a mirage attraction for every beholding eye. The more man travels towards the sky the farther it seems and the desire to reach for the cherishing sight strengthens. Is there something in common with our worldly desires? Probably a lot!

Then the majestic creation of the creator of all, the bounteous ocean, has so much to offer to those who are acquiescent. It's deep yet full of all kind of life. The unexplored proportion is thought to be much more than the explored fraction of an ocean. The tidal movement is a startling sight to view from a shoreline. The high tides, cyclone and tsunami within the ocean generate a temporary impact on the surroundings. Once the disturbance is over, the things settle down and the ocean seems to behave normally to the viewer on the coast. 

The whole process might have transitory effect on the outlook but the change made to the life inside is incalculable. The inside changes and hidden impact is visible only to the one living inside and experiencing everything or to the one who have remained connected to the underneath affairs and kept exploring the life deep under the surface of an ocean. Isn't it something man can relate to quite easily?

And we can find a lot of metaphors and symbols that nature has spread around so that we can spend our lives to look for them and to figure out the reality of life. The nature is so diverse that one can spend his whole life to explore the immensity and still leaves a lot more to be discovered. 

But the secrets of nature are worth looking for; as William Shakespeare said,

 "I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it." 

The sun, the moon, the stars, the ocean, the birds, the seasons, the trees, the mountains and everything that nature has bestowed the universe with is splendid and spectacular. The most inspiring of all is the man himself. 

The blend of good and bad, love and hatred, life and death, all just compels one to feel the one unitary force behind all this Who has made every single thing with purpose. The purpose is to facilitate mankind and to communicate with him in the natures own distinguished language. The nature wants us to listen to the unspoken words. 

George Santayana, the great philosopher once said, 

 "The earth has music for those who listen." 

Passion and desire are indispensable to listen to the silent music. Just a little sneak peek can give a lot of inspiration.

The mesmerizing experience of knowing about the real things around us makes us human beings. It keeps our soul intact and at peace. It relives the nominal tensions surrounding us. The need is to take a break from artificiality of this techno life and find the messages waiting for us. Look around for the marvels of nature and you'll never be disappointed.

mountains valleys
						
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						<pubDate> Wed, 01 Oct 2014 16:10:56 -0400  </pubDate>
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						<author> Rabbia </author>
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						<title>Azadi March And Electoral Reforms</title>
						<link>http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/azadi-march-and-electoral-reforms-t1946.html</link>
						<description><![CDATA[
						
						  April 16th, 1963 when a protester was arrested and jailed for asking individuals to disobey unjust laws, he was Martin Luther King who took stand for the 'civil rights'. Back in the days when African Americans were considered a "property" and had no rights, it took years and years of effort to make people realize they need to take a stand and demand equal rights in the society. In late fall the same year almost 200,000 people joined the march which is labelled in the history as 'March on Washington'. 

It was not only the African American who joined the March but also people from different ethnicity came forward and supported the long march. Many believe that it was an idea whose time had come; yes it was a revolution that involved arrests, tortures and deaths. The consequences of that Long March are still giving benefits to not just African American but all who come from different countries to USA for a job and a better life.

In fall 2014, August 14th Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan announced a long march toward Islamabad to bring electoral reform in Pakistan and call for an independent audit of election 2013. When we look at the history of Long Marches in the world and compare it with what is happening in Pakistan right now. 

The very first thing we notice is that all the demands put forward by Mr. King were unconstitutional, which later became a part of the constitution after amendments. Now when it comes to the demands put forward by Azadi March and Inqilab March leaders, we can say these demands are unconstitutional but in the supremacy of democracy the premier must step down and allow the judicial commission to investigate election rigging allegations.  After all, every political party called the elections 2013 as rigged but when it comes to ask for the impartial investigations this demand is called unconstitutional by the same political parties. 

It clearly shows that all the status quo political parties are getting benefits from this system and the electoral reform will highly impact their strength in parliament. There is no doubt that it will have some impact on those who are protesting for it as well. But that is how it should be, as suggested earlier that it is an idea whose time has come. People are now aware of the value of their vote and they are ready to do anything to secure it.

In the history, we don't find any commission report that was impartial in Pakistan. Somehow, somewhere those reports were influenced by the rulers of that time. It is almost as if when Government has no other options to cover up the mess, it forms a judicial commission and the reports are always biased. So the demand to ask Premier to resign to let the judicial commission complete the report is legit. 

While all the theories by political analysts have proven wrong, there is no sign that army or establishment is behind these marches nor any international force is hatching a conspiracy against the democracy in Pakistan. They are still protesting and their demands are still the same since day one. No one knows when and how this will end.

In past 45 days people have realized that this is about time to bury this old system that is not delivering the rights of the people. Whether Azadi March is going to be successful or not, one thing is true that people of Pakistan will never be the same.  They have realized the importance of standing for the justice and the electoral reform is the only way forward.

imran khan and tahir-ul-qadri
						
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						<pubDate> Mon, 29 Sep 2014 15:53:06 -0400  </pubDate>
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						<author> Noman Farooqi </author>
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						<title>Is Azadi March A Joke?</title>
						<link>http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/is-azadi-march-a-joke-t1944.html</link>
						<description><![CDATA[
						
						  Government has no choice but to show that the Azadi March is a joke because if they ever express that as a serious matter then that will be their last day although they are extremely tense and counting their final days of the kingdom. Opposition which benefits from Government also presenting the same attitude as they know that if Imran Khan comes to the power then he will not leave any corrupt politician! Diplomats and foreign countries are also backing the Government as for their own benefits which they incur from the Government. 

BUT does it make a difference what those Status Quo thinks? No, because the March is about common people! This is not just the March but the revolution against corrupt politicians. Those politicians are using taxpayer's money to build their empires in Pakistan and abroad.  

The country has been captured by the privileged. The government is neither collecting taxes from the rich and powerful nor spending money on the welfare of the people. This March is to create awareness and unite people from all over the country and to make them realize that if they continue to live this way then there is no future of Pakistan. 

We are going through the worst time of our lives and we want Pakistan to rise again. Basic services are not available such as clean water, medical facilities, electricity, education and many more. A common man cannot afford high electricity, water and gas bills. There is no welfare system in Pakistan where a poor or jobless gets basic support from the Government and this is what exactly Imran Khan wants to bring in to Pakistan!

Imran Khan is a fearless leader. His tremendous amount of determination is unmatchable. His struggle for better Pakistan since last 18 years is incredible. His exceptional tendency to fight when Police strikes the peaceful protesters on August 31st and he had left with very little support. 

Government including most of the people thought that game of Imran Khan is over, but this man's attitude was absolutely beyond expectation. He believes in the world of ideology and portray that in his life. He re-emerge in just a couple of days and was able to pull out more than half a million supporters in the Karachi's demonstration. There are thousands of people going to those demonstrations every day at Azadi Square and across the country knowing the fact that this could be dangerous for them and for their families but they are now become fearless as their leader is!

This is a fight between a Leader and a Dealer. A leader (Imran Khan) is strengthening power of people by leading from the front attitude across every single step he takes such as living in a small container for last 40 odd days, getting his peaceful supporters release from crude action of Police, facing shells full of illegal chemicals along his supporters on August 31st incident, rejecting VIP culture by standing in queues and travelling with normal passengers, no protocol and so on. While a Dealer (Nawaz) is overflowing pockets of his fake followers and showing illegal use of power to save this Kleptocracy. His constant lies in and outside of the parliament has frustrated people and now everyone is saying GoNawazGo. 

Imran Khan has awakened people of Pakistan and many of us have already started to push back Status Quo such as Rehman Malik's case, Sharif's family case on PIA flight and many more to come. Let's hope that those incidents spawns a chain reaction that puts ruling elite in their right place. We want the immigration officer of other countries to respect our green passport, we want our children to get the best education within the country and we want the talent of Pakistan to get polished and used for betterment within the country. We want peace and stability in our lives!

azadi march joke funny
						
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						<pubDate> Mon, 29 Sep 2014 10:23:24 -0400  </pubDate>
						<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/is-azadi-march-a-joke-t1944.html</guid>
						<author> Shahid Bilwani </author>
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						<title>A Testament To The Ingenuity Of Soldiers</title>
						<link>http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/a-testament-to-the-ingenuity-of-soldiers-t1939.html</link>
						<description><![CDATA[
						
						  Given the Pakistani political climate's contemporary series of unending fiasco's, which range from such intriguing spectacles as democratically "elected" politicians ousting deeply entrenched military regimes; only to usher in an era of undeniably greater and multifaceted instability, clean shaven and bearded despots attempting to lay siege to the capital in order to oust a "popularly" elected government through the use of sheer street power and the thinly disguised rhetoric of extra-constitutional means of assault, media houses epitomizing  what it means to harbour an agenda and ignoring all journalistic conventions of non-partisanship, as well as the acerbic squabbles between politicians on a lesser ranking in the hierarchy within their respective parties against their opponents on virtually every private and national TV channel; it does not come as a surprise that the average Pakistani is left scratching his head in utter bewilderment regarding which side's narrative to accept.

The current PML-N government, with its customary and predictable policy of trying to suppress all forms of protest through the use of extreme force and brutality, to the further detriment of its already shattered image as a moral entity, fares even worse amidst this ensuing climate of political anarchy, with compromise between the competing factions, itself and the PTI-PAT duo, scarcely on its agenda. It seems that only the Army is maintaining its proper stance and functioning, as per the procedures listed in detail within the codified constitution of the state.

A State, in its most basic sense, is built upon the bedrock of a series of fundamental institutions whose harmonious functioning is crucial to the welfare and efficient operation of the entire polity. Lack of institutional conflict, unity of purpose and ideology, and a general loyalty to the doctrines and principles upon which the said state has been conceived are essential pre-requisites which, if realized in their proper fashion, make its presence felt legitimately and forcefully in a global arena. As gleaned from a variety of standardized texts on governance in the present century, this delineation of the State's role is the accepted convention practised.

The constituent components of the state; namely the legal concepts of sovereignty, a social contract between the Executive and the local citizenry, territorial demarcations which define the land boundary, as well as the guiding dictates of the encoded, enshrined Constitution; the definitive law of the land, can only serve their intended functions as essential state organs if they are allowed to work in an environment unadulterated by selfish endeavours of individuals or dissenting groups, and outside influences bent upon impeding or curtailing their necessary operations, aiming to inflict damage to the said body-politic. And this is precisely where the State's primary security force, the Military, comes in; not to intervene in the political process, but to guarantee its health.

The Army, which falls under the confines of the stated executive authority as per constitutional provisions, with its fundamental role being that to safeguard the integrity and welfare of the state from both domestic and foreign threats, using any and all legal methods of counter strategy and forceful execution at its disposal, has perhaps the most crucial task of keeping the entire structure from collapsing in on itself. 

Indeed, in our contemporary age of national and intra-territorial enmities, ranging from social, ethnic, class, generational and sectarian conflicts, as well as a whole barrage of other contentious issues which are wreaking havoc to our viability as a nation with each passing moment; the institution of the Army remains, in a practical sense, the only stable state-entity guarding us in our periods of constant trial and struggle, and thereby preventing us from taking a final plunge down the cliff, towards the quagmire of national disintegration which is beckoning us to fall with increasing rapidity.

In this regard, the U.S imposed War on Terror, and its subsequent collateral of innocent Pakistani Army personnel and civilian casualties, who become victims of fundamentalist aggression as payback for siding with the controversial war effort, undoubtedly remains the most conspicuous of all challenges facing our proudly sovereign country today. The dismal, shallow mindsets of our politicians and their complete inability to justify their statuses as elected representatives of the citizenry, as well as the unchecked, ratings-dependent vitriolic onslaughts of the "free" media spewing sensational controversies left, right and centre; both comprise concerns which unmistakably add further fuel to this raging cauldron of woes. 

Furthermore, as if this internal condition of utter disarray wasn't enough of a constraint in our path towards political/economic prosperity, the treacherous assaults and aspirations of our long-time eastern foe, and its chronic meddling in our national affairs since the inception of our  homeland, as well as the strategic animosity displayed towards Pakistan by its western neighbours in general and competing, global intelligence-interests in particular, represent challenges that greatly foster the descent of additional burden falling on the shoulders of our security agencies. Such issues provide for common parlance in our everyday conversations on the media, as well as casual discussions in informal settings.

The narrative detailed above is important for every modern-day Pakistani citizen to understand, and empathize with; in particular the aspiring youth of the country. We need to realize that Pakistan is our identity, and a vibrant, dynamic reality of our contemporary age, and future. Its unique cultures, geographical landscapes and diverse terrains, and ideological foundations are worth cherishing, promoting and defending, against all forms of violence and degradation. Its realization as an independent country from British colonial rule represents a history of grave sacrifices, and principled stands taken by great men and women who have served their homeland tirelessly, in the hope of transferring its nature-endowed beauty and legacy to a newer generation of hopefully even more patriotic individuals. 

As has been pointed out previously, the vital institution of the Army represents the only de-facto, and effective, organized and disciplined force keeping this enchanting vision of sovereign Pakistan a reality. Had it not been for the unceasing zeal and commitment of the said force, and its endeavour to put the country first and every other concern second, we would have been witnesses to a considerably more perilous and fragmented Pakistan. The unity of the Pakistani state is a testament to the valour and ingenuity of its soldiers. 

Indeed, this fact cannot be stated enough to warrant its rectification, and this knowledge needs to be circulated far and wide on every possible forum, so that the common Pakistani citizen can fully appreciate the importance of strong and committed state institutions, and how the country essentially needs each one to function effectively, to ensure its continued prosperity and survival.

The current crises in Islamabad will eventually abate, with the political landscape only changing slightly. What will remain are this country's institutions, and the people who have made it their purpose in life to defend them.



ispr
						
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						<pubDate> Sat, 13 Sep 2014 15:57:17 -0400  </pubDate>
						<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/a-testament-to-the-ingenuity-of-soldiers-t1939.html</guid>
						<author> Komayal Hassan </author>
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						<title>Heartbreaking Scenes Of Floods</title>
						<link>http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/heartbreaking-scenes-of-floods-t1938.html</link>
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						  I am not much of a blogger but last night I was watching the disasters of flood on TV and I could not helped my self to stop writing,  frankly I feel ashamed of myself while writing it's like looking in a mirror at myself,  and seeing the scares which are normally hidden under a mask. 

Very very saddening and heartbreaking scenes around Kashmir,  Punjab and now Sindh as well,  all buried under water. It's time we Pakistani get serous about this because it's not the first time,  all we do is damage control every time and that too not very well. the government needs to think seriously and take some permanent measures because this is hurting us every time,  we don't need roads or high buildings or fancy buses,  we need the basic things, things that will save lives,  because that's the first thing one should have before thinking about anything else. 

The fact is that we don't have any basic facilities for our common people,  our so called leaders and politicians have any idea what our people are facing?

This flood or any natural disasters are just the one which comes to attention,  but what about those which we don't see. 

Do they have any idea about the health problems? how many mothers are underweight? (More than 70%) how many children are malnourished? (Probably more than 60% and almost 90% are underweight) how many people die of infections? which can be treated very easily if we ever give a damn about it.  People don't have food and drinking water,  they don't even have a tomorrow,  and we don't even see it.  We only get emotional when there is a natural disaster an earth quack,  a flood,  an infectious breakout,  or something like that.

We proudly say we are developing day by day,  people are crying for electricity, I say how can you expect electricity from these peoples who cannot even provide drinking water? I am saying the people because these are the majority of our country these are more than 50% people of our country.  Has anyone gone to them? Have anyone asked them what do they want? Have anyone asked " hay dude what are your problems? Do you wand a huge road or do you want something to eat? Do you want your name in Guinness book or do you what clean water?"

Our people don't needs laptops,  they don't need their names in world record books,  they don't need metros,  they need their basic needs. 

Yes I admit these things are good but we can't afford it.  If anyone thinks we can afford it then why more than half of our people are living like this?then this means we simply don't want to give them what is their right. 

There is a flood,  a natural disaster right now and we all are getting emotional right now,  because we can see it,  if we would have just heard about it it would have been nothing because the part of our brain related to that is just dead.  We hear but we don't hear it. 

I am saying it's not just now  people dying it's always been like this it's their life,  they born and die and it just does not change,  because we the privileged people don't want to change it. 

We the privileged don't see it.

We don't hear it even if we do. 

No matter what my political views are I think we are all responsible for this,  the educated people,  they should be guides of the nation.  But we are not,  like it or not but it's just the bitter truth. 

floods
						
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						<pubDate> Mon, 08 Sep 2014 06:59:41 -0400  </pubDate>
						<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/heartbreaking-scenes-of-floods-t1938.html</guid>
						<author> Ilyas Muhammad </author>
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						<title>The Circus Of Imran Khan</title>
						<link>http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/the-circus-of-imran-khan-t1937.html</link>
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						  Considering the heights of desperation which has compelled Imran Khan to claim that he will either obtain resignation of Nawaz Sharif or will accept death, I began to wonder what would Pakistan be like after Imran Khan?

Many people might think that things may not deteriorate to the point where Mr. Khan will be forced to actually end his life (considering his unblemished record of U-turns I too think that he will refrain from doing so). There are 2 possible outcomes of current political impasse forced upon the country by Imran Khan.

 Nawaz Sharif, the elected prime minister is forced to resign.
 Nawaz Sharif does not resign.

Whatever the outcome may be, Imran Khan is set to die, the only difference is that if Nawaz Sharif does not resign, and if Imran chooses not to utilize his U-turn capabilities, he will have to bid farewell to this world, while if Nawaz Sharif resigns, Imran will face a political death.

Pakistan is no longer what it used to be back in 1980s and 1990s, the political parties have matured which is evident from the support that has been shown by the opposition parties for the government. Neither is the army  in any mood to  topple the government, they are preoccupied with defending the borders and national security. There is no doubt that Imran Khan was a superb sportsman and tactician, but his political career is marred with miscalculations and wrong decisions. 

His repeated outbursts against each and every political leader of the country, has brought him to the point of isolation. Even if he succeeds in forcing an elected prime minister to resign, no political party in the country will choose to stand by his side, as no political party would want to align with a mob like political party that prides itself in unsettling a democratically elected government.

Coming back to my vision of Pakistan after Imran Khan's death, I believe Pakistan stands to lose a great deal in case of his death. Firstly, the dance parties which he has so proudly been organizing in the name of dharnas and jalsas, will no longer be possible, which means that government and the society will have to deal with brainwashed and desperate youth who have been trained to be impatient and intolerant. The society will have to bear with dis-oriented youth who have grown used to hardcore partying on the streets.

More than anything, the electronic media and some anchorpersons will be the biggest losers. The electronic media will have to come up with new shows to makeup for airtime that they have been unnecessarily giving to Imran Khan and PTI. The anchorpersons who have been acting as official spokespersons of Imran Khan will either be rendered jobless or they might have their employers out of the business.

For general public, the hourly dose of hilarious performance by an ever improving stand-up comedian will cease to be administered, which in turn will lead to higher level of depression among the masses, as Pakistani nation is already confronting many depressive issues.

Above all, the nation which has grown used to day dreaming, thanks to Imran Khan, will have to come to terms with the reality, i.e. nothing can be changed overnight and that the country and democracy needs to go through an evolution process to actually deliver what the masses dream about. The mob who has been convinced that partying on the streets and staging sit-ins every now and then can bring about the prosperity, will have to put in physical efforts for achieving prosperity.

In the light of all the above mentioned negatives that Imran Khan's death may bring to our country, I believe it is better that we let him die his political death and allow him to conduct his shows once a month in every major city of the country. 

PTI should be granted the status of company specializing in circus performances. This will ensure that our nation keeps enjoying the benefits that PTI and its chief's performances offer while at the same time it will prevent PTI from causing the loss of billions to the economy of the country through its dharnas.

Looking forward to the official launch of PTI Circus.

imran khan azadi march
						
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						<pubDate> Thu, 04 Sep 2014 05:51:44 -0400  </pubDate>
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						<author> Syed Arsalan Riyasat </author>
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						<title>Solar And Renewable Resources</title>
						<link>http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/solar-and-renewable-resources-t1936.html</link>
						<description><![CDATA[
						
						  Never did the creator of space and time say that earth solely was the responsibility of "environmental organisations". 

It was not their fate to keep crying their hearts out over the worsening state of pollution; it was not their destiny either to keep lamenting over the senselessness of humanity and the swiftly dwindling sources of earth. The earth never solely was theirs!

When we share the earth with them, why not the responsibility?

The jewels of earth that we keep digging for a better life- coal, gas, petrol and all non-renewable resources- those jewels are the blood in the veins of earth. If we suck those veins dry, what better future had we worked for? 

Man has used up more "non-renewable resources" of earth ever since the industrial revolution (post 1945) than all the resources ever used here ever since the birth of earth.

Now imagine the usage continues till the earth is out of all its jewels. Imagine a planet without petrol, coal, gas, trees and thus electricity. Yes! Imagine: one day you ran out of all earthly sources you ever exploited for energy! 

Imagine the energy gone! 

Whoosh! 

"Power gone"!!!

Your very first day without the lights, TV, mobile, PC, stoves, air conditioners, generators and what not will remind you what Terry Swearingen once said fearing such a situation.

We are living on the planet as if we have another one to go to.

Too bad you will find out she was just being sarcastic while referring to that other "hypothetical asylum". And since man knows ever since the dawn of common sense that crying over spilt milk does no good to any one- should you not take a more pragmatic approach to your life on this planet, right from this moment?

Welcome then to the world of "renewable resources" and let's focus on the best of them all. 

This sun that shines bright on earthlings each day is God's way of telling us to not to lose hope after all. Each beam of the sun carries the message of "life-energy-power" and let's, by no chance underestimate the message.

Let's utilize each photon of those beams from sun (with thanks) and brighten our ways out of the depths that we are falling to with this energy crisis. Let's convert our roofs, sheds and useless land pieces to potential power generators and save earth from this anaemia of resources.

Let's work together for the happiness of earth - for in the happiness of the earth is the secret of continuity of life hidden.

solar power
						
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						<pubDate> Tue, 02 Sep 2014 16:17:15 -0400  </pubDate>
						<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/solar-and-renewable-resources-t1936.html</guid>
						<author> Malik Muhammad Imran </author>
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						<title>Political Fanaticism And Drama</title>
						<link>http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/political-fanaticism-and-drama-t1935.html</link>
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						  I belong to a nation that is spending most part of its day every day, glued to a TV screen. No, it's not 'lack of an ambition in life', not 'obsession with entertainment' either. But no one still has a right to tell us to try getting off of our couches and go turn the 'goggle box' off. 

Why sir? For an answer.I welcome you to join me to watch this brand new episode of 'politics in Pakistan'.

It's chaos, it's uncertainty, it's barraged roads, it's clenched fists, it's barred teeth, it's dug out graves, it's readied coffins, it's rising adrenaline, it's soaring passions, it's deadlines' renewals, it's failed consensus over the issues, it's fanatic political oration all around.that sir is what this brand new episode of political drama that we all are hung up on these days is all about.

I hope I have your attention now.

Political air around the capital or the country, for that matter- has never been this uncertain ever before. Take to browsing through Pakistani news channels for a minute and you'd most certainly be driven mad by the amount and variance of analysis being aired about the current political situation. You might also want to activate a firewall against the various genres of abuses being poured out of your TV set if you happen to come across a debate between the workers of the involved parties. 

Not good?  Leave it here then, turn the TV off and maybe head towards your living room to enjoy a nice sitting with your folks. Oh, but I'm sorry, I forgot to warn you against another dosage of a 'home-run' political debate between your siblings and parents about who is right and who is wrong in the current situation and chances of raised voices and fuming arguments are just as high as were they on the TV. 

Such is the news about political scenario of the country, such is the melodramatic state of media feeds we are being subjected to and such is the status of fanaticism amongst the masses these days.

I welcome you, once more, to watch this band new episode of 'Political Drama of Pakistan' with me, so.

Someone bring us some popcorn please.

political drama
						
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						<pubDate> Tue, 02 Sep 2014 16:11:26 -0400  </pubDate>
						<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/political-fanaticism-and-drama-t1935.html</guid>
						<author> Malik Muhammad Imran </author>
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