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Archive for the ‘Pakistan’ Category

WE NEED AN AWAKENING NOT A REVOLUTION


We want change, we want revolution.

We want Pakistan to fly, we want our country to shine and want it to be the best .

Yes, why not. We all want our country to be the best. Nothing wrong. No, not at all.

These are the aspirations of a common man of Pakistan—no Feudal Lord, no bureaucrat, no politician. Yes we ‘the common man’ have aspirations as high as Minar-e-Pakistan but our actions do not even reach upto the roof level of  it’s basement.

We want the corruption to go with a wink—but we do not want to give up our right to use our nepotism skills to get what we can. We do not want our right connections to to go waste, in getting our kids the right job or admission. But still we want Pakistan to be free of corruption, but  not through us.

We want the cities and the towns in Pakistan to be the utopias of law and order. We want to leave our house without fear of being kidnapped. But we do not want to stop breaking the traffic signal whenever there is no policeman at the crossing, or even stop throwing the garbage outside the house shamelessly. But still we want Pakistan to be law abiding, not us.

We want Pakistani  people to be prosperous. We do not want to see encroachments of the shacks in the empty lot near our bungalows, we do not want the maasi who comes to our house  to flick any jewelery kept at the side table. But we do not want to pay the correct amount of taxes, share our massive wealth with the poor around us. We do not want to reduce one extra dish from our daily elaborate meals, what to talk of missing a meal in their honor. We bargain every penny from these maids and show the display of vulgar wealth in our house as they work. Yes we still want her and the whole Pakistan to be honest, not us.

We want to see beautiful schools, hospitals, roads all over Pakistan, we want no beggars on our streets. But we do not want to pay a dignified wage to our employees if we are the bosses, we do not want the tax net to increase, we do not want to even pay the right zakat—we issue a “Shia” certificate to avoid that—but we still want Pakistan to prosper, but without our input.

We want Pakistan to be safe from suicide bombings, from terrorists. But we do not want to give up our hatred for the other sect or the other faith. We do not want to refrain from calling ourselves the’ rightly guided’ and others the ‘misguided’. We want Pakistan to be free from extremism, but not ourselves.

We detest Drone attacks, we hate Raymond Davis, we hate the way our politicians misuse their power. But we just blurt curses on them sitting in our living rooms –the Americans, the Indians, the politicians . We hate to come out on streets and display  the people’s might. If we do come out at all, at the coercion of some forces, we go berserk and end up burning cars, buses, gas stations . But we want our country to be peaceful , not ourselves.

We hate when Veena Malik goes and sells our izzat in the Indian channel. Our ghairat wakes up. We cry for the difference in ‘our’ culture and ‘their’ culture. But when it is time for the Indian soap on Starplus after 8 pm—we waste no time to switch it on, watch it day after day, not missing even a scene , what to talk of the an episode. If the light goes off, we want the cable operator to provide the CD for the missed episode. Yes we want Pakistan to represent our Pakistani culture, but we don’t.

What is this Pakistan, if it is not us.?

“It isn’t enough to talk about peace, one must believe it.
And it isn’t enough to to believe in it, one must work for it.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt

Yes indeed, not just for peace, even for a revolution and asking for a change, the ‘talk’ isn’t just enough, we need to first believe in it and must work for it.

And this talk, belief and action isn’t just the duty of the media, the starlets, the social activists or the leaders—but has to come from the common man.

And the change in the beliefs and actions must first come within oneself before we expect the common man next door to change his.

Revolution never comes by passing the buck to the other, it comes by working on it, oneself.

Probably, we are lucky! Really lucky.
For we really do not need any revolution of the kind that is spreading in the Middle East—we just need “an AWAKENING”.

Awakening from the delusion that some outside forces are behind our ills.

Awakening to the simple fact if we hate others, they will hate us even more.

Awakening from the dream that someone else will bring the change.

Awakening from the illusion that God will save us through some miracle.
God has in fact made himself amply clear in so many words in Quran:
الله انملايغيرمابقواحتىيغيرو  مابانفسهم
“Verily never will God change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (13:11).”

It is high time we wake up from the long sleep of bigotry, ignorance and apathy.

Let’s wake up now…

Category:

Pakistan, Politics

KYOONKE HUM ZINDA QAUM HAIN


Bombs and bombs
One after the other
We still have mehndis with
Drumbeats and dandiyas.

Floods and floods
Wherever you saw
We still had iftaars
Table full and elaborate.

Destruction and demolition
Of homes and schools
We still rennovate homes
With Italian marbles and tiles.

Misery and poverty
From your door till mine
We still change wardrobes
With every changing season.

Hunger and malnutrion
As far your eyes can see
We still have overbooked tables
In buffets and gourmet restaurants.

Depression and despondency
In every household one knows
We still blowoff our tops on
Valentines Day celebrations.

Ask Why?
Kyonke, hum zinda qaum hain.
Jee haan, hum zinda qaum hain.

Category:

MY POETRY, Pakistan, Poetry, Politics, Social Issues

WE THE GREAT PPLZ.


Yeah!
After Raymond Davis
Come one  come all
Toms, Dicks, Harries
Sheelas, Veenas, Munnis
Come  come  come
Come and perform
Pakistan is a  stage
We are a great Qaum
Of spectators only
We will watch surely
Your antics closely
Will  boo oo  a   lot
And cheer somewhat
Then again we will go
Back to a deep sleep
Yupp,   deep indeed.
Coming on to streets?
Ugh!  Not  f or   us !
It suits   so  much
Those frickin Egyptians
And the silly Tunisians
Ehh, those  chotey log.

HAPPY SLEEPING !

Category:

MY POETRY, Pakistan, Poetry, Politics

Neeki Lagat Mohe Apne Piya Ki – Farid Ayaz Qawwal


Laagi Laagi sab kahein, laagi buri bala
Laagi to tab jaaniyo, jab aar paar hoee jaae

Neeki lagat mohe apnay piya ki
(Moray piya ki) Aankh raseeli jaado bhari

Nazar nay nazar mulaqat kar li
Rahay donon khamosh aur baat kat li

Chaen parat naahi mukh daikay bina
Daikh najar bhar jaat bhari ray

Kaahay Turab darre kaahu say
Preet karee, ka mein chori karee ray?!

Category:

Farid Ayaz ka Jadoo, Kabir, Music, Pakistan

Sakhi Ka Say Kahoon Mohey Laaj Lagey Qawwali by Farid Ayaz


Category:

Kabir, Music, Pakistan

WE LOVE HOT FOOD, HOT NEWS AND STARPLUS BUSS.


Since time immemorial we are known for our spices. The westerners – the Portuguese, the French, the British all came to Indian subcontinent not for the intentions to rule us , but on a look out  for spices. India at that time was known as  the ‘spice heaven’ of the world..

And till now, we have maintained out appetite for spicy food. A little less masala in the Biryani and we complain it wasn’t delicious. Infact, we refuse to eat it.
Same is the case with our appetite for Masala news. WE LOVE SPICY NEWS , RELISH IT,  CHEW IT LONG IN OUR MOUTHS,  AND EVEN REGURGITATE IT with blogs after blogs. But any boring bland news we just swallow it like my son does to the tasteless vegetables.

Human rights group called HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, based in New York, way back in 1999 published a report that Pakistani women, 90% of them, are subjected to verbal, sexual, emotional, or physical abuse in their very homes. I remember seeing the news in various newspapers. But am sure it just went unnoticed–one,  that not many have the habit to read, two, it didnt come as a dramatic news on the TV tagged with a celebrity announcing it.

Yes we are a nation who  loves  to watch TV too and we love dramas the most.

When our dramas became boring with loaded intellect of Sania, Marina, Samina like dull boring women, we switched to watching STARPLUS from India–because they are more spicy.

TO HELL WITH INTELLECT.

So right was  Mehr Bukhari on a TV show just a day ago that,  “We are intellectually bankrupt, and hence we want media or the starlets to take the lead in reformation of the society.”

How many of us remember the name of a faceless girl Amina on whom acid was thrown on her face by her husband in Karachi a couple of years ago and YES she too protested a great deal and came in the media and was evenhighlighted by I A REHMAN, the director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

But why should we?

Neither she was a starlet wearing sphagetti sleeves in front of a Mullah nor was IA Rehman a macho.

How many of us even can recognise the picture of Dr Shazia Khalid who was gang raped in Balochistan and that triggered the war between Pak army and Baloch tribes. Not a small issue.
Why the hell should we–she was not at all a Bigboss enterant. And she did protest too,  that too against the rapists, who we know who they are ,and then left to USA out of frustration and her safety. How many blogs came out on her–there were but not as many, I can bet.
But she never became the champion of the raped girls or symbol of oppression..

Yes Mukhtara Mai did become one. I am glad and I laud all of us for making her so- the media, the bloggers, the FB friends. We all made her the ‘hero’.  Not she herself. Exceptions are always there.

A  schoolgirl,  Kainat Soomro was gang raped at the age of 13. Four years later, today, she is still fighting for justice.
“Kainat Soomro should have stayed silent. After being battered and gang raped for four days her traditional, conservative village in rural Pakistan expected the 13-year-old girl to keep her story to herself. She refused.”

Writes Robin Crilly,   from Daily Telegraph on just 26 December, 2010. How many of us cross posted after reading it.  And this includes me too. I do not absolve myself from this indifference.

This is what a 13 year old Kainat said,
“This is what happens in Pakistan. Poor women have no chance. These men set the rules and think they know how to deal with these issues. They don’t.”
But who noticed?  Who called her a Warrior Princess? Who claimed that Kaanat is ‘me’?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8224111/Pakistans-rape-victim-who-dared-to-fight-back.html

And then just yesterday the DAWN blog by Shyma  highlighting the killing of a faceless SAIMA etc and addressing to the frenzy of the bloggers to ‘hot’ stuff.

And I waited for 24 hours with impatience to see how many of my FB friends, who went and crossposted Veena , went gaga over her courage and valour, will crosspost this. Not even ONE did. Yes not even ONE.

http://blog.dawn.com/2011/01/26/this-blog-is-for-you/

Who are we  kidding guys?

I can go endlessly with such cases who are loaded  with serious issues and serious struggles. But the point is again we are a masala loving nation. And we want masala, the hotter the better.

I was wondering for the last 24 hours as to what is wrong with my brain, my thinking. Did God assemble it wrong order when doing so. Why do I think ‘wierd’ from others, when all of us agree to one thing that this is extremism, bigotry, moral policing is wrong.

I too think Veena being moral policed is wrong but then why am I not being a veena wannabe.
Is it because I am old or I am jealous of her beauty. May be, subconciously.

I even love hot food. But why not hot news then?

Then suddenly I get a flash in my head in the middle of a very important presentation that I was doing for an international organisation begging them to pay their attention to the Maternal Mortality in Pakistan too, not just India or Bangladesh.

And then the reality flashed probably because I donot ever ever switch on to the never ending soaps that run on STAR PLUS. I am so feeble minded that I cant recall even one name.

To what extent am I blind will be obvious from this incident- when I ran into a ‘huge’ startlet who was a VIP for a fundraiser we had worked for–I just didnt place her and offered her a seat in the audience much to the offence of the organisers as well she herself.

Yes I donot watch Indian STARPLUS and that is my anomaly. I get it now to the peace of my mind. Hence,  I dont get the greatness in the two minutes screaming of a STARPLUS  heroine to a two minute moral policing for her.

But I love ‘hot’ food , please.

Ilmana Fasih

P.S.  I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT MY PROTEST HERE BLOG AFTER BLOG IS NOT WITH VEENA , IT IS THOSE WHO BLOW THINGS OUT OF PROPORTION WITH NO END ACHIEVED THRO IT. AS FAST AS THE BUBBLE ERRUPTS, AS FAST IT BURSTS. I AWAIT HOW AGAIN WE WILL SLEEP A DEEP SLEEP AND SWTICH ON TO STARPLUS WHEN THE VEENA BUBBLE BURSTS.

Category:

Health, Pakistan, Politics, Social Issues, Women

IS JUST MULLAH BASHING THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIFE?


Not just our country Pakistan but the whole muslim population is polarised between radicals and the liberals. Between the blacks ( radicals) and the whites ( we the liberals) –sorry if I sound racist here–there lie various shades of grey who keep’ rolling’ between the two ends depending upon the tilt. We the whites and they the blacks, are colorfast. No matter how much bleach you may use the blacks wont fade and stay ‘stubbornly’ black. Similarly no matter how much stain the blacks pour on us the liberals, we stay ‘sparkling’ ( Sorry if I sound conceited here). The vulnerable( for blacks) or malleable ( for whites)  are the ‘rolling’ grey of all shades. They aren’t even sure what color they are–sometimes they see themselves dark grey some times just a tint. It is this ‘rolling’ grey shades which can be dyed through manipulation into either black or white . Whether the black or the white succeeds in pulling them towards it’s side is up to their skills and ability.

Enough of playing with black, white and grey, let me come to the point. The two ends of the polarised group are hard to budge, no matter what. It is the vast majority of our undecided minds ( who I really find hard to give a name so call them the ‘rolling’ grey)  which needs to be pulled towards our side.

Our mistake is we target the radicals and desperately want to them have a change of hearts. The heart transplantation or to put it straight the change in mindset is a lot more easy, thought still not so easy,  in the unstable unsure group who’s leanings keep going seesaw.

When situations like Salman Taseer’s ghastly murder or Benazir’s assassination arise, the emotions and passions that burst out are well understood and justified. And such situations do merit strong condemnation and reaction so that the black radicals don’t get away with the crime scot-free.

But unfortunately when the current situations of Veena Malik or any thing similar arises our passions go boom out of a proportion. Two minutes of her cry and screams and the statuses erupt and the tweeters start tweeting veena tunes. We start Mullah bashing. Glorify the lady in news who is neither liberal nor moderate but a pure opportunist struggling to stay in news.

Have we ever given a tickle to our grey matter as to who are we harming with this knee jerk reaction–our own cause, of course..

Why?

Every society has their value system. For instance if in Japan touching is considered a taboo, then we  do not go to Japan and hug them tight because we think that is right. We respect their cultural value and bow at right angle instead or giving them a jhappi or even shaking hands with them. And we see nothing wrong in this.

When we go in such  immature proVeena frenzy, beyond  proportions,  it is this undecided grey class who we lose. It is important to realise that we too, like in Japan,  live in a society which has certain value system,  rightly or wrongly.

We may not be on board with them  but their sentiments do get hurt when they realise that we are hitting hard on their values. Okay we needn’t appease the blasphemous values–even if many have  it. But yes if majority of the grey class thinks that hugging and smooching in public and whatever she did in the reality show does not comply to the common perception of decency, we can’t go on praising her for being brave. If she doesn’t deserve moral policing she does not deserve glorification either. I wonder but this is common sense to me. Or maybe because Japan is Japan the respect for culture holds up there, but when in Pakistan–‘culture ki aisi taisi’  attitude prevails like we have for every other ‘real’ issue.

It is then that this grey ‘rolling’ class finds us the liberals as threatening and deviated from the normal moral values. And they start seeing more sense at the other end. I realised this for the first time when I myself felt really disgusted with the way the lady was glorified from being a’ Warrior princess’ to a ‘symbol of oppression’ or ‘stunningly sexy’ to a ’embodiment of grace’. I found all the enlightenment gone dark then .

We accuse the radicals of exaggerating –yes they do but then we do no less. With the ‘fatwa factory’ rhetoric going all over I actually googled to look for where is the fatwa for her. But neither was there any real fatwa nor even the mention by the mullah of any fatwa during his firey discourse with the drama queen.

What is the purpose of our being a liberal intellectual –just to do mullah bashing? Okay then no need to even wait for Veena Malik incident–just stand in your balcony and shout four letter words on every bearded passerby. You will feel far more satiated. But if our purpose is to lure the undecided group lean towards us and bring a real transformation in the society’s  MINDSET then we need to act responsible, more rational and a lot less emotional.

Why was  it that the TTP or Fazlullah was able to gain ground in Swat,  because he  kept his hand on the pulse of the ‘greys’–they used to go door to door telling women that they too have property rights and hence easily getting at least 50% of the population on board.  Whether they stuck to their words is another story but their luring tactics was flawless. Similarly the radicals reap on the poverty and their plight by providing real solutions to them through financial aid or key to the Jannah. It is hard to recruit volunteers for door to door flier distribution and they recruit suicide bombers. We need to look into their modus operandi to learn how to succeed.

Compare this to the leftist ideology. There can be nothing more people friendly than Socialism but the moment they talk of religion being the ‘ opium’  the mediocre mind backs out.  Abandoning God is the last thing even a half believer would want. Well this is my calculated common sensible opinion. One may not agree.

And what do we do instead –just mock at the mullah or anyone who follows them. Have you ever seen anyone being your well-wisher if you mock at him. Just give it a try.

If Veena was to be labelled warrior princess then why was Taseer till now not been beatified into a Saint ?
He stood defending a cause which was not his and he needed no publicity stunt to boost his ratings. Does it make same sense as it does to me?

We call ourselves intellectuals–should we also not use our top floor to sense the pulse of the public in order to win them over. Let this be for the tactic sake,  if not for principle.

My personal opinion is that we should reserve our extreme reactions to ‘real issues’ and not  ‘non issues’.

By being unduly emotional on trivial issues like the Veena stint and using rhetoric like ‘fatwas’ when there was no fatwa and ‘ warrior princess’ when she was just doing her publicity stunt, we lose the few of genuine sympathisers who we were able to gain after Taseer’s death or Aasia’s blasphemy verdict or after the Ahmedi blasts. I too lost myself on this incident.

I was left wondering since past few days as to why is it that the fantastic titles the lady could gather in two minutes Asma Jehangir, Sherry Rehman, Beena Sarwar couldn’t  in so many years.  Again I think it is common sense, these are serious  women for whom  fighting  for against moral policing  is a ‘serious business’  and work steadily albeit slowly towards their cause and change of mindsets.   But those naive pens for whom liberal values are more of a fashion trend than conviction don’t get this.

Are we ready to open the windows of our enlightened mind to get some ventilation with fresh air ?

Category:

Pakistan, Politics, Social Issues

VEENA BEHN YOU ARE NOT ‘ME’


VEENA MALIK VEENA MALIK VEENA MALIK

Everywhere you turn, is the name of Veena Malik.

I close my eyes and your image flashes..
I slept last night and I dreamt of you.
Oh Veena you have captured my heart and mind like no one ever did before.

Yes you are a smart and a talented girl. I was a fan of your acting and mimicry in the HUM SUB UMEED SE HAIN when you hosted the show.You carried the roles of almost anyone from Benazir, to Kashmala Tariq to Fridous Awan to a two plait juniour school girl with such awesome accuracy.
When you left the show I missed you. I did not enjoy the show for weeks after that with the new anchor.

When you had your the affair with Asif, the alleged marriage and then the breakup–I didnt gossip about it . For it was your personal life . None of my business. Exactly the way it is none of anybody’s business to know about my personal life.
I really felt sorry for you when you split with Asif and you narrated your tragedy of abuse and your finanacial help to a broke Asif, even when you were ridiculed. And you know all those cricket loving guys turned against you and called you millions of names. Yes they were such immature  to take Asif’s side. None of them knew what was the inside truth in it. Your story was right or wrong, was none of my business.  For I looked at you only as an actress and Asif as a cricketer who got wickets for the team.  Nothing more nothing less.

And yes when the news came that you and Ali Saleem were selected for the BigBoss, I just heard it one minute and forgot it the next.  Not because I was jealous but because I have different priorities. I dont watch such shows. Yes you do such shows or millions watch them. It’s their choice.  None of my business to judge you or anyone.

What ever you did on the show–I just heard off and on, and sometimes stalked the link to check–people frowned at you and raised their eyebrows on your morality. Yes these people have small minds.  But to me it didnt matter. You are a showbiz girl. Showbiz is your bread and butter. I know, you have a huge family if unmarried sisters and a brother to feed.
Kudos, to you for being a ‘man’ of your family.
You seek publicity. People call it cheap publicity. Sometimes I also blurt out such unethical words. I’m sorry for that. I need not judge you. You only know how hard it is to survive in a competitive world,  that too of showbiz.  You only face the hardships that any woman has to face in an industry where a  woman is taken as a selling commodity.

You survived long in the show. Whatever method you used was your business. You had to do it and you had every right to choose how you survuved. If you flirted with whoever that tall guy was, you did it with yourself. You did not push me to sit in his lap. Those who called this haram –they are bigots and idiots. You will be answerable for   your deeds in the grave. They may not be sitting in some ones lap doing haram but they take bribes, tell lies and most of all bitch about you–it lis like they are eating the meat of their dead brother. They too will be questioned in their grave.

They gave you fatwas and fb pages erupted asking to not allow you to come to Pakistan–but you came.
Bravo. You are not a coward. You are a brave girl. You are a son to your mom. I commend her.

You came on the Kamran Shahid’s show . The clean shaven ‘God fearing’ anchor and the unkemptly bearded Mullah  both  interrogated you about your ordeal. You answered to the best of your aptitiude. Some blogger said you looked sexy–well he is an ass, you did not come there for glamour. You came to clarify yourself.

The mullah and KS asked you all kinds of stuppidd questions and emotionally blackmailed you for Pakistan or Islam. But MashAllah, you are so honest, you shut up those arguments by saying you represented you not  Pakistan not  Islam. You said in so many words that  you went there with your own agenda. Yes Allah  rewards honest and punishes the hypocrats. You definitely are not a hypocrat.

Yes it is first you and your family to be fed. If you are well fed then only can you love your country or your faith. Singing Qaumi Tarana  or  reciting Surah Rehman will not give you and your family the basic needs of food, shelter and clothing. If you have no money,  no Mullah or no Pakistani  patriot will bring food for you for free.  So it is no one’s business to judge you from the Islamic or Pakistani angle. You never took refuge with  anyone to save you. You never begged anyone to give you money. Instead you gave sooo much money to Asif that he couldnt even digest  it and hence puked it on your relationship.

When you could not bear no more you cried and screamed.  As a woman I did not like it.  A strong woman neither cries nor screams to put her views across. A strong woman makes others cry, instead.  Yes next time they make you cry, you make them cry in return.  But then it was you not me. I shouldnt have judged you again.

Yes I pity you for what hue and cry is going on about you. And the mullah with or without beards,  are crying fowl for you. But these bigots and Mullah, they are a pain for everyone, not just for you.   And these Fatwas are a peice of crap.  Allah doesn’t get pleased by such Fatwas.  This is their thriving business you see. So please dont give a hoot to these Fatwas.

These religious bigots  killed Taseer recently, they are after Sherry Rehman, they call Asma Jehangir all kinds of names. They hate Beena Sarwar for her values.Yeah, they even killed Benazir. They were the ones who hanged Bhutto too. They even killed Gandhi in India, yaar.  We are fighting them since years. We have to go on fighting them. Good you are taking them head on . I like it. Keep it up.

But then Veena you are so lucky, so many people have fallen in love with you. Girls dream of at least one person falling in love with them, and you have so many. Maa, you’re a lucky girl. I know you are getting so many SMSs with their love notes. Save them for life in the hard disk. They come pretty handy when you feel low for some other reason in you later life.

But Veena I have one issue with you.  No no, not with  you but with  all those enlightened chocolate hearts in which you have made a permanent home. They are so overwhelmed by you and your bravery that they see Veena Malik in every woman. Yes they see Veena Malik in me too.

But ‘m sorry. You are you and me is me.  And every woman in Pakistan is ‘SHE’ herself.  Everyone has her own story. Everyone has her own modus operandi to survive.

Please tell all your beloveds– I know you have many among the cleanshaven guys and hijabless gals– to please spare me and my other Pakistani sisters.

You have been fortunate to get fame, name, money, Asif, even sympathy.

Many many million of my sisters here dont get even a proper two full meals because their brothers are fed first.

You enjoyed such wonderful Indian cuisines in  the Bigboss.

They dont go to school because they have to look after their sibs. They cant even step out of the house.

You went all the way to Bombay, India to do Big boss.

No one asks them when they are married off to older men, whether they love the groom or  not.

You got married to your love  Asif by your choice and then you split,  then you will marry again by your choice ( Oh! now you have a huge choice).

No one comes to their rescue when they are beaten by their husbands, brothers, or fathers.

You got such overwhelming love and hearts melted  when the Mullah or Kamran just talked to you so rudely.

If my poor sisters oppose their parents or dont obey them they get killed in the name of  honour.

If you will get such threats you will fly back to India fast and be safe.

Nobody loves them, not even their fathers, brothers or husbands.

And you have sooo maaannnyyy beloveds.

So, Veena did you see now, there is no comparison between you and them.
You are you. They are they. Me is me.
We all have different stories . We all have different journeys.

Please tell these beloveds of yours, in whose chocolate hearts you reside, not to tag you to those poor women.
I know you are not doing this yourself.  But these silly infatuated souls, their love for you is blind. So they tag you with every woman of Pakistan. They are immature you  see. They arent grown up yet. But you are pretty grown up I know.

I understand their sentiments, but you see Veena, my poor sisters feel depressed that their plight is underestimated by comparison to you. Their issues are far more serious and deeper than yours. They have a tough day to day struggle of their survival.

Thank your stars for that. You are born luckier than them.

But then they have to live their fate and fight for their existence  far more hard. Their road of life is far far more rocky and their journey far too long.

Please I tell you to make a humble request to your  admirers,  from my behalf to untag my poor sisters of you.

If your status is sky their status is the bottom of a deep pit on this earth. You are far more fortunate.

You are you. They are they. Me is me.
So please tell your beloveds to untag you from my really oppressed sisters  for good.

Let us not mix the two struggles and entangle or  complicate the situation.

I love you too , Veena.
But behn you are not ‘me’.

Ilmana Fasih

P.S. This is written in light of the various articles and blogs that came up with valid sympathies for Veena`s moral policing. But am afraid they all went over board in linking her individual struggle to the struggle of millions of oppressed women of Pakistan. And that just because she screamed at the Mullahs on the TV she came to be the Champion of the Oppressed women en masse when she made it aptly clear that she is fighting for herself not as a Pakistani or as a Muslim.Yes she has every right to fight her battle the way she likes. To link her to the oppressed women of Pakistan in general is as deplorable as our Mullahs link each or our action to Islam or Pakistaniat.

We do not need Veena`s crutches  to fight for our liberal values–aptly said by Ali Naushad.

Bottom line: Some people are born oppressed, some get oppressed later, some have Oppression thrust upon themselves.

Category:

CULTURE, Humour, Pakistan, Women

OH! MY FACE BOOK PALS


Since tha past 24 hours thanks to the ‘ interview drama’ of Veena Malik with KS and the Mullah, all the enlightened walls on Face Book were spilling with sympathies and praises for the’ last bastion’ of Women’s Lib called THE VEENA MALIK.

If Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi was seriously worried and praying about her life and safe well being ( though he clarified the pun intended in it later ) then Maheen Usmani’s wall did KUDOS to her.

And then there was an argument by an Indian on Maheen’s wall where he remarked:

“Female performing artists in Pakistan face an unenviable hostility & I sympathise with them. Meera has also faced this type of hostility. Sensible people in media must stop this.”

And went on to say:

“What I appreciate is her courage to stand before mullas in a bold manner.This is different Pakistan.Salman Tasseer was not assasinated but crucified in full public view & nobody believes any thing will be done to his murderer.He has done nothing but just criticized a law which politicians do aLL THE TIME anywhere. Your MP Sherry is in hiding.Under these circumstances any body who can speak up is certainly a hero. I know most of you who take part in discussions involving religion are doing under assumed names. She may not merit our time & energy as an artist. But why so much of shor & fatwas? It is because she is a woman who dares to challenge maulvis ,that she deserves our praise.”

And hence, mixing the issue of Blasphemy and Taseer’s murder with Veena Malik’s petty fatwas.

The same person went on to remark that:

” All the politicians & journalists are prostrating before mullas.she is the only one standing firm.I think she deserves nobel prize for bravery.”
Please here note the comment: SHE IS THE ONLY ONE STANDING FIRM.

And then this article in Dawn by Sana Saleem about Veena Malik representing the voice of the oppressed women of Pakistan. The tearful Veena  moved her so much that she

“I must commend Veena for standing her ground with such ‘grace.’”

” In a country where rape is justified, murderers glorified and women threatened by fatwas, Veena speaks for me and many others.”

And came the emotional write up   ‘Veena : the warrior Princess’   by   Saad Zubeiri       screaming  in bold letters:

“Veena Malik is my new hero. Really, she is. And not because she looked absolutely stunning (someone had to mention it!) on Kamran Shahid’s train-wreck of a show the other day.”

“Intellectual debate appears sexy to those deprived of such discourse,”

“You know, mufti sahab, after all said and done, I’d much rather have a “beghairat”actress who wears shorts and hugs kaafir men represent me and my country than pseudo mullahs who not only lie but go around issuing reckless fatwasagainst innocent men and women that get them killed.”

Yes Maheen, you may kudos her for what she did to the Mullah. It was a treat to watch for all of us, but then all the praises that were showered to her on your wall from ‘NOBEL PRIZE worthy, to being ‘INTELLIGENT. ‘COURAGEOUS’ artist, or THE ONLY WOMAN TO STAND UP TO THE MULLAH’ were frankly pretty distasteful.

And Sana Saleem, you may be considering Veena Malik as a CHAMPION OF THE OPPRESSED WOMEN  in Pakistan or in your own words ‘REPRESENTING YOU’,   I am sure Sania Saeed, Marina Khan do not endorse her as their representative. Neither would the really oppressed day to day common woman of Pakistan would want to be reperesented by her.

I wonder where was the ‘grace’  when she screamed at the top of her voice on the TV and if this drama  didn’t  work ,  started to shed briny tears asking for support from people for actions which she called was ‘her own agenda’. You conveniently missed mentioning this in you write up ma’am Sana.

Good lord! So much has our anger and hatred for Mullahs swelled that we have lost the judgement of good and bad. Whoever stands up against  Mullahs is  THE GREAT.

It’s like the enemy of our enemy is our best friend.

Anyone who confronts the mullah is a REVEREND

Have we stooped down to those depths that anyone who shouts two sentences at Mullahs gets to be the REAL CHAMPION while all those years of struggle by Beena Sarwars, Sherry Rehmans , Asma Jehangirs are left in the dark with no cheers to them. Suddenly has Veena Malik popped up on the scene with a ‘CHAMPION OF THE OPPRESSED’  label.

Probably if Sana Saleem is to be believed these stalwarts should pack their bags and join behind Veena Malik as their leader.

Let this be reminded to you,again,  Sana Saleem,  that she said in the program in so many words that she went there in BigBoss with ” my own agenda”. So let her defend  her own agenda. Why do you thrust upon her the agenda of all Oppressed women of Pakistan?  Please don’t  let your scarce emotional intelligence pull things out of proportions. Let her agenda be hers not ‘mine’.  I donot need her crutches to stand up on my liberal values or to pull my sisters out of oppression.

And if any one owns her as ‘me’ then please own all that is associated with her–the pea sized intellect,  the cheap publicity stunts, the scandals and the B/C grade Lollywood movies she represents.

Oh! But I get it now, Sana Saleem,  to be a champion against extremism with ‘grace’, one needs to scream extremely on the Mullah through the TV screen in Inglish. Yeah she is the real graceful  champion.

And Saad Zubeir: fine you find her stunning–as beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.  And yes I agree her screams and the briny tears did stun many a souls and even got the Mullah numb.

Intellect?  Which corner of the screen did the intellect hide–behind Kamran?  Mullah?  Veena? Oh, in the abundant bare flesh that was visible . You’re right sir.

And you say you will choose Veena  over the ghairat brigade. Sir, only beggars are no choosers, so you may be a beggar to choose from just  two lame options. I am not. I have my own several options to choose from which include neither Veena  nor the  Mullah. Good luck being a veena wannabe!

True, it is entirely her business to behave the way she wants on the Big Boss, and whatever brief clothes she wears, and to whoever guy she clings to. And that she will do what her aptitude will tell her to and that no one has any business to stop her from coming back to her homeland or even issue fatwa against her.

As much as Veena is hated in Pakistan, so is the case with Rakhi Sawant in India. So here the pathology doesn’t lie with the people or the TV anchor or the Mullah, but with the ‘lady’ in question.

Being a person who resides on both sides of the border, I am not just concerned about what stir she  has  created in Pakistan but also what image she painted of Pakistan in India, in the name of a Pakistani female artist.

In my personal opinion the much hue and cry all over, about Veena Malik painting a poor image of Islam and Pakistan through her performance in the Big Boss is, to some extent valid too, but for a totally different reason.

Knowing very well the psyche and the mindset of the average Indian urban Soap watching middle class who love such shows, it is certainly not her skimpy clothes or her flirtation or her clinging to the guys on the show, which paints a poor picture of Pakistan or Islam.

On the contrary it is the poor intellect, the Inglish speaking wannabe behaviour and the desperate attempts at showing off that she is cool or hot or whatever — is what makes her or other similiar Pakistanis the laughing stock in Indian households.

Indians in general don’t get to see much of Pakistani channels as easily as their Pakistani counterparts see the Star Plus etc.
Hence the only an average Indian household gets to see is Meera and then Veena Malik representing Pakistani TV artists. There is only a selective elite there who is aware of the likes of Sania Saeeds, Marina Khans etc

I wish some one more appropriate  had represented a Pakistani female artist  in the Big Boss and boosted the ratings of this poorly  imaged  country the way Shilpa Shetty boosted the image of  Indian artists after the British version of it.  She emerged out of it as the ‘Indian Princess’.

And then just moments ago, another person on Maheen’s wall comes up with the real answer and sums up the whole drama beautifully in few words:

“She never stood against extremism, she is only protecting herself. we dont need to make wrong ideals.

And we dont need to stand behind wrong people for the right reasons. I don’t need opportunists like veena to define my liberal values.”

Kudos to you ADIL NAUSHAD for making that observation.

Ilmana Fasih
22 Jan 2011.

 

Category:

Islam, Pakistan, Social Issues

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Category:

Music, Pakistan, Poetry, URDU POETRY