Category — Opinions

With only a handful of days left to Mother’s day, celebrated globally each year on May 11th (sunday) , a day when children express their great gratitude and appreciation for everything done by their mothers. Have you made some plans for it?

If you want to buy her something, it doesn’t have to be fancy and expensive. It can be a hand-made special gift or a card, wonderful bouquet of flowers, just a little something to entertain her, to express your love and affection towards your mother. Or maybe you can throw a surprise dinner party for your mom(as i plan to, Insha Allah! )

First make a list of all the family members or friends you plan to invite and send invitations. Then finalize dinner/lunch/brunch menu, don’t forget to include her all time favorite dishes.

Later set a clean lovely table, place attractive fresh flowers, arrange food in a special festive way and enjoy a lovely meal. A great gift for mom, isn’t it?

Can’t decide on anything yet, here’s a cool fun site to fuel your creative side.

1>>> Family Fun -Mother’s day.
2>>> Cards and gifts, ideas for Mother’s day.
In the end i just want to say, for all the work Mom does throughout the year she deserves to be pampered particularly on Mother’s Day!
Show her you Care!

A lot of us have seen the video on GEO TV, Express News etc of the ex-Chief Minister of Sindh Arbab Rahim getting treated in an insulting manner. From getting pushed around to being called names, to actually getting a shoe hit on his head, Arbab Rahim seems to be facing considerable humiliation at the hands of ‘normal’ people.

Almost every commentator on TV has condemned such acts of uncivilized behavior from the people toward Arbab Rahim. And I agree.

But where was the media and the commentators when Arbab Rahim, in his capacity as CM, was slapping around ‘normal’ people? This is what is called tit-for-tat.

We have come this far.

Impressed? You should be.

In the name of Islam, millions gathered around the likes of Jinnah, spurred on by the likes of Iqbal.

I request you to please re-read the above sentence.

Those are big names. And not just big names but these names got to play the biggest roles.

On the one hand, you have the emotional attachment of millions to a religion like you have never seen and will never see anywhere else; that’s the source. Then you have someone who was, is and will be known perhaps not for his background - illustrious as it may be - but for his persistence. In Urdu, you would simply call him ‘dheet’. Jinnah was dheet all right, and given that perseverance commands success, it would have taken only someone as focused and determined as Jinnah to toe the line so magnificently till success gave up and succumbed. Then there is the line that is being toed. The line was not Islam per se, but if you think about it, it was the emotional attachment to Islam that was toed. Who interpreted Islam in the language and with the method that stringed together millions and then left a little of that string to be held on by Jinnah to toe? (I know, I am perhaps pushing the analogy of ‘toeing the line’ a bit too far, but I think it is making sense, no?). Do you really think that Ghalib - very much a master at his craft - would have had the foresight to write what Iqbal actually did. I say foresight because both Ghalib and Iqbal were gifted when it came to poetry; both had something that was not of their own doing, but what Iqbal chose to do with his gift is remarkable that he gave it a purpose (which he himself called ‘higher poetry’) that remains for the most part, in the realm of the metaphysical.

Now that all the right things happened for the millions of Muslim in the sub continent to get them the biggest prize for any nation; a few lines on the map but the most significant piece of land. Our very own country which is to be modeled on the principles of Islam. These principles being that of justice, fair-play and complete impartiality! There are people here today who actually think that our Quaid, Mr. Jinnah, wanted Pakistan to be a completely secular state, separated from Islam. They suffer from a case of ’selective memory’, and I am putting it mildly here.

The much quoted 11th August speech by Mr. Jinnah is said to have set the ground for a secular state. If secular state means, and only means, giving full rights to all the citizen regardless of their faith, color, creed etc, then most definitely, a secular state it is. The problem, and it is a big one I think, lies when one brings in the concept of ‘popular soverignity’ in the very definition of being ’secular’. Soverieginity, in all intents and purporses should belong to God, inferred through His Book, the glorious Quran. Period. The constitution is to be goverened first by the Book, and then by popular will of the population. Popular will can and should never take precedence over Quranic injunctions. This is a very simple point and many agree to this when asked flat out, but the problem lies in using words that have different meaning for different people. The very word ’secular’ is quite often understood differently by different people. (The problems of contextual words is also discussed here)

To the best of my current research on Jinnah’s speeches, the following provides a sufficent clue to the definition of secular with respect to Islam as agreed upon by the Quaid.

On 25th January, 1948 Jinnah’s address to the Karachi Bar association on the occasion of Eid Milad un Nabi (excerpt):

I would like to tell those who are misled by propaganda that not only the Muslims but Non Muslims have nothing to fear. Islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. Islam has taught Equality, Justice and fairplay to everybody. What reason is there for anyone to fear. Democracy, equality, freedom on the highest sense of integrity and on the basis of fairplay and justice for everyone. Let us make the constitution of Pakistan. We will make it and we will show it to the world.

via Pakistaniat

Although the 11th August speech is quoted in favor of having a secular state (the kind that separates religion from state by giving all law-making rights to Popular Will, the very kind that I do not approve of at practically any level), other speeches of Jinnah are ignored altogether, where he has quite explicitly and repeatedly referred to Islam as being the only guiding light for the then-newly created Pakistan.

On February 21, 1948, in an address to the officers and men of the 5th Heavy Ack Ack and 6th Light Ack Ack Regiments in Malir, Karachi, he said:

You have to stand guard over the development and maintenance of Islamic democracy, Islamic social justice and the equality of manhood in your own native soil. With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve.

And a good article can be found here , where the author says,

The factual position is that the Quaid on many occasions had clearly and unambiguously stated that Pakistan would be an Islamic democratic State and Islam would be the ideology of Pakistan. He meant what he said and he said what he meant and was never equivocal. First of all we all know that he never said that he was secular. Islam was in his blood like it is in the blood of all Pakistanis. Yet he was conscious and aware of true spirit of Islam. It was on the appeal and persuation of Allama Mohammad Iqbal that he forfeited his career as a highly successful lawyer of England and came back to lead Muslims and Muslim League.

And that brings us to the third, and the most significant piece of this puzzle; Allama Iqbal.

In my opinion, Iqbal had a much more important role, not only spiritually, but politically, of recognizing the leader that Jinnah could become and then wholeheartedly supporting him:

“There is only one way out. Muslims should strengthen Jinnah’s hands. They should join the Muslim League. Indian question, as is now being solved, can be countered by our united front against both the Hindus and the English. Without it, our demands are not going to be accepted. People say our demands smack of communalism. This is sheer propaganda. These demands relate to the defence of our national existence…. The united front can be formed under the leadership of the Muslim League. And the Muslim League can succeed only on account of Jinnah. Now none but Jinnah is capable of leading the Muslims.”

Hadn’t it been for Google’s ‘did you mean…’ hint after searching for a wrongly spelt word, I would have been ranting about Fuedalism instead of Feudalism. Irrelevant, I know.

First, let’s get the definitions out of the way. In context, Feudalism in Pakistan can  be defined as:

The feudal prototype in Pakistan consists of landlords with large joint families possessing hundreds or even thousands of acres of land. They seldom make any direct contribution to agricultural production. Instead, all work is done by peasants or tenants who live at subsistence level.

The landlord, by virtue of his ownership and control of such vast amounts of land and human resources, is powerful enough to influence the distribution of water, fertilizers, tractor permits and agricultural credit and, consequently exercises considerable influence over the revenue, police and judicial administration of the area. The landlord is, thus, lord and master. Such absolute power can easily corrupt, and it is no wonder that the feudal system there is humanly degrading.

I am personally involved in the business of agriculture. I lease out land from landowners and grow stuff on it! From your average urban Rasheed on the urban streets, I can safely say that I know a tad more when it comes to witnessing the power these feudals exercise. Feudals come is all shapes and sizes. Some use power the way it should be, and some use it the way it could be.

You are lead to believe that Feudalism is bad. That it has done much harm to Pakistan, and the array of people who oppose feudalism is remarkable; from the much feared MQM’s leader Altaf Hussein to the much respected Dr. Israr, all have the same view on Feudalism, that it is the curse of all curses, the root of all evil in our society (given that about 80 percent of 16 million people are involved in agriculture).

You are lead to believe that most land lord are tyrants, learning the ‘art of subjugation’ by pretending to do good for the their minions by providing them land to live, whereas the work these minions do for their land lord and under such pathetic conditions is considered ‘part of the job’. You are lead to believe that most land lord’s only interest is either the large, copious amounts of money he gets after selling the crops, or getting his minions - in thousands - to vote for him or his elect in any and all elections.

You, my friends, are lead to believe the right things.

This is supposedly a test post, using Blogdesk.

Thanks to a friend’s recommendation, I have downloaded this free piece of code and am trying this out.

This can be excellent tool to give to all the writers contributing to The Lahore Tribune.

No ads anywhere, so this is not adware. Not uptil now at least. Surely doesn’t smell like a virus. And surely doesn’t look like spam. Thank God, I didn’t step on it, eh?

“The mind is like a parachute. If it doesn’t open, it doesn’t work.”

Geo did a stupid thing.

While covering the two bomb blasts in Lahore on March 11th 2008, Geo reports that:

The blasts…were the latest in a wave of Islamist-linked violence that has killed more than 600 people this year.

What? Islamist-wave? Do these monkeys even know what they are talking about? Geo has done some great programming and has changed the way media is taken in this country; well, Fox news may have done the same for US, but look where Fox is at? (known for taking sides and not being good at it as well)

Geo’s performance makes this all the more discomforting. They should know that Islam or any Islamic-wave has nothing to do with bombs being blasted. THE LEAST they could have written was ’supposedly Islamist-linkd’, but no sir, Geo knows all!

The western world can say what they want to, but the truth stands firm i.e. Muslims, the sane ones, can never support the Osama Bin Ladens, the al-Qaidas or any other albeit-arabic sounding organizations that even have a hint of violence targeted towards the innocent.

Here’s what needs to be told and told aloud, like rock music; Islam can never sanction taking of innocent lives and those who claim that Islam does, are either uninformed, wicked or just plain - yes, you got it - plain stupid.

Loaded words
The contextual meaning of words are changing and this is a big problem now. You mention you’d wish you were a fundamentalist’ and people will search and frisk you for knifes and explosives. You mention you want ‘Sharia’t‘ and see people stepping back, probably think, ‘oh crap, he is going to blow up’. You mention that ‘jihad‘ is the most essential and the most beautiful concepts of Islam, and see people probably run for cover. But I think - rather, know - that these concepts of Shariat and Jihad are wholesome systems that will make anyone who studies these ‘ways-of-life’ sit up and think; the sheer practicality and tangible functionality will ‘blow you away’, pun, unfortunately, intended.

And in this atmosphere of loaded words, Geo, of all the channels, is expected to act responsibliy and not say what they hear other people say.

–
Action: Send GEO TV feedback to remove this (Geo TV’s online Feedback form)
Hat tip: Ali Hasanain’s blog

Ever heard of Metroblogging.com? Well let’s see what they can tell us about themselves.

“Metroblogging is the largest and fastest growing network of city-specific blogs on the Web. From San Francisco to Bangkok, from Karachi to Toronto, Metblogs are a hyper-local look at what’s going on in the city. Our hand-picked core of regional bloggers give each site a new perspective on daily life; less calendar listings, more friendly advice. With Metblogs ®, you can read about life and times in your neighborhood, your favorite places to visit, places where you’ve never been, or get a feel for them all with the “best of” blog on the hub at metroblogging.com.”

Metroblogging.com is unique in its own way. With ten to twenty volunteer writers writing for a particular metroblogging site, determined to keep you more aware of your surroundings with ‘what’s happening and where’, may it be related to latest news and information, shopping guide, hottest issues, history, sports, weather and what not, information is always pouring in, and its network is constantly growing, super fast!. Now all you need to know about the on-going events and latest information regaring any city in the world is just one click away. All thanks to Metroblogging team.

But the best just got better. As the Metroblogging administration revamped their website and gave it more than just a new look on March 3rd, 2008. It means they have improved and one step closer to its final form.

 So if you’re a blogger and yet unaware of this site, you owe it to yourself to check it out and see how a real blogging site works. Anf if you’re already a member, well then keep up the good work, enjoy the new look and the new features. And keep us posted!

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