My People!

Like you I have been living outside Pakistan for the last 17 years and have gone back and forth. I really liked reading this article because I have experienced what you talk about - and I totally agree with you. Very nicely done....

Very noble sentiments.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, a point in history is upon us when there is left no other option but to use force against the oppressive and corrupt class and eliminate them altogether. Pakistan is a pressure cooker which is about to burst at seams. The irresponsibility, corruption and apathy of ruling class has brought the matters to this eventuality.

very well written,
really Superb,
very sharp and close observation
Quite True
keep it up

Urstruly dude, you are a big hypocrite.

``Unfortunately, in my opinion, a point in history is upon us when there is left no other option but to use force against the oppressive and corrupt class and eliminate them altogether.``

If I am correct, you are a Mullah supporter. The Mullahs were tight with the rulers for 50 out of 57 years. They may not be tight with the present dispensation, but then the ills of your country cannot be laid at the present dispensation alone.

Re: # 4

Our ruling class is quite diverse and it has wide range of people including military, politicians, moulvis, prostitutes, feudal lords, bureucrats, industrialists and...just fill in the blanks. This is a an elite group who has been running the country for the past 60 years. The have vested interests in keeping the system corrupt, inefficient, and directionless. If military provides muscle to this class then industrialists provide capital and feudal lards provide manpower. It is not necessary that all rich people belong to this class; but it is a mindset. For example, I had my class fellows who openly expressed interest in goint to work for organization where ``ooper ki kamai ho``. They belong to that class. Because once they enter into this class they portect themselves and the status quo for their survival. Over the years thsi class is becoming more and more identifiable since this class is marrying into each other; for example every General of army is a son in law or brother in law of feudal lord or an industrialist and every offspring of General becomes an industrialsit or a politician.

Thos people who oppose the corruption and apathy of this class are also made up of moulvis, military, industrialists, farmers, and a vast majority of disenfrancised Paksitanis. I happen to belong to the moulvi part of this disenfranchized group.

Ahmer

A technically better article from you, dear Ahmer but I have a question: Are you a `Halfi Muslim` which are found only in the Pakland?

A halfi Muslim, I may explain, is the one who is not Muslim by his option as of right or coscience, but only by submitting a Halaf-naamah to that effect declaring necessarily certain fellow countrymen of his as non-muslims and the founder of their faith as an imposter.

I find your list of ``persons of calibre`` alarming. Malik Mairaj Khalid was a person of calibre ? I would agree that he was a simple, honest man... a kaarkun in a party in which there will only be one ``hereditary`` leader always... thats all.

Qudrat ullah Shahab ??? Shahab Naama is full of lies. And in any case, he has just one or two good stories to his credit.

Ansar Barni ? About these NGO types, the less said the better.

And Edhi.... i will refrain from saying anything because he has been made into this holy thing that you just cant criticise.

Imran Khan. Cricket captaining calibre. Yes.

But thats not the point.... the point is.... I find it very, very peculiar that you omit, for example, Dr Salam or Faiz or Manto or Malika e Tarranum.... and instead give a very peculiar list that would not occur to anyone trying to count people of calibre in Pakistan. Whats the problem ? These Salams and Faizs and Mantos and Noor Jehan are not ``pious`` or ``muslim`` enough ?

Dear Writter

Excellent article!!

Once again you stole my heart and soul with your superb article. WoW!!!
Ditto!!!!!!

You are genius. I feel the same way for Pakistan. As I am reading this article I am realizing that this article is articulated exactly the way I feel about Pakistani corrupt society. As if this article is exact transformation of my brain in to this board. Word by word what I have had been telling Pakistani people in my real life.

My problem is I am too, much emotional for Pakistan and I care for Pakistan a lot and plus I am very idealistic and I wish to see pakistan really progressive with Zero corruption.

But, when I see all the evils in the society from top to bottom eating up Pakistan piece by piece, I feel pain in my soul and heartache. I cry over these evils and then criticize and tell people how to solve these self created problems and how to get rid of these evils.

People label me as racist and unpariotic. These are the people who have just shut their eyes and see no evil in Pakistan and these the reasons Pakistan is still down the drain.

First secret to progress is to recognize the evil, condemn the evil and then tell the people to wake up and demolish the evil.

B/c I am the most patriotic person than these people who don`t feel a bit for all these misfortunes and pretend that everything is perfect. Well, as a matter of fact, everything is wrong in Pakistan. Yes, it is ....................................This is the time for Pakistanis to wake up and sort out what should be done to get rid of these evils.

Just take an example of India and it`s progress...........we can follow the same pathway........

Yes, I care for Pakistan.........And that`s the reason I criticize. Period.

In the book Armageddon when they American Hero is asking the Russian Hero to defect the Roosi says ``when we ask you to defect we forget how much an American loves his country, but in this case you forget a Russian loves his as much``.

The American points to the Stalinism prevalant so the Roosi says ``To know everything, to bear everything and yet love this is the ultimate love``. Such is the love every patriot has for his country.

A great pity and sadness (I never though I would say this to a Pakistani) that patriots and lovers of their motherland on both sides of the border are doomed to watch the slow disintegration of their homelands if not physically then at least emotionally and morally and can only wring their hands in despair and cry in their pillows as their respective nations go to dogs.

Based on what I see in India and what I hear about Pakistan from people who have been there and the articles in the press I dont know whose reality is worse. In most ways I feel it is ours but then when I see Urstruly, Naqshbandi and Sattar fighting it out on semantics maybe it is theirs.

Sanatani

P.S. Mr Muzzamil I do not agree with you that the people of Pak are blameless. Just as the people of India are not. These people spring from us.

I shall ask you a small question. Who goes and asks for illegitimate favours from the elected reps. Answer the so called innocent hoi polloi. It is not for nothing MM Joshi lost Allahbad to a clown like Reoti Raman Singh. What I liked best was his non chalance. Theek hai hum Rajya Sabh mein jayenge par ek had ke bahar kissi ka koi kaam nahin karenge

Re: # 8

Zeena,

There are many gr8 things about our country. But there is a lot of darkness as well. Caused by the same factor as in your country the cancerous corruption and complete loss of morality and values.

Sanatani

Overall I liked the article- the tone gets rather whiny and overbearing at times but the passion comes through nicely. I only had a problem with the celebrity references like this one:
I care because I know a man who had money, fame, respect of his peers, beautiful and healthy family but he put everything on line because he has a dream of making Pakistan a success story that our fathers wished for. He built the first and only state of the Art Cancer hospital in the country and it provides very expensive services free of charge to those who can’t afford it. In this process he alienated his wife because he is trying to save the world and wasn’t able to give her the attention she needed and quite honestly deserved considering the sacrifices she made for him but he has bigger far nobler things on his mind.
SNORT...yeah right.

santani

Thanks for your posts...........Just read this and you`ll realize what my notion is....

Solution to the Pakistani problems we have to root out and then boot out major ones first and then nib the evil in the bud for all the minor ones. All of us have to respond to the voices of devastated, oppressed, depressed, raped and poor victims and masses with no soul left and giving them the basic right of being humans.

Majority of Pakistani politicians are good for nothing, cunning, ignorant molesters destroying basic rights of the poors. They are eating the skin and bones of already dead poors in such a way that reminds me of hyenas.

Yes, they are genius.........genius in lying straight face with full confidence that they really deserve Oscar Awards for their acting`s. Congrats!!!

I am not affected by all those barbaric actions of Pakistani politicians marry go round tamasha, but, definitely it gives me a chance to make fun of common Pakistanis who are totally numb and living with extremely low self esteem, in spite of getting kicked @ their arses by Army and these bastardy politicians they have surrendered. They have given up their right to have respect as a token of recognition being citizens of Pakistan. Every where I see high rise prices, recession, corruption, higher numbers of drug addicts, higher suicides, frustrations, more robberies, looting, plundering and who`s getting killed......same shameless poor masses................

All these elites making fun of their miseries, and BTW who are these elites?

Pakistani politicians along with Army looters working under the direct supervision of Mr. President, General Musharaf. Army is being backed up by these corrupt idiots, called politicians who believe army is the only source of saviors in and out side of Pak land.

And you know why these retards are governing Pak land, b/c army and their political supporters assume that majority of Paki public is numb and dumb to decide for their own destiny and fate. They think Paki public is handicapped and crippled, they just need crutches and few meals and lil shelters and few rags...........Nothing else. B/c they think they are not humans they are parasites crawling under their feet.....................What an insult!!!

Now, lets talk about army.........army is supposed to defend Pak land and they are being paid for their job. They are not supposed to become kings and queens of Pakistan by plundering and looting all the main lands of Pakistan. And I call it legalized corruption. I call it legal prostitution, army has become prostitute........................................................

I won`t salute army, I won`t applaud politicians as I know they are corrupt, barbaric animals with full of dishonesty and cruelty in their genes............bastardies.........But, I hate them all. They have brought complete insanity in Pak land.

All these ugly bastardies ordering more and more guards for their protection. Protection ? From whom?From Poor Paki parasites..........from helpless miserable dead souls with weak and lethargic bodies....from worthless creatures...from insignificant pale faces with facelessness..........who are unable to recognize their basic rights..........from powerless who are unable to stand up for their rights............from voiceless who are unable to raise their voices against these vultures , called army and their supporter politicians.............who are roaming around in big jeeps surrounded by guards......................ridiculous.

I may sound frustrated.......Yes, I confess that I have this frustration when I saw total unequal distribution of power, wealth, resources, and opportunity among different classes of Paki people. Why such a vast difference!!! What special privilege they have from God that these poor masses can`t have?

In spite of all these troubles created by these beasts, I still have hope and I can see light in the other end of the tunnel. Only, if Pakistanis wake up and follow the direction of wind.................Enough slavery

Pakis got freedom from Brits, now it`s the time to get freedom from corrupt army and corrupt politicians..........they have to decide quickly which direction to fly ...............they should wake up, before it`s too late..................

Re: # 12

Zeena,

As my father told me once Honesty is when you are Commissioner of Customs in Delhi and dont make money on the side.

I will say this and say this with confidence the average citizen is scum, especially in India regardless of the social strata. Of course the biggest blame goes to the middle class as middle class is the upholder of morality.

Ayaz Amir has written a beautiful article in today`s dawn on the need for a balance between permissiveness and prohibition. When the middle class gets unhinged this creates problems for society. My grandparents generation came as refugees from the West Punjab with nothing more than the clothes on their back struggled and became people of modest substance. It is not that they never bribed but it was small and at times for small favours (my grandfather once agreed to give a clerk all his English newspapers the next day for a year for giving him a completion certificate for his house). They never owned a car an AC or a lavishly furnished house, but at the pain of death you could not get them to compromise on their basic integrity.

But today only on the pain of death can you get a huge majority of officers and clerks to do any work that they should legitmately do.

The point is simple:

Do you do what you should do.

Do you allow others (in your mehekma) to get away with what they should not do.

If the answer to the 1st is yes and the second no then a lot of problems go away.

And 1 thing I never understand with Muslims and this is a Muslim issue only. When in India a Muslim approaches a Muslim officer or Babu for work a bribe has to be paid ALWAYS a Hindu can get away sometimes for free. The concept being ``Kissi ka hak mat maro, Allah or uska Rasool iske Khilaf hai``. None of them thinks it is wrong it beats me how can this be justified in Islamic terms. I as a Hindu have gotten away by saying ``Agar mein aapka hak mar raha hoo to Qayamat ke din aap mera gunaah mat maaf karna`` and the bloody man agreed.

The problem is much more deep rooted and I may say this it is a product of imposing and alien education and legal system on the masses and the classes neither of whom has an appreciation of its finer aspects.

The finer aspects being:

1) A position is government is never utilised for personal and familial pecuniary benefits.
2) There is not place for LMF`s (Lack of Moral Fibre) types in Government. Moral and physical courage is NOT a qualification it is a pre requisite.
3) The bucks stops with someone and somewhere. So long as a mistake is made and is made genuinely then a person is penalised only in proportion and relation to the foresight of the action never the hindsight.
4) The system stands with an honest officer and protects him whatever the consequences.

Regards
Sanatani

Take a test ask your so called innocent Paki masses to not litter on the streets see the response you get. Or alternatively you can justify the littering and lack of social hygeine by saying:

1) They do not have democracy
2) Their leaders are corrupt

Mr: Ahmer Muzammil:

I read this post twice. I am impressed by your sincerety. The usual habit of blaming others -Hindoos, US, Jews, the Est etc. for the ills of Pakistan and misery - is absent. It is good thing.

Now why in the world did Pakistan slide into this misery is mystery to me even though- one can always attribute some of it to historical factors.

Could some one comment on this?

Kamath

Good points Sanatani.

``Based on what I see in India and what I hear about Pakistan from people who have been there and the articles in the press I dont know whose reality is worse. In most ways I feel it is ours but then when I see Urstruly, Naqshbandi and Sattar fighting it out on semantics maybe it is theirs. ``

It depends on the aspect of reality that exists at any given point of time. One reality where India is better than Pakistan is the simple fact that we are no longer involved in existential issues about our country.

``P.S. Mr Muzzamil I do not agree with you that the people of Pak are blameless. Just as the people of India are not. These people spring from us.``

Touche.

The more I am reading these responses, the harder it is becoming to disagree with either Zeena or sanatani. Sanatani I agree with you that people should be blamed also. I have seen people who live without any issues in the West but as soon as they enter Pakistan they forget the basic meaning of Hygiene, cleanliness, and law and order. The same person who drives at the posted speed limit in Philadelphia feels pride at being able to double park in front of a hospital in Pakistan. You will see these same people spitting paan or whatever thing they are chewing right on the street (whether anyone or anything is in the vicinity or not).
True Example: At Karachi airport, people departing for US were supposed to be standing behind a yellow line to be called one by one. Of course no one was foloowing the rule including the people working there. All I could hear was people blaming West, and Pakistani government for the chaos. I hope at least one of them realized that it was them who were to be blamed and not the government.
Lastly, it is the same people who kept voting for Benazir, and Nawaz, and are now supporting Musharaf(who I believe is much better for the country then those two - but he is definitely not the right solution) and then they complain conveniently forgetting the corruption that they themselves helped reach this level.
On the other hand, Zeena is also correct in saying that Pakistan is full of oppressed people who truly believe that they have no right. However Zeena, one question for you. After the brutal days of Zia; Bhutto and Nawaz ruled the country for 11 years taking it to the brink of Bankruptcy. The first thing they did was to silence the media so no one had the guts to say anything. Musharaf came and even though he is ``Army``, he at least gave permission to disagree with him. That is why we have shows like ``Views on News`` etc (you might not agree with them). Would you bring Benazir and/or Nawaz back instead of Musharaf? With the media as bold and strong as it is now (i-e having the power to speak against the raj), my answer would be a lous ``YES``. But remember if those two are ruling, the first thing they will do is kill the media. Then we will be back to the dark ages of those 11 years where Pakistan went downhill. I dont believe in Military governments but this cycle will never stop untill it is rooted out. After Benazir and Zardari there will be Bilawal looting Pakistan`s wealth. You really think these politicians will stop. No they never will. All we can hope for is for them to die and their kids to enjoy drugs or alcohol or whatever and leave Pakistan alone....