Preventing More Lal Masjids

Here's a tale of two Pakistani self-haters and defeatists who enjoy every moment of hating themselves and their country: Dr. Pervaiz Hoodbhoy and Asma Jahangir.
Whenever there is a writing project in any newspaper anywhere in the world where they want to bash Pakistan using a Pakistani name, they call one man in Islamabad: Dr. Hoodbhoy. He spews more venom against Pakistan than Hamid Karzai and Bal Thackery - an Indian Hindu terrorist - combined.
Asma Jahangir, another defeatist who went to India to shake the hands of Narendar Modi, the killer of 2500 Indian Muslims, has just volunteered to Hindustan Times to confirm that Mumbai terror was a Pakistani conspiracy [see below].
Here's a letter sent by a Pakistani young man to Dr. Pervaiz Hoodbhoy, a Pakistani self-hater, and received no reply. And then watch Asma Jahangir's video.
Recommendation: We need to start a witch-hunt in Pakistan to cleanse our academia and public life of such self-haters and defeatists who poison the minds of young Pakistanis about their homeland. Such academics and human rights activists should not be allowed to hide behind the freedom of expression.
TO: Dr. Pervaiz A. Hoodbhoy
Professor and Chairman
Physic Department
Quaid-e-Azam University,
Islamabad.
E-mail: hoodb...@lns.mit.edu

NATION WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU

Dear Dr Pervaiz Hoodbhoy Sahib,

I have been reading your articles and research reports and watching your interviews on different TV channels on different issues. I have tried to go through your articles again and again to satisfy myself that whatsoever you are speaking in the name of freedom of speech is just an ordinary criticism and could be a difference of opinion.
But I regret to say that I am unable to do so. In dozens of your articles and interviews you have never ever said a single positive thing about Pakistan and have always tried to portray a false picture of Pakistan, according to which Pakistan is a failed state. Whether it's the issue of extremism, or Pakistan's nuclear assets, or Pak-India relations, or if there is an issue of western and Indian allegations, you have always come up with your nasty ideas to prove to the world community that whatever the enemies of Pakistan are saying, you are more than happy to say it from them, using a Pakistani identity, which is an act for which you feel no shame.

I am not sure if Pakistanis have seen your massive one-man campaign against Pakistan where you have alleged that we are not capable of retaining our nuclear assets. Or, now, after the Mumbai attacks, when even the cheapest of Pakistani politicians have shown some kind of patriotism and unity for the sake of Pakistan, at this crucial time again you are trying to prove what the enemies of Pakistan are trying to do. I fail to understand what motivates you except gaining popularity in West or even in India.

India is a so-called democracy where low caste Hindus, Christians and Muslims are burned alive [a ritual unique to India, doesn't happen anywhere else], where Hindu extremists are in the government, where groups like Bajrang Dal are trained in Indian Army schools. But India seems like Switzerland after reading one of your articles on India, especially the one you wrote recently after a visit to India. India's terrorist and rogue intelligence agency, RAW, which is funding and supporting separatist movements in our tribal belt and in Balochistan, continues to be an untouchable issue for you. What really is important for you is to put all your efforts toward portraying a negative Pakistan.

I give you an example from the history which you will find self explanatory in reference to our current scenario.

I am not sure if our enemies will impose a war on Pakistan or not but at this crucial stage all your efforts to distort Pakistan's image is not going to remain unnoticed and the nation will never forgive you for what you have done.

Wassalam.

Waqas Ahmed
Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

Has any one ever wondered about the following:

If a book (the Qur’an in this situation) is meant to be from God/Allah, why do two individuals of equivalent intelligence always come up with different interpretations of the text?

There are many contradictions in the Quran; the only people unable to see them are those completely brainwashed and have lost the ability to think rationally. They come up with all sorts of historical/non-historical justifications for these such as the arabic language/literary peculiarities etc. nothing substantial or scientific; perhaps they are not aware of this concept.

There are literally billions and billions of galaxies and star systems in our “known� universe; supposedly we are talking about a creator that is well beyond the confines of any material boundaries; why would such a “person� even care about what goes on in individual hearts and minds on a teeny weeny planet! Why would he be upset about, for example, a woman showing off a bit of skin or someone not observing some ritual exactly how it was prescribed (when there are literally hundreds of such, very contradictory, rituals in Islam amongst the sects; not to quote countless other similar examples.

If the “Loh-e-Mahfouz� was the first thing created with the deeds of all living things and their fate already prescribed, what the hell is the meaning of “the free will�?!

If a ruler of my country wanted me to abide by ceratin rules, I would expect them to be laid down explicitly and clearly for all to understand. Otherwise, I would think they were unjust in prosecuting me for misgivings; why are there so many ambiguities as to what the “true Islam� is; that definition is certainly not unanimous by anyone’s standards as we ll know; the interpretations are so varied and far apart at times that it is mind boggling!

According to the Quran, Allah gave his blessings to the Bani Israel but they betrayed his trust many a times, so he went off them completely and chose a different people for revival of his “Only and True Message�! Are we thinking that an omniscient and omnipotent God, with the inherent knowledge of everything, transcendent through the confines of time, made a mistake!! Then he tried to correct it by chosing arabia for his chosen messanger! How odd!!

Prayer is such a contradictory term, don’t you think. If all is already decided, does God change his mind if we were to grovel before him and grants us our desires as a reward; very confusing!!

The only answers I ever got for these as a child, and many other similar questions, was that we CANNOT work out God’s will and he is the only one who does; what the hell are we doing with our assess up in the air five times a day then!!

All of the above seem to be the desires of the needy and not fullfilled “persona� (to quote Al-Razi); Is it that we have created this “persona� is OUR OWN IMAGE rather than the other way around?

Is our “conflict� with the rest of the world sheer paranoia “they are out to get us�!! and the only reason we cannot accept this is our inherent “sense of pride� so deeply indoctrinated that we cannot listen to reason.

The reason I am talking about the Islamic context here is because that is my background and I wish to discuss the very foundations of this faith. It is all very well to hide behind the “good aspects� of Islamic history and ignore the other “less desirable� aspects, but the question is what it is all based on; without foundation, there is nothing left. I criticise any dogma based on “faith� and th other so-called faiths are no exception to this; however, I prefer people from those cultures to comment on their own cultural heritages.

Problem with being “moderate� is that moderation, whatever it might mean, harbours and nurtures extremist elemnts. Extremists to me mean people who are trying to follow their “faiths� down to the last letter. This Sufism etc have nothing to do with what Islam actually is; it is a digression from the mainstream. Sufis were always at the fringes of mainstream society and their ideas of “Sulha-e-kul� etc have nothing to do with the message of Islam; though I do admit it can make Islam a bit more palatable!

If we had all the “knowledge/Ilm� in the Quran, why would we strive for more; the whole idea of “the completeness� of “Deen/way of life� is not compatible with modernity of any kind, however that is defined. Of course we can cherry pick and find quotes to justify absolutely anything that WE WANT TO; that itself is the biggest weakness of religious dogma; interpretable with vast differences of opinions between individuals of equivalent intelligence!

Surely, they can't ALL be true!!!

I find communism and Islam similar ( I am no expert in both the matters).Both of these beliefs are doing ( apprently) good to one at the cost of others. Try to organise and thrash the oposition to submission. They take stand, which is not principled but most of the people like that. Ultimately, both of these are very popular, but the people follow it, has dismal record of human contribution.
I have heard a nice story....
A gang of robbers looted a bank using fake arms. While escaping, the employees of the bank started shouting. The robbers has come by couple of bicycles. So, how will they escape? Thay have looted around 2.8 lakhs. They have thrown around 1 lakhs to the people around the bank and easily escaped. Most of us are like,those who were collecting money thrown by robbers.

Re: # 965
Are you from India? Most of the riots are started by moslems (Meerut, Bhagalpur, Mumbai). Moslems were of the view that they are very couragious and can easily inflict injury to the people there ( most of the people there are vegetarian and strictly practice non violence). When RSS/VHP/Shiv Sena organize people in large number and starts thrashing moslems and police backs them, they starts cribbing. Don't start riots. Use Friday afternoon prayer to bring peace in your mind, not start violence. Why don't you see similar riots with Christians, Jains, Budhdhists in India? The history of riots in Gujrat is more than 200 year old. Most of the time moslems used to start and inflict more casualty on the Gujratis. Last riot (2002), for the first time in Gujrat, moslems were in receiving end.So, the way media is projecting, is not the situation on ground. The riot was supported by large section of non-moslems. How come people of a state, which have a bright son like M K Gandhi resorts to violence? I have sympathy for moslems in Gujrat. But, the problem they have created in Gujrati society is far more dangerous. They are truning into a Hindu equivalent of Moslem society (Left liberal poeple call Gujrat now Hindu Pakistan).

Re: # 997
Your mind is perfectly perverted. If you are that much concerned with Indian association, then please stop Pakistani patients to be treated in Indian hospitals. India is much larger opportunity for people of Pakistan than Pakistan. It is up to the individual to decide what he/she wants. Regarding the matter of Kashmir, it is political. When India and USA were in different camp, other than sensitive areas, people to people contact was quite well. Don't mix diplomatic,defence matters with common people's interest. Pakistan is now in better position about Kashmir. Once, USA finds any links with Kashmiri militants with international terrorism, USA will force Pakistan to close these terrorist training camps. Pakistan has lost in all front ( diplomatic channel in UN,military adventure) in Kashmir several times. That is the reason, they are using jihadis in informal way.

Re: # 998
There are couple of factors you are not taking into account.
What British people will do after capturing the land? That area was not of great resource and significance. So, they have left that area. The role of US technology in defeating USSR is well known.

Is there a viable quick fix to the radicalism that has engulfed Pakistan over the last one decade? I don’t think so there is one. Then what is the alternative. Regrettably there is not any single alternative either. There will always be a diversity of interpretations of Islam (as has been historically), diversity of religious expressions, political persuasions and some form of radicalism. This has been the general historic pattern and character of any Muslim society for a very very long period of Islam’s tumultuous history. Given these conditions and I suppose sweeping assumptions about the nature of our history then what is so questionable and bewildering about contemporary radicalism in Pakistan. It is the senselessly violent behaviour that has penetrated in the minds of religious zealots that is going to be a terrible thing. So where is the wellspring of this hatred and violence that has to be directed against? It is the West, if we talk in terms of geography, and modernity and its consequences if we talk about in terms of the guiding philosophy. Although West may be a confined idea of a monolithic real and abstract entity but modernity is fluid. Modernity is all over, it has penetrated into the heart of ‘Islam’. So the enemy is all that is modern. These unassailable religious horsemen of apocalypse, always talk about the ‘signs of the day of judgement’ and deliver endless sermons in mosques denigrating the West and its ‘moral decadence’. They will endlessly talk about the promiscuous behaviour of Western women and their jealously guarded liberty, but they miss the fundamental point about this whole exercise.
What is it that they miss? Well they miss the point that modernity is not just a conspiracy against Islam or modernity leads to moral decadence. This is a totally mis-understood phenomenon in the minds of religious zealots. Modernity is all about adopting a critical attitude towards everything, applying human reason in matters of faith, politics, economics and in all aspects of life. The application of reason simply melts away, what Marx called, ‘all that is solid into air.’ It is the constant change that has to stay here staring at our faces to be understood. So what is really important to minimise the catastrophic consequences of radicalism is to radiate the minds of these people with not the symptoms of modernity as symbolised by the West but to illuminate its real intellectual foundations. This way is the only way forward.

the problem is that...we have created fight with those people who freed half of Kashmir...this Azad kashmir was all captured by Mahsood tribe ...and other tribl people....

they are one of the bravest people living on the face of earth....

when British were ruling the whole indo pak..and half of the world...even then British made a pact with them..and not ruled upon them...

Russian like super power could not defeat them...

and US and NATO are unble to defeat them....

but due to our Baighairat generals...we have bombarbed our own people there..and in revenge..they have strted suicide bombing..yes..they also did some mstakes...but firing missiles on madrassas is unaccetable ..

and thats why we have burn the fire of hell..in all this tribal area..which has reached inside Islamabad also....

in the early days...he started to change the religious axis of pakistan....

his first picture was..in front of PM house with small dog in his hand....to show people he is very moderate....

he lived in Turkey..so he fisrt declared that his most beloved personality is Kamal Attaturk...so..he wanted to transform pakistan into Turkey..and considered himself as Attaturk of Pakistan....

but thanks god...the religious masses of pakistan were so strong that...despite of his 8 years ..efforts..he could not change the pakistan into secular Turkey..and also infleunced the Army to be like Turkish Natinal Army..but he also failed in this regard...


though ..in these efforts..he made enormous losses to whole Pakistan idelogical axis..with a lot of anarchy and suicide bombings...and reactionary efforts of Lal Masjid..etc....

On Basant ..in 6 years..full time ...Baighairti...Shabab-o-Kabab mehfils..mujras..and other things...he himself was in Lahore on basant nights for 6 years..when atlast Supreme court put a complete ban on Basant....

He also tried to secularize the Army by regular basis musicaol concerts in every garrison and Abrar ..and other were invited on night dinners...there..still today....while Zia ul haq..never allowed that...


In his foolish thinking that iNdia will compromise on Kashmir..he turned whole pakistan media into indian culture..Meera going there..there singers and actors..and film stars coming here....but the Indians shown him boots on Kashmir issue..no dialogue at all...


he ordered the music classes in Punjab university..although students protested against that..but his nasha of enlightened moderation was overwhelming him...


PTV ..and other private channels are so much that sometimes they beat even indian channels in nudity and baighairti ..but no check from government at all....

these all are the fruits of this Dictator era...

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These bloody .....broke the country...made pakistan..and heroin state..gave waters of 3 rivers to pakistan....and atlast..made the whole country ..in the burning fire of suicide attacks.....

these lanti...harami..generals ..consider themselves above every law..and rule and regulations.....

they have created a state within a state in pakistan....

there budget is never presented in National Assembly or Senate.....the most highest bodies of pakistan....

Nobody knows where the 60% of GDP go......

Minerva...come and look at he castle or palace of Lahore Corp Commander in Defence area...at night...1000's of bulbs glow..on his palace..who is he ...a soldier ..whose job is to defend country..but these baighairat kuttai....looted the money for thier own luxuries....

go and see ..how these Baighairat generals go in thier precious cars to have golf match in evening.....like they have conquered Kashmir.....

go and see..how these bloody general's wives...go to Cavalary..and Liberty market.. ...for shopping in offical cars....like they are queens of pakistan...bah.... lanti

in same Lahore..people have not pure water to drink..the patients are dying as they have no medicine..and these harami generals are enjoying the Pakistan money for thier badmashi...drunkards kuttai ........

for 60 years...they have made pakistan...the most corrupt...and beggar country....of the world...

these baighairat generals... ...DHA princes..and land mafia generals..are now...on the way..to eat whole Gwadar lands..in thier greed.....

These lanti generals ..consider themselves as very superior ...and call us " bloody civilians" ..lanti na ho tau......

what they have given to pakistan in 60 years..except..the kicking off the elected govermnets of 150 millions...or gallows to elected PM ..etc....

in my eyes..the only solution is...to have gallows...be constructed in Islamabad Abpara Chowk..bring all these baighairat generals ..to that..place..and sentence them to death..in front of all nation.....thats the only solution left...if we want to get rid of this cancer...

An elected leader of 15 crore people declined 5 phone calls of US President...as he knew...if he will not disobey him...2/3 majority in National Assembly against him..will kick him out from PM seat....

While this baighairat general...about which Clinton ..was not willing to shake hands with him...on eve of 11 september 2001..laid down his all weapons on his bed when he listened tothe 3rd level secretary of US ...lanat on him....

is this the respect of a nuclear and missile state....can an elected leader do that.....without taking into consideration his cabinet..NA ..Senate...and pals like Saudia..Emirates..and China etc....


just as this baihghairat Dictaor got a golden chance to "Legetamize" his millitary rule..in eyes of US and West....and for his seat...he pushed the whole pakistan..in fire and hell...of that war..which was not actually of pakistan....and accepted every thing they demanded..shame on him.....

can an elected goverment do that..it is answerable to 10's of institution..this Dictaor was not answerable to anyone....

and plz..dont give me psuedo threats of US attackilng pakistan and taking her to cave era or stone age like crap.....only dictators having no public support fear from these childish threats...not any elected government of 150 millions......

Do you not know this simple fact that newton's 3rd Law..is more applicable to our social life rather than Physics...

do you not know..what this Baighairat general did in 8 years to change the ideological islamic axis of pakistan....

nobody wants cave vesrion of jahil taliban type islam in Pakistan...but is it means that you start Sharab-o-Kabab mehfils..in every nook and corner of the country... semi nude Marathon races...the cable dish atmosphere... ..indian kanjar culture...the indo pak blend of film and drama industry...music cocerts in army areas in whole Pakistan...where these Baighairat generals...having drinks in hands....dance with the singers.....


* do you not know what is happening in pakistan in whole this dictator era....the Basant ....and mujras..and chaklas ...stage dances.....and brothels....where were they leading to pakistan....

Thjis baighairat general....asked for Imam-e-Kaaba ...last few months..when the whole country stood with CJ of Pakistan..why not he remebered to have one more Marathon Race...with logo Dor mairai Lahore.....why he invited Imam-e-Kaaba..and start giving proofs of his entering the Khana Kaaba and on his roof....

can you change the religious axis of pakistan on the name of so called Enlightened Moderation.....can people will accept all these things....


will they not react....before this Dictator..where were all talibans...when they actualy ruling in Afghanistan..therewas no talbinization in whole pakistan..and when they are not actually n the scene..suddenly..this Talbinization ..reached inside Islamabad...why ???????

When you try to change the mindset of traditions..then be ready to face the music also....

You said that Lal Masjid was a drama and threat of islamic millitants....

hahahah....

*do you know...the ISI HQ is about 200 or 400 yards from the Lal Mosque....

* the petrol bombs...rocket launchers...gas masks..accumulated to this mosque in invisble mode...i think.....

* the ISI personals were drinkinng daru ..and enjoying soota of powder wali cigaratte when all arms were going in.....

* is it possible that..inside heart of a capital..and adjacent to ISI HQ....the dangerous arms keep on gathering....

* The baighairat general and his bloody baihgat generals ka tola ...instteadof using IB..MI..and ISI for national security..were using them to gather funny and ridiculous....proofs of Chef Justice inside house photographs..bugging the 19 SC judges...phone tapping...and threatening them with pressures.....Lanat on them...is in UK or USA..can you think..the government can do such dirty things....


* bugging of all High Courts ..and judges housese so that they cnnot unfold..the Chor Bazari..of the government..and black mail them...lanat on all the Baighatrs general's Tola again....


*when secret agents are on phone tapping of judges...can they know..wht is happening inside the heart of capital...in a place which is already famous for tensive speeches and vogorousss elements....

*who supported Ghazi brothers for 20 years...were all armed forces were not with them...now they have become the terrorists....


* i am against their implementation ways..but what they are saying...is 100% right..do you not know..what is going on in the name of enlightened Moderation..are you so unaware of that...Aunti Shameem...regulars customers were many Federal Secreatries..and 2 Ministers....and police invited the girls to stop that..as they said ..we are helpless due to government pressure..i am aginst the way the girls raided..but its not the duty of law enforcement agencies to stop these things..tell me...

In my view way one of the surest ways to prevent more Lal Masjids will be exactly what some of the smartest personnel of PTV did to that bearded Mualla Aziz on prine time -- interviewed him in Burqa on national TV teaching the the PTV audience -- not how to give birth to an Islamist militant without a tear -- but how to wear Burqa over a beard with poise and piety -- and still be taken seriously.

I tip my hat for the PTV staff for doing world’s most creative interviewing on PTV.

An article in an online Arabic Insternational Paper (English Edition); author's got some good points

http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=2&id=9654

Today in Pakistan

22/07/2007

Hussein Shobokshi

After the dust has settled, gunfire sounds abated and bodies buried following the siege of the Red Mosque in Pakistan, it might be useful to contemplate deeply the conditions of this large Islamic country and how it has transformed into a hotbed of corruption and extremism.

Pakistan was just a project of a country for the Muslims in the Indian subcontinent. But firstly, this idea was founded upon secular and economic bases, which soon evaporated and vanished vis-à-vis the military coup d'états and corrupt regimes. The most dangerous era of Pakistan’s contemporary history, however, is that between Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohammed Zia ul Haq, when state institutions, which Bhutto sought to establish, were destroyed at the hands of Zia ul Haq, as he allowed the extremist ideology to proliferate and penetrate, and further strengthened the military institution at the expense of civil institutions, creating a favorable climate for corruption. Subsequently, Pakistan transformed into a breeding ground for nepotism and was cited as an example of corruption and included on the lists of corrupt states. Without doubt, the successive governments, which came to power after Zia ul Haq, fell into this quagmire.

What has happened in Pakistan may be full of lessons for what could afflict more than one Arab state, particularly in view of the abominable extremism of Islamist groups, a large number of which have become hard-line, and the judiciary that collapsed before the exacerbation of corruption and despotism of military rulers. Meanwhile, we cannot overlook drawing comparisons between India and Pakistan, whereby India created a dazzling political system and reaped the fruits of stability that was boosted by an economic growth approximating a miracle.

Pakistan should have followed a development approach to concern itself with internal issues rather than devote itself to the Kashmir cause for example, in which millions of dollars were spent and scores of people were killed. This cause is not of great significance because Indian Muslims themselves enjoy good and safe conditions. For instance, the Indian president and India’s richest businessman [Azim Premji] are Muslims amongst others. Therefore, if stability and security were maintained in Kashmir without foreign intervention, it would become an active player in the homeland.

In fact, the tremendous collapse that afflicted Pakistan and turned its provinces into disputing statelets, some of which are out of control, should be taken into consideration and its consequences should be deliberated upon. Therefore, if the Pakistani disease becomes worse, it will lead to the collapse of the Pakistani government and army that is being penetrated by radical fundamentalism and Pakistan will be transformed into a lifeless jungle.


Hussein Shobokshi
A Businessman and prominent columnist. Mr. Shobokshi hosts the weekly current affairs program Al Takreer on Al Arabiya, and in 1995, he was chosen as one of the "Global Leaders for Tomorrow" by the World Economic Forum. He received his B.A. in Political Science and Management from the University of Tulsa.