This Visit To Pakistan

Tahmed#172

Hilarious, I liked your ``new style`` of writing.

Re: ylh, #167

Yasser, I remember you once wrote to me that, after your studies here in the US, you`ll go back to Pakistan. I hope you do. To me, you, and young people like you, are Pakistan`s hope. Pakistan needs people like you. I know you can, and will, make a difference. Follow Jinnah`s steps and Pakistan will be a great country, a country that we all be proud of. Make it happen, Yasser.

Re: tahmad321, #172

Stick with English. Math is not your subject.

Re: Ras Siddiqui, #170

``The overall rankings on the quality of life within South Asia are as follows: Colombo 121, Beijing 141, Islamabad 146, Mumbai 163, Karachi 164, Lahore 166, Bangalore 175 and New Delhi and Chennai at 176.``

Did anyone tell the Chinese that Beijing is now a part of South Asia, or is it still a secret?

Dear Hamidm

Although your posts are nothing more than a broken record (with a sound of a Paataa Dhol)which you manage to play somehow time and again but sometimes you do get a laugh out of me. I am dying to see your comments on the Pity board on the ensuing discussin. Be careful, i reckon you have a pink posterior, as you mentioned in some of your post. I wanna see who is salivating.

Godot #165 I guess I have to explain everything.

First Law: When there is no crisis, the mullahs become active by starting a Shia-Sunni fight. When there is a real threat to the country - external threats, floods, draught (like last year in Baluchistan) - the mullahs are nowhere to be seen. That is the reson for the inverse relationship in the equation which I guess I should have explained. You may call this a Hypothesis if you wish, and not a Law, but dont reject it without thinking.

You ask: ``What are those sectarian killings and general lawlessness then? Is that because today`s Pakistan is close to being very peaceful and orderly?``

While things look bad for Pakistan today, name one crisis of the kind we faced in 1965 or 1971 or throughout the 1980`s under that one-man crisis Zia.

Second Law:

`` Pakistan`s Future is golden when you wake up.``

That is not what the Second Law says: The Magnitude of National Crises in the future, MNC(t+1) can (and probably will) in fact be very high. Only thing is: the problems we face will be different from the ones you worry about today. We are still worrying about issues of 1947 (2-nation theory etc.) when all the issues we will run into from here on lie in the future.

Third Law:

``Since MNC in t+1 is close to zero - leads to - MPW at t = 0.``

You ar wrong: MNC(t+1) is not close to zero (as explained above), the coefficient C is close to zero.

Since you are having some trouble with math, I have summarized the implications of the Second and Third Laws as follows: The problems you worry about today wont be the problems you will encounter in future (this is true not just for Pakistanis, but for everyone). However, you will encounter a different set of problems (that no one is worrying about today). So you are doing the right amount of worrying, but about the wrong things.

PS I dont want to say the mullahs are no threats or that they should not be dealt with as power hungry individuals whose views are in violation of the Quran. All I am saying is not to allow their loudspeakers and gun-toting detract us from the real problems we do face in Pakistan and which will cause tomorrow`s crises.

asif naqshbandi

you ask ``if you are a Muslim why you do NOT want full Shar`iah implemented in Pakistan``

............. the answer is simple : for the same reason that I don`t want to ride a camel, or trade oil changes for a copy of windows, or have four wives, or marry off my daughter at 9, or execute POWs, or burn down interest paying banks, or amputate the hands of petty theives, or go to war because someone didn`t appoint my son as the caliph, or execute someone because they insulted a long dead prophet, or pay a special tax because my last name is masih, or banish women to the harem, or have the fashion police beat up my wife because she dared to show a wisp or hair, or have to drive my daughters everywhere, or own slaves, or splash water everywhere and make a mess in the bathroom five times a day, or give up toothpaste for maswak, or belch after eating halwa, or shout takbeer instead of clapping, or hike up my shalwar to bare my ankles, or beat up on the soccer team because they wore shorts, or sacrifice my son because i had a bad dream, or kick my concubine out of the house because my wife objects, or, for that matter even have a concubine, .............. phew !................. you want more reasons ......................... or have to recite the dua-i-qanoot when being interviewed for a house surgeons position, or being beaten up by the police because i want to have lunch during ramadhan, or being told that i cannot have sex with the lights on, or being told what to think ..... but most of all i don`t want to ride a camel or subsist on dates !

Interesting!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1191000/1191067.stm

The problems of Pakistan are many but .....

From The Times of India today:

Delhi, Chennai worst cities to live in: UK survey
LONDON: Delhi and Chennai are among the worst cities to live in, according to a new survey on the quality of life in cities around the world. In the survey of 215 cities around the world, Delhi comes in at 176th, the same position as Chennai. That does not place it that far above Iraqi capital Baghdad, which is ranked 212th.

Pakistan capital Islamabad ranked 146 is somewhat better in the survey conducted by human resources firm William M. Mercer. The survey released here on Monday gives the top three spots to Vancouver in Canada, Zurich in Switzerland and Vienna in Austria. Brazaville in Congo is at the bottom of the table with Khartoum just above at position 214.

The survey is based on ten criteria that cover the political, economic and social environment, medical facilities, education, recreation and transport.

Chennai emerges as one of the most boring cities in the world with some of the poorest recreation facilities. Even Baghdad does better than it in this respect.

Transportation facilities in Pakistani cities seem much better than in Indian cities. Islamabad is found to be almost as good as New York.

The overall rankings on the quality of life within South Asia are as follows: Colombo 121, Beijing 141, Islamabad 146, Mumbai 163, Karachi 164, Lahore 166, Bangalore 175 and New Delhi and Chennai at 176.

Sydney is ranked seventh, San Francisco 19, Tokyo 19, Paris 35, Singapore 40, London 40, Birmingham 59, Rome 69, Dubai 81, Kuala Lumpur 87, and Bangkok 113.

The survey makes separate lists for recreation facilities and for public transport and traffic. In recreation terms, it shows Delhi in the 165th position. Comparatively, Beijing is ranked 144th and Baghdad 204th.

In this area, Los Angeles is on top, along with Sydney, Washington and Abu Dhabi. Following are the points awarded to selected cities by way of recreation facilities, with the base figure of 100.00 taken as New York: Madras 23.5, Bangalore 27.5, Islamabad 44.5, Karachi 46.85, Lahore 52.5, Delhi 44.0, Mumbai 47.5, London 96.5, Bangkok 81.5, Colombo 65.85, Dubai 69.5 and Baghdad 25.5.

When it comes to public transport and traffic, Delhi ranked 182. In that respect Baghdad is better at 153 and Beijing at 129. But Delhi is better than Mexico City, which is ranked 212.

Again with New York taken as the standard with an award of 100, the rankings in transport for some cities are: New Delhi 60.00, Mumbai 67.5, Bangalore and Madras 34.5, Abu Dhabi 115.92, Singapore 147.81, Baghdad 79.5, Bangkok 70.76, Beijing and Cairo 91.5, Dubai 123.88, Colombo 83.91, Dhaka 41.18, London 122.22, Islamabad 98.5, Karachi 91.77 and Lahore

Asif Naqashbandi

Please do not use word ``liberal`` when talking about such people in the context of Pakistan- a better word would be ``pseudo-liberal``. These people dont even know the alif bay of liberalism. Lets not insult the notion of liberalism like this which is one of the noblest path a man can follow.

Dionysus # 162

I think you got it all wrong. Indian government and other Hindus at Chowk make these claims not to convince us but to convince themselves and one billion miserable, half-naked, hungary, creatures, that the money they are spending on weapons and 700K incompetant disgrace of an Army who is out there to murder a few hundered freedom fighters in Kashmir, is well justified.

There is a great lesson to be learned from Russia. Weapons do not make a nation a superpower it is the bread and butter that goes into the stomach of the very down trodden which makes a nation proud and strong. Even if a dog goes hungary for a day in a country which calls itself a superpower there is nothing that can stop its collapse-just like Russia. When such ``superpowers`` implode they become nothing more than used condoms lying on the street which nobody even wants to step upon.

I am glad that Indians have not learned that lesson from Russia.

Godot,

Yes the beard of Pakistan can be shaved, and no the Pakistan that you left is not dead, though undoubtedly in ICU.

Let us join hands to resurrect the Modern Liberal Pakistan, these murderers have to kill.

Yasser Hamdani

To YLH and all the other people who foam at the mouth when they encounter a ``fundo`` (I`ve never been able to find anyone who could give me a good explanation of what that exactly means; if it means a Muslim who wishes to follow Islam as it has been traditionally understood for 1000 years and not re-form it to make it more palatable to Western concepts then I`m afraid all the Imams and Muslims and Sufis would be ``fundoes``)--please tell me, pray, has it not occured to your liberal hearts that the so-called Islamists actually have the best interests of Pakistan at heart? You might not agree with what they propose, but do you really believe that the JUP and the Minhaj ul Qur`an and DawateIslami and even the other religious groups whom i have some ideological differences with (like JI) do not want to see Pakistan prosper? The goal is the same (a prosperous Pakistan) and it is only the metohds which are different for different pakistanis whether liberal, religious or communist! We just think that Islam, strictly enforced, based on Hanafi fiqh would solve the problems we face. It does not mean that all the religious parties want is for everyone to be sitting in the mosque all day praying and reading the qur`an. After all, Islam encourages learning and education...why cannot Pakistan enforce shar`iat inside its own borders and yet be a full member of the international community?

Infact I believe that feudalism-one of the biggest problems in our country--and illiteracy [THE biggest problem] and poverty can ONLY be solved under a shariat system because under shar`iat everyone is equal. If it is incumbent upon you you HAVE to pay zakat (even if it is taken forcibly)..imagine how much revenue would be gained if everyuone who currently avoids tax was forced to pay it. And no one but a strict religious regime (with an army which backs it--otherwise u have a civil war situation a la Algeria) can enforce such policies.

Another question to all those who want a secular pakistan and not a pakistan which has shar`iah as its Constitution. If such is to be the case, I honestly cannot see why we bothered separating from India then...we might as well join up again and have one big secular Hindustan instead of a large secular India and a secular Pakistan. What do you say? That way, there`d be no more bloodshed, no more arguing over Kashmir...except i`m not sure if most indians would want you back no matter HOW secularised you become...Personally, if i was given a choice betwen a secular india and secular pakistan or one big secular Hindustan I`d opt for the latter; of course, I`d prefer an Islamic Pakistan living side to side with India on a peaceful basis.

Another question: it is the Islamists who are daily sacrificing their lives in Kashmir to further the foreign policy objectives of the government (whichever government is in power).You people are happy to let then take the bullets but you dont want them to partake of the cake...

I would like some serious answers please and none of the ``you are a fanatic`` type comments as answers. (You can make those comments if it makes you happy but please also answer the q`s.)

Finally, can anyone tell me, seriously, if you are a Muslim why you do NOT want full Shar`iah implemented in Pakistan. And please don`t say becoz it`ll be a mirror-image of afghanistan as you know the two countries are totally different.

What are your fundamental objections to it? Is it because you think religion and politics should be separate? If so, where did you get that concept from...

Re: tahmed321, #159

Your First Law:

1/MNC means higher the Magnitude of National Crises (MNC) the smaller the number - leads to - higher the MNC, lower the Religious Violence (RV). And lower the MNC, ie, no crises, higher the RV! What are those sectarian killings and general lawlessness then? Is that because today`s Pakistan is close to being very peaceful and orderly?

Your Second Law:

Since C is too small to even matter, the National Crises tomorrow = 0. Tomorrow - leads to - Nothing to worry about it today - leads to - Today`s crisis for ``liberal`` Pakistanis is just a bad dream - leads to - Pakistan`s Future is golden when you wake up.

Your Third Law:

Since MNC in t+1 is close to zero - leads to - MPW at t = 0.

I hope you did not major in math!

I think you have been drinking that cold orange juice...with vodka in it! All screwed up!

Tahmad 321

Have you been sniffing something funny lately?

Reply 138

Fuzair

An interesting but sour perspective. More appealing - where everyone rises to&beyond their level of competency - a la Peter ``Plus`` Principle - or does it exist already?? Thanks for spreading the wealth.

aicha

shankar #139

No, you don`t get it all. For the last 12 years India has been selling itself to the West as the champion and defender of secularism and democracy valiantly struggling against the world-threatening menace of Islamic fundementalism (phew!). Indian propagandists have desperately been trying to persuade the West that the future of the whole of human civilization depends on their support in defeating millitants in Kashmir. Yet after 12 years of tireless effort you haven`t managed to elicit a SINGLE mild rebuke against Pakistan for our support of the Kashmiri War of Liberation and not one Western democracy recognizes Kashmir as a part of India. So please spare us this `India is just so Big and Bad` crap. It doesn`t impress anyone.

In the last year alone my (relatively small) group has employed three Indian research engineers. Two are products of IITs and one is from the University of Pune. Smart guys with excellent academic backgrounds and as good as anything coming out of Western universities. Well done India for putting in place such a fine higher educational system!

But please, please don`t me give me this crap about India being such a f--king paradise that no Indian wants to leave it. I know better. These guys have told me themselves that in India they would be earning $40 a month in a crappy little progamming job and that no way are they going back to live in India. Indians are just as desperate to get into the West as Pakistanis. If you`re going to use outward migration as the yardstick to measure success then India is just as big a failure as Pakistan. The only difference is your English press doesn`t make a song and dance about it, unlike the inveterate whingers and cry-babies in our English language press.

Godot #154 ``Am I right, is there no hope?``

Make yourself some refreshing orange juice (with ice), turn on some classical music, flop down on an easy chair, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and relax with tahmed`s Laws of Paki Politics:

First Law:

RV(t) = 1/MNC(t) where

RV(t) = Religious Violence (dependent factor)

MNC(t) = Magnitude of National Crises (exogenous factor)

t = current time period

Second Law:

MPR(t) = C times MNC(t+1)

where

MPR(t) = Magnitude of Problems we worry about today that will be actually Realized in t+1

C = Very low valued absolute number (between 0 and 0.0000000001)

Now you have relaxed enough, so I present you with the Third Law so you dont get too comfortable:

Third Law:

MPW(t) = MNC(t+1)

where

MPW(t) is total Magnitude of Problems you Worry about today