This Visit To Pakistan

Dear Professor Gardezi:

Thanks for sharing your recent experience with us.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

Is a-sort-of guerrilla movement on the horizon in Pakistan?

Re: Hassan Gardezi

I abhor long articles (and replies). But I went through your long article effortlessly. Thank you for the splendid read.

Excellent article as it is, I felt quite depressed after reading it. What is the solution to the menacing encroachment of the ``Islamists`` in Pakistan? Why is it so difficult for them to understand that values of humanism, rationality, secularism, freedom of inquiry and rejection of tradition as the measure of truth are not ``Western`` values. They all are ``human`` values. West just implemented it first.

You ask a very poignant question of your young Pakistani audience: ``What does the future hold for them in Pakistan?``. Not much, I say. That is, as you pointed out, so long as all the ominous and threatening events in Pakistan are ``accepted with therapeutic fatalism`` by the Pakistanis.

I found this article to be very intelligent, objective and yet passionate. I hope you write another one soon, and write often for Chowk. Pakistan needs articles like these on Chowk mainly because, as you put it, ``the situation in Pakistan [is] not conducive.`` It is my true hope that Chowk will make a difference. I`d go as far as saying that Chowk may save Pakistan

Dear Mr Gardezi,

I am confident you made the right and insightful decision to leave Pakistan 35 years ago. You see, there is no place for people like you, who are exceptionally well-eductaed, tolerant, kinnd, and believe in the egalitarian system of values in the Pakistan of today.

Thoroughly enjoyed the narrative, and the frankness of your views.

Sincerely,

Asim

Is there a point lurking somewhere in this article? Aside from some name dropping (I have seen goat droppings that stink less) and aside from something about how the London fog aint the same as Lahore dust, and the author`s air travel that the rest of us bullock cart passengers can gaze at in awe, I fail to see what brother Gardezi is trying to convey.

OK, my previous note was too harsh. There is indeed a point: the increasingly aggressive mullahs (and other thugs), who now know that they will never be elected to power and so seek to take control by force. That is in fact an important point.

dear asim,

there is place in pakistan for everybody, particularly kind, intelligent, tolerant people. to me the most significant bit in the article was how, despite the jangli self-proclaimed holy warriors determined to make people afraid of `them` while yelling themselves hoarse about being afraid of `Allah`, others in pakistan try in their own way to circumvent them and lead some semblance of normal life. sure we`re having trouble, who isn`t? that isn`t a good enough reason to condemn pakistan as `over before it started`. teething pains, that`s what we have. what we need is a leader in the shape of a pacifier, with the resilience of a rubber nipple and the backbone of a woman.

;)) shandana

Mr. Gardezi!

It was a good article.

The only thing to point out is F.R.C.S (Canada) is a real degree.

re: The author

A very good article. Makes me wonder what was the need to create two countries and then keep everything same. The article reminds me of my annual visits to Punjab (on the other side) from UK. Starting from this new phenomenon of ‘fog’ to ‘the deteriorating environment, the civic chaos, the economic and political insecurity, the educational problems of the youngsters, and the ever present threat of sectarian violence, all such afflictions keep cropping up in conversations but accepted with therapeutic fatalism’,

not to mention the all prevailing corruption, inhumanity of blaring loudspeakers from religious ‘shops’ early morning and evening (fortunately not five times a day) without any consideration for the students, the sick or those who need sleep after work etc. etc.

At the same time the very fact that people are discussing these issues and raising the sort of issues mentioned from various meetings, one feels there is hope.

it is indeed intersting to read the articles by expatriate pakistanis about the current state of affairs in pakistan. as a pakistani who has never been outside pakistan i feel that those who had left the country long long time ago should just simply do not critisize on the situation in pakistan. we are living here. want to built a better pakistan. want to play a role to make pakistan a more liberal and tolerant society. we are in the arena. and we are young too.have u ever thought that what will be the impact of such articles in which pakistan`s future is projected a sgloomy will be on the youth of pakisatn. you have left the country.living a prosperous life. but will u not consider yourself a ``Bhagora`` who has prefered to abandon his home in disarray and chosen to live a life in foreign country. your duty is to give us hope. everybody cannot leave pakistan. and why should we leave our country.

lets talk about what should be done.and do something for a better pakistan.but dont simply criticize.

slink #7 ``what we need is a leader in the shape of a pacifier, with the resilience of a rubber nipple and the backbone of a woman.``

The country has Been There, Done That (twice - the First Reign of Queen BB and the Second Reign of Queen BB, not to mention her evil Worse-if-That-is-Possible Half). My vote: PM seems to be sincere. Encourage him to get the recommended backbone and put mullahs where they belong.

Godot #5 ``Why is it so difficult for them to understand that values of humanism, rationality, secularism, freedom of inquiry and rejection of tradition as the measure of truth are not ``Western`` values. They all are ``human`` values. West just implemented it first.``

Actually, these are true religious values too, at least in Islam (anyone who doubts is referred to the Holy Quran). Also true for Hinduism, I am told. Yesterday I attended an hour-long presentation by an Hindu gentleman (a retired person) on the subject of ``Gita and modern life`` (or something like that): he claimed that Hinduism streses the universal brotherhood of man and that Gandhis non-violence had its roots in the teaching of Hinduism.

Too bad our rogues and your rogues (and believe me, India has it`s share of Hindu fanatics too, more solidly entrenched in power although less flashy than the Pakistani variety) dont take their religious books seriously.

RE: Tahmed

``Too bad our rogues and your rogues (and believe me, India has it`s share of Hindu fanatics too, more solidly entrenched in power although less flashy than the Pakistani variety) dont take their religious books seriously.``

Why do we need these comic books at all if they are all misinterpreted and do more harm than good?

``What does the future hold for you?``

I`d chalk this one to - ``generation gap``. Each generation is asked this q and then goes on to rhetorically ask the next

``Chowk may save Pakistan``

getting carried away??!!

wasnt Imran Khan also touted as the ``next`` saviour of Pakistan??

hoep the orginators of Chowk arent planning to head down that road : )

jagdeep #13 ``not to mention the all prevailing corruption, inhumanity of blaring loudspeakers from religious ‘shops’ early morning and evening (fortunately not five times a day) without any consideration for the students, the sick or those who need sleep after work etc. etc.``

I thought only muslims had to put up with a loudspeaker-toting priesthood. Sikhs too, it seems. You have my sympathies.