My Pakistan

A discussion about George Cunningham`s letters can be found in the `Formative phase` by KB Sayeed on pages 244-248

Zakkk,


Disagreement first: Being in jail is no excuse. Many great leaders have led movements from the jail, and despite what you say about Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, his government was never colonial, raj like or South African. Wali Khan and his party were part and parcel of PNA, are you suggesting that he would have backed out of the PNA had he been out of the jail? I agree it was real politik... the point is that the same leaders strike a very self righteous pose when discussing history.

The accusations of collusion with the fakir of Ipi is right from the start... while I agree that Qayyum Khan was against any understanding between JInnah and Ghaffar Khan... he was clearly over ruled by Jinnah, who told him not to take on the red shirts and instead try and coopt them. Jinnah had great regard for Ghaffar Khan .... but what happened next... Sir George Cunningham, the Governor of NWFP, was writing letters to Jinnah.. they make an interesting reading. 4 things emerge...

1) That Jinnah had prevailed over Qayyum Khan to cease and desist from antagonizing the Red Shirts and the KK.

2) That Ghaffar Khan was , in the governor`s opinion, instigating the masses against Pakistan in the name of pathanistan.

3) Ghaffar Khan, as per the governor`s letter of 31 December 1947, was claiming that Pakistan`s government was not based on Islam, and was calling for the Sharia Law instead of Ordinary law...

4) Ghaffar Khan and his brother were both in touch with Fakir of Ipi who had the same ends against the Pakistan Government.

my dear friend ... I am just telling you what I have read. No doubt Ghaffar Khan would have made a great leader for Pakistan... and given that Jinnah admitted to having `counterfeit coins` , it was quite possible that Ghaffar Khan or his brother would have formed the next Government in Pakistan... but sadly Ghaffar Khan was seduced by the prevailing situation, especially that which was emerging due to the Durand Line.


About Honor killing....

Maybe I am confusing Wali Khan with Ajmal Khattak... who is after all a leading light of the ANP, a committed follower of the Bacha Khan and even looks like him... he is a secular left wing politician... but his deliberate back stabbing of the honor killing resolution makes sense when you look at ANP as a purely Pushtoon movement.

I suppose we need to find the detail of the senate members involved in that resolution.

Wasim Sajjad is a coward... and despite being in the middle of it all he will always be a nobody.

And I agree ... Asfandyar seems to say all the right things... but I view with suspicion all regional politicians. Hope he can rise above his ethnicity ... and think it terms of Pakistan... something which his illustrious grandfather was unable to do.

-YLH

Mantolives: I am not defending Ghaffar Khans political motives or Wali Khans, My argument is on the historical accuracy of what you are saying.

Ghaffar khan did make the third option on the referendum at a very opportunistic stage, he was in the end betrayed by the Congress Party, and his subsequent failure to accept Pakistan was a major political mistake. Qayyum Khans opposition (his being a highly personal enmity between himself and the KK) to any detente between Jinnah and Ghaffar Khan was well known, I believe he told Jinnah that there was a plan to assasinate him..as a way of preventing the summit..

1)The original Khudai Khidmatgar movement was an anti colonial social reform movement. Giving the conservative nature of Pashtun society I wouldn`t be surprised if both the ``khan`` brothers had supported the Faqir of Ipi at some stage, but with time the Pakistan Azad Party and the NAP became secular left wing parties. They did not believe in the mixing of religion with politics, and senior ANP politicians have a very low threshold for ``mullahs``.

2) In the NAP`s case it`s support for the JUI was a case of realpolitik, the same way the PPP brought the JUI into the government in 1973. Or the MMA`s support for the PPP post 2002 elections in Sindh. The NAP-JUI alliance was in the end strengthened because of the PPP`s victimisation of the opposition, the same way the PPP-PML alliance has been.

3) Again I believe your comment about the Nizam-e-Mustafa is an historical inaccuracy. Wali khan was in jail at the time, along with other NAP leaders after being targetted by the PPP government in an trumped up conspiracy case (the Hyderabad conspiracy). The NAP itself had been banned and it`s successor party the NDP was led by Sherbaz Mazari. Which as part of the PNA allaince had to accept the decision by other groups pushing the Nizam-e-Mustafa. Whether practically if the allaince had won, it is very doutful if they would have supported any ``Islamisation push``. So being in jail and effectively having little say in the NDP how could Wali khan support the Nizam-e-Mustafa tehrik?

4) I don`t recall any statement by Wali Khan supporting honour killings, you may have confused him with Ajmal Khattak during the infamous Samia Sarwar resolution? At the same time I do remember Rhode Scholar Wasim Sajjad supporting the rejection of condemnation of honour killings?

I also remember the present Foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri approaching Asfandyer Wali for support in a bill against honour killing sometime in 1998. Which Asfandyer had promised to do....

Like I said, I am no supporter of the Wali`s (although I think asfandyer has the potential to be a real national leader) but, I do know many people associated with the ANP, and your comments seemed a bit inaccurate.

Ahmedzai Manto and ROMAIR sirjees here is an interesting article which is facinating
No wonder pakistan is consider the jihadi facotry of the islamic world. It is being readied for what Jay calls Iraqization. No matter what Mantolives says, at the current rate the process cannot be stopped. Unless guys like him grab power pronto and change the mindeset of these people.



check it out at http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EK27Df03.html



By Syed Saleem Shahzad

KARACHI - A ceasefire between Pakistan and India along three of their borders went into effect at midnight on Tuesday. The million-dollar question everyone is asking, though, is how long this United States-sponsored initiative will last. The answer, it appears, is not long.

The ceasefire agreement covers the India-Pakistan international border, the Line of Control (LoC) that divides the those sections of Kashmir administered by the two countries, and along the Actual Ground Position Line in the Siachen Glacier.

Developments leading up to the ceasefire actually started several weeks ago when, under immense US pressure, Pakistan`s Inter-Services-Intelligence (ISI) shut down its ``Forward Section 23`` in Pakistan`s Azad (Free) Kashmir, which meant the closure of all training camps and ISI operations offices in that region.

Not only this, but also under US pressure, Pakistan was asked to provide access to its national data base and records of those involved in terror activities, which, according to the US definition, includes militancy in the name of jihad. For this purpose, a special wing was established in the Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan (FIA), which normally handles matters related to white-collar crime.

This special investigation cell is jointly headed by Fareed Nawaz of the FIA and a member of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. This is a clandestine operation to fight terror, and information relating to it has been obtained by Asia Times Online, it has not been officially disclosed.

The cell has the mandate to compile records of those involved in terror activities, collect their fingerprints and other details, and then enter the data into a mainframe system connected to all FBI offices and US immigration facilities world-wide. As a result of this operation, banned militant outfits that had resumed operations under another name were re-banned, and a number of activists arrested. This time there was a difference, though. The entire records of all suspects and organizations were seized for entry into the ``terror database``.

According to sources close to the Pakistani administration, the US leaned heavily on the Pakistani leadership to force the ISI to abandon its Kashmir operations in mid-stream. Just recently, a new recruitment campaign for militants - to be used in cross-border raids into Indian-administered Kashmir - was started in all big cities. And militant organizations were given huge funds to mobilize their activists and attract new recruits.

And, it is said, President General Pervez Musharraf held meetings with jihadi leaders in which he assured them that he supported ``jihad in Kashmir`` with his ``heart and soul``. After these assurances, the Jamaatut Dawa (formerly the Lashkar-i-Toiba) was encouraged, with all means and resources, to stage a large gathering in Mureedkey, Punjab, where thousands of jihadis gathered and vowed to liberate Kashmir. Maulana Masood Azhar of the Khuddamul Islam (effectively the Jaish-i-Mohammed) was also invited to address the gathering.

Before that gathering, Azhar paid frequent visits to the port city of Karachi to revive 32 units out of about 148 that had existed until the Jaish-i-Mohammed was banned. Before the last visit, a big publicity campaign started, with about Rs 50,000 (US$870) paid for wall posters alone. Subsequently, Azhar attracted about 7,000 people to north Karachi`s famous Batha mosque. Azhar was visibly protected by local police.

At this point, a big operation in Kashmir appeared imminent in which it was hoped to force the Indian leadership to resume dialogue on the disputed territory on Pakistan`s terms. Delhi, however, responded by applying all its good offices with Washington. As a result, the ISI`s Mumbai connection, Indian underworld boss Dawood Ibrahim, was declared a ``global terrorist`` by the US, and the ISI took the decision to close its base operations in Kashmir. The US even said that Dawood resided in Karachi, although he has not been seen there for some time.

And then, with the US beginning a new round of pro-Indian posturing, Pakistan committed itself to a change in its mode of operations. Traditionally, jihadis have penetrated into Indian territory from Kashmir, but now the ``launching`` apparatus has been moved to Karachi for militants to cross the border from Sindh province into India, from where they will either make their way to Kashmir or seek out soft targets in India.

Why Pakistan cannot stop anti-Indian operations
Many thousands of Pakistanis have fought in Afghanistan (during the anti-Soviet campaign of the 1980s) and Kashmir over the past decade or more as members of jihadi outfits. After the US attacked Afghanistan in late 2001, it was largely predicted that these outfits - which are loyal to the Taliban and al-Qaeda - would rush back to lend their support, and that they would also rebel against Musharraf.

This assessment proved to be a huge misconception. The jihadi outfits were in fact a part of the ISI`s operations and the brainchild of late dictator General Zia ul-Haq and General Akhtar Abdul Rehman. The purpose was to develop a para-military force that would assist the Pakistan army in the event of war. However, in the course of the 1989 uprising in Kashmir, these jihadis played so vital a role that they outdid the army, so in the 1990s it was decided that they would act as a front-line force in any India-Pakistan war.

First-hand observations by this correspondent in Azad Kashmir camps confirm that the jihadi outfits are in fact paramilitary troops. Each unit has a commander who reports to an army officer. Each jihadi commander is given funds and the brief to devise a strategy for his unit`s combat operations. The commanders have lap top computers in which they store their data, from which they generate summaries of their operations for their military officers. The summaries include targets, operations and results. The jihadi commanders and army field officers always coordinate their efforts. Pro-jihadi clerics, like Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, are used to deliver sermons, and they are not allowed to utter a single word more than the topic on which they have been told to speak.

After September 11, 2001, ties between the army and the jihadis were at a crossroads, but they emerged as friends. Meetings were held at ISI offices in Karachi, where Shamzai and others were told the limits of their anti-US demonstrations. These clerics always abide by such guidelines. Shamzai was also taken by the ISI to North-West Frontier Province when tribals had blocked highways in support of the Taliban, and he forced them to remove all blockades.

Interestingly, some diehard jihadis with ``original`` thoughts came out in favor of Osama bin Laden, including Maulana Abdul Jabbar of the Jaish-i-Mohammed. Their jihadi fellows pointed this out to the ISI, which advised him against such support. When he did not give up, he was detained.

The ISI reasoned with the jihadis that they had to compromise on al-Qaeda as Pakistan did not have any strategic interests with the network. However, Pakistan did have interests with the Taliban, the ISI pointed out, so it would persuade the US to give them a role in the government in Afghanistan. In essence, then, the so-called jihadi-clerics are no more than the ISI`s proxies, rather than committed ``ideologues``.

Major army interests in Kashmir
Apart from strategic interests, the Pakistan army has interests in the ``jihad of Kashmir``, from non-commissioned officers right up to the major-general who looks after Forward Section 23. It has funds to run training camps, including recruitment (Rs 10,000 for each recruit), and transportation and accommodation costs. It also has a special fund for each ``mujahid`` when he enters into Kashmir (Rs 20,000). Should he die, there is a special fund for compensation (Rs 50,000 in the first year and Rs 24,000 in next two years) for the bereaved family.

For Pakistan then, the ISI, the jihadis and the army are in one mind that the struggle in Kashmir will continue. All that is happening for now, under US pressure, is a shift in tactics, with Karachi becoming a center of activities. Realistically, the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kashmir cannot therefore be expected to hold.

Sadozai:

Also, there is definitely a communal problem in India. No one can deny that at all. The only reason I did not approach that was because it is a known fact and does not need discussion.

Brother Sadozai:

``I personally know a few hindu and christian friends, some of them are in the army (believe it or not).``

What!??!!! You are kidding right? Hindus in Pakistan Army??

`` we certainly had more tolerance in case of non muslims in 1947 and we have it still. ``

I am sure you have heard of the Parachinar incident in 1947. I am not saying Hindus were innocent in 1947 but I do not believe that Pathans of all people were more tolerant of non Muslims. Even now, it is NWFP that is the most Mullah dominated province of Pakistan.


``I admit that there are a few `criminal` people or organizations who promote religious and sectarian violence, but no one likes them, and if caught, they will be tried and convicted, just like the killers of Daniel Pearl, unlike in India. Any enlightened indian will not point a figure at pakistanis for being extremist before looking at their own history of violence. ``

You misunderstood me. I am saying that pogroms/riots occur against visible minorities and not invisible ones. Hence my point of there not being a single riot against Parsis in India. If Hindus constituted 10-15 % of your population, there certainly would have been riots. If you want to compare, consider the fact there is not periodic cold blooded killing of Muslims in Mosques, unlike what is done to Shias in Pakistan.

You are new to Chowk, believe me my aim is not to score points. I have made objections (which I believe are valid) to some of Ahmadzai`s statements about India and the false comparisons he has made.

``According to Arundhati Roy, the massacre of gujrat was state sponsored, so were most of the other riots, and the destruction of babari masjid. ``

The destruction of BM was not ``state sponsored`` and Arundhati Roy is an idiot which is proven by her statement. The government in the centre was Congress in 1992. The political movement was led by BJP. On 6 December, 1992, the Babri Masjid was destroyed. On 7 December, ALL ruling state governments of BJP (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and I think Himachal) were dismissed and criminal cases filed against BJP leaders which still carry on. These cases have not been removed by BJP even when it came to power 4 years back.

``but similarly, as a pakistani, i have no right to blame the indians, especially when i know what the pakistanis did to their bengali brothers. ``

Where Pakistan has a darker record, and I say this objectively, is in making communalism a part of the constitution as reflected by laws against Ahmadis and in allowing misogyny to be legal as in Hudoon Ordnance. This is a point that your own countryman, Yasser/Manto has been making consistently even though he is as nationalist as anyone else here. It is one thing for people to go beserk, another for politicians to sometimes give it cover illegally, and quite another to give it the protection of the law.

zakkk,

If you recall my post... I am not making any assumptions... I am just telling you how it is. No doubt Ghaffar Khan was a great leader of men... but his jump from the composite Indian nationalism the very narrow pushtooon Nationalism was sudden and opportunistic.

Whether you deny it or not ... and Ghaffar Khan was a great leader of men no doubt... the fact remains :

1) A G Khan and Dr. Khan Sahib colluded with Fakir of Ipi in the name of Shariat , just weeks after they had gone to Karachi to give Jinnah their solemn promise of loyalty to pakistan. Jinnah himself had great regard for Ghaffar Khan... but his trust was betrayed. There is ofcourse the other theory, that Sardar Qayyum created the rift deliberately by floating such stories...Nevertheless rumors were circulating, and they were confirmed by the Governor of NWFP.

2) Mufti Mahmood`s Government in the 1970s was sustained by the help of ANP ... which was the first Mulla government in any province.

3) Wali Khan was a part of the PNA. He was one of the major forces of the PNA... he agreed to `Nizam-e-Mustafa` slogan which was the worst exploitation of religion ... The PNA consisted of fascist religious parties like JI and JUH. To say that he didn`t have anything to do with it... is just a laughable assertion.

4) Are you denying that Wali Khan was a vocal opponent of the resolution against honor killing... are you denying that he claimed that it was a matter of pushtun honor and pride?

To say that ANP opposed taliban doesn`t make up for its history of machiavellian religious abuse.


Mullahs haven`t gotten a chance yet.... when they do.. you will not be making tall claims about state pogroms being only in India.

-YLH

YLH: You seem to be making some big assumptions about Ghaffar Khan and Wali Khan. Firstly, if they were so pro MMA as you seem to believe, why did the ANP leave tyhe ARD over the US attack on the Taliban. the ANP stated it believed the Taliban were bad for the people of Afghanistan. Secondly please confirm where did Ghaffar Khan associate himself with a Shariat movement? Again the Nizam-e Mustafa movement was a PNA act, and Wali khan was in jail at that time, so he had little to do with his supporters throwing their lot in with the combined oppoistion in a move to ha;t a civilian dictator.

Secondly, the MMA and Pashtuns in general have no histpory of Modi style pogroms, state sponsored pogroms in the 21st century so far only have happened in India.


Realistically, practical politics has forced the MMA to modify it`s extremist ideas. I would still not vote for them given a chance though..

ahmadzai #3

`` This is an excellent article. Precisely what President Musharraf and elected Government of PM Jamali espouse - enlightened moderation.

phrases like that ``President Musharraf`` and ``elected government`` give away your stripes.

`` 1. Six parties got united under the umbrella of MMA, some thing that had never happened before.``

Thanks to covert support from the military and ISI


`` There was a genuine pro-Islamists/Talibans feeling in the Pakhtoon belt of Pakistan. The voters voted for MMA to record their resentment against General Musharraf`s ``treacherous`` u-turn and the Coalition`s heavy handedness against Afghan Pushtoons. This was a firm vote bank. If BB or Nawaz would have been allowed to participate, at best they would have further depleted the anti-MMA vote bank. For example, in my constituency, Mr. Sherpao won. If BB would have participated, at best, Mr. Sherpao`s opponent would have taken away votes from him, not from MMA`s religious vote bank.``

USA and coliation has done nothing against Afghan Pushtoons. They do not rule non-Pusthoon half of Afghanistan and they cannot shelter Al Qaida elements. You certainly sign the party line very well.

`` Finally, with due apologies to posters such as at # 1 and many who will come afterwards towing the same line: The constituent parties of MMA, no matter how hardlined and extremists, have never espoused mob violence, pogroms against minorities, inter-communal hatred, civil disobedience, etc. Compare this with the ``broad-minded Government of India``. The deputy PM of that Government is a killer of innocent Hindus and Muslims subsequent to razing Babri Mosque to the ground. That Government was in league with Modi when he organized the pogrom against Muslims in Gujrat. ``

The MMA supported the Taliban which has taken Afghanistan to 16th century. Maybe that is what your masters in Islamabad want !!!

Ahmed Sadozai:

I have no complaint only praise for your article. Self-analysis and reflection can only lead to progress for all of us.

I am only responding to ahmedzai`s ridiculous and silly claims about minorities in Pakistan. I am well aware that all is not well in India. Thank you for the serious consideration that you have extended to my notes. I had no intention that they should detract focus from your article; if that has ended up happening, I apologize.

Well, first let me thank mr. mishra. for the information he has given. I would not deny what you have written. I am sure that it is true and I do not approve of what is happening in pakistan.

now for mohar, arjun and mishra: i think all of you have still not understood the real point of that article. read the article again and let me know if you find even a single line in which i am taking pakistani side. in fact, even in the comparison between the indian and pakistani presidents, i`m favouring the indian president as the better man.

I would not approve of any injustice, anywhere in the world, it can be by the hands of the pakistanis, indians (yes, really!) or the americans (most defintely). I say something about the indians, and you find something about pakistanis and throw it back at me. What we really need to do is, identify and accept the wrongs in our own socities first and find a solution for them, instead of wrongfully justifying our own peoples` actions.

I was not planning to say anything about the indians or americans in the first place, but since everybody was bashing up Ahmedzai (it`s not me, it`s someone else....i am Ahmed Sadozai), i thought that they should be reminded of the problems in their own countries as well.

And now this whole discussion is taking up a different shape. This discussion does not need people arguing over whether india is right or pakistan. But we need some indians now who admit the atrocities in india as I have admitted in pakistan.

Ahmed J. Sadozai

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To: The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6225

Majority Phone: (202) 224-4651
Minority Phone: (202) 224-3953

Re: Atrocities on Minority Hindus in Peshawar, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

Dear Honorable Senators:

This petition aims to draw your attention to the disturbing reports in several South Asian media outlets (Nov. 7, 2003)*. These reports quote The Daily Times(http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_31-10-2003_pg7_43), an English daily based out of Peshawar, which is the capital of the Northwest Frontier Province in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, about eviction orders being served by the local authorities upon seventy Hindu families to leave their ancestral homes, and the demolition of the local Hindu Temple.

The Hindu community currently forms less than three percent ** (17% in 1948) of the present population of Pakistan. They continue to face rampant discrimination and persecution in every sphere of life. The goals of this systematic persecution seem to be the forcible conversion of the minority Hindu community to the religion of Islam as well as the expulsion of Hindus from their homes and lands in Pakistan.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, urgently request your support and action in ensuring the withdrawal of eviction orders from The Peshawar Cantonment Board as well as ensuring immediate security to the Hindu families in Peshawar.

We greatly appreciate your time and consideration in this extremely important matter.


References

* Media reports

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13302462

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_449498,0008.htm

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/00107100040.htm

http://www.indiaexpress.com/news/world/20031107-2.html

http://www.keralanext.com/news/index.asp?id=18668

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/nov/07pak.htm



** Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook 2003

http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/pk.html#People



Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Some ignorant folks have made all kinds of absurd claims about the vitality of hindu (dare we ask about the buddhist sites??) sites in Pakistan. Here is a factual report which shows the degradation, neglect and violence visited on these sites.

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Temples Dying in Pakistan

By Firoz Bakht Ahmed
Few people are aware that Pakistan has Vedic temples prima au pareil (unparallel) languishing for want of care and dying a dusty death. Umpteen temples have vanished from the skyline of the prominent cities of Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sindh and Islamabad. The clue as to how briskly they have disappeared is provided by the fact that at the time of Independence, some 424 Hindi temples dotted the landscape of Karachi alongwith a synagogue, several gurudwaras and a number of churches. Over the years, however, the temples have disappeared one by one, leaving alone only a handful of places where the city`s Hindu residents may worship.

According to Saquib Malik, the features editor of Karachi`s `Herald` monthly, in the year immediately following partition, a majority of Karachi`s temples were converted into Government schools while some were turned into private residences. The rest of the temples remained more or less undisturbed. What is most unfortunate, according to the noted columnist of Karachi`s `Dawn` English daily, Nahid Riyaz, is that the few remaining temples have always been under threat from the city`s notorious land mafia. In many cases, the courtyards and grounds surrounding these structures, have already been encroached. But more shocking is the fact that the custodians of the temples themselves joined hands with the land grabbers. While the administration turns a blind eye to the plunder, a vital part of the city`s cultural heritage is fast disappearing.

From the Pakistani capital Islamabad to Lahore, the motorway is not only very comfortable but also makes a memorable journey owing to the fact that there are many Hindu and Islamic monuments of importance and one such is the historic Katasraj Mandir associated with the Mahabharata legend. Legend has it that here the famous dialogue between Yudhishthira and Yaksha took place. The story goes that here the Pandava brothers went to quench their thirst at the Katasraj Mandir pond, Yaksha, the protector of the pond, allowed them to drink water on the condition they answered their questions. While the four of the Pandavas failed to answer his questions, they were rendered lifeless by him. Yudhisththira finally answered all the questions and had his brothers revived by the Yaksha.

Vijay Goel, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha MP, visited this temple in Pakistan and lamented that it was in a pathetic state in spite of the fact that it has a tremendous following and the cases for its uplift and restoration are in the Lahore High Court. Goel suggested that the Heads of the two countries come together and form a Joint Committee for involving the historians, social activists, planners and media persons for restoration of places of religious importance both in India and Pakistan. He made this suggestion to former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto while on his visit to Lahore for the historic Delhi-Lahore bus journey representing the Indian Parliamentary delegation.

Goel was dazed to know that at the social level, the people of Pakistan wanted to be close to India as much and that there are no walls and political borders. Their craze for Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla, Karishma, Kajol and Manisha Koirala was more than the Indians, Goel felt. After talking to the members of the Pakistani Hindu Mahasabha, Goel found that more temples in that country were destroyed after December 6, 1992 in the bloody Babri Masjid aftermath than in the half century after the vivisection of the sub-continent. They told Goel that religious fundamentalism is extremely dangerous, especially for the minorities.

In the days that followed the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition by the frenzied mob in Faizabad, the Hindu temples all across Pakistan came under attack from rioting crowds. The temples that were destroyed in Karachi and Peshawar in those days of unbridled hate, were never rebuilt. Rather, the land on which they were constructed, was quietly sold off to real estate developers. Some temples have been rebuilt but they are few.

In the days that followed the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition by the frenzied mob in Faizabad, the Hindu temples all across Pakistan came under attack from rioting crowds. The temples that were destroyed in Karachi and Peshawar in those days of unbridled hate, were never rebuilt. Rather, the land on which they were constructed, was quietly sold off to real estate developers. Some temples have been rebuilt but they are few.

The very entrance to Katasraj Mandir is a pathetic one. There`s nothing that can be termed as Mandir except the ruins. In fact, the presence of an old board only indicated that the site is that of the famous Katasraj Mandir where a guard is also placed. There is a plaque by the Archaeological Survey of Pakistan that quotes the history of this temple. ``Katas: Kohistan Mountains, Central Chakwal

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according to the legend of the Mahabharata, when Lord Shiva lost his wife Parvati, he felt so upset that the ponds at the eastern and western ends of the temple got filled by his tears. In Sanskrit it is also known as `Katak Sheel` which means flow of tears. Later on the name got twisted to `Katas`. The place is of great significance for the Brahmins.``

Even Al-Bairuni wrote an interesting history of the temple in his `Kitab-ul-Hind` where he depicts that he learnt Sanskrit and science at Katas. Not only this, quite interestingly, he even learnt many Vedic traditions. Renowned historian Panikkar states that `Kitab-ul-Hind` brings a very honest and first-hand account of history at that time. It is also mentioned in Bairuni`s book that Katas happened to be the most revered Mandir after Punjab`s Jwalamukhi Mandir. This fact is also confirmed by Liaqat Ali Khan Niyazi, the Deputy Commissioner of Chakwal. Al-Bairuni also mentioned about other Pakistani temples like Panch Mukhi ka Hanuman Mandir, Nagnath Baba Mandir and Darya Lal Mandir.

The grounds of the famous Nagnath Bawa Mandir in Karachi have been occupied by a businessman housing a soap factory. Though the owner claims to have brought it legally from the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA), Hindu residents of the area dispute the claim. The historic importance of this temple is that once Lord Shankar wanted to lead peaceful existence for some time and he came here. He took the permission of Anant Vasudevji, who gladly agreed and desired that the deity visited this place regularly even later on. It was managed by a local trust of the Hindu community that has no influence in the area. Not very distant is the Preedy Police Station adjacent to which is the Preedy Mandir at Sadar. It was occupied by the dreaded land mafia in that area. The trustees of the temple said that it was owing to a nexus between the land grabbers, police and politicians.

Similarly, there is Narayan Mandir, situated at MA Jinnah Road, just opposite the head office of the Karachi Municipal Corporation. Presently, it has been managed by the All-Pakistan Hindu Panchayat Committee and community leaders. It is known for colourful festivals. The shopkeepers on the road have not only encroached upon its premises but also started storing their merchandise in the temple compound. Raja Dharampal Varma, an office bearer, states that initially the shopkeepers said that they were sitting there only to avoid the heat during the summer. But, slowly they started using the premises as a warehouse. That`s why they sealed the rear gate of the temple for fear of an attack by the fanatics.

Narinder Jogi, a former trustee of the temple told that they complained to the authorities but to no avail. They have been pleading their case since Benazir Bhutto was the Prime Minister during her first-term but in vain. ``The corrupt have no fear, for they know even if they are entrapped and an enquiry held and they are found to be guilty and suspended, they will soon walk back or walk to an even better job. It is indeed difficult to fight and win``, rues a disgruntled Jogi.

Darya Lal Mandir in the vicinity of the Customs House got its name as it is situated just on the edge of the Arabian sea. The story goes that the Hindus living in the areas around this temple sought the blessing of the deity in the sanctum sanctorum before launching their boats in the sea. It is believed that those who sought the blessings, were safe and sound no matter whatever the fury of the tempest used to be. Apart from that they also got the best variety of fish. Basically most of them came from Mohalla Mahigir (fishermen`s locality). Today, they prefer to make their journey without Darya Lal`s blessings, perhaps because a large part of the temple as well as the surrounding area has been encroached upon by the Karachi Hazara Goods Company, transporters and a tea canteen. The company owner and his employees harass visitors to Darya Lal, especially the women.

In Karachi`s famous Hingora Lane, Lyari, the famous Jagdish Mandir was completely destroyed in the aftermath of Babri Masjid debacle. The Pujari, Sant Ram Bhatia, lamented the fact that prior to the Babri Masjid disaster, there was little love lost between the Hindus and Pathans and Balochis living in the neighbourhood. Rather, in the absence of the Pujari, the immediate neighbour Shamsher Khan Diwan took care of the temple premises and opened it if some visitor wanted to see it. Twice Bhatia visited India and each time he left the keys in the possession of Diwan who fully guaranteed its safety. But, after the sad Ram Mandir imbroglio, the very same neighbours accuse the Indian ilks of Pujari to be non-secular and fascist and anti-Muslim. A portion of the Mandir was taken by a madrasa and the remaining part was converted into a warehouse by the Managing Committee of the temple. Today, there is no trace of Jagdish Mandir, where the famous Saint Rishi Gautam used to reside here and even Ganga once appeared here in the form of Gautmi alongwith Shiva Trayambkeshwara Jyotirlinga. Now all this is a legend.

Lyari`s largest Hindu temple was the Panjrapur Mandir. A portion of the temple`s ground has been taken over by an adjacent building after some understanding by the trustees of the temple. After that another portion of the courtyard of the temple was bought by another person for commercial purposes. The construction is still on with the help of Khatu Mal, Member, Pakistani Assembly. Others who sold off the temple premises include the self-proclaimed Mahanta Babu Lal and temple caretaker Kishan Meghwar. Only 6x8 feet portion remains of what is now that Mandir that was spread over 3,000 sq yds. Not very far away from Panjrapur Mandir is the once famous Bhagnari Mandir near Tea Market that was constructed by the Balochi Hindus and was visited by the members of one Lassi tribe. More than half of the temple premises has been occupied by a transporter and a courier company, Al-Rifah.

Laxmi Narayan Panghat Mandir, situated beside the Native Jetty, (Neti-Jeti in the vernacular) once held a special significance for Hindu women, who came here for performing the ritual purification bath. Goddess Laxmi and Lord Narain also appeared here. It was originally here that out of reverence for this pious place that some tears fell from the eyes of Lord Narayan and Bindu Sarovar, a fresh water pound came into being immediately after that. Over the last few decades the devotees numbers have decreased owing to encroachment upon the premises by some politicians and other influential people. The aesthetic beauty of the temple has been marred owing to the construction of the Jinnah Over Bridge Extension. Besides, the women devotees hesitate to visit the site because of late the area has become a hunting ground for lecherous young men, especially during the festivals of Rakhi, Ganpati, Karwa Chauth, Holi and Diwali. Some distance away from this temple used to be the Hanuman Mandir at Frere Market Road that was abandoned after Babri Masjid debacle. Today, a cryptic sign reading KESC-208 is painted on the door.

In a recent judgement, the Chief Justice of Sindh, Kamal Mansoor Alam, realising the lack of confidence in the Pakistani Courts and the frustration of the minorities of that city who have filed umpteen number of petitions against the illegal and forced occupation of the temples, has appointed a `Temple Bench` comprising two fearless judges, Justice Rana Bhagwandas and Sabihuddin Ahmed. He has also ordered it to sit on one day each week to hear cases involving encroachment on temples. This bench has successfully and expeditiously dispensed justice.

Salman Rashid, a freelance Karachi journalist, states that such unauthorised temple occupations are not raised overnight in a manner that would escape the notice of the officials, nor they can remain concealed. Such illegal activity bears testimony to the indifference of the authorities. At the same time, he maintains that the question of the illegal occupation of temples in Pakistan and mosques in India is a very sensitive one. The two countries` administrators must bear this in mind that if a temple is burnt in Pakistan, the ones to suffer will be the innocnt Indian Muslims and their mosques and if a similar incident takes place in India where a mosque is harmed, the innocent Pakistani Hindus have to bear the brunt.

Rashid maintains that this is very unfortunate and with the presence of custodians of law, the law of the jungle must not prevail. The two governments must respect the places of worship of all the communities. Rashid quoted the Karachi Governor Moinuddin Haider saying that one single most heinous crime in the religious realm of the sub-continent was the destruction of Babri Masjid. Let`s hope sanity and better sense prevails and the religious places of all the communities remain safe, not only in the sub-continent but elsewhere even - for they are the harbingers of harmony for those who are attached to them in the heart and mind.

#40 by Sadozai
//...And as far as the average american`s mental level is considered, look at the way they elect hollywood actors. ....The ideal of an average american is usually britney spears, justin timberlake or brad pitt. ...//

Coming from a Paki - this is really very rich. if average american`s mental level is so low - then why is America the wealthiest country in the world, in every which way you take - money, culture, science, education, military... ?

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