Misogynist State

So much has been said about the inability of Lahori women to run in a marathon. Aren`t they really making a mountain out of a molehill? The issue is not running, clothing, or running a Marathon in any specific clothing. As far as I am concerned they can all run in their birthday sutis - hopefully as far away as possible.

The main issue is their frivolous behavior. These are mostly overweight, bored, lazy, and clueless females. Their husbands earn enough money for them to have nice homes, new cars, unbeleivably expensive clothes and excessive jewelry and even more excessive makeup. They have servants, drivers, jamadars, khansamas, maalis, darzis, maayees, naukars, chaprasis, and who knows what other type of help for their nonexistent daily chores. With extra time on their hands, they have leaped on to the marathon bandwagon. These imbeciles would not know how to spell marathon or what the event represents in a historical context.

The solution is to give these obese hippos something to do. Have them clean their own homes, sew their own clothes, make their own beds. cook their own food, and churn their own butter. They do not represent even 5% of Pakistani women, most of who toil in the fields, helping their hard-working husbands with the crops. Then they go home to prepare the meals and make clothes for their families.

I say the Mullas are right about this one. It is a waste of national energy, national values, and national honor to allow these foolish felines to consume this much attention. If I were the Lahore police, I would allow the marathon, use the lathi charge and usher them to the border with India. Maybe some of them, like Meera, could find something useful to do in India. The others could head right for Sonagachi.

Stupid rich bourgois women with too many servants having nothing better to do than to create havoc and turmoil.

Re: # 6

Harish

Sir you need to get a life... fast...

The conditions in India are only marginally better for you to be going around gloating like this about the whole thing. And you are still an absconder from the board that you retreated shamelessly from.

Next time you dare to speak to Asma Jahangir, Beena Sarwar or Hina Jeelani.. know that these women are the PRIDE of PAKISTAN and you are one to speak to them in such a patronising fashion... especially coming as you do from India... where you burn women like them as witches or something.

Re: # 9

jay,

i do not usually respond to your posts but this time is an exception, partially because you continue to harp about identity in places where even when it does not seem to be connected, it is. but as i said your approach to it lacks clarity and finesse, and your posts appear to be solely to lash out at pakistan at every juncture.

ms. sarwar has written an article that connects to identity in pakistan. it is about women and their participation in public events, and how that affects us not just as women, but the nation as a whole. the pakistani government of today, and previous ones have failed at embracing and supporting various identities. and as she states, crushes them using the more extremist hardliners as an excuse to do so. unless we take a firmer stand against elements who can`t wrap their minds around the fact that women helped bring this almost fifty-eight year old nation to the world, and we are not going to be imprisoned behind blackouts, or deprived of an education, and unless we extend the same protections to women and minorities that we do to muslim men (whatever that means). . . we will be forever struggling with issues of identity.

and there are pakistanis who are aware of this. and it is these pakistanis which include asma jahangir, hina jilani, and the diverse group that makes up the HRCP that are working towards pakistan getting in touch with their diversity. . . in reaffirming unity in diversity.

your predictions for pakistan are rather bleak, but also rather uneducated. but i will say this, international image is important and all that, but we also need to bring rapists, molesters, murderers to justice so that we can live with ourselves and accept ourselves before we can live and be accepted by others. identity is not static, it is in constant flux, and this isn`t just the case for pakistanis, it is the case for indians and for the rest of the world. so thank you for your advice jay prakashji, but i know what my identity is. and i hope that your identity on chowk will comprise of more than just lashing out at pakistanis. now maybe we can actually speak of this article?

wish you the best as well,
ana

Win win for Asma and Elahi

* ‘Mixed micro-marathon’ participants denounce mullahism

By Waqar Gillani and Aayan Ali

LAHORE: Hundreds of citizens, mainly women, succeeded in making a symbolic protest in defence of civil liberties in the form of a “mixed micro-marathon” from Liberty Round Gulberg to Qaddafi Stadium on Saturday afternoon after being afforded full protection by the police.

The mixed-run, announced by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Peoples Rights, was given permission to hold the rally only on Saturday morning by Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi who also assured full security to the organisers of the event.

Some police high ups told Daily Times that the Punjab government had decided to permit the HRCP to hold the race on Friday night but deliberately did not tell the organisers until Saturday morning. “They did this both to avoid the possibility of any trouble from the mullahs and to ensure that many potential participants, especially women, would stay away from the rally fearing trouble and participation would not swell to threatening proportions”, said one source. Heavy contingents of police were deployed everywhere on the Main Boulevard in Gulberg near Liberty Chowk and the police did not obstruct the rally’s progress at any stage.

Indeed, at one point, Asma Jahangir, HRCP chairperson, was allowed to climb on to the bonnet of a police jeep and address the participants (see picture).

The “micro-marathan” also attracted significant local and international media coverage.

The participants gathered at the Liberty Chowk in small and big groups and chanted slogans against mullahism. Slogans like “Mullahism Murdabad”, “Stop terrorism of mullahs”, “We want our rights”, “No rule of bullet and baton”, “We want Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan”, were screamed full-throatedly from start to finish. PPP leaders Qasim Zia, Rana Aftab Ahmad and others also gave token support.

The “race” started at 5:00 pm sharp with the blowing of a whistle by Asma Jahangir, who wore a sweatshirt over her shalwar-kameez that was emblazoned with the slogan “No going back.” A number of civil society groups and representatives of different political parties, especially Pakistan Peoples Party, and a number of dignitaries of the city also joined the mixed-run, which ended peacefully and cheerfully outside the Qadafi Stadium.

“This is not a matter of victory or defeat for anyone,” said Asma Jahangir after the event. “It is a proof of enlightenment, of liberalism and respect for civil rights,” she claimed. She said: “I salute you people for attending the marathon for your rights.”

Earlier, a few people from some extremist groups like Ahl-e-Hadith Youth Force, Shahbab-e-Milli and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, led by Hafiz Salman Butt MNA and a local JUI-F leader Maulana Saifullah Saif, also staged a counter demonstration near Liberty Chowk before the mixed-run started but they were stopped by the police from advancing towards the mixed-runners. However, they continued to raise anti-liberal slogans.

The symbolic mixed-run was announced by the HRCP and JAC in protest against the violent MMA attack on the mixed-runers by the city police last Saturday in Lahore and last month in Gujranwala.

“This was a win-win situation for both Punjab CM Pervez Elahi and the HRCP/JAC”, said one senior journalist. “Mr Elahi can claim he has promoted a soft and democratic image of Pakistan by allowing and protecting the rally and the Organisers can claim that they didn’t succumb to government pressure or mullah threats against the rally.”

link

Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s wise decision

The micro-marathon for civil liberties in Lahore was held peacefully on Saturday. The decision of the Punjab government to let the symbolic “mixed-jog” from Liberty Chowk to Gaddafi Stadium go ahead was a wise one. Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is to be complimented for saving Pakistan from another blow to its international image as a country intolerant of liberal views. The hardline MMA presence on the sidelines also remained restrained although one can still question why the clerical alliance is allowed to resort to vigilante action encroaching on the function of the state.

The ‘marathon’ was appropriately organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and Joint Action Committee (JAC) for People’s Rights. It was a political, social and cultural protest at the arm-twisting of the state by the religious extremists in Pakistan. The PPPP as Pakistan’s main liberal party was present but not its rank and file as that might have needlessly politicised it. But the decision of the PMLN leadership to stay away from it can be contested. In the end, however, the ruling party’s decision not to stop the ‘marathon’ was an act of “enlightened” orientation. In the event, the Shabab-e-Milli goons present on the occasion heard the rally shouting slogans like “Mullahism Murdabad”, “Stop terrorism of mullahs”, “We want our rights”, “No rule of bullet and baton”, “We want Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan”.

A number of citizens, despite their non-alignment with any political party, thought it appropriate to participate. For far too long the government has been retreating in front of the aggressive clergy on the assumption that the “people” are still not ready for a dose of liberalism as an antidote to the suffocation of the mullahs. But the chairperson of the HRCP, Asma Jahangir, made that quite clear when she said: “This is not a matter of victory or defeat for anyone. It is a proof of enlightenment, of liberalism and respect for civil rights.” The police prevented the MMA goons from attacking the micro-marathon, just as it will let the MMA hold its “million march” on May 27 against the alleged American desecration of the Quran.

The status of Section 144, which was applied earlier to an attempt by the HRCP to hold a “mixed marathon” on May 14, was appropriately rationalised when a police officer said: “The police did not obstruct the runners because they behaved well, did not take the law into their hands and held the activity within bounds. It was a sports activity so there is no question of a violation of Section 144.”

Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s timely decision has averted an “image” disaster for the Musharraf regime in Islamabad. The Brussels-based International Crisis Group had strongly condemned “the brutal police attack on Asma Jahangir and other rights activists participating in a peaceful gathering in Lahore, Pakistan, on May 14”, and had called on the Pakistani government “not to interfere with the march planned for May 21”. The international press would certainly have gone to town on Pakistan if the Punjab government had persisted with its earlier strategy. Already the federal government is under pressure from the European Union (where Pakistan has a tough trade-related case pending at the Brussels Commission) for grave injustices under the Blasphemy Law. Everybody believes that Islamabad would like to do away with the Blasphemy and Hudood laws but doesn’t have the guts to face down the militancy of the religious groups. But the truth is that Islamabad can acquit itself honourably if it starts tolerating the non-militant and non-extremist elements in the country. That is where the majority of the population lives. *


link

Enlightenment at last

Sir: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s mixed ‘marathon’ has come and gone and thankfully sanity prevailed over the local government, which allowed it to happen without incident. This is a good sign. Mian Amer Mahmood has managed to redeem himself after displaying fascist and authoritarian tendencies at the last ‘marathon’.

Now that the nazim has taken his first baby steps towards enlightened moderation, the next step would be to read John Locke’s “Two treatises on government” and consult especially his essay on “the true end of government”. The protection of the citizen’s right to life, liberty and property is the real and true end of any civilised government of the world. If the nazim does so, he will be in good company, because even the founding father, in whose name Amer Mahmood has made a university, was fond of quoting John Locke. Indeed his famous August 11 speech seems to be John Locke’s ideas rephrased in Jinnah’s own words.

And I am sure once the nazim leads by example and improves his reading habits, other nazims and members of the ruling elite will follow suit. Who knows, they might even start reading JS Mill, Immanuel Kant and Rousseau. Imagine Chaudhry Shujaat quoting Kant to make a point or Information Minister Sheikh Rashid declaiming eloquently on the merits of Rousseau’s ideas. Now that will be enlightenment, albeit three centuries late, but as they say: better late than never.
YASSER LATIF HAMDANI
Lahore

ana,

You are one of the very few inteligent pakistanis who can distinguish between the barb and the kernel. Some one like you will have to think about pak identity. It cannot be an islamic identity even though pakistan is the only country created for islam. Islam is cornered by the saudis. It cannot be just another country created for the well being of muslims of india, because as many muslim live in a hindu ``dominated`` india and in any case pakistan will not accept any new ones from india, even a stupid woman like Divya is ready to change the religion to islam and marry a pakistani. It cannot be a secular country in the vision of one speeach of jinnah. Pakistan is unlikely to have any economic, scientifc acheivements to create a new identity of modernity as the US has done.
Pakistan again cannot link up with harappa like ancient history because it is against an islamic republic concept. Well that leaves pakistan with nothing much to pin its identity on. So the natural option is along sidhi, punjabi etc. well that identity is essentially a hindu iodentity, basant, and bhangra which has nothing much to do with islam.

The editorial of jang is the outcome of this vacuum of pak identity. The editor has summed it up correctly, the rapists should be prosecuted so that pakistan has a good international image. The inside of every pakistani is hollow, there is no guiding principles, no culture and may be the editor is correct, what is wrong with creating a good image as an objective.

Wish you the best, try to create an identity and the irst step should t demolish the pretenses of identity, remove the symbols of that identity and if you have a photo of him at home, smash it today.

i don`t think there`s anything wrong with women running BUT anything involving NGOs and asma jahangir makes me think twice before supporting it; these people are the missionaries of today who are working to secularise pakistan and remove islam from its social fabric in reality and especially from the legal body of pakistan...

the Pakistani government, in my opinion has no legs to stand on when it claims to stand against extremist elements, yet encourages their behavior all the same, and allows incidents such as what happened at the lahore marathon. it is more those who participated in the marathons with the legs and the courage to do so.

jay,
you do make sense sometimes. you just lack the finesse and new vocabulary to develop your contrarian views. understand that there are more than a few pakistanis who do not see pakistan ka matlab kya as just being ``la illaha illillah``. understand that we have to go beyond TNT and beyond 1947, and beyond whatever the heck jinnah said. and also understand that while you are correct, and that education is a huge issue, your education is an issue as well. a tree doesn`t bear good fruit by sprinkling poison on it, and if you are so concerned with pointing out the bad fruits of pakistan, consider your own as well.

It is a shame that even the law-enforcement agencies actively connived to humiliate the HRCP activists. Asma, Beena, and Hina, you are up against tremendous odds, but unfortunately, I don`t see light at the end of the tunnel for you folks. Keep fighting though.

``Just a day before Nazish was kidnapped, Dr Shazia Khalid was raped in Sui. The man accused of the crime was also allegedly a member of a law enforcing agency. Sadly, unless such incidents are dealt with swiftly and effectively, Pakistan`s attempts to project a ``soft`` image to the world at large will repeatedly be obscured by its ``callous`` image.``

# 3, nazar,

No nazar, the problem is not the mullah. The above is from editorial of jang of today. Obviously, the editor is an educated pakistani. look t the reson for [prosecuting the gang rapists, yes you read it...to promote the soft image of pakistan...There is no notion of justice, no notion of right and wrong about gang rape. prosecution iss for the sake of the west, to promoste a soft image.

The problem is with education in pakistan, even for this editor of jang, if it were not for the image poroblem it is fine...well it is per the hoodood...it is OK per the book.

What is needed is some kind of secular notions of justice.

Beena Sarwar

Section 144 needs to be contested since it violates chapter 1 Fundamental Rights especially Article 9 of the Pakistan constitution: which stipulates that ``No person shall be deprived of life or liberty``. Incidents in Gujranwala and elsewhere were clearly a travesty to women`s rights and public interest initiatives.

Religious Nuts are in all religions. But the Mullas take the cake.

We are in for a long haul. Nostradamous talked about a 10-year war at the turn of the century - and then 300 years of peace.

Most of us will not get to see that.

nhk

``Pakistan continues to hit headlines around the world for all the wrong reasons``. What an opening observation by a renowned journalist. What could possibly be a right reason, tell me whether pakistan ever, I mean ever hit the head line for a right reason.
Was the islamic bomb a right reason, may be ghouri missiles. How about abdus salam getting a nobel prize.

A country that does not recognise and cannot be proud of a nobel laurette because he was not a mislim cannot hit the head lines ever for the right reason. All this artcile stems from the notion that pakistan is a civil and decent country, and all that you cite are aberations.

Bina, read the history of pakistan, read what TNT is all about, and try to answer ``pakistan ka matlab kys``. Forget about the one speech by jinnah, forget about the words, but follow the trail of action by the fellow pakistanis. What happened to the 10 percent hindus of pakistan in 1947, what happened to the hindu temples, what will happen to any one changing from islam to another religion in pakistan...then only you will realise the terrible reality of pakistan.

``mullahs raised objections at the last minute, insisting that the ferris wheel would not be allowed, as boys outside would be able to see the girls at the top``

......... so ferris wheels are haram ????