The Trial of a Nation

While I applaud the efforts of a Pakistani lawyer to challenge the West`s derision of Pakistan`s ability to make the bomb, I am appalled that the writer of this piece suggests that his Nation holds its head high at the actions of Dr A Q Khan.

Isn`t this the man who sold nuclear technology to all and sundry for personal profit ?

Isn`t this the man who confessed his crimes ?

Isn`t this the man whom the Pakistani Army actively encouraged to do his villanous trade ?

Isn`t it unbelieveable that large consignments of machinery could be flown to ``customers`` in PAF planes without the active consent and support of the Army Brass ?

Isn`t it true that gen Mush whitewashed Dr AQF for his actions, and also pretended that his Army had no knowledge of whatever he had been doing for decades ?

Give us a break !

To eulogise Dr AQK is insane.

SHEEMA KERMANI KICKED OUT OF INDIA...


I Salute Indians for doing this.

Home > News > India News
Posted on 30 Nov 2005 # IANS


Pakistani troupe told to go back for anti-US play
By Sharat Pradhan, Lucknow: A Pakistan-based cultural action group, invited by a prominent women`s NGO to stage plays in India, has been abruptly asked to go back by the very NGO after its first performance here on grounds that it displayed an anti-US stance.

The Karachi based Tehrik-e-Niswan (Women`s Movement) was invited to perform at the South Asia theatre festival, `Staging peace - a dialogue in theatre: a women`s endeavour to create the culture of peace`, by the Women`s Initiative for Peace in South Asia (WIPSA).

However, shortly after the staging of its first play, ``Zikr-e-Nashunida`` at Lucknow`s Isabella Thoburn College Sunday, the 10-member group was summoned by office-bearers of WIPSA and told to pack up.

Said Tehrik-e-Niswan chief and renowned Pakistani artist Sheema Kermani: ``WIPSA officials, who had invited us to perform at the festival to be held in different parts of India, reprimanded us for staging a play containing anti-US sentiments.``

``WIPSA organisers told us that since they were funded by the American Ford Foundation, they would not allow anything with an anti-US flavour to be put up under their banner,`` Kermani added.

What made matters worse for the guests was that they were woken up around 2.30 a.m. to be told that they would get their tickets and must leave by the morning.

They were also told that their visas would be cancelled and they would be deported if they put up any resistance.

Tehrik-e-Niswan`s agenda for the last 25 years has been to work for peace and human rights through theatre and art.

``In 2004 we invited Prasanna Ramaswamy, a theatre director from Chennai, who is known for her work in theatre on gender and war issues, and she was a great hit in Pakistan,`` Kermani said.

``Zikr-e-Niswan`` (Discussing the unheeded) is an India-Pakistan collaboration, scripted by Prasanna.

``It simply brings out the aftermath and consequences of war on common people, particularly on women,`` said Prasanna, who was present with the Pakistani group.

``When we talk about disarmament and world peace, how can you turn a blind eye to what the US has been doing in Afghanistan and Iraq``, she asked, while lamenting the attitude of WIPSA.

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Re: # 2

I don`t think two wrongs make one right.

In this case... India`s right made mockery of Sheema`s wrong.

Dr Qadeer Khan has disgraced Pakistan. If he hadn’t been accused of trading Pakistan’s nuclear secrets to other countries, Pakistan would have been respected and recognized as a nuclear power by the world. Instead, thanks to AQK, Pakistan is now seen by the world as dangerous as a psychopath holding a loaded gun.

Dr AQK should be hanged for the disgrace he has brought to Pakistan and for ruining Pakistan’s image and it’s future as a nuclear power. The fact that he helped Pakistan acquire nuclear weapon does not justify his betrayal to Pakistan and acquit him from his criminal act of passing nuclear secrets to other countries.

If anything, thanks to AQK, Pakistan is now on trial by the world. Ironically, this article has its title correct.

Re: # 2

Yaser miyah............you want to blame India for every dog fight between Pakistanis and Indians.......What has the GOI to do with WIPSA which appears to be some Ameriki outfit...............the problem appears to be between two cultural groups Tehrik-e-Niswan and WIPSA where one group wanted to spread the political gospel about Amrikas` terrorism which Ford Foundation did not like.............imagine WIPSA doing an Anti-Jehadi play on Kashmir in Pakistan for Tehrik-e-Niswan before the Pakistani audiences in Karachi..................the reaction would have been predictable.................

and BTW Sheema is always welcome with her Oddisi dance.........

Re: # 4

I would be careful in equating an entire nation with just one NGO

Re: # 1
[...To eulogise Dr AQK is insane....]

Not really..... Dr Khan made the Islamic Bomb for pakis..... that`s what matters..... Sure, he stole a few things from here and there - sold a nuke or two to some folks here and there - but so what?.....

You have to understand the pathology here - Khan is ``Father`` of the ``Islamic Bomb`` .... the only Bomb in entire muslim world......

Re: # 2

Let me get this - WIPSA invites this paki lady ..... she plays to anti-US tune ..... WIPSA kickes her out ...... hmmmm - that`s really bad......

But what can I say - you pakis are like the boy who cried wolf too many times... you folks are so far out on the limb on this anti-US [and pro-taliban] stuff that even when you present a reasonable case - nobody believes you.....

Tough luck, Ms Kirmani.....

Re: # 5

Dear Godot

You said what I didn`t dare to say.

The entire world would have given kudos to Dr AQK, albeit reluctantly, for being a Third World Scientist who proved to the West that the Third World DID have Scientists who could match the West.

He sullied his image, and that of Pakistan, nay, the entire Third World, by peddling nuclear technology to get money for himself.

For this, he should INDEED have been hanged.

Instead, Prez Mush whitewashed him and let him off with an ``apology``, for what appears to be two main reasons :

1. He is the FATHER of the ISLAMIC Bomb - the entire population of Pakistan will rise in revolt if Dr AQK is harmed in any way.

2. If harmed in any way, Dr AQK will sing like a canary, and expose Prez Mush, and all his predecessors.

This is shameful.

India had its own Nuclear Scientist, who was also the creator of Missiles. India made this man, the son of a poor fisherman, a Muslim to boot, her President.

He didn`t sell India`s knowledge for personal profits.

That is THE difference between the two FATHERs.

Meray Bharati Bhaion

I actually am happy that Sheema Kermani was kicked out... honest.

I consider it a case of ironic justice. She is one of the most dishonest people I have come across... and she would have learnt a thing or two.


-YLH

Why do Mohajirs try their hardest and bend backwards to prove their loyalty to their adopted land. In Sweden it is called Stockholm syndrome.

Re: # 11
[....I actually am happy that Sheema Kermani was kicked out..]

Ahh - good ... For a while, we thought you are going to break into tears over the lady getting kicked out by big,bad hinuds.....

So what`s wrong with the lady anyway - I mean, how come you are happy over her predicament? Did she say something against Jin...... oops, I said the J word ..... Never mind.....

Re: # 12

Which Mohajir are you talking about here?

After a stage man begins thing think he is invincible. This happened to Harshad Mehta, Ketan Parikh and A Q Khan.

As far as I know she didn`t ... though it wouldn`t take much for her to say something on that count as well.

But... I met her at Yale... she claimed that classical dancing was banned in Pakistan. When asked why she had been performing on National TV if that was the case- she had no answer.

The next month she told New York Times the same thing.

So she is right up your alley my boy.