Month of the Gun Dear NFP,

Thank you for surrealizing the term `fascist`. Perhaps we need to give a right of expressing the violent streak to all groups (inlcuding ijt and army) whenever they see a situation where they find thier turf being attacked by other groups.

This is what Salman Ahmed whom you vehemently promoted during those early days of the Generation X has to say about mqm.

Junoon artiste says he was threatened by MQM activists

WASHINGTON: Salman Ahmed of rock group Junoon has said the MQM once threatened him that if he did not perform at its rally, his wife and children would be abducted. In a statement issued here, Ahmed described the incident as having happened in 1992. He said, “They have threatened me on many occasions in the past 15 years. One particular time was when I refused to perform at Altaf’s marriage function in Karachi and London where all other artists, including Ali Azmat, were brow beaten into going and performing for ‘his majesty’s’ pleasure. The man who threatened me was called ‘Khalid bin Walid’ and was a known terrorist and murderer.” Walid apparently told Salman Ahmed that his “Quaid” Altaf Hussain had specially demanded that he appear with Junoon to perform at his wedding. When the singer refused, the man called the singer’s staff and soundman, Ishtiaq Ahmed, and threatened them with dire consequences. According to Salman Ahmed, “Ishtiaq pleaded with me to go and perform or risk being killed. In 1992, the MQM also threatened to abduct my wife and children if I did not show up at an MQM rally to welcome their leader, Azim Tariq.” khalid hasan

Daily Times, 30 May 07

The Dark Side of Love My friends and I once had a detailed discussion on the following topic.

``Ghalib ki Ibtadai daur ki shairi per bachche ki ma`baad uttabiati fitrat ke asraat ke moharakat ke mutalea bahawala Hegal ka phalsapha e raqs o moseequi o sarood.``

#11 BJKumar
Zabardast. What a piece.

#15 arstoo
Hanste jo dekhte hain kisi ko kisi se hum
munh dekh dekh rote hain kis bekasi se hum

Vital Signs: A Personal History The following is copy-pasted from Wilkipedia. It metions VS`s friendship and parting ways with NFP.


Vital Signs (pop band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the band. For other uses, see the term Vital

Vital Signs was Pakistan`s first ever pop band[citation needed] and were given the title of ``pioneers of pop music.``. The original line up consisted of Junaid Jamshed on vocals, Rohail Hyatt on keyboards, Shehzad Hassan on bass and Nusrat Hussain on keyboards as well.

Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Members
2.1 Rohail Hyatt (Keyboards / Guitars)
2.2 Junaid Jamshed (Vocals)
2.3 Shehzad Hasan (Bass)
3 Discography
4 External links
5 See also



[edit]
History
The band shot to instant fame with their 1987 patriotic song Dil Dil Pakistan. Vital Signs remain the largest selling pop music act in Pakistan.[citation needed] “Dil Dil Pakistan” was voted the 3rd most popular song of all time by BBC World.

Soon after, Nusrat Hussain parted ways with the band to make way for guitarist Salman Ahmad. They released their successful debut album in 1989 along with TV producer Shoaib Mansoor who also wrote the lyrics for the band. In 1990, Salman Ahmad was replaced by guitarist Rizwan-ul-Haq.

After Rizwan-ul-Haq joined the band Vital Signs released Vital Signs 2, the follow up to their debut album in 1991 which was a departure from the band`s rosy imagery and sound. During this time the band befriended leading Pakistani music critic, Nadeem F. Paracha. However, they had a falling in 1996 when Paracha started pushing forward Junoon and his friendship with Salman Ahmad did not go down well with Rohail.

In 1993, Vital Signs began work on their third album in Rohail Hyatt`s studios in Rawalpindi. A few months later they released the album Aitebar, which soon outsold its predecessor, Vital Signs 2. On Aitebar, the Vital Signs returned to the upbeat mood of their first album. After performing a number of concerts, they headed out with director Shoaib Mansoor to film Geetar ‘93, a Pepsi-financed venture featuring videos shot all across Pakistan.

During 1995, Vital Signs began work on their fourth album. Vital Signs asked Assad Ahmed (from Awaz and then Karavan) to play on the new album. The album was titled Hum Tum and was released to critical and commercial acclaim.[citation needed] Producer Rohail Hyatt improved on the moody Pink Floydian sound and production he first attempted on 1991`s Vital Signs 2. The melancholic compositions, dark lyrics and somber vocals on Hum Tum were a far cry from Aitebar`s upbeat tone.

After the release of Hum Tum (album), the band concentrated on their personal projects and Vital Signs drifted away. Junaid Jamshed went on to pursue a career as a solo singer, Shehzad Hasan concentrated on his work as a music producer and Rohail Hyatt formed a production company.

There have been several rumors over the years about the band`s supposed comeback but none of the plans materialized and Hum Tum remains to be Vital Signs` last studio album.

[edit]
Members

Junaid Jamshed
Shehzad Hasan[edit]
Rohail Hyatt (Keyboards / Guitars)
Produced all the Vital Signs albums
Later formed a production house called Pyramid Productions
Composed and produced the number one hit track Jiya Dhadak Jaye sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
[edit]
Junaid Jamshed (Vocals)
Released three solo albums after Vital Signs` fourth album, all produced by Shoaib Mansoor.
Announced that he would not perform or make any more music several times due to his religious commitments but changed his mind several times.
Owner of a successful fashion label in Pakistan.
[edit]
Shehzad Hasan (Bass)
Worked with India`s Pooja Bhatt on her movie Paap.
Produced the critically acclaimed album Sawal by Rushk
[edit]
Discography
Year Studio Albums Label
1989 Vital Signs EMI: Pakistan
1991 Vital Signs 2 EMI: Pakistan
1993 Aitebar EMI: Pakistan
1995 Hum Tum VCI
[edit]
External links
Vital Signs on itsPakistan.net Music
PakistaniMusic.com
Mashhur.com - The `Music 89` Phenomenon
Mashhur.com - The Popularity of `Dil Dil Pakistan`
Pakistani Music
[edit]
See also
Music of Pakistan
List of Pakistani musicians
Retrieved from ``http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vital_Signs_%28pop_band%29``
Categories: Articles with unsourced statements | Pakistani musical groups

The People\'s Poet As a young teenager in late eighties, I attended a Mushaira in UET Lahore (we lived in the neighbourhood). Faraz was the star attraction. He was in dark blue shalwar qameez. When he was called to render his poetry, some Islami Jamiat studends started shouting ``Rushdie, Rushdie``. Faraz got the mike and said that he was going to start with a ``Naat``. There was no disturbance afterwards.

In the early nineties, I attended a music program ``Mehdi Hassan sings Ahmed Faraz`` at Alhmara Lahore. It was probably the best music concert I ever attended. That evening, Mehdi Hassan sang some of the memorable ghazals by Faraz, Faiz and other poets. After the concert, we tried to get Faraz` autographs but did not succeed. Iffat Rahim (now Iffat Omer) was also one of the autograph seekers. Faraz paid special attention to her, he asked her name and wrote on her autograph book something to the effect, ``For Iffat with love``.

I am a great fan of Mehdi Hassan. My favourite Faraz poem by Khan Sahib is ``Shola sa jal bujha hoon, hawain mujhe na dou``.

I read Faraz` Tanha Tanha again a few day back and came to the conclusion that people like Wasi Shah, Abrar Umar simply lack the intesity and craft of Faraz` poetry. My favourite living poet is Munir Niazi though.

Under the Influence Agree with Love2Love. Ali Haider should have been there in place of Aamir Zaki. I`ll include Zaki in:
1. Pakistani Pop`s 10 Best/Greatest Acts
2. Pakistani Pop`s 10 Most Talented Acts
3. Pakistani Pop`s 10 Greatest Telents ... gone Waste

I`ll not include him in:
1. Pakistani Pop`s 10 Most Influential Acts
2. Pakistan`s 25 Most Popular Acts

Talking of ``influential acts``, Lahore`s Jupitar deserves serious consideration for the list. Apart from being the launcing pad of some of the best musicians of Pakistan`s music industry, it was the pioneer of `band culture` in Lahore and provided some great (and much needed) entertainment to my generation.

Murder of a Killer Yes a good read.

One factual error: Naseer Khan is perhaps alive and is the only eye-witness of the incident.

We need to discuss ``extra judicial killings`` from moral, legal and sociological perspective in view of the practically non-functional judicial system.

What will I teach my daughter? If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don`t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don`t give way to hating,
And yet don`t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you`ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build `em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ``Hold on``;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds` worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that`s in it,
And - which is more - you`ll be a Man my son!

What will I teach my daughter? Abraham Lincoln`s letter to his son`s Teacher...

He will have to learn, I know,
that all men are not just,
all men are not true.

But teach him also that
for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician,
there is a dedicated leader...

Teach him for every enemy there is
a friend,
It will take time, I know;
but teach him if you can,
that a dollar earned is of far more value than five found...

Teach him to learn to lose...
and also to enjoy winning.

Steer him away from envy,
if you can,
teach him the secret of
quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that
the bullies are the easiest to lick...

Teach him, if you can,
the wonder of books...
But also give him quiet time
to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun,
and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him
it is far honourable to fail
than to cheat...

Teach him to have faith
in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him
they are wrong...

Teach him to be gentle
with gentle people,
and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son
the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on
the band wagon...

Teach him to listen to all men...
but teach him also to filter
all he hears on a screen of truth,
and take only the good
that comes through.

Teach him if u can,
how to laugh when he is sad...
Teach him there is no shame in tears,

Teach him to scoff at cynics
and to beware of too much sweetness...

Teach him to sell his brawn
and brain to the highest bidders
but never to put a price-tag
on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears
to a howling mob
and to stand and fight
if he thinks he`s right.

Treat him gently,
but do not cuddle him,
because only the test
of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage
to be impatient...
let him have the patience to be brave.

Teach him always
to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have
sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order,
but see what you can do...
He is such a fine fellow,
my son!

What will I teach my daughter? Congrulations Azmat. The baby is really cute.

``Now my wife has some misguided views about raising our daughter she seems to think that she is going to impart the same religious values and rituals that she practices. As you may understand by now that is not going to happen. The simple reason is that I will teach my daughter moral principles and not allow her to practice rituals. ``

Your wife is going to have her way, this I can tell you.

BTW, why this contempt for the ritual. Does it stop you from teahcing your child the ``moral pinciples`` and ``self-respect and to have dignity and self worth``.

Does your wife write? It will be a good read if she could write aboute your ``misguided views`` on raising children.

On the Inside Fuedalism would have been proved to be a progressive institution by now if children of all landowners (read fuedals) were good writers like Bina.

Anarkali They say Akbar himself had sexual relationship with Anarkali and he could not tolerate his son having similar invovlment with her.

The Book is also Just a Book In an illegal detention camp, the captors adopt every possible method to crush the sensibilities of the captives.

We don`t need a lesson in what ``descretion`` is.

Sultan Mints Re: # 25

Bad Cheetaah

The 20 best local pop albums … ever! My favourite VS is Aitebar. Excellent music and inspirational lyrics of the title song used to have great effect in the early 90s. Though lately I seem to subscribe to the revised version JJ presented recently ``Aitebar bhi aa he jaata``. Time matters.