Liberation is fulfilling even if its for one night. To feel like you have nothing to worry about is like being weightless and free. Liberating. You stand and watch people around you and that's all that you have- the moment; the present. You feel the lightness in your head and the tingling in your fingers. The pleasure of that feeling is hard to explain- especially when it's very rare that you experience something like that. You almost want to put it in a tight jar and keep it on your bedsde table as a keep sake. You might also want to able to open the jar whenever you want and use what's inside it. You might realize with time that you have the power to capture it from all around you- you realize that it never really leaves you; it's just transparent and intangible unless you make an effort to find it. You can either watch from behind a glass divider or take whatever you can get, whenever you want. I stood there last night capturing the ambience. I was good. I was light. You weren't there and it made me feel free. I want to have more of those but I want it to be able to come to me as I please.
You have the liberty to access liberation. So do I.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Puzzled Musing
Moving forward, walking fast
look back if I care; dare me to care
tragedy at my feet, crazy retreat
heaven's gates too near
hell too tempting to ignore
show me the path to take
been standing at crossroads far too long
make it stop, unwind the shock
rectify this ego, undo the deed
erase the hurt, remove the guilt
make it complete whole circle round
can't wait for time, let's heal
guilt trip to the past is what I need
hold me in your arms so tight
experience the warmth I once loved
this feeling is so nostalgic, keep it if i may
discard it at will, may I so?
get this done with, let's finish it off
they say time heals all, they do
moving forward, walking fast
look back if i care; dare me to care.
Borderline
An inappropriate song plays in the background. I feel inappropriate. I feel it all coming back to me today and I hate it. Hate you. Not sure if it's hate or if it's something that makes me feel like it's hate. I hate that you ruin the best of my best days- days I look forward to, days I feel complete and amazing. I hate that you take that away from me. I feel as confused as my sentences seem right now. I've been standing at this cross-road for far too long- I'm tired, my stomach feels heavy and my legs feel weak- all the time. I often feel like it's too much to take- as if it would be better if I could put an end to my misery some how. It's burdening, uncomfortable and hurtful...I don't like feeling this way. I don't even know who I'm supposed to blame for this. I blame my sickness. I blame the fact that I can't control it. I can't control you. I can't control how I feel. I want to stop feeling the way I'm feeling..and have been feeling for a long time. I want to be cured. I want to know what it feels like to be normal again. I feel like I don't know what it's like to be the way I used to be- the way people remember me; the way people still see me from the outside. They don't know how much conflict resides in me behind the façade. I hate being this angry all the time. I hate having this sickness. I wish I could get someone to wave a wand and figure this out for me. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I'd like that.
In the midst of all of this, I miss you but know that it's not "you"- it's "it". I'm tired. I feel unstable. I feel labelled. I feel Borderline.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Rationalise
Let my love worship you as you strip me dry, naked and weak.
Let's watch the sun rise as you steal my soul.
Let's travel to Cloud 9 as you make me weep.
What's wrong with a sweet dream being nothing but a scary hole?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Bomb Blast? No biggie!
**BREAKING NEWS**: The sound of, what seems to be a massive explosion, was heard in the elite locality of Defence in Karachi this evening. Residents from near-by areas were reported to have run outside their houses in panic, some of whom were of the notion that the city had been hit by a strong earthquake. The cause of the explosion has not been verified as yet, but our channel will bring you the latest as we receive more.
**UPDATE**: We're sorry to inform you that it wasn't an explosion; it seems that Meera Ji was shooting an action scene for her up-coming, soon-to-be-a-flop movie " My Sweet 16: Meera ki Jawaani".
I bet you're a little disappointed.
You know you are.
Sex. Drugs. Rock n Roll. Islam. Fuck. Religion. Bastard. Veena Malik.
Wait, wait, wait. Is this a game of Identify-the-odd-ones-out? Unfortunately, no. You're probably gearing up to read a blasphemous piece of writing. Are your freshly-washed turbans and Qurans out? Have your five, previously relaxed, senses suddenly sprung in to action, ready to catch and devour anything that may repel them? Well then, I'm really sorry for having to say that you will require none of the above.
I just like doodling sometimes.
I bet you're a little disappointed.
You know you are.
In shocking news, twenty-five montessori children were reported missing during a field trip after their van crashed in to a tree on a national highway in Karachi . There has been no word on their whereabouts for the past thirty-six hours; the driver, who is also a suspect in this case, is on the loose; people who live around the Lyari area are requested to notify the police if they have any further information. The suspect, it was been found, has a criminal record. Kidnapping and/or murder are most likely in this situation.
Oh no, wait. Sorry. We found them. They were at school. There was no field trip.
I bet you're a little disappointed.
You know you are.
So, what am I doing here, possibly offending most of you?
Pakistan has turned in to a really messed up version of an action/thriller/horror movie-gone-bad. The more twists and turns the more pop-corn is stuffed into greedy movie-goers' mouths. The more the gore, the more the "Hai Allah!" moments. The more "mystery" and "Astaghfirullah!" sputtering opportunities, the more the release of ever-ready adrenaline. We've become so used to, "Well, it can't be worse than this", that when it's not worse than "that", we've already readied ourselves by lowering our standards and raising our expectations. But is it our fault? Are we to blame?
What happened after the Air Blue flight crashed on the 28th of July 2010? Our television sets were saturated with disturbing images of the demolished aircraft, of the victims' family members mourning in the "sanctity" of their homes. Our media took the added step of invading the privacies of numerous families during their times of rightful grieving. They bombarded them with mounds of personal (and hurtful, in my opinion) questions. "Aap ki beti kaisi thein?", "Kya aap unn ko miss kareein gi?", "Kya hum unn ka janaza film kar saktay hain?"
And HOW can I forget the cute, little animated Air Blue plane that was repeatedly being blown up on the bottom left hand-side of the Geo News channel? I like cherries on top of my cakes. I enjoy animated versions of disasters too (How did you find out, Geo?).
This is just one example of how the media plays a large hand in numbing us to things/events which should make us uncomfortable. Each and every day, we're invited to sit through pictures and videos of violence, death and gore- to name a few. Being human, how can we remain unaffected?
Times have gone from bad to worse. It's reached a point now where we don't even notice how bad "bad" was and how much worse "worse" is now. A bomb blast is no big deal. "Acha haan, aaj zara bomb phatta tha. Coffee peenay chalna hai?". It's all the same. Happens everyday. We think it's normal when it's actually border-line pathological.
I admit that this piece may be a sweeping generalisation. I'm sure there are many people out there who are as sensitive to, for example, bomb blasts, as they ever were before. I'm also sure there are scores of people who will read this article and wholeheartedly disagree with my point of view (and legitimately so). However, my concern here is bolstered by day-to-day reactions to events that have become recurring patterns. These "events", along with the media's performance, are numbing us to pain which should, essentially, make us scream in agony. Having said that, I do not discount reality itself. We can't hide from it or deny it's existence. How long can we turn a blind eye to things which other people, who have not been as lucky as some of us, have had to face? How long will the fairy tale last for us? It's everywhere. The fear of stepping out of your own house. The new-found stopping-at-traffic-lights-phobia (we should find that a name now). The need to hire guards to escort you to public gatherings. The fearful feeling when a police officer signals you to pull over at night?
I have a problem with the fact that Pakistanis are becoming more and more robotic with each passing day. There seems to be of a more pursuit for "sensationalism" rather than for "sensation". My concern lies in the threat that our children will be "born this way". I worry about us becoming insensitive and callous to . I'm distressed imagining a day when human life and suffering will mean nothing to us. I fear losing us losing our selves.
But what's the solution?
I wish I knew. To be honest.
**UPDATE**: We're sorry to inform you that it wasn't an explosion; it seems that Meera Ji was shooting an action scene for her up-coming, soon-to-be-a-flop movie " My Sweet 16: Meera ki Jawaani".I bet you're a little disappointed.
You know you are.
Sex. Drugs. Rock n Roll. Islam. Fuck. Religion. Bastard. Veena Malik.
Wait, wait, wait. Is this a game of Identify-the-odd-ones-out? Unfortunately, no. You're probably gearing up to read a blasphemous piece of writing. Are your freshly-washed turbans and Qurans out? Have your five, previously relaxed, senses suddenly sprung in to action, ready to catch and devour anything that may repel them? Well then, I'm really sorry for having to say that you will require none of the above.
I just like doodling sometimes.
I bet you're a little disappointed.
You know you are.
In shocking news, twenty-five montessori children were reported missing during a field trip after their van crashed in to a tree on a national highway in Karachi . There has been no word on their whereabouts for the past thirty-six hours; the driver, who is also a suspect in this case, is on the loose; people who live around the Lyari area are requested to notify the police if they have any further information. The suspect, it was been found, has a criminal record. Kidnapping and/or murder are most likely in this situation.
Oh no, wait. Sorry. We found them. They were at school. There was no field trip.
I bet you're a little disappointed.
You know you are.
So, what am I doing here, possibly offending most of you?
Pakistan has turned in to a really messed up version of an action/thriller/horror movie-gone-bad. The more twists and turns the more pop-corn is stuffed into greedy movie-goers' mouths. The more the gore, the more the "Hai Allah!" moments. The more "mystery" and "Astaghfirullah!" sputtering opportunities, the more the release of ever-ready adrenaline. We've become so used to, "Well, it can't be worse than this", that when it's not worse than "that", we've already readied ourselves by lowering our standards and raising our expectations. But is it our fault? Are we to blame?
What happened after the Air Blue flight crashed on the 28th of July 2010? Our television sets were saturated with disturbing images of the demolished aircraft, of the victims' family members mourning in the "sanctity" of their homes. Our media took the added step of invading the privacies of numerous families during their times of rightful grieving. They bombarded them with mounds of personal (and hurtful, in my opinion) questions. "Aap ki beti kaisi thein?", "Kya aap unn ko miss kareein gi?", "Kya hum unn ka janaza film kar saktay hain?"
And HOW can I forget the cute, little animated Air Blue plane that was repeatedly being blown up on the bottom left hand-side of the Geo News channel? I like cherries on top of my cakes. I enjoy animated versions of disasters too (How did you find out, Geo?).
This is just one example of how the media plays a large hand in numbing us to things/events which should make us uncomfortable. Each and every day, we're invited to sit through pictures and videos of violence, death and gore- to name a few. Being human, how can we remain unaffected?
Times have gone from bad to worse. It's reached a point now where we don't even notice how bad "bad" was and how much worse "worse" is now. A bomb blast is no big deal. "Acha haan, aaj zara bomb phatta tha. Coffee peenay chalna hai?". It's all the same. Happens everyday. We think it's normal when it's actually border-line pathological.
I admit that this piece may be a sweeping generalisation. I'm sure there are many people out there who are as sensitive to, for example, bomb blasts, as they ever were before. I'm also sure there are scores of people who will read this article and wholeheartedly disagree with my point of view (and legitimately so). However, my concern here is bolstered by day-to-day reactions to events that have become recurring patterns. These "events", along with the media's performance, are numbing us to pain which should, essentially, make us scream in agony. Having said that, I do not discount reality itself. We can't hide from it or deny it's existence. How long can we turn a blind eye to things which other people, who have not been as lucky as some of us, have had to face? How long will the fairy tale last for us? It's everywhere. The fear of stepping out of your own house. The new-found stopping-at-traffic-lights-phobia (we should find that a name now). The need to hire guards to escort you to public gatherings. The fearful feeling when a police officer signals you to pull over at night?
I have a problem with the fact that Pakistanis are becoming more and more robotic with each passing day. There seems to be of a more pursuit for "sensationalism" rather than for "sensation". My concern lies in the threat that our children will be "born this way". I worry about us becoming insensitive and callous to . I'm distressed imagining a day when human life and suffering will mean nothing to us. I fear losing us losing our selves.
But what's the solution?
I wish I knew. To be honest.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Saint Maya of Benazir Bhutto Park
Who the hell is Maya Khan and where did she suddenly pop-up from? Maybe I'm too busy living my own burger life to know who she is, but I'm pretty sure of one thing: very few people leave me speechless, and she has had the (dis)honour of being one of the few (un)lucky ones to have had that effect on me. But while I relentlessly fume at the cheap and, ironically, immoral, "project" this lady managed to successfully execute, another concern comes to mind; one that SHOULD be considered equally salient:
Television gives the masses what it thinks they want. There are numerous people who work behind the scenes- research, production, direction, script-writing, idea-formulation and logistics (to name only a FEW)- who have the authority to either accept or veto ideas.
So, do these people:
a)Think that this is what we, the masses, want to watch- do we yearn to wake up every morning to a group of nosey, holier-than-thou, menopausal aunties?
Television gives the masses what it thinks they want. There are numerous people who work behind the scenes- research, production, direction, script-writing, idea-formulation and logistics (to name only a FEW)- who have the authority to either accept or veto ideas.
So, do these people:
a)Think that this is what we, the masses, want to watch- do we yearn to wake up every morning to a group of nosey, holier-than-thou, menopausal aunties?
b) Have mentalities that reflect agreeing points of view? Does the fact that the idea was approved by the directors, writers of one of Pakistan's leading television channels, echo a similar and ever-growing mentality of our nation and of people who have the power to CHANGE our mind-sets?
I feel it be a matter of concern when what we get is what is thought of as what we want. Confused? Samaa Tv probably thought, "Hey this is EXACTLY what our viewer base wants because this is exactly the kind of stuff they preach. We can continue making MILLIONS by chasing young-love out of parks in Karachi. Let's do it. No one's going to NOT condone this.
And you know what? They're probably right. You can't be stupid AND run a television channel as successfully as Samaa TV. The creators of the Maya Khan show (whatever it's name is), KNOW that we do not have a scarcity of Maya-Khan-like-robots running hither and thither in Pakistan. So maybe we shouldn't really blame them. But I'd be ignorant if I didn't. These people are role models. They enforce and reinforce ideas, morals and codes of behaviour in to those who religiously follow their shows. Why is it imperative for us, as Pakistanis, to continue to stick our noses where they don't belong? Why are some of us hell-bent on making other people's issues and responsibilities our own? These "professionals" may counter my arguments by saying, "Well, these things affect how OUR own children/youth are being socialised- they'll think it's okay to go on dates in parks without their parents' consent. We're the media. It's much like an obligation. We need to make a positive difference."
Well then, where are these arguments when you air despicable content which is explicit not only for your 10-year old pre-pubescent sons/daughters, but also for your 80-year old mothers/fathers who watch television on a daily basis? Where do all those moral and ethics vanish at that time? Oh so you mean, you'd like the beautiful, young, half-nude actress shaking her heavy bosom for the camera to be your children's role model? Well done!
Let's say it's not about "DUTY". Let's say it's, "Oh but this is what the FANS want."
If the "fans" want porn, will you give them porn? So you're willing to, potentially, jeopardize the reputations, feelings and privacy that those young couples are entitled to, for the sake of cheap capitalism? Technically, they should be able to sue you right about now.
It scares me to think that we are being led by such people who have the biggest impact on society. Are there no limits? No boundaries? Is everything primed by a green light? Is there no respect or concern for consequences? What's next?
We have better things to be focusing on. Honestly speaking, I shouldn't even have to be writing this piece. Why should I? Are there not people dying in my own city- my own locality even? Is our country not being hit by severe price-hikes? Are we still not recuperating from devastating floods? Isn't our government not going through a notorious period of it's power? And this is just a fraction of what the real picture is.
Thank you, Maya Khan- for making us realise that all the above calamities have secondary importance in your eyes and of your useless minions as well. Also, I'd like to give a special shout-out to our very own local media for doing the best they could have to embarrass themselves. It seems as though Veena Malik has competition.
I feel it be a matter of concern when what we get is what is thought of as what we want. Confused? Samaa Tv probably thought, "Hey this is EXACTLY what our viewer base wants because this is exactly the kind of stuff they preach. We can continue making MILLIONS by chasing young-love out of parks in Karachi. Let's do it. No one's going to NOT condone this.
And you know what? They're probably right. You can't be stupid AND run a television channel as successfully as Samaa TV. The creators of the Maya Khan show (whatever it's name is), KNOW that we do not have a scarcity of Maya-Khan-like-robots running hither and thither in Pakistan. So maybe we shouldn't really blame them. But I'd be ignorant if I didn't. These people are role models. They enforce and reinforce ideas, morals and codes of behaviour in to those who religiously follow their shows. Why is it imperative for us, as Pakistanis, to continue to stick our noses where they don't belong? Why are some of us hell-bent on making other people's issues and responsibilities our own? These "professionals" may counter my arguments by saying, "Well, these things affect how OUR own children/youth are being socialised- they'll think it's okay to go on dates in parks without their parents' consent. We're the media. It's much like an obligation. We need to make a positive difference."
Well then, where are these arguments when you air despicable content which is explicit not only for your 10-year old pre-pubescent sons/daughters, but also for your 80-year old mothers/fathers who watch television on a daily basis? Where do all those moral and ethics vanish at that time? Oh so you mean, you'd like the beautiful, young, half-nude actress shaking her heavy bosom for the camera to be your children's role model? Well done!
Let's say it's not about "DUTY". Let's say it's, "Oh but this is what the FANS want."
If the "fans" want porn, will you give them porn? So you're willing to, potentially, jeopardize the reputations, feelings and privacy that those young couples are entitled to, for the sake of cheap capitalism? Technically, they should be able to sue you right about now.
It scares me to think that we are being led by such people who have the biggest impact on society. Are there no limits? No boundaries? Is everything primed by a green light? Is there no respect or concern for consequences? What's next?
We have better things to be focusing on. Honestly speaking, I shouldn't even have to be writing this piece. Why should I? Are there not people dying in my own city- my own locality even? Is our country not being hit by severe price-hikes? Are we still not recuperating from devastating floods? Isn't our government not going through a notorious period of it's power? And this is just a fraction of what the real picture is.
Thank you, Maya Khan- for making us realise that all the above calamities have secondary importance in your eyes and of your useless minions as well. Also, I'd like to give a special shout-out to our very own local media for doing the best they could have to embarrass themselves. It seems as though Veena Malik has competition.
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Two Thousand and For the Better
In recent, I have begun to believe in the superstitious powers of the universe: karma, destiny, fate, signs and omens. I have come to believe that things happen for a reason- good or bad, often out of our control; I have come to believe that events occur to serve a purpose- a way that God communicates with us; I have come to believe that we will eventually reap what we sow; and finally, I have come to believe that our decisions and actions may reveal more to us than we could have imagined. The year 2011 has taught me well, however cruelly.
Today, I have 27 days until 2012 pushes its way in to the limelight and it all seems too soon. Too fast. Too different. My environment and life circumstances have changed- in both, good and bad ways. I feel like I’ve matured and grown over the last 12 months in a collection of spheres of my “self”. I have made mistakes which have taught me more than any “How to Get Through Life” book could have ever taught me; I have taken innumerable faulty decisions for which I have had to pay hefty prices; I have experimented with and tried new things for which I am, both, regretful and thankful for; I have learnt to forget myself for the betterment of others; I have learnt to accept things that I had to concede were out of my locus of control; I have learnt the importance of certain structures that are a part of my life which I previously ignored; and most of all, I have learnt to treasure the good things in life- my family, my friends and the bounties that God has blessed me with.
I began the year in a celebratory, cheerful fashion. “Happy hormones” were generously being excreted throughout my brain as my heart pulsated rapidly in my chest - it was great. The future looked bright and full of promise. I had recently stepped out of a bad chapter of my life and entered in to a newer, more exciting and, what seemed to be, a more rewarding one. I had finally rediscovered my social circle that I had previously been barred from having any interaction with. The lack of stressful factors and responsibilities that night was something that I had not even considered thanking God for because the feeling was something I had continuously taken for granted for a very long time. I remember being in a “good place”. It was all too good to be true. I still remember standing on my friend’s roof that night and looking out at the glittering Karachi night-view that was so graciously provided to me and thinking, “Tonight’s going to be the start of a better tomorrow. And the tomorrow after that. And the tomorrow after, after that. “
Today, I have 27 days until 2012 pushes its way in to the limelight and it all seems too soon. Too fast. Too different. My environment and life circumstances have changed- in both, good and bad ways. I feel like I’ve matured and grown over the last 12 months in a collection of spheres of my “self”. I have made mistakes which have taught me more than any “How to Get Through Life” book could have ever taught me; I have taken innumerable faulty decisions for which I have had to pay hefty prices; I have experimented with and tried new things for which I am, both, regretful and thankful for; I have learnt to forget myself for the betterment of others; I have learnt to accept things that I had to concede were out of my locus of control; I have learnt the importance of certain structures that are a part of my life which I previously ignored; and most of all, I have learnt to treasure the good things in life- my family, my friends and the bounties that God has blessed me with.
However, this road to enlightenment has not been the smoothest. In the midst of this ruckus, I fell off the path I had once chosen for myself. A path full of goals, codes, aspirations and glittering stars. I had always had a certain picture in my mind which had kept me focused in the past and directed; however, when things did cease to go the way I had planned them out to be, I realised that my energies were being channelled into areas which, now looking back, didn’t deserve the care. Time was spent trying to improve the situation, precious concentration splashed in to trying to rationalise every little ill-intended act that slowly became a ritualistic behaviour pattern. In addition to that, my mother was diagnosed with a form of cancer during the mid-summer months which was a mixture of perfect icing on the cake and a tough reality check blended into one sour drink. “This is not what I’d planned. This is not what I had ever imagined”, I thought to myself. In a short time span I found myself becoming this ungrateful, pessimistic monster- someone I, somehow, could not identify myself with, but also a demon I could not detach myself from. My daily habits deteriorated, my performance in my day-to-day activities was a near zero. I was angry. And sad. And happy. And confused. All at the same time. I thought it would never end. But as I sit here looking back at the chain of events that occurred, I can confidently tell myself that I was wrong.
Monsoon clouds pass over once they’ve done their job; and although they may wreak havoc wherever they pause to relieve themselves, those who suffer as a consequence learn to cope. They may mourn and grieve at their losses for some time but in time they realise that, in order to continue living a healthy life, they must clean up the mess and move forward. So they take a breath of renewed strength and energy, stand up and begin the dreadful deed. They rebuild the homes they had once lived in happily and work towards making themselves financially sustainable in order to repair their lives. Although it is a mind-shatteringly tough feat which requires, both, psychological and physical strength, they may come out of the experience as stronger individuals. Similarly, in time, as I was able to overcome the shock of my mother’s health and face reality in other relationships, I felt myself learning more than I felt I had learnt in the past year. I realised that life may throw dirt on your face, but unless you don’t make the effort to wipe it off, things would not change. I was able to foresee the implications of my negative stance on my future- I knew that the decision was up to me as to what I wanted to do with my current situation. My youth could either be wasted or utilized efficiently. It was hard to make the first step, to walk away from unhealthy habits, from relationships I cherished but could no longer make excuses for, distance myself from stimuli that weren’t in my best interest and most importantly, to put innate grief and fear in the background.
The road is rocky. It always will be. That’s life. But I’ve come to realise that there are events that we feel are out of our control when, in reality, they can be harnessed only if we want them to be. I believe in karma- I believe that whatever happened this year has repaid me in kind and will continue to do so. I believe in fate- things have a reason for playing out the way they do, however much we are unable to explain their occurrences. Lastly, I believe in signs- every event holds a significance that should not be overlooked or ignored.
However much I have hated this year, I feel like I have gained the most out of it than any other. I have come out a stronger, a more mature, and more grounded person than I was on the night of 31st December as I looked out from my friend’s roof. I look forward to what 2012 will hold for me, obviously in hope that it will be better than what this previous year brought forth. I cannot predict or control what God has in store for me, but I can only have faith in my credentials and belief in karma, for what goes around comes around.
Degrees of Democracy
Home » News & Politics
Degrees of Democracy
By Sara Kazi 18 AUGUST 2010
When Jamshed Dasti appeared before the Supreme Court to prove his innocence over charges of cheating and lying his way into parliament, the nation witnessed two things: a functioning judicial system and a shameless politician. The PPP MNA from Muzaffargarh was accused of holding a fake master’s degree in Islamic Studies, and so he was being held accountable before the nation’s highest court. When the judges asked Dasti to name the first 15 chapters from the Holy Quran, the only response they received was silence. This silence endured even after a judge asked, “How about the first two?” Dasti voluntarily resigned in the days that followed. Nonetheless after his verdict was announced, Dasti openly called the court’s decision a joke and claimed that the court of public opinion in his district was the only one that mattered.
Jamshed Dasti is just one of the many politicians who were found guilty of acquiring fake degrees. By the end of July 2010, the degrees of 47 members of parliament and provincial assemblies had been verified as fake and many more were expected to be added to the list. The PML-N was leading the pack with the the PPP following closely behind.
The roots of the scandal grew from a 2002 law imposed by General Pervez Musharraf that stated that all candidates standing for parliamentary elections must have a bachelors degree or equivalent. Despite the former president defending his stance by saying that the move would improve the quality of lawmakers, critics believe that it was a tactic to sideline particular opponents from contesting elections. Others termed it undemocratic in a country of 180 million people where less than 50 per cent of adults are literate.
During the elections held in 2008, there were a few candidates who decided to sneak under the radar and take oath on the Quran, despite not having the required degrees. Now, a couple of accusations against a few lawmakers have ballooned into one of Pakistan’s biggest political scandals under the current administration. Degrees of at least eight federal and provincial ministers have so far been found to be forged or invalid by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). However, the numbers are expected to increase as the degrees of more than 800 parliamentarians are yet to be authenticated.
Investigations have been prolonged, intense and often dramatic. There have been alleged kidnappings, scandals of cheating politicians being exposed in front of the nation, and allegations that the government was trying to slow the verification process down. The federal government gave the Higher Education Commission the task of collecting and verifying the degrees of the 1,170 parliamentarians of the nation by July 27, 2010 (extended from July 8, 2010). However, the deadline had to be extended two weeks further when it was announced that only 270 degrees had been properly processed. Furthermore, by the date of submission, the HEC had not received proper credentials of 595 parliamentarians. Helping the Commission go about this task (in accordance with a standard procedure) were 36 universities, which included Punjab University, Karachi University, Allama Iqbal Open University, and Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai University. However, on July 20, 2010, 516 degrees out of 736 degrees were sent back by the HEC to the respective universities for not being assessed according to the pre-set guidelines. Out of the 63 degrees sent back to Punjab University, four degrees, one of a senator and three of MPAs of the Punjab Assembly, were found to be fake.
Some speculate government tampering. According to Ansar Abbasi of The News, Education Minister Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali was approached by the presidency to stop the verification process of parliamentarians’ degrees “at all costs.” President Asif Ali Zardari is apparently quite distressed by the entire ordeal as it is alleged that he believes it is merely a conspiracy to oust his PPP government. His fears were mirrored by Information Secretary Fauzia Wahab. While talking to various media personnel outside Bilawal House recently, she said that the fake-degree scam was nothing more than an attempt to “derail” democracy. She never explained how having politicians lie their way into parliament was democratic.
The fight spread to the institutions in the middle of the crisis. A duel between the HEC and the Education Ministry of Pakistan broke out. The HEC began sending out degrees to various universities for inspection without consulting the education ministry, to the annoyance of the Federal Minister for Education, Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali; he termed it unconstitutional. In a statement, he said that the HEC should have conferred with the ministry before initiating the assessment of the MPs’ degrees. In response, HEC Chairman Dr Javaid Leghari stood by his actions saying that the HEC was the only institution that had the right to recognise the validity of any degree issued in Pakistan or abroad and was doing nothing that was against the government’s policy.
A lot has been said about the overwhelming pressures that Dr Leghari has been facing from different political groups, parliamentarians and even the federal government. There were media reports about the HEC chairman being forced to resign from his post. In a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani about the problems he was facing, Dr Leghari related accounts of maltreatment of his family members during raids at his family home in Goth Leghari. But then things escalated to a whole new level. On July 13, Leghari’s brother Farooq Leghari, a former District Coordination Officer (DCO), was reported missing by his family. It was later discovered that he had been arrested on charges of inappropriately obtaining four to five crore rupees worth of land and vehicles at the expense of the provincial exchequer. It was hardly surprising that all these accusations surfaced just days before the HEC chairman was to announce the names of the politicians whose degrees were forged.
Top politicians and MNAs such as senior minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Rahim Dad Khan, Syed Muhammad Salman Mohsin, Mazhar Hayat of the PML-N, and Hayatullah Khan Tareen, Nasir Ali Shah and Mir Hamayun Aziz of the PPP have been found guilty of possessing fake degrees, while other important figures such as President Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, Senator Ms Ratna Bhagwandas and MNAs Dewan Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari and Mir Amir Ali Khan Magsi are being considered as suspects.
The question of punishment and justice lingers awkwardly in the air. With the current numbers, approximately 47 MNAs could face disqualification from parliament or hefty prison sentences. Despite calls from politicians such as Tehreek-e-Istaqlal’s president, Rehmat Khan Wardag, for a lifetime ban on parliamentarians holding fake degrees, the Supreme Court has said that those found guilty may only face a maximum prison sentence of three years. The apex court’s decision reflects section 78 of the Representation of People Act, 1976. However, Section 100 of the same act states that a person guilty of a corrupt practice could be disqualified from being elected as a member of the Assembly. Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan, Ishtiaq Ahmed, announced that any parliamentarian found to be guilty will be given the chance to explain his case to the courts.
Despite the tumultuous ups and downs that the nation has witnessed throughout this scandal, there have been incidents that have been quite amusing, such as the time when Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Aslam Raisani, uttered the historic words, “A degree is a degree! Whether fake or genuine, it’s a degree! It makes no difference!” According to PPP leader, Sardar Aseff Ahmed, “The courts should focus on other issues of more significance rather than taking up the fake degrees cases.” It is not surprising that the PPP feels this way. The PPP government faces mid-term elections if more party members are found to be fake-degree holders – a thought that most probably thrills the opposition.
Luckily for Jamshed Dasti, on April 21, 2008, the Supreme Court removed the requirement of candidates possessing a degree to participate in the general elections on the pretext that the Musharraf-imposed law was in contradiction to Article 17 (freedom of association) and Article 25 (equality of citizens) of the Constitution. Even though he was previously found guilty of possessing a fake degree, Dasti was not only made the adviser on livestock to the Prime Minister but a fortnight later was also granted a ticket to contest by-elections from the same NA-178 Muzaffargarh-111 constituency by the PPP. Despite disqualification petitions launched by rivals such as Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmad, Dasti later won the elections. His punishment and disgrace has seemed to come to naught. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The roots of the scandal grew from a 2002 law imposed by General Pervez Musharraf that stated that all candidates standing for parliamentary elections must have a bachelors degree or equivalent. Despite the former president defending his stance by saying that the move would improve the quality of lawmakers, critics believe that it was a tactic to sideline particular opponents from contesting elections. Others termed it undemocratic in a country of 180 million people where less than 50 per cent of adults are literate.
During the elections held in 2008, there were a few candidates who decided to sneak under the radar and take oath on the Quran, despite not having the required degrees. Now, a couple of accusations against a few lawmakers have ballooned into one of Pakistan’s biggest political scandals under the current administration. Degrees of at least eight federal and provincial ministers have so far been found to be forged or invalid by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). However, the numbers are expected to increase as the degrees of more than 800 parliamentarians are yet to be authenticated.
Investigations have been prolonged, intense and often dramatic. There have been alleged kidnappings, scandals of cheating politicians being exposed in front of the nation, and allegations that the government was trying to slow the verification process down. The federal government gave the Higher Education Commission the task of collecting and verifying the degrees of the 1,170 parliamentarians of the nation by July 27, 2010 (extended from July 8, 2010). However, the deadline had to be extended two weeks further when it was announced that only 270 degrees had been properly processed. Furthermore, by the date of submission, the HEC had not received proper credentials of 595 parliamentarians. Helping the Commission go about this task (in accordance with a standard procedure) were 36 universities, which included Punjab University, Karachi University, Allama Iqbal Open University, and Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai University. However, on July 20, 2010, 516 degrees out of 736 degrees were sent back by the HEC to the respective universities for not being assessed according to the pre-set guidelines. Out of the 63 degrees sent back to Punjab University, four degrees, one of a senator and three of MPAs of the Punjab Assembly, were found to be fake.
Some speculate government tampering. According to Ansar Abbasi of The News, Education Minister Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali was approached by the presidency to stop the verification process of parliamentarians’ degrees “at all costs.” President Asif Ali Zardari is apparently quite distressed by the entire ordeal as it is alleged that he believes it is merely a conspiracy to oust his PPP government. His fears were mirrored by Information Secretary Fauzia Wahab. While talking to various media personnel outside Bilawal House recently, she said that the fake-degree scam was nothing more than an attempt to “derail” democracy. She never explained how having politicians lie their way into parliament was democratic.
The fight spread to the institutions in the middle of the crisis. A duel between the HEC and the Education Ministry of Pakistan broke out. The HEC began sending out degrees to various universities for inspection without consulting the education ministry, to the annoyance of the Federal Minister for Education, Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali; he termed it unconstitutional. In a statement, he said that the HEC should have conferred with the ministry before initiating the assessment of the MPs’ degrees. In response, HEC Chairman Dr Javaid Leghari stood by his actions saying that the HEC was the only institution that had the right to recognise the validity of any degree issued in Pakistan or abroad and was doing nothing that was against the government’s policy.
A lot has been said about the overwhelming pressures that Dr Leghari has been facing from different political groups, parliamentarians and even the federal government. There were media reports about the HEC chairman being forced to resign from his post. In a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani about the problems he was facing, Dr Leghari related accounts of maltreatment of his family members during raids at his family home in Goth Leghari. But then things escalated to a whole new level. On July 13, Leghari’s brother Farooq Leghari, a former District Coordination Officer (DCO), was reported missing by his family. It was later discovered that he had been arrested on charges of inappropriately obtaining four to five crore rupees worth of land and vehicles at the expense of the provincial exchequer. It was hardly surprising that all these accusations surfaced just days before the HEC chairman was to announce the names of the politicians whose degrees were forged.
Top politicians and MNAs such as senior minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Rahim Dad Khan, Syed Muhammad Salman Mohsin, Mazhar Hayat of the PML-N, and Hayatullah Khan Tareen, Nasir Ali Shah and Mir Hamayun Aziz of the PPP have been found guilty of possessing fake degrees, while other important figures such as President Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, Senator Ms Ratna Bhagwandas and MNAs Dewan Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari and Mir Amir Ali Khan Magsi are being considered as suspects.
The question of punishment and justice lingers awkwardly in the air. With the current numbers, approximately 47 MNAs could face disqualification from parliament or hefty prison sentences. Despite calls from politicians such as Tehreek-e-Istaqlal’s president, Rehmat Khan Wardag, for a lifetime ban on parliamentarians holding fake degrees, the Supreme Court has said that those found guilty may only face a maximum prison sentence of three years. The apex court’s decision reflects section 78 of the Representation of People Act, 1976. However, Section 100 of the same act states that a person guilty of a corrupt practice could be disqualified from being elected as a member of the Assembly. Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan, Ishtiaq Ahmed, announced that any parliamentarian found to be guilty will be given the chance to explain his case to the courts.
Despite the tumultuous ups and downs that the nation has witnessed throughout this scandal, there have been incidents that have been quite amusing, such as the time when Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Aslam Raisani, uttered the historic words, “A degree is a degree! Whether fake or genuine, it’s a degree! It makes no difference!” According to PPP leader, Sardar Aseff Ahmed, “The courts should focus on other issues of more significance rather than taking up the fake degrees cases.” It is not surprising that the PPP feels this way. The PPP government faces mid-term elections if more party members are found to be fake-degree holders – a thought that most probably thrills the opposition.
Luckily for Jamshed Dasti, on April 21, 2008, the Supreme Court removed the requirement of candidates possessing a degree to participate in the general elections on the pretext that the Musharraf-imposed law was in contradiction to Article 17 (freedom of association) and Article 25 (equality of citizens) of the Constitution. Even though he was previously found guilty of possessing a fake degree, Dasti was not only made the adviser on livestock to the Prime Minister but a fortnight later was also granted a ticket to contest by-elections from the same NA-178 Muzaffargarh-111 constituency by the PPP. Despite disqualification petitions launched by rivals such as Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmad, Dasti later won the elections. His punishment and disgrace has seemed to come to naught. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Culture Schmulture
If you are ever walking down a bustling Karachi street, you might ignore the ethnic and cultural diversity that surrounds you- an anglicised business-man might pass by you fitted in the latest Hugo Boss business-suit followed by a conservative woman wrapped up in a “shuttle-cock” burqa. You might argue that rather than culture, this may have more to do with a gaping class-divide and the prevalence of numerous sub-cultures residing in Pakistan’s largest city. In fact, if you take a second to ponder over what you just saw, it might be clear that both these afore mentioned individuals belong to different ethnic groups- the veiled woman’s electric blue eyes and the man’s dark skin provide stereotypical insights into what has come to define this city.
The concepts of diversity and multiculturalism have become the “ideals”- many, if not all countries, pride themselves in housing people belonging to varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Canada, for example, officially adopted ‘Multiculturalism in Canada’ as one of its policies between the 1970s-1980s. In addition, the Canadian government has often been described as ‘the instigator of multiculturalism’ as an ideology because of its public emphasis on the social importance of immigration. As a result, it is still very well-known for accepting more immigrants per capita than any other country. But how well does this sit in practical life? Are immigrants considered and often treated as second-class citizens? Are they able to, as effectively and easily, escalate on the social and occupational hierarchy scale as native Canadians may? What do the rates of reported and unreported acts of discrimination tell us about how well-suited this type of society is to its people? According to Statistics Canada, hate crimes against ethnic minorities increased by forty-two percent in 2009 (preceded by a 35 percent increase in the previous year). And these were just the reported crimes. Where would the figures lie if one considered unreported cases? Similar is the case with countries such as the United States and Australia which share a similar case history to Canada. However, the degree of unrest due to multiculturalism is clearly evident here.
How might one explain the era of discrimination against black people prior to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States? What lessons did the Holocaust and pre-partition India teach us about different ethnicities living under the roof of one nation? Why is it that although multiculturalism and acceptance of diversity are increasingly being encouraged the world over, minorities are still relatively (and often drastically) disadvantaged? For example, a 2007 Statistics Canada study shows that from 2004-2007, the income levels of recent immigrants decreased steadily whereas natives were more likely to benefit in terms of the wages that they earned compared to these immigrants. Furthermore, even in countries other than Canada (Pakistan offers one such example with the various minority groups that reside here), people from a cultural and ethnic minority are more commonly found performing menial, clerical or labour-intensive, low-status jobs. Many people are not allowed to perform their cultural traditions or live their lives according to what they believe is acceptable because of the various dogmas they are often required to follow; unfair treatment scares people from whole-heartedly expressing themselves. Does equality, thus, exist? Are hierarchies further reinforced by encouraging this kaleidoscope of cultures and ethnicities in to one area? Would life be more peaceful if birds of a feather did flock together?
Karachi is another such melting pot. With the number of ethnic killings at an all-time high this year, one wonders whether it is advisable and wise to house such a variation of people under one roof. Families have been torn apart, scores of innocent people have been killed, political parties have become more ethnically motivated than ever and every day is just another gamble for the average city dweller.
Maybe we can’t deal with diversity. Maybe culture was defined so because it highlighted the need for it to be integrated, shared and communicated amongst the people of a society- something that is clashing with modern day living.
Perhaps diversity could be analogous to delivering a baby before the expected date- purely premature.
The concepts of diversity and multiculturalism have become the “ideals”- many, if not all countries, pride themselves in housing people belonging to varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Canada, for example, officially adopted ‘Multiculturalism in Canada’ as one of its policies between the 1970s-1980s. In addition, the Canadian government has often been described as ‘the instigator of multiculturalism’ as an ideology because of its public emphasis on the social importance of immigration. As a result, it is still very well-known for accepting more immigrants per capita than any other country. But how well does this sit in practical life? Are immigrants considered and often treated as second-class citizens? Are they able to, as effectively and easily, escalate on the social and occupational hierarchy scale as native Canadians may? What do the rates of reported and unreported acts of discrimination tell us about how well-suited this type of society is to its people? According to Statistics Canada, hate crimes against ethnic minorities increased by forty-two percent in 2009 (preceded by a 35 percent increase in the previous year). And these were just the reported crimes. Where would the figures lie if one considered unreported cases? Similar is the case with countries such as the United States and Australia which share a similar case history to Canada. However, the degree of unrest due to multiculturalism is clearly evident here.
How might one explain the era of discrimination against black people prior to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States? What lessons did the Holocaust and pre-partition India teach us about different ethnicities living under the roof of one nation? Why is it that although multiculturalism and acceptance of diversity are increasingly being encouraged the world over, minorities are still relatively (and often drastically) disadvantaged? For example, a 2007 Statistics Canada study shows that from 2004-2007, the income levels of recent immigrants decreased steadily whereas natives were more likely to benefit in terms of the wages that they earned compared to these immigrants. Furthermore, even in countries other than Canada (Pakistan offers one such example with the various minority groups that reside here), people from a cultural and ethnic minority are more commonly found performing menial, clerical or labour-intensive, low-status jobs. Many people are not allowed to perform their cultural traditions or live their lives according to what they believe is acceptable because of the various dogmas they are often required to follow; unfair treatment scares people from whole-heartedly expressing themselves. Does equality, thus, exist? Are hierarchies further reinforced by encouraging this kaleidoscope of cultures and ethnicities in to one area? Would life be more peaceful if birds of a feather did flock together?
Karachi is another such melting pot. With the number of ethnic killings at an all-time high this year, one wonders whether it is advisable and wise to house such a variation of people under one roof. Families have been torn apart, scores of innocent people have been killed, political parties have become more ethnically motivated than ever and every day is just another gamble for the average city dweller.
Maybe we can’t deal with diversity. Maybe culture was defined so because it highlighted the need for it to be integrated, shared and communicated amongst the people of a society- something that is clashing with modern day living.
Perhaps diversity could be analogous to delivering a baby before the expected date- purely premature.
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