Uncomfortably Numb

Precious lives are lost everyday, murder mayhem and lawlessness. Whose to blame here? A friend says that its God's way of cleaning up. Someone says its insensitive to say that but I say we made this world, we made this country the way it is. No regard for laws, morality and human life. Why cry then, why lament on the loss. Yes we will talk about it ... for a day or two but then we got more pressing issues ... Whats a life's worth in Pakistan? What did we do about any attacks on Pakistani people, what about near Hundred slaughtered in Garhi Shaho in the name of faith and religion, Ahmadi they na! Who cares as long as your safe in your living rooms but God cares and he watches us and punishes our wrong doings, He gives us time to realize our mistakes and repent and if we don't then we invite his punishment. Some among us are beginning to realize that whatever is happening in Pakistan is out of control chaos and some are saying that its God's wrath. Some justify th

This Eid when I woke up to get ready I was in a somber mood. I knew I wasn't going to the Aqsa mosque (the central mosque) where there would be thousands of people and the sweet smell of perfume would make the cool morning air even fresher. No. Those days are gone now. When we used to go to our mosques (places of worship) without the shadows of guns. I was going to the mosque just a few houses away from my house due to terrorist threats to the main mosque and why have I been denied this joy? only because of my religion... only because I choose to believe what I feel is right and which is a matter between me and my God... Only because I choose to call this country my home even if I am called a minority, even if my forefathers gave their blood to make this country a reality. The last Eid we had in the Aqsa Mosque was a few years ago. Seems like a distant memory now. I remember hurrying up to get good parking for my car, getting the children ready and then waiting for ages f

We as pakistanis are going through some pretty rough times not a day goes by when something even worse than the day before doesn't happen. Trying to make sense of this mess is equally disturbing resulting in confusion and all kinds of wild theories. It's very easy to point the finger at someone else and place the blame but complex issues such as what plague our country cannot have simple answers. The answers are intertwined with our history and can only be achieved through unbiased objective thinking. The term revolution is heard over and over again mounting to frustration that there isn't one happening in Pakistan any time soon which is ironically a blessing cause a revolution without a clear and well defined objective and without the proper education of the masses will be disastrous for Pakistan. Pakistani revolutionary movements tend to be highjacked by those who have their own agendas. It's the people who must spearhead the change no political party or organiz

For a generation to succeed it must be nurtured by the previous generation. The growing mind of a child which is constantly learning needs stimulation in order to get that mind to think in the right direction and pave the way to knowledge and better understanding. As I remember my childhood, even though there was only one tv channel then PTV, the thing which stands out is that there was a genuine effort to educate as well as entertain. Perhaps one of the reasons for that is that profit was not the aim. I remember lots of programs that I watched that have shaped the way I think, the way I view the world. Programs which explained the world to me, opened the doors to science and technology, to rationality and looking at the world differently. Much has gone bad since then ... there are virtually no educational programs left on any channel ... one might argue there is the Discovery Channel or National Geographic sure these resources are there and a few are willing to learn ... but the s

We made this country along with others who were fighting for freedom. It aches my heart to see what it has become. But I don't blame the country… I blame its people who made a mockery of the sacrifices their elders made. Still there are some who want it restored to its intended glory. Here is manifesto of one such group of people ONE PAKISTAN ONE NATION - http://pakcom.com/ We stand for a peaceful, moderate, and liberal Pakistan, with social justice, and equal opportunities. A country with gender equality are ingrained values;  where class structure does not flourish on the basis of economic imbalance;  where quality education is for all not for few privileged, where health and other civic amenities are delivered at people’s doorsteps, where common person has freedom to information, organization, expression. We want to work for a Pakistan which stands against all forms of violence, abuse, and injustice to everyone; where people are conscientious citizens of a welfare state, v

Most of my childhood memories come down to television. I guess growing up in the 80s, we were the first tv generation of Pakistan. My earliest recollections are of Man From Atlantis, then there is Powers of Matthew Star and Voyagers. Then there are a few shows that I just barely remember like Trapper John, M.D. or there was a show with some aliens and they had strange things that the put to a person's neck to subdue him. We had only one tv channel at that time and that was PTV and it was awesome. We watched all the great tv shows of that time Murder she wrote,    Airwolf,  Knight Rider,  The fall guy,  Macgyver,  Law and order,    Star Trek,    War of the worlds,  Chocky, The Tripods,    Sapphire and steel,  Mind your language,  Yes minister,    Chips  then there were loads of children's programs Sesame street,  Thundersub,  Voltran,  Danger mouse. The Twilight Zone used to give me nightmares. Great Family Comedy shows like  Perfect Strangers