Killings and kidnappings: a day in the life of a Pakistani

While driving in Rawalpindi yesterday, I came across a series of wall chalking on Tulsa Road demanding the release of Mumtaz Qadri, the infamous murderer of one Salmaan Taseer. I was kinda sad with all things wrong with this country where people not only demand the honorable release of a murderer; they openly declare him a hero. I shook my head and drove on.  

Near Tulsa Road, Rawalpindi

Earlier this morning I discussed this with a friend and we both lamented the fact that even with repeated confessions, the murderer will probably get away with it because no judge who wants to live in this country would dare award any sentence to Mumtaz Qadri. We know that the cleric, Muhammad Afzal Chishti,  who led his funeral prayers had to flee the country owing to death threats so no judge/judicial bench with an ounce of self preservation instinct would even think about going anywhere near Mumtaz Qadri. Such is the state of affairs of Pakistan. 

As if this was not enough, Shahbaz Taseer, son of the late Salmaan Taseer was kidnapped earlier today. According to the police, there is no evidence linking the murder of the father with the kidnapping of the son. If a rich and well connected (they have connections with the men in two of the most powerful houses of the country; Presidency and PM House) family like Taseers is facing so much grief vis-à-vis security, rule of law and justice in the country, imagine the plight of a common man. Be it Karachi or Jamrud, the Taseers or any other poor family, the state is failing its citizens again and again and is doing it with impunity.

Here is wishing Taseers that Shahbaz makes it back unharmed.

Would Fashionistas against Taliban approve?

Earlier this year, Shahid Afridi (yes the former captain of the national cricket team and part time clothing retailer) announced the launch of ladies clothing line. Earlier this month he launched his label Widyaan and now he is out with it. 

Looks like the lable is not the only thing he is launching, he is also launching an ideology to go with it.  

 

This leaves me with a lot of questions. Would Lala be providing the buyers with free matching niqabs to go with the clothes? Would real housewives of Karachi don the niqab with the designer clothing? Would Junaid Jamshed regret not using this idea for his own line? Would FAT approve and support this campaign? 

Is machismo Muslim?

I attended a dinner last night where everyone was discussing cricket and the performance of English batsmen. Bell, Pietersen and Morgan played beautifully and the way Matt Prior challenged the Indian bowling attack to the max, it reminded us of Pietersen or Ponting on a good day. 

Among other things someone pointed the conductors’ bow that Sreesanth took after the wicket of Pieterson. Now those who know me know that Sreesanth is not someone I like. In fact he barely commands any respect in this part of the world. He may be the one of most talented of the current lot of Indian medium pacers but his cry baby past (he cried – literally- when Harbhajan Singh slapped him during an IPL match) and his general over the top antics do not endear him to any.

While I and few others were discussing how great the current English tail is where someone like Broad (who started his under 19 career as an opener and yes, I know weird shit about people that I shouldn’t really know but I digress) comes in at no 9 and how we love some Indians (Dravid, Dhoni and Tedulkar) and how we hate some Indians (Yuvraj, Harbhajan and Sreesanth). One gentleman came up to us and said that Sreesanth is a whiner because he is a Hindu. He was at pains to point out how Sreesanth’s religion has turned him into a loser who instead of responding with a slap for a slap, cried on a shoulder of another man. Had he been a mard-e-momin, Harbhajan would have had it, because Muslim men just go after anyone who gets in their way. Even though I don’t like him much, I felt compelled to defend Sreesanth’s honour and asked him for any scientific proof of his declaration but he had none. When I pointed out that the aggressor Harbhajan was also not a Muslim, the reply came: “he might not be a Muslim but he was also not a Hindu.” When I asked him if George W Bush was also a Muslim who attacked two countries and killed many people, he wandered off muttering something along the lines that the two are different matters and should not be confused with each other.

Even though I should not have been shocked at venomous contempt that man had for the followers of a different faith, I was. I cannot understand for the life of me how can anyone get it in their heads that their faith is superior to the others or their caste has given them the license to act as God’s chosen ones. Unfortunately, such specimens are found in all major religions. Subramaniam Swamy received ire from Harvard management for writing that Muslims in Indian should not be allowed to vote while Hindu women in Sindh get abducted regularly by Muslim men who marry them by force. Right wing Christian nutter Anders Breivik killed 77 of his countrymen because of the fear and hatred of the other and Israel continues to commit atrocities against the Palestinians after over half a century of conflict and this will go on as long as religion is used as a divisive force. Following your own faith does not and should not ask you to feel superior to others. What happened to the golden adage “Live and let others live?” 

As for the uncle at the dinner, I just want him to know that machismo is neither Muslim nor is it a desired quality. The world would be a far better place if we do not put that much currency on machismo and consider compassion and humanity far greater traits.

PS: All the Hindu or Jihadi trolls who want to spew venom read the post again. It is neither anti Hindu, nor is it against Islam.

PPS: I have been told that Sreesanth is NOT a Hindu. I wish I can get hold of that uncle and tell him that.