AZM-E-ALISHAAN

No flour
No rice
No sugar
No electricity
No water
No gas
No education
No healthcare
No jobs

Today is Pakistan Resolution Day.

While most networks opted to show song & dance performances all day----none of these sissy dancers can help us escape the plague that has stricken this country.

The only thought provoking message was by Anwar Maqsood and his play entitled ''32 March''.

But, I guess, that's the nexus of all our problems---we've stopped thinking. We've stopped realizing that we can do something.We've stopped raising our voices against this decrepit situation that is turning itself in to king cobra preparing to swallow us whole.

But, as this cobra is rearing its head--there is still time. Time to evoke our thougths and turn them into actions.

ZINDAGI

Bar tar az andesha-e-sood-O-ziyaan hay Zindagi

Hay kabhi Jaan aur kabhi tasleem-e-jaan hay Zindagi

Tu issay Paimaana-e-Imroz-O-fardaa say naa naap

Javedaan, Pehamm dawaan, Har damm jawaan hay Zindagi

Apni dunyaa aap peda kar agar zindoun main hey

Siir-e-Adam hay, zameer-e-kun fikaan hay Zindagi

Zindagaani ki haqeeqat Koh-kunn kay dil say pooch

Joo-e-sher-O-teesha-O-sang-e-giraan hay Zindagi

Bandagi main ghatt kay reh jaati hay ik joo-e-kamm aab

aur aazaadi main behr-e-bay karaan hay Zindagi

Aashkaaraa hay yeh apni quwwat-e-taskheer say

garchay ik mitti kay paikar main nihaan hay Zindagi

Qulzum-e-Hasti say Ubhraa hay tu maanind-e-Hubaab

Iss ziyaan khaanay main teraa imtehaan hay Zindagi

 

Ho sadaqat kay liyeh jiss dill main marnay ki tarrap

Pehlay apnay paikar-e-khaaki main jaan paidaa karay

Phoonk daalay yeh zameen-O-aasmaan paida karay

Aur khaakistar say aap apna jahaan paida karay

Zindagi ki quwwat-e-pinhaan ko kar day aashkaar

Taa yeh chingaari farogh-e-javedaan paida karay

Khaak-e-mashriq par chamak jaaey misaal-e-aaftaab

Taa bidakhshaan phir wohi La'al-e-giraan paida karay

Soe-e-girdoon naala-e-shabgeer kaa bhaijay safeer

Raat kay taaroun main apnay raazdaan paida karay

Yeh Gharri Mehshar kee hay tu arsa-e-mehshar main hay

Paish kar ghaafil, Amal koie agar daftar main hay

--Allama Iqbal

2010: 3 and Counting.........

The massacre on Monday and yesterday's twin bombings compel me one more time to wonder when this atrocious insanity will end.

While our lives are at risk and our children die everyday, the VIPs continue to pump up their security and enshrine themselves in their bullet-proof kingdoms.

As the Khadim-e-Punjab walks the halls of General Hospital show-casing his fake sympathies, I wonder why no one stops and asks him ''What use are you? What have you done to stop this? Stop telling us that you condemn these attacks. DO SOMETHING!"

While these weasels, who claim to be paragons of  democratic leadership, spend millions on lavish dinner parties and fornication of every kind imaginable, not a single penny is spent on providing a reasonable standard of health care, education, and utilities for the awaam. Job opportunities are becoming scarce...and even if something does appear on the employment horizon, it's immediately grabbed by someone who isn't qualified, has connections with the higher-ups, and is willing to rub his nose in the dirt for as long as his master commands. 'You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours' is the mantra.

The law that is being implemented in the name of "democracy" is based on the ideals of stealing, raping, and maiming this country. If the poor man becomes poorer and dies---who cares!...at least Fehmida Mirza was able to put new tires, worth Rs. 1,000,000, on her car .

"Good governance" (a term that even Firdous Ashiq Awan has learned to say in English) is spiked with corruption and deceit.

The country may not have collapsed yet, but it is most definitely crippled.

As the streets of Lahore bleed, the betrayal deepens. Our leaders have openly expressed their willingness to betray us, their own people, for the green colored paper that finds its way to their pockets. The sight and touch of it is ever more appeasing for the men in Islamabad, clad in their Armani suits and faggoty ties. Such is the power of lucre.

These bombings can stop and will stop. They will stop the day we unite. The day we stop fighting one another and realize that the real enemies are the thieves disguised as our leaders with their tentacles tightening their grip on our necks. The day we demand these wolves cough up and return the money they've looted from the country's treasury. The day our puppet leaders are ousted and accountability reigns as the only law.  The day we rise together and say "No more!"

The President, The Baby, and Rs. 500,000

No, this isn't a case of who came first.

This is a case of what money means to people, the integrity (read: lack of integrity) of a country's President, and a baby who couldn't wait to see the world.

Zardari brought traffic to a standstill several days ago just so he could fly by everyone on his way to the airport. But, things weren't so "still"....at least not inside the rickshaw that was taking a woman in labour to the nearest hospital. Her water broke and she needed to deliver this baby FAST! But, Zardari had to get to the airport FASTER!!

Not quite sure who made it first....but suffice it to say the woman ended up delivering her baby inside the rickshaw as Zardari whizzed past them. The traffic jam, the President created with his envoy, brought on a medical emergency that could have ended for the worst.

The baby pushed his way into the world and wasn't in any mood to wait till they got to the hospital. But then again, Zardari wasn't in any mood to wait around in traffic. Talk about impatience! But, who was justified?

Upon hearing that a baby was delivered in the traffic jam, the President smiled one of his usual weasel smiles and announced Rs. 500,000 be given as a gift to the baby.

That's it? Just 500,000 rupees? And what about the other people? Especially the ones who get stuck in traffic for VIPs and are experiencing a heart attack or any other similar medical emergency? What about them? Shouldn't they get this kind of monetary compensation too? And by the way, has the woman actually gotten the Rs. 500,000? Is it in her possession at this time?

What I would really like to know is, is this the kind of leadership a country's President should have? Being indifferent to people's needs and realizing only when something cataclysmic happens. And for your information, Mr. President, people aren't sitting around waiting for you to throw your money at them. What was really needed was if you had left with enough time and driven through traffic like everyone else. Your overwhelming concern for your own life and safety turns this entire situation into a paradox, when you're face to face with a woman who is delivering a baby on the street. What about their lives? Their safety? So, essentially your half-hearted attempt of altruism...was just that---half-hearted! How do you justify yourself as a President of a country who ensures that extreme measures are taken for his own safety, while the safety of the public is obliterated. And throwing a couple hundred thousand rupees around isn't going to compensate for a single damn thing!