Voice of Common Pakistani !!!

S Roman Ahsan studies the patterns of extremism in the country

It was past midnight. The mosque in our area was heavily illuminated as well as the houses in the adjoining areas financed by the mosque administration in connection with 15th Shabaan. One wondered at the amount spent in the name of religion, which could have been used to help out needy people in an appropriate manner. I was trying to read an article on computer after offering my night prayers when suddenly ‘Naats’ started being recited at a very high volume on the loudspeaker with little regard for any sick or aged people that must have been trying to sleep. I tried to ignore the exercise but when it continued without break for 15 minutes, I decided that it would not be against Islamic spirit to guide my dear brothers in the mosque. Hence, I jotted down some comments on a piece of paper in a very polite manner with an aim to share with the mosque administration that those who are not close to Islam would further be repelled by this act of ‘bravado’, which should be curtailed. By then it was 12:30 AM, and with the note in hand, I advanced with bold steps to the mosque. The confidence also stemmed from the fact that I was normally in the habit of frequenting mosque for prayers. However, when I entered the mosque I lost all courage since it was packed with worshippers gathered for prayers. Instead of handing over the note to the person-in-charge in the hall, I gave the note to one of the locals who had come to join in the prayers and returned home.

Whether extra prayers on the night of 15th Shabaan coincide with our true beliefs as per Qur’an and authentic sayings of the Prophet (pbuh) is not the issue here. The concern is how we can eliminate various forms of extremism from our country. Whom should we blame in this current scenario? Should state control the religious activities of various Islamic institutions? Why do we not see highly educated people holding university degrees heading the mosques or religious institutions in our country? Should we only focus on modernizing our universities and equipping them with the latest learning tools or is mosque also in need of our little attention? Why is it so easy to condemn the so-called fundamentalists, while nothing is done to make Madressah an excellent centre of learning while retaining its religious essence? Read more »

This is a true story. Once there was a woman who had three sons & one daughter. She raised her kids with good moral values. The kids grew up & one of her son” Ehsan” graduated & moved to UK. He did his Masters & got a good job over there . Like every other mother she wanted him  to get  married as he was young, intelligent, well educated & was enjoying a good job. His mom was in pakistan & she knew many beautiful girls , all she waited was for her son’s arrival.

Ehsan was not only successful but was a good human being. He would help everyone & always would come up with a  solution for everything. Due to this quality he was popular among his friends. His friends often called him ” solution provider”. Even if I had any problem , I would email him & he always replied. I know him since my University days as I would always stuck in a computer problem & would email him instantly & he was always there to help me out, not only me but he was willing to help everyone.

When he went to  Karachi, his mom convinced him in agreeing to a girl of her choice. He saw the girl only once as  he was  an obedient boy ,he  agreed . Later he was engaged to that  girl Deeba. During their engagement period, they were in contact with each other on MSN & facebook as Ehsan was in London. Ehsan soon found out that the girl was not mentally compatible to him but still he carried with the relationship until Deeba really made him go crazy one day, so Ehsan had to break their engagement, though his mom was deeply hurt because she was the girl she had selected.

After the mourning period was over, Ehsan came up with a decision. He knew a girl names “saba ” who was a widow & had 2 kids. She had been married at the age of 19 & was widowed @ 28. She was in Scotland & Ehsan had morally supported her lots of times. He decided to marry her. It was not due to mercy but because he thought that she was mentally compatible to him & he wanted to make a difference. In the beginning it was difficult for him to convince his family especially his mother but his mother soon gave up & was happy with  his decision. His friends told  him that he was an eligible bachelor & he would get any girl he wanted then why was he opting for a widow. He replied “just to make a difference”. Just to initiate something others can follow. He surprised everyone by his decision but Thankx to Allah he convinced everyone including his family. He’ll be getting married this year Inshallah! I hope the minds of young boys change & they also decide about their future with open minds

by S Roman Ahsan

The guns have stopped firing in the North. The newspapers no more proudly present the news of number of miscreants or militants killed, but now there is focus on the historic reinstatement of CJ with his team along with speculations about what is going to happen ultimately. In some quarters, there is an emphasis on earning economic support from US to reinitiate the ‘war against terror’ in Pakistan’s tribal belt as it is considered that the peace deal is unacceptable with those who blew up schools, and beheaded foreigners and security personnel. If we closely observe the developments in our disaster struck country in the last few weeks, we find that two almost impossible settlements have been achieved so suddenly whose smooth finalization was not expected by the masses. The army was sent to the tribal areas of Pakistan in the year 2003 to crush terrorism while the lawyers movement kicked off against the government in 2007. And now, within a span of just one month, reconciliations have been accomplished in both these areas.

In medieval times, it was a strategic war tactic to surround and strike at the enemy forces while they would be relaxing or pursuing pleasure activities at night-time (’shub khoon’). The sudden respite from a persistent air of chaos in our country is no doubt welcomed by all, yet in the times when the involvement of foreign agencies in funding all sorts of terrorist activities cannot be ruled out as per sources of evidence, the nation as a whole needs to be vigilant rather than immersing itself in celebrations. We should be wary of this uneasy silence and balance out our lives lest we are caught off guard, falling into an even deeper sea of mayhem.

Technology heals in retail but kills in wholesale

By Momina Niazi (Lahore, Pakistan)

We live in the age of technology. We commute by automobiles and airplanes and communicate by emails and mobiles. The media and the Internet provide us the latest information from all over the world. Movies filled with hi-tech special effects entertain us. Air conditioners and room heaters keep our life comfortable despite climatic inconveniences. The list goes on. Technology has transformed almost every aspect of our lives. Of course, a few of us may have concerns about pollution and environmental problems that technology has led to but overall most people feel that technology has benefited us immensely.

But, as per the above quote, that precisely is the expertise of technology to not let us experience the reality of the world. Therefore let us go deeper to analyze the effects of technology on our society. Technology offers luxuries to a few but strips millions of their necessities in the process. In other words, technology heals in retail and kills in wholesale. Read more »

16th March 2009 will go in the history as First major political and social event. But I fear if this day could bring about any change within and outside the country. Reason is simple, the decision makers are same, leaders are same having same motives and intentions.
Pre-long march and Post-long march statements can clearly show what is the character of our political leaders. Now after the long march we can see a credit buying race. Every one is claiming for the victory or for the AHSAAN they have done to the nation.
A common Pakistani was out on streets and is back in his quarters, he is again silent and he is again looking outside his tiny window for any ray of hope.
Will there be any hope?
Will there be any good?
Will there be any change?
I just saw a video clipping of SAAMA TV in which one anchor’s wife’s DOGS, Lali and Shankar, were piosoned. It was a 10 min news……………..
People died in ambulances while waiting for the establishment to remove barricades, people were fighting for their right and were gunned down with tear gas, and SAAMA TV did not find anything else to highlight but an anchor’s wife’s dogs. More over those were not pet dogs but stray dogs living in the street, which were fed by entire Muhallah.
Insaan ki qadar kar na saka jo muashra wahaan kuttay ki ehmaiat hai

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=59618&id=596173919#/video/video.php?v=74610335803&ref=nf

A man died and went to heaven. He saw a huge wall of clocks behind him.

He asked the angel, ‘What are all those clocks?’

Angel answered, ‘Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on Earth has a Lie-Clock. Read more »

Tonight I am wondering if it’s a night or a new day for Pakistan.
Before saying anything or before feeling good or happy, I feel we must all thank the lawyers, civil society, media and general public for the WIN over the staled and feudal political scene.
Let’s hope its the opening of a new era, without corruption and with responsibility. I am really happy and thrilled if it happens but does it mean tomorrow traffic wardens will not take bribe? Police will not harrass a common Pakistani, feudals will not exploit the poor?
Things will not change over night BUT I am hopeful may be this is one of the nights that changes the course of nations. Nations like Korea, China, Malaysia etc.
May Allah be with us….
Thank you lawyers, thank you civil society and thank you media for giving us a reason to fight for a cause peacefully.

Something I received from a friend, Shahbaz Ahmed.

Some of us have had a problem understanding the current global recession. It might be worthwhile explaining it in simple terms.
 
THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS EXPLAINED:
 
Phjja is the proprietor of a Siri-Paya and Nehari Shop in Lahore. Sales are low and, in order to increase them, he comes up with a plan to allow his customers to eat now and pay later. He keeps track of the meals consumed on a ledger. Read more »

Shaukat Ara talks to S ROMAN AHSAN on how to inculcate ethics in children

As the signal turned red on the busy road, the traffic halted. An old man started his lame walk on the zebra crossing, but out of nowhere, a speeding car came and hit him with all force. The man was thrown into the air and then struck the ground, knocked out of his senses. The driver in the speeding car never even bothered to stop, nor offered any help while the poor man lay, painting the road red with his blood.

Scenes like these are reminiscent and recurrent in our lives, though their intensity varies. The question arises why do we see so much evil in this world? Why do most of us ignore the voice that speaks from the heart? Is it so easy to act numb while humanity is suffering? Before proceeding to search the answers to these questions, let us delve into the nature of evil acts. There are some wrong-doings that are liable to be punished by the hands of the law like committing forgery in banks, killing innocent individuals, destruction of public property on streets, assault on women, for instance. Yet, there are scores of others, which go unpunished, at least in this world. Some of these relate to general attitudes towards our fellow beings such as treating our servants as if they did not deserve any respect or sympathy, taking advantage of the weak, not doing justice to our job, the list is endless. Read more »