Wuhi Madaari, wuhi tamaasha, putlooN kay kirdaar wuhi —وہی مداری، وہی تماشا، پتلوں کے کردار وہی

Munir Saami’s Op-ed in Urdu language, published at Urdu Times, USA/Canada/UK/Europe

To read the Urdu file click here:

Wuhi Madari, wuhi tamasha

Synopsis:
The same old Puppeteer, the puppets, and the playbook

Discusses the non constitutional steps being sought and forced on the democratic set up in Pakistan by a Pakistani-Canadian cleric Tahirul Qadri, who led a large procession to Islamabad and a sit in close to the parliament house.
Questions as to how this cleric could afford hundreds of millions of rupees for the organization of this massive demonstration, that includes a bullet proof container that is serving as the office and stage of this cleric.

Exposes the past of this cleric who colluded with army dictator Gen Musharraf and later dissociated from him and settled in Canada. Also discusses the decision of a Judicial tribunal that rules against him and established that the cleric indulged in false statement and accusation. Qadri says that this was not a judicial but a biased administrative tribunal. However he never appealed the ruling in any superior court.

Question the titles of Professor and Sheikh ul Islam (Grand Scholar of Islam) that are used for Mr.; Qadri.

Discusses the role of a non constitutional and non democratic establishment in Pakistan that has toppled democratic governments of the past and that never allowed any elected government to complete its term. That past such adventures were led by General Iskandar Miraza, Ayub, Yaha Khan, Zia ul Haq, and Gen Musharraf.

Speculates that recent demonstration and sit in led by Qadri and a decision of Pakistan Supreme court to arrest the Pak PM on corruption charges may be linked, since the optics reflect such synchronicity.

Mentions that the non constitutional establishment takes advantage of unfortunate corruption by some politicians to malign all Pakistani politicians including some very decent and non corrupt politicians like Aitizaz Ahsan, Raza Rabbani, Farooq Sattar, Haider Abbas Rizvi, and others. It also misinforms the public about  democracy.

Shares the fact that Pakistan Human Rights Commission, Asma Jahangir, local and foreign journalists are fearful and expose the non constitutional actions to topple a democratic system.

Asks if the Sufi (Mystic) credentials that Mr. Qadir flaunts to win adherents and followers, and gives the examples of some very well known contemporary Sufis from Pakistan and other countries whose character may show a mirror to Mr. Qadri. Invites Mr Qadri and his followers to read the pamphlet titled “Who is Sufi”, by respected Sufi Bawa Muhaiyaddeen whose tomb is situated in Philadelphia. advises that this pamphlet can be read at www.bmf.org

http://www.bmf.org/m/wisdom/sufism.html

Advises the people to be on alert to defend democracy in Pakistan.

Bharat Mata kay Maathay ka Kalank (Stigma on Mother India’s Forehead)

Bharat Mata kay Maathay ka Kalank (Stigma on Mother India’s Forhead)

My Op-ed published in Urdu language  at Urdu Times, USA, Canada, UK, Europe on January 02, 2013
Urdu version can be read at following PDF file. English synopsis is also shared below:
Bharat Mata kay Maathay ka Kalank – بھارت ماتا کے ماتھے کا کلنک

Synopsis:

Bharat Maata kay Maathay ka Kalank (A Stigma on Mother India’s Forehead)

Activist like me who have always been praising and supporting India’s secular democracy and its impact on the modern civilization, have been traumatized and saddened by the brutal gang rape of a young Indian girl in Delhi.

My column in Urdu language published in Urdu times acknowledges several Indian Noble Laureates, especially economist Amartya Sen who has criticized the ascendancy of Hindu religious fundamentalism and other social issues curtailing India’s leadership potential in moden times.

It then mentions the details of heinous crime of brutal gang rape committed against a young Indian girl that has shocked India and removed the saffron silk curtain that has been covering many sores and evils of Indian society despite its material economic progress.

In my column I share the statistics that according to some reports that for the last several years there have been an average of 20000 rapes per year in India, that do not include many incidents that are not reported because of victims’ fears of dishonoring their families. Indian law enforcement agencies also avoid registering rape cases and providing justice due to the societal traditions and pressures.

The article suggests that Indian society is still in the clutches of archaic social rules and traditions that blame the progress of Indian women, some liberty of urban woman, their education, and urge for equality with men, that bring the attack on them. These highly conservative traditions still allow Indian men to treat women as their chattel and consider them as lower class citizens, just like in Pakistan and other conservative Muslin countries.

Indians have been using gender selection and abortion of female fetuses despite the fact that for the last may years the practice has been declared illegal in Indian. Such ill treatment of Indian women is not limited to India, but Indian girls living in the west also face similar problems.

It quotes reports that suggests that several Indian parliamentarians and members of legislature have been accused of rape but roam around with impunity.

The article mentions that for several days after the brutal rape Indian political leadership including the president, the prime minister, and Sonia Gandhi were conspicuous because of their silent on the incident. They finally came out after huge public pressure and demonstrations. People protesting this incident were initially mistreated and brutalized by Indian police.

It criticizes the Indian system that, despite perceived secular democracy, controls the freedom of expression, and quotes examples of banning of Salman Rushdi’s book, and appearances in India, self exile of great Indian artist M F Hussain, opposition to many ideas of writers like Arundhati Roy, and banning of films by Canadian director Deepa Mehta.

It suggests that while the western audiences are exposed to the glamour of Bollywood, they are oblivious to the sexist nature of many populist Indian movies that are rife with catcalls against Indian girls, and sexual objectification of Indian women.

It also acknowledges the role of conscientious film makers like Shyam Benegal, Naseeruddin Shaha, Shabana Azmi , and others who have attempted positive social change in India.

It urges the activists interested in the promotion of Indian’s secular democracy to join hands with those who are struggling to free the Indian women from the yokes of regressive traditions and for providing respect and equity to Indian and all women.