A Peaceful Protest- Protest Against Shia Genocide

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends”

                                                                                                         Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

14^th December 2012 was marked as a great day in the history of peaceful protests. A group of 500 men and women got together on Old Numaish Chowrangi to protest against the on going Shia Genocide in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. This sit-in protest (Dharna) was organised by different organisations and backed by over a million people from all backgrounds, including women and children.

Friday evening also witnessed forceful closure and gun fire in the city as one of the leading political party of the city came out to protest against Supreme Court’s verdict against its founding leader. So our media cam into action by constantly giving coverage to any incident which happened. From Friday to the unannounced strike by the same party, every event was given coverage by our media.

At the same time the peaceful protest was still going on with significant participation by not only men, but women and children too, of all ages. By the time some analyst visited the site of the protest, the number of participants had gone up to 50,000. Despite the ongoing violence in the city and lack of government support for security, the sit-in protest reached its peak on Saturday evening. This clearly showed that each participant had lost one of his or her family members, friends, or acquaintance, due to the ongoing sectarian violence in the city.

From political parties to people belonging to the media and not to forget our Judges; difference of opinion regarding violence against minorities is continuously moving our society inevitably towards a civil war. Our media, political parties like PTI, PML-N, PPP & MQM can take out rallies for Malala but none of them came forward when Syeda Mehzar Zehra was critically injured and his father was killed while going towards school. Imran Khan and media anchors that came out for Malala were silent on such an incident.

Similarly migration of Hindu families due to lack of security and incidents like Gojra are not on the agenda of any of our media groups or political parties. When suicide bombing takes place, the media and parties like PTI and JI come out and defend it by stating it as a reaction to drone strikes. Similarly, banned organizations on Youm-e-Ishq Rasool broke hell out in Karachi and Peshawar by damaging private property and on the same time were given coverage on media.

A peaceful sit-in protest of about more than 50000 people, where not a single car was burnt nor was any property damaged despite the absence of security personnel. Similar protests in Tunisia and Egypt were given ample coverage by our media but none were present when the sit-in protest at Numaish against Shia Genocide took place.

In end as I have always stated, today it's Shias in specific and other minorities. A day will come when these animals will come after your family also.

For Syeda Mezhar Zehra: We are a Nation of Cowards

I am writing this blog in response to an incident which like other such incidents has shocked me. Today early in morning, time when children move towards their schools. One such girl named Syeda Mezhar Zehra who was 14 years old. She was being dropped to school be her beloved father Nazar Abbas Zaidi. Near her school, animals in disguise of human Beings targeted her car. Apparently targeting her father. Her father breathed his last breaths on the same spot where as the young girl was shifted to hospital. Countless shia community members have been targeted since end of 10^th Muharam.

Here I won’t be a coward like my fellow countrymen who are working in MEDIA or any other ORGANIZATION working for well being of our nation. Even not like PTI, JI, MQM, ANP, PPP & PML-N who came forward to raise their voice against Gaza attack, Malala Incident & Salala Check post attach; but had no sympathy for this young girl.

Our CHIEF JUSTICE and his JUSTICE LEAGUE are busy in their same routine of conducting suo moto references one by one. But have not time to raise sou moto against such incidents where innocent people are being targeted on sectarian basis.

Everyone asks us that WHO IS INVOLVED IN SUCH AN INCIDENT? And very proudly our LEA and Rehman Malik state that there is a third force behind this. I would like to mention that it is the  work of ASWJ & SSP. Targeting professionals belonging to other sect has been witnessed by our nation in past also when doctors were murdered ruthlessly.

I have already mentioned this in my previous blogs that today these organizations are targeting SHIAS, BARELVIS, and other communities. A day will come when these animals would also try to attack you. Today a news strip posted on any news channel indicating target killing of shia community means nothing to you but think if such a news is about your family.

Syeda Mezhar Zehra did not get the same media and political support as Malala got. This just shows how immoral our society has become. Time in near future will come when terrorist belonging to ASWJ an SSP would target your family just because you did not follow their version of Islam.

Worshiping the Creator, and befriending the Devil!
Who would you seek on the Final Day?

-Iqbal

Knowledge and Sagacity of Hazrat Ali

(Below given matter has been taken from "Voice of Human Justice" by  George Jordac)

Hazrat Ali was incomparable so far as power of awareness is concerned. All Islamic learning till date revolves around him. He by far can be stated as the fountain of knowledge. Whatever scientific studies we are studying today, founding bricks was laid by Hazrat Ali

"I am the city of knowledge and Ali is the gate"

 

Hazrat Ali was brought up by Prophet Muhammad and it is a historical fact that he opened his eyes when he was picked by Prophet (PBUH). And from his child hood Hazrat Ali started to follow and adopt habits of Prophet (PBUH). Thus Prophet's legacy rooted in his heart and brain. He reflected over the Qur'an with the intellect and eye of a sage and learnt its latent realities. The circumstances provided him ample time to reflect over the Qur'an. So long as Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman remained busy with the caliphate, he kept his attention directed towards the Qur'an. He mastered its words and meanings. His tongue could recite it fluently and his heart was engrossed in it.

His knowledge of the traditions of the Prophet (PBUH) was such that none else could compete with him in the matter.

Whatever heard by others was heard by him and whatever was heard by him was not necessarily heard by others. It is a well-known fact to both Muslims and Non Muslim that Hazrat Ali never narrated any Hadith from anybody but from the Prophet (PBUH). This was because not a single word or tradition of Prophet (PBUH) was hidden from his ears or eyes.

He was asked:

 

"How is it that you are superior to all other companions in the matter of the knowledge of Hadith?"

 He replied:

 "It is so because the Prophet (PBUH) told me whatever I enquired from him, and if I did not enquire about anything he himself made it known to me"

 
Hazrat Ali was superior to all others in the subject of jurisprudence and Islamic and also acted upon them more than anybody else. Those of the same group never found a better jurist and a greater arbitrator than him. Abu Bakr and Umar always came to him in time of need for the solution of difficult problems.

Abu Ilanifa known as 'the grand Imam' in the field of a jurist. He was a student of Hazrat Ali, because he learnt jurisprudence from Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq who is the grandson of Hazrat Ali.

Abdullah son of Abbas, who was the preceptor of all others, was asked:

"What is the ratio of your knowledge to that of your cousin i.e. Ali."

He replied:

"The ratio is the same as exists between a drop and the ocean".

The companions have unanimously quoted the Prophet (PBUH) as saying:

"The best judge amongst you is Ali".

He possessed such intelligence, wisdom and power of thinking that in the event of dispute he could give the most rational judgement. His conscience was so strong that he was capable of giving a conscientious and just decision after examining and understanding various aspects of a matter.

Umar ibn Khattab has been reported to have said:

"O Abul Hasan! May that problem be not auspicious for the solution of which you are not available".

Hazrat Ali established public laws and national unity, and treated all the individuals as one person in the matter of rights and responsibilities. In his orders and judgements he fully observed this principle which is being followed strictly by the civilized people of the present times.

History shows that Hazrat Ali was the founder of the science of sentence structure. One day Abu'l Aswad, who was one of his friend came and saw that Hazrat Ali's head was bowed down and he was reflecting about something. He said: "O Commander of the Faithful! What are you thinking about?"

Hazrat Ali replied: "In your city (i.e. Kufa) I have heard something which was expressed by the speaker in a wrong manner. I have, therefore, decided to write an elementary book on the principles of the Arabic language". He then handed over a paper to Abu'l Aswad on which it was written that the words are of three kinds’ noun, verb and preposition.

The Imam reflected a little and then asked Abu'l Aswad to write down what he was going to dictate.

"The Arabic language is composed of noun verb and preposition. Noun tells about the things which bear that name, verb tells about the motion and action of that thing and preposition conveys a meaning which is neither noun nor verb. "Things are of three kind’s viz. a patent thing, a latent thing and a thing which is neither patent nor latent"

It is said that a woman came in the presence of Hazrat Ali  and complained that her brother had died leaving behind six hundred dinars, but out of that money she had been given only one dinar. Hazrat Ali replied: "Perhaps the heirs of your brother consist of one widow, two daughters, mother, twelve brothers and yourself". And the position turned out to be the same as was mentioned by the Imam.

The Imam looked philosophically at the secrets of creation, human life and society and numerous sayings with regard to the Oneness of God, divine matters, and metaphysics, are available. We have already remarked above that he was the founder of scholasticism and theology. He was a preceptor, whose skill and leadership has been admitted by every person, who came after him with his own view or remark. In Nahj al-Balaghah he has strung so many pearls of wisdom that, time, has made him stand in the first row of the philosophers of the world.

Prophet (PBUH) in fact referred to Hazrat Ali when he said:

"The scholars among my followers are like the prophets of descendants of Israel".

It is very difficult to find a person like Hazrat Ali who may conclude theoretical and rational matters with the power of his intelligence, and state them in beautiful and brief sentences in such a way that the time may preserve them, and they may become proverbs. Islamic sciences and learning absorbed the color of humanity in their paintings by means of celestial philosophy and their fountainhead were the two personality’s viz. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Hazrat Ali.

Nation of Cowards. Aren’t We?

Malala Yousafzai, a sign of optimism, firmness and courage was cruelly, nearly fatally, shot by some barbarian who claimed that she was shot because she had different views and because she spoke against the barbarians who show themselves as champions of Islam.

It was really good to see how the whole nation raised their voice against the cowardly act but at the same time very sad because the whole nation never stood for those who were killed in Mastung, Kohistan and Babusar. Also everyday people lose their loved ones just because the belong to a different school of thought. Except for a few statements from political parties which are empty in nature, no civil society or even our Judiciary rises for those being killed for having different belief.

In short as our society grows, we are slowly becoming more like cowards. Because we don’t have the wits to stand up against such groups which are acting like parasites. The most we do is to join protest on Facebook. And how to forget our political parties. All issued statements against the act of terror but none gave any statement against those who were involved in such a crime. And that sums up the whole situation. Even the peace march taken out either in Waziristan or in Karachi; none of them stated Taliban or other splinter groups as there enemy. And it was painful when PTI and Jamat Islami stated that Taliban attack civilians because of drone attacks.

Against blasphemy film we are even ready to lay down our lives and are up in arms destroying our own property. But the same groups are silent and hiding when it comes to Malala or even other sectarian target killing cases.

The only reason why I am asking you to rise against these monsters who are operating under different names is that today in past it was Mastung, Kohistan and Babusar, in present it is Malala and countless other innocent people losing their lives to sectarian hatred and in future God Forbid You and Your family could be next.

Worshiping the Creator, and befriending the Devil!
Who would you seek on the Final Day?

-Iqbal

Tumbling Society towards Injustice

As blood is ruthlessly being spilled on the pure land of Pakistan, ordinary citizens have accepted this target killing of minority sect as a part of their routine. So what happens next is nobody rises up to raise a voice against these barbaric acts.

The trend which now has its roots deep in our society is just like that of a jungle; i.e. everybody is busy with their own day to day business until and unless they themselves become a prime target. From Gilgit to Karachi, what we are witnessing is constant persecution of minority sect (Shias). From road side bombings to beheading of innocent citizens in the name of God. Name the method and these barbaric so called jihadis are using it to persecute Shia Muslims.

And it can be said that with the Chief Justice silent on these killings and law enforcement agencies not giving any attention to these acts of crime, our society is slowly moving towards destruction which has now its roots in our society. The Chief Justice has time  for every corruption case but doesn’t have time for suo moto against shia killing in particular.

We have time to discuss everything in this world on our TV shows but we don’t have time for people who are being killed in the name of religion. We can take out rallies in favor of Afia or even against Dengue but no rally for those innocent souls who were pulled out of busses and killed in Mastung, Kohistan and Babusar.

Are we giving a clear message to the upcoming generation of minority sects to rise up against the State authority, judicial system and those who are spilling blood in the name of religion? The constant killings of the minority sect population by LEJ-SSP-ASWJ will further encourage separatist’s movements.

Most of the Genocide of Shias in Pakistan has been in Gilgit Baltistan and shows no signs of reduction. When the life and property of people are not protected people will seek protection or will raise arms which would push the country towards civil war.

If still we just remain silent audience to the target killing of minority sect; I guess we should be termed as accessories to murder. One who thinks love and kindness and a mark of gentleness to stay quiet in the face of the oppressors is either a hypocrite or is not aware with human nature.

Sectarian Devil

Within a span of 2 days; in three provinces of Pakistan, we witnessed barbaric form of human act which claimed lives of 31 people belonging to Shia sect. Killing took place in name of God. 

In one incident which was similar to the incidents of Mastung and Kohistan; attackers dressed in army uniforms, checked the passengers’ identification and targeted those who belonged to Shia sect. The incident was the third of its kind in the last six months. In Balochistan, Hazara Shia Muslims have been constantly targeted in a similar manner by assailants. On the same day as the bus carnage in Gilgit, three Hazara men were killed in Quetta.

And on the last Friday of Ramzan; day which is observed as Youm ul Quds, bus carrying passengers for participation in main procession was targeted by road side bomb. This attack killed 2 and injured aroud 20 people. It is to be noted that before the bomb attach; the motorcade came under fire from unidentified terrorists which injured 4 people.

Above given events show a set trend, which if studied will only reflect how these barbarians are targeting only a particular sect. It is also to be noticed that in most events video is also made in which how innocent people are gunned down is tapped. 

As an ordinary citizen, I only wonder that Judiciary which is so alert that it even takes notice of sugar prices in Karachi; than why not any Suo Moto notice against this violence?

Security Agencies which have all intelligence report; why are they not taking any sort of action against these splinter terror groups, who ideologically support Tehrika Taliban and AL Qaeda.

When I see Imran Khan announcing long march for drone victims, why is he only limiting himself to just give sympathy statements for victims of these terror attacks?

Today ordinary Pakistanis are quiet about these killings. And the signs show that they will remain quiet because the fire which is burning houses of Shia is not a concern for ordinary Pakistani. But as we observe great fires which engulf one part of forest; if not stopped slowly catch the whole forest. Indeed groups like Sipah-e-Sahaba , Lashkara Jhangvi, Tehrika Taliban, Jamatu Dawaa  and similar off shoots of these are a form of CANCER which are slowly affecting our nation. 

If a minority Muslim sect is not safe in Pakistan, than, How can the non-Muslim minorities be assured of their safety in our so called Holy pure land.

Hazar Ganji area massacre

Yet one more incident of targeting a particular minority sect.  Around 14 people, including two policemen and a woman, have been reported to embrace martyrdom whereas 30 others are still in critical condition; authorities believe it as a suicide attack on a bus carrying pilgrims returning from Iran.

Not a surprise that our so called independent and liberal media just covered the incident as main headline once and then coverage to given incident went low i.e. little clip about incident. Again not a surprise all major political parties just issued verbal statements against the incidents. Chief Justice on the issue of targeting minority sects has remained quite or not as vocal as he is on issues relating to current government. From Mastung incident to Kohistan incident where innocent and un-armed civilians were made to stand in line and executed just because they belonged to a specific community. And now massacre in Hazar Ganji area of Quetta.

When you see mass demonstrations against incidents like Salala check post attack just because it was a breach of our sovereignty; a question rises that isn’t killing of ordinary, innocent and un-armed citizens in such a manner, just because they follow some other ideology; is a breach of our sovereignty? Why doesn’t the civil society speak against such terrorist organizations? Why doesn’t the lawyer community demonstrate against such incidents? And why doesn’t the Chief Justice of Justice League take suo moto action against such incidents?

It is an agony when people belonging to these outfits are arrested and then released by our independent judiciary on grounds that evidence is not available. On the other hand the men being released openly confess that they have persecuted and will persecute minorities. 

My only plea to an ordinary Pakistani, if you cannot take stand against such barbarians, what you can really do is to to raise your voice against such killings. Why? Because today somebody else has lost their loved ones in this bloodshed in name of religion, tomorrow it could be your house.

Just think over it.

Story of Appreciation

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company.

He passed the first interview; the director did the last interview,  made the last decision. The director discovered from the CV that the youth's academic  achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never had a   year when he did not score good grades.

The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "None." The director asked, "Was it your father who paid for your school fees?" The youth answered, "My father passed away when I was one year old, it   was my mother who paid for my school fees." The director asked, "Where did your mother work?" The youth answered, "My mother worked as clothes cleaner." The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a   pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.

The director asked, "Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?" The youth answered, "Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me."

The director said, "I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning." The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands.   His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her   hands to the kid.

The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were cleaned with water.

This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fee. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future.

After finishing the cleaning of his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother. That night, mother and son talked for a very long time. Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.

The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, asked: "Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"

The youth answered, "I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes."

The Director asked, "Please tell me your feelings."
 

The youth said,

1. I know now what appreciation is. Without my mother, there would not be the successful me today.

2. By working together and helping my mother, only I now realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done.

3. I have come to appreciate the importance and value of family relationship.

The director said, "This is what I am looking for to be my manager." I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired.

Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team.   The company's performance improved tremendously.

A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop "entitlement mentality" and would always put him first. He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel sense of achievement. He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying the kid instead?

You can let your kid live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn   piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please   let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and   bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you   do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love   them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich   their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the   mother of that young person. The most important thing is your kid   learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty & learns the ability to work with others to get things done.

The carrot, the egg, and the coffee bean

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. 

It seemed that, as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. 

She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?" 

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," the young woman replied. The mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?" 

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened! The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" the mother asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong but, with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit but, after a death, a breakup, or a financial hardship, does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour. 

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean? 

Source: Roger Darlington