Kohistan Incident: Humans or not

18 people including 3 women and 3 children were ruthlessly murdered in the same way as around 26 people were murdered in Mastung. This time the incident took place in Kohistan.

Time after time the monster of sectarianism violence raises its head and targets innocent people in the name of Islam. Seeds of this hatred were sowed in the time of Zia-ul-haq who was self pro-claimed Ameer ul Momineen. This sectarian hatred has been nurtured in the hands of those who firmly believe that those who don’t follow their version of Islam have no right to live. 

The sad incident which took place yesterday is not one of its kind but is a chain of incidents from Karachi to Gilgit Baltistan. To name some of such incidents, (1) Target killing of professionals in urban city (2) Khanpur blast (3) Target killing in Quetta (4) targeting of religious scholar yesterday in Muzaffargarh. 

With such an incident taking place in Kohistan, our so called independent media and not to forget the JUDICIARY didn’t even give any sort of attention to loss of valuable lives. Media was just busy in projecting how Syrian forces are killing Syrian citizens or corruption of government. Whereas the judiciary is busy in dealing with government cases.  It is also to be noted that just on the basis of not having enough proof, people who are and still claim to be involved in killing in the name of religion are freed by our so called independent judiciary. Civil society has also remained silent on the recent killing which has taken place.

Not to forget our political parties who just issued one statement of grief. MQM chief Altaf Hussaine was the first one. President and Prime Minister were too following. Parties like Jamat-e-Islami, Pakitan Tehrika Insaf, Jammiat-e-Ulma Pakistan and other religious political parties haven’t issued a single condolence statement on the incident.  It would be worth mentioning that all these parties have pro sectarian hatred installed in their political ideology. So we don’t expect such from the revolutionary Kahn also.

Thousands of Shias have been killed over the last decade or so and the state has failed in providing protecting from the monster. Others, including top professionals have fled.

In such turbulent times when a community is being targeted in such ruthless and barbaric manner, we could only pray that our agencies, law enforcement agencies and judiciary open their eyes and deal with this monster with iron fist. We also pray for the families of all those who have been killed just because they belong to a certain community.

My only question to all 

“remaining silent on such target killing sectarian hatred incidents, do we even deserve to be called Muslims or even human?” 

& 

“Which side are we supporting by remaining silent on such incidents”

May God grant peace to all the people martyred yesterday in Kohistan.

"You in Yourself Hold the Universe"- You are Unique

Once after a while, one should observe what notable, phenomenal and astonishing characteristics one possesses among all those who have lived and passed  the earth.  If we state that the qualities, talent, way of thinking, friends and opportunities you have in your life are one of its own kind and cannot be duplicated or even shared by some other person; then the statement would be hundred percent correct.

Your physical appearance in itself is unique and science has proved it.  The way you joke around with your friends is also unique.

The few people who you hang around with and also share moments of your life, don’t pray about exactly the same fears as you do. No one is loved by the same group of people that love you.

So being unique in so many aspects listed and so many which we can think of, you should benefit from that individuality. You do not have to imagine to be more like someone else. Your creation wasn’t meant to be same as of the ones created before you because you are here for a reason which is unique in itself. 

Treasure your individuality. It is a gift which is only meant for you.

No other person can do a task the way you can. Nobody can convey the message with the selection of words the way you can.  Nobody but you only can cheer up and spread joy in the  lives of people in the most unique way. 

There are people around you who always look at you at the time of need. So share your uniqueness with them because “the sun doesn’t lose a single bit of its shine while it shares its light”.  This gift which you posses is given to you so that you could share it with your friends, families and those who need it.

No one before or after would come would be as unique as you are.

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a

thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot

be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven

or hell

Your limits in Life

A man with his kids was passing the elephants, suddenly confused by the fact that such a huge animal was tied by small rope. The kid asked his father that why the elephant isn’t moving away?

His father answered that, “while they are small the zoo keepers use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are trained to in such a manner that they think cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life just believing that we as individuals cannot do things which actually we don’t know about, simply because we failed at it once before or don't know about the task.

Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life.

I have learned…

I’ve learned-
that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I’ve learned-
that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back.

I’ve learned-
that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I’ve learned-
that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I’ve learned-
that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

I’ve learned-
that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse.

I’ve learned-
that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned-
that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do.

I’ve learned- 
that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I’ve learned-
that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I’ve learned-
that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I’ve learned-
that you can keep going long after you can’t.

I’ve learned-
that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I’ve learned-
that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I’ve learned-
that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I’ve learned-
that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I’ve learned-
that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I’ve learned-
that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I’ve learned-
that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I’ve learned-
that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I’ve learned-
that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I’ve learned-
that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned-
that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I’ve learned-
that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.

I’ve learned-
that your family won’t always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren’t related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren’t biological.

I’ve learned-
that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself.

I’ve learned-
that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I’ve learned-
that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I’ve learned-
that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.

I’ve learned-
that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned-
that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I’ve learned-
that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I’ve learned-
that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I’ve learned-
that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.

I’ve learned-
that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned-
that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I’ve learned-
that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I’ve learned-
that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings, and standing up for what you believe.

I’ve learned-
that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

By Omer B. Washington

Pakistan or Taliban

Again negotiations have been secretly started with Taliban and pleaded forcefully by the NATO countries in particular by the US leadership, as well as by some of the political leaders and intellectuals in Pakistan. It is surprising that all these advocates of negotiations either deliberately or instinctively not recall the fact that this exercise was undertaken repeatedly on the pretext of “National  Interest” by General Pervez Musharraf, who had signed about five or six agreements with various groups of Taliban’s and the extremist religious terrorists forces such as “Fazal Ullah”, during his long autocratic rule.

 It would not be sensible now to ignore the cost of the agreements signed by Pervez Musharraf and even by the present elected Government in May 2008, which were totally in favor of Taliban. The disastrous impact of all these agreements with Taliban was rise and rise of fanaticism, militancy and violence in urban cities of Pakistan.

The term “Taliban” being used here is inclusive of all their factions, groups of Al-Qaeda and all the extremists, militant religious or Jihadi forces under whatever name or banner. In my view they are all the same. They all indulge in terror campaign. They all have the common object of taking over state of Pakistan through terrorist activities. They all denounce other sects of Muslims as “Kafir, Wajibul Qatal”. Their different names with any prefix or suffix of Lashkar, Sipah, Jihadi or Tableeghi etc., do not matter.

Now that the same line of action is being followed again, the supporters of this suggestion must answer the most relevant questions.

First are Taliban willing to hold negotiations?

Secondly, why none of the people who support negotiations with Taliban (PTI being the front runner) ever demands end of terrorist activities in Pakistan by Taliban as a condition precedent to talks?

Thirdly, what would be the agenda of negotiations? Will the Taliban respect all other sects of Muslims and let them to freely practice all their spiritual rites and ceremonies without being branded as “Kafir” or “Wajibul Qatal”.

Taliban or even people supporting dialogue with them won’t be able to give answers in assenting to these questions. Then the question arises that on what basis the negotiations are expected to be concluded? Are the advocates of this suggestion on the other hand willing to adopt the peculiar religious believes, policies, norms and practices of Taliban which were in vogue under the rule of Mullah Omer?

There are no two opinions that Pakistan is at war with Taliban from within. The worst and longest war causing unparalleled and inestimable damage in Pakistan. Never before our law enforcement agencies particularly our arm forces, paramilitary forces, police etc, had to give up thousands of the lives of their officers and soldiers at the hand of Taliban. Never before so many thousands of innocent citizens became victim of the attacks unleashed by Taliban. Never before sense of insecurity of the life and property of the citizen as well as of the integrity of our country loomed so large. Never before Pakistan suffered such immense destruction of our economy, political, social, cultural life and sports.

I have no doubt about the ability, competence and strength of our armed forces to confront, defeat and eliminate all kinds of terrorists, (ethnic or sectarian) and all groups of Taliban’s or Jihadists, from the soil of Pakistan. Our armed forces do not lack the competence, weapons and equipment of surveillance to track down and destroy the supply line and strength of these enemies within Pakistan. It is for this confidence in our armed forces that I am unable to find any convincing reason for this unending war from within.

Hence, we have no option but to clean Pakistan of all the Taliban groups, extremist doctrinaire religious forces and all kinds of terrorists, so that Pakistan can be made a non violent, peaceful, moderate, tolerant, progressive and modern state.

*Article is synopsis of different reports published on given topic

Inspirational Story of Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe was the first black man to win the U.S. Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon. Civil rights leader and charity worker.

In 1988 he discovered he had AIDS, having gotten the HIV virus from a blood transfusion during heart surgery in 1983.

One day, he received a letter from one of his fans, who asked,

“Why did God choose you for that cursed disease?”

Arthur replied,

“There are 50 million kids who start playing tennis. Only 5 million learn to play tennis. Out of that, only 500,000 learn tennis professionally. Among them, 50,000 are ready to join the tournaments. Then there are 5000 tennis player who make it into the Grand Slam tournament. There are 50 tennis players who join the Wimbledon tournament. Then only 4 make it to the semi-finals. Then 2 make it to the final. When I held the trophy with my hands, I did not ask God, “why me.” Today when I am ill I will not ask God, “why me?”

“I could never forgive myself if I elected to live without humane purpose, without trying to help the poor and unfortunate, without recognizing that the purest joy in life comes with trying to help others.” – Arthur Ashe