د پښتنو سره د نورو غلطو کولو ګنجائش نشته ـ حېدرخان هوتي
ولې خان يونيورسټۍ مردان کښې د پښتو څانګې په اړه احکامات ورکړل شوي دي ـ
زاهد بونېرے - پېښور
د پښتونخوا صوبې وزير اعلے ښاغلي اميرحېدرخان وئيلي دي چې په سيمه د پېخو کشالو اؤ ستونزو د مخنيوي لپاره بايد د افغانستان اؤ پاکستان حکومتونه اؤ د مرکزي حکومت په وسيله د پښتونخوا اؤ افغانستان په مېنځ کښې اړيکې مضبوطې اوساتل شي اؤ صلاح مشوره دې دوامي اوساتل شي ـ دوۍ وئيل چې د ډېورنډ د کرښې دواړه اړخ ته اولس د خپلو رواياتو ، ژبې ، تاريخ ، کلتور ، قامولۍ اؤ مذهب په رشتو پاخه تړل شوي دي ـ ددوۍ سوچ ، فکر اؤ احساسات تردې چې هره ښه بده يو شان ده اؤ په يو بل خپل اغېز پرېباسي ـ مونږ د افغان کډوالو د هغوۍ په ناخوښۍ سره د لېږلو په حق کښې نه يو ـ د پېښور په کنټېنر ټرمېنلو بلوسې د ټهېکدارانو د غېرذمه وارې روئې اؤ د نه تعاون له کبله کيږي ـ
ښاغلي اميرحېدرخان هوتي دا خبرې هغه بله ورځ د پښتو ټيلي ويژني شبکې (شمشاد) سره په يوه انټرويو کښې کولې ـ
وزيراعلے وئيل چې په تېرو کلونو کښې پښتون قام ته کوم زيان رسېدلے دے اؤ په دې سيمه د دې قام د وګړو کومه وېنه توۍ شوې ده ، په تارېخ کښې داسې مثالونه ډېر کم موندل کيږي ـ
افغانستان ته د روسي قواؤ راتګ ، ددوۍ واپس تلل ، د نائين الېون نه پس په افغانستان اؤ پاکستان کښې بيا د پالېسو مطابق حالات بدلېدلو سره زمونږ په صوبه ددې ډېر زيات اثر پرېوتے دے ـ
ښاغلي هوتي وئيل چې هرکله افغانستان د تباهۍ اؤ بربادۍ سره مخ وۀ نو په پاکستان کښې ډېرو کمو خلقو ته دا اندازه وۀ چې دا اور به يوه نه يوه ورځ دې پله هم راواوړي ـ بيا چې په وزيرستان کښې اه وډب شورو شو نو په پېښور کښې د خلقو خېال وۀ چې دا ستونزه صرف د وزيرستان اؤ قبائلو ده ـ مونږ په امن يو ـ
دوئ وئيل چې دا سوچ يوه غټه تېروتنه وه ـ هم ددې سوچ نتيجه ده چې نن دغه هور د قبائيلو نه وروستو دپښتونخوا صوبې عامو علاقو پورې غزېدلے دے ـ
وزيراعلے وئيل چې حالات بېشکه چې د فکرمندۍ وړ دي ـ د مسائيلو اؤ تکليفونو نه انکار نه شي کېدلے ولې دا هم حقيقت دے چې په افغانستان اؤ فاټا کښې د امن اؤ ارامۍ نه بغېر په پښتونخوا صوبه کښې حالات سمے نه شي خوړلے ـ ترڅو چې د حوصلې خبره ده نو زمونږ حوصلې مضبوطې اؤ لوړې دي ، مونږ تر اوسه د هرقسمه حالاتو مقابله کړې ده اؤ انشاء الله ائينده لپاره به هم ښه په نره داسې کوو ـ مونږ د پښتنو د بقاء د جنګ ګټلو اؤ د خپل مورني ټاټوبي د حفاظت لپاره يو واضح فکر اؤ عزم لرو ـ په دې جنګ کښې کاميابي حاصلول د ټولو په شريکه ذمه داري جوړيږي ـ دوۍ زياته کړه چې که چرې اوس هم پښتنو خپل ځان اونه پيژندلو نو خدائۍ مه کړه چې ډېر به زيانمن شي ـ د پښتنو سره د نورو غلطو ګنجائش نشته دے ـ
دوۍ په دې خبره د اطمننان څرګندونه اوکړله چې اوس په پښتنو کښې دا احساس راپېداشوے دے اؤ دوۍ د مسئلو اؤ کړکېچونو نه وتل غواړي ـ
دوۍ وئيل چې د پښتنو تاريخ ، مزاج ، غېرت اؤ همت ته که اوکتل شي نو په يقين سره وئيل کېدے شي چې چې پښتانۀ کچرې يو موټے شي نو ګرانې به ورته اسانې شي ـ
صوبې له د نامې ورکولو په حقله د يو تپوس په ځواب کښې دوۍ وئيل چې په پاکستان کښې په اول ځل د پاکستان صدر په قامي اسمبلۍ اؤ د اقوام متحده په فورمونو باندې دا صوبه په پښتونخوا نامې ياده کړې ده ـ زمونږ هڅې روانې دي اؤ په خپلو اتحادي ملګرو هم باوري يو چې دا مطالبه به ترسره کيږي ـ ډېرزر ائيني ترميمونه مېنځ ته راتلونکي دي ـ په دې کښې دصوبې نامه پښتونخوا اؤ د صوبائي خودمختارۍ د غوښتنې نکتې هم شاملې کړل شوي دي ـ
په سوات کښې د نظام عدل د معاهدې په حواله وزيراعلے اميرحېدرخان هوتي وئيل چې په حقيقت کښې نظام عدل د دې ځائې د اولس يو داسې مطالبه وه چې د مودو راسې کېده ـ دلته د والي د دور نه چې جرګه سسټم اؤ شرعي نظام وۀ ، وروستو د پاټا ريګولېشن په نامه قانون نافذ وۀ ـ ددې ځائې خلق زمونږ د پاکستان د عدالتي سسټم سره بلد نه وو ـ اؤ دوۍ په وخت سره وېړيا انصاف غوښتلو ـ دوۍ په موجوده عدالتي نظام خوښ نه وو ـ زمونږ حکومت د پاکستان د آئين مطابق د کال ١٩٩٦ء اؤ ددې نه وروستو نافذ کړل شوؤ احکاماتو کښې د لږ څه بدلون سره ددې د عملي کولو اقدام کړے دے ـ
دوۍ زياته کړله چې په سوات کښې د تشدد واقعات کېدل او حالات ډېر خراب وو ـ دوۍ وئيل چې دا نظام په ټول مالاکنډ ډويژن کښې پلي کيږي چې ورسره د کوهستان اؤ د چترال پرامنه منطقې هم شاملې دي ـ
د معاهدې د مخالفت په باب له د يو سوال په ځواب کښې دوۍ وئيل چې هرڅوک خپل ځان ته يو فکر لري ـ بيا هم د يو بل د فکر بايد احترام اوکړل شي ـ دوۍ په ډاګه کړه چې ددې معاهدې په حواله سره دوۍ د صوبې ټول سياسي ، مذهبي ګوندونه اؤ د معاشرې د کلهمو طبقو اعتماد ترلاسه کړے دے ـ
يوې اولس کلنې پېغلې ته د کوړو ورکولو د يو وېډيو فلم په باب له چې ځنو چېنلو خور کړے وۀ ، ښاغلي اميرحېدرخان هوتي وئيل چې بنيادي خبره خو داده چې ايا داسې څه واقعه شوې هم ده کنه ـ اطلاع خو داده چې داسې څه د سره شوي هم نه دي ـ اؤ دا چې دغه وېډيو جعلي بڼه لري ـ بيا هم که داسې څه واقعه شوي وي اؤ هرکله که شوي وي ، هر پښتون ، هر مسلمان بلکه هر انسان ددې غندنه کوي ـ دوۍ وئيل چې په سوات کښې د ماشومانو اؤ ښځو قتل عام اؤ د عامو وګړو د سرونو پرېکولو د مخ نيوي لپاره مونږ د نظام عدل اؤ د امن په حقله د کوششونو تېزولو پرېکړه کړې وه ـ دوۍ په دې خبره خپله ناخوښي ښکاره کړه چې په داسې حالاتو اؤ ټاکلي وخت د داسې يو وېډيو مېنځ ته راتل ددې خبرې ثبوت دے چې ځنې داسې قوتونه شته دے چې نه غواړي ، په مالاکنډ کښې زمونږ د امن پروسه عملي شي ـ
وزيراعلے يوځل بيا په ډاګه کړله چې د افغانستان ، فاټا اؤ پښتونخوا امن اؤ استحکام د يو بله سره تړلي دي ـ
ترڅو پورې چې د امن معاهدې تعلق دے نو دې خلقو ژمنه کړې ده چې د نظام عدل په نتيجه کښې هرکله چې امن راشي نو دوۍ به هم د امنيت ژوند تېرولو ته غاړه کېږدي اؤ داسې يو حرکت به نه کوي چې کوم د سوات ، پاکستان يا ددوۍ کوم ګاونډي ته ترېنه نقصان اورسي ـ دوۍ واضحه کړله چې د سوات د افغانستان سره غاړه غاړۍ پلۀ نه لري اؤ په قبائيلي علاقو کښې د شوؤ معاهدو په اړه زمونږ پاليسي واضحه ده اؤ هغه دا چې په هره يوه معاهده کښې بايد دا شرط ارومرو موجود وي چې د افغانستان اؤ پاکستان دواړو په مفاداتو به بلوسه نه کيږي ـ مونږ به چرې اونه غواړو چې زمونږ د غاړې دې زمونږ په يو ګاونډي ګوزار اوشي اؤ دغه شان د خپل ګاونډي هيوادونو نه هم دغه تمه لرو ـ
ښاغلي اميرحېدرخان هوتي وئيل چې د پښتنو تاريخ ګواه دے چې دوۍ د خپلو کشالو د هواري لپاره همېش جرګو ته اهميت ورکړے دے ـ اؤ دغه شان ئې خپل مسائل حل کړي دي ـ زمونږ اوس هم دغه موقف دے ـ چې هره مسئله بايد د خبرو اترو د لارې هواره کړل شي ـ دوۍ وئيل چې د طاقت اؤ زور استعمال بايد هغه وخت اوشي چې بله څه لاره چاره پاتې نه شي ـ
د افغانستان اؤ ايران د سفارتکارو د تختونې په اړه د يو تپوس په ځواب کښې د عوامي نېشنل پارټۍ نمائينده وزيراعلے وئيل چې دا دواړه پېښې د غندنې دي ـ ايران زمونږ ګاونډي اسلامي ورور ملک دے اؤ ددوۍ سره زمونږه تاريخي تعلقات پاتې شوي دي ـ بل خوا افغانستان خو زمونږ دوهم کور دے ـ په دې کښې هيڅ بله خبره نشي کېدے چې د سفارتکارو حفاظت کول د پاکستاني حکومت ذمه واري ده ـ ده وئيل چې دا مسئله صرف د صوبې سره اړه نه لري ـ د قبائيلي علاقو سره نزدو والے يا ګاونډوالي زمونږ ستونزې نورې زياتې کړي دي ـ ولې ددې مطلب دا بالکل نه دے چې مونږ په قبائيلي وروڼو تور پورې کول غواړو ـ قبائل خو خپله د ستونزو سره مخ دي ـ د ټولو نه زياتې قربانۍ هم دوۍ ورکړي دي ـ زمونږ اشاره په سيمه کښې د مېشته داسې ګروپونو يا طاقتونو پله ده چا چې هلته کښې ځان ځان ته واړه واړه سلطنتونه قائم کړي دي ـ اؤ د پولې په دواړه اړخه په داسې قسم واقعو کښې ککړ دي ـ بيا هم د دواړو سفارت کارو په حفاظت د بيا راوستلو لپاره مونږ خپل کوششونه جاري ساتو ـ مونږ په دې حقله غافله نه يو ناست ـ ده زياته کړه چې ددې تختونو سره يو خوا که د باچاخان اؤ خان عبدالولي خان د سپاهيانو د حکومت د سپکې اؤ بدنامۍ هڅې کيږي نو بله خوا دا قوتونه غواړي چې زمونږ دې د ګاونډي وروڼو سره تعلقات خراب کړل شي ـ
د يو بل تپوس په ځواب کښې قام پرست وزير اعلے وئيل چې د پاکستان اؤ افغانستان ترمېنځ ناباوري د دواړو هيوادونو لپاره د نقصان ده ـ هم ددې وران کارو د لاسه کوم چې په داسې کارونو کښې اموخته دي چې اسلام اؤ انسانيت ېې چا ته هم اجازت نه ورکوي ، دواړه هيوادونه د مسئلو سره مخ دي ـ دواړه هيوادونه د وران کارۍ د ستونزو ښکار دي ـ اؤ ددې مخ نيوے صرف په شريکه سره کېدے شي ـ
د ډرون د بلوسو په حقله دوۍ وئيل چې بنيادي خبره داده چې کوم يو ملک ته دا حق نه رسي چې په يو بل خوداختياره هيواد کښې دې کاروائي اوکړي ـ ددې حملو نه د پاکستان وجود د خطرو سره مخ شوے دے ـ دا د پاکستان د خود اختيارۍ سراسر خلاف خبره ده ـ ددې سره به د دهشت ګردۍ پرضد کوششونه هم زيان من شي ځکه چې په داسې کولو د دهشت ګردۍ پرضد د هلوځلو نه عام اولس زړونه اړوي ـ اؤ ملګېرتيا ئې نه کوي ـ دوۍ واضحه کړه چې د وران کارو خلاف کاروائي په افغانستان کښې د افغان فوځ اؤ په پاکستان کښې د پاکستاني قواؤ ذمه واري ده ـ دوۍ زياته کړه چې امريکائي کاروائي د پاکستان اؤ افغانستان دواړو د مفاداتو په حق کښې نه ځي ـ بايد امريکا د دواړو هيوادونو مفادات په نظر کښې اونيسي ـ ګنې معاملات به نور تاوجن اؤ ترخجن شي ـ
د ناټو د سپلائي په ټرمينلو باندې د حملو په باب له د يو سوال په ځواب کښې اميرحېدرخان هوتي وئيل چې په قبائيلي سيمو کښې موجود ځنې قوتونه يا ډلې د هغې سامان سپلائي څنګه زغملے شي ، کوم چې ددوۍ پر ضد د استعمال لپاره وړل کيږي ـ دا حملې د ټهيکدارانو د غېرذمه دارۍ اؤ نه تعاون نتيجه هم ده ـ چرته چې دې ټهيکدارانو ته د پنځوسو کنټينرو د سنبالښت اجازه ورکړل شوې ده ، هلته دوۍ پنځه سوه کنټېنره ايښودي دي ـ اؤ د دومره لوئ تعداد سنبالښت څه اسان کار نه دے ـ بايد ټهيکداران خپلې ذمه وارۍ اوپيژني ـ ده وئيل چې حکومت په دې حقله خلق هم نيولے دے ، تحقيقات ئې هم کړي دي ، خو دا مسئله لږه نازکه ده ـ
وزيراعلے وئيل چې د يو وخت راسې سازش کيږي چې پښتانۀ وران کاري ثابت کړي ـ ولې دا حقيقت هم په نظر کښې ساتل پکار دي چې دې سره پښتنو خپل ځان اؤ دوست دښمن پېژندلے دے ـ بايد دوۍ په شريکه سره ددې سازشونو مقابله اوکړي ـ زمونږ د اولې ورځې نه هڅه داده اؤ زمونږ د حکومت خېال دے چې د خپل کور کشالې بايد مونږ خپلو کښې کېښنو ، هوارې ئې کړو ـ د جرګې نه بغېر ددې مسئلو هوارے ګران دے ـ مونږ له د خپل کور د مسئلو لپاره د غېرو په تمه نه دي کېښناستل پکار ـ
د نوې امريکائي انتظامئې د پاليسۍ په اړه د يو سوال په ځواب کښې وزيراعلے وئيل چې په دې پاليسۍ کښې خواږه تراخۀ ګډوډ پراته دي ـ ولې د هرې يوې پاليسۍ د کاميابۍ انحصار په دې خبره وي چې دا ترڅومره حده پلي کيږي ـ که په صحيح توګه په دې عمل اوکړل شو نو په پاکستان اؤ افغانستان دواړو به دا ښه اثرات اوغوزځوي ـ ولې که په قول اؤ فعل کښې تضاد راغلو نو دا به نه صرف د پاکستان اؤ افغانستان بلکه خپله د امريکا لپاره هم ګټې رانه وړي ـ
د يو بل تپوس په ځواب کښې حېدرخان هوتي وئيل چې د مردان په خان عبدالولي خان يونيورسټۍ کښې د پښتو ډپارټمنټ د پرانستلو لپاره دوۍ حکم ورکړے دے ـ
د مرکې په پائې کښې د پښتونخوا وزير اعلے په پښتون قام اؤ په ځانګړې توګه په ځوان نسل غږ اوکړ چې قام دا وخت د ازمائش سره مخ دے ـ مونږ د تاريخ په يو داسې پړاؤ ولاړ يو چې نه صرف مونږ له د حال په باب له فکر پکار دے بلکه د مستقبل په اړه هم د خپل مرام ټاکل دي ـ د وخت تقاضا داده چې مونږ دې د باچاخان د عدم تشدد لاره خپره کړو اؤ تعميري کردار ادا کړو ـ په دې به مونږ خپل ځان ، کور ، قام اؤ د مستقبل د ستونزو مقابله اوکړل شو ـ وزيراعلے د پاکستان اؤ افغانستان د مېډيا نه هم خواست اوکړو چې بايد دوۍ په دې حالاتو کښې قام د حقيقتونو نه خبر اوساتي ـ اؤ د مسئلو په حل کښې دې خپل لاس امداد اوکړي ـ
دوۍ وئيل چې د دواړو هيوادونو اولس بايد د يو بل د آواز اؤ جذباتو نه خبر اوساتل شي ـ
http://khyberwatch.com/nandara/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=708&Itemid=1
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
CM Hoti on Shamshad TV
CM Hoti on Shamshad TV
Monday, 13 April 2009
Chief Minister Ameer Haidar Khan Hoti has said that to defy the challenges and difficulties faced by the Pukhtoons region, the government of Afghanistan and Pakistan should cooperate with each other. He further stressed on thorough contacts and collaboration between the government of Afghanistan and Pakhtunkhwa government through the federal government adding that Afghanistan and Pukhtoonkhwa share the same values of traditions, history, religion and ethnicity.
Their thinking, feelings and sentiments even their problems and difficulties are the same. Citing the attacks on the terminals the chief minister said that it is the result of fewer cooperation and irresponsible attitudes of the contractors. He said this in an interview with pushto TV channel “Shamshad”.
“Since the past few years the Pukhtoons nation has faced huge losses and blood shedding and the history lack such precedent. The intervention of Russian Army in Afghanistan , their exit, and the events after 9/11 has severely affected Afghanistan and Pakistan , particularly our province. When the destruction started in Afghanistan no one think of it that it will spread to our region as well. When it spread to Waziristan still people in Peshawar were of the view that it is the problem of Waziristan and we are safe. Such feelings were erroneous and now the fire of extremism spread all over the province.”Hoti maintained.
The chief minister said that the conditions are critical and the problems and difficulties cannot be avoid, however, it is fact that without peace and stability in Afghanistan, the peace and stability in FATA and in the province is impossible, but we have faced the challenges bravely and still our morals are high.
“We are committed for winning the war of the survival of the Pukhtoon nation and security of our land. Now the success in the war is the collective responsibility of the Pukhtoons and they are left with no other option”. Hoti declared.
Answering to a question regarding the change of the name of the province, the chief minister said that for the first time in Pakistan the president on the floor of the National Assembly and on the forum of United Nation has called the province as Pukhtoonkhwa.
“We are trying and believe on coalition parties that the name and autonomy of the province will remain in the upcoming constitutional amendments.” he declared.
To another question the chief minister said that orders have been issued regarding the establishment of Pashto department in Khan Abdul Wali Khan University .
Citing the Nizam-e-Adl deal in Swat the chief minister said that it was the just demand of the people of the region to provide them speedy justice at their door steps and they felt deficiency in the present judicial setup adding that the conditions are alarming but the Nizam-e-Adl Regulations will be implemented all over Malakand Division which include peaceful regions of Kohestan and Chitral.
The chief minister said that the support of all political, religious parties of the province and different sections of the society are with us and it is our responsibility to fill the deficiency of the lack of provision of justice to the people.
Regarding the video of flogging a 17years old girl the chief minister said that I am not known to it whether it took place or not and there is information that the incident did not take place in Swat.
“Suppose it did happen wherever and whenever, it is highly condemnable and every Pukhtoon, muslim even every human being condemns such acts. And the decision of the implementation of Nizam-e-Adl is made for the prevention of killing of innocent children, women and beheading of common people.”Hoti observed.
The chief minister also expressed concern over the publicity of such videos at such a critical juncture of time and said that there are some elements involved and struggling for the sabotage of Nizam-e-Adl and peace process in Malakand. The chief minister said that as far as the peace deal is concerned people of Malakand have promised to live peaceful lives and will never do something which may prove to be fatal for the peace in the region, for the deal or which is against Pakistan. Our policy regarding the tribal areas is clear and that the peace deal must contain the element of no infiltration from both sides of Pakistan and Afghanistan .. We will never wish that our land will be used against our neighbours and expect the same from them. He said that the history of Pukhtoon suggest that they always prefer the jirga system for the solution to their problems and we also believe in it. The use of force should always be the last option.
In reply to a query regarding the abduction of the diplomats of Afghanistan and Iran , the chief minister said that both the incidents are highly condemnable. Iran is our neighbor brethren Islamic country and we share the common historical relations. Afghanistan is our second home and there is no second opinion that the security of the diplomats is the duty of the government of Pakistan. We are facing problems due to the proximity of the tribal region and it doesn’t mean to hold the tribal people responsible for it. They are themselves severely affected due to such circumstances and have rendered great sacrifices.
“Our purpose is to fight those groups and forces that have established their own small states and are involved in such accidents on both sides of the border; however we will continue our efforts for the safe return of both the diplomats. The purpose of the abduction of the ambassadors is to defame the government of followers of Bacha Khan and Wali Khan on one side and on the other wants to weaken relations between the two brethren neighboring countries”. Hoti concluded..
The chief minister said that both the countries are facing terrorism and can only counter act it through cooperation and collective efforts.
Regarding a question about the drone attacks the chief minister said that it is basic that no country is allowed to act in such a manner in any independent sovereign country. Such attacks are fatal for the independence of Pakistan and are against its sovereignty. The attacks will ruthlessly affect the efforts against terrorism because it is leading towards. He clarified that operation against terrorism is the responsibility of Pakistan Army in Pakistan and Afghan Army in Afghanistan and American attitude in this regard is not in the interests of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Americans should consider the ground realities of both the countries otherwise the situations will remain intimidating.
To a question regarding the attacks on NATO terminals the chief minister said that these attacks are the results of the less cooperation and irresponsible attitudes of the contractors. The government has conducted inquiries and made some arrests, however, it is a sensitive matter.
The chief minister said that plots were designed against the Pukhtoon for several times to prove them terrorists, however, it is a good sign that the Pukhtoon have now became aware of it and they should now fight it collectively.
“From day one our government follow the policy of settling the problems peacefully and opted for the jirga system for solution to these problems and we can’t depend on others in this connection.” he maintained.
To a question regarding the new American administrative policy the chief minister said that every policy has its shortcomings and plus points, however, its fruitfulness and success depends on its practical execution. And if the policy was followed generously it might have its positive impacts on both Afghanistan and Pakistan and if any mayhems exists it will not only badly affect Afghanistan and Pakistan but also will render serious repercussions for America as well.
Towards the end of the interview the chief minister stressed on the Pukhtoon particularly the youth and said that they should follow the philosophy of peace of Bacha khan where the time is critical and the decisions about their present even the future is still to be made.
The chief minister also requested the media both in Afghanistan and Pakistan to provide objective information to the general public and play its role in the solution to their problems. The disembark of the sentiments and voices of the people of both the countries to one another is the need of the hour.
Monday, 13 April 2009
Chief Minister Ameer Haidar Khan Hoti has said that to defy the challenges and difficulties faced by the Pukhtoons region, the government of Afghanistan and Pakistan should cooperate with each other. He further stressed on thorough contacts and collaboration between the government of Afghanistan and Pakhtunkhwa government through the federal government adding that Afghanistan and Pukhtoonkhwa share the same values of traditions, history, religion and ethnicity.
Their thinking, feelings and sentiments even their problems and difficulties are the same. Citing the attacks on the terminals the chief minister said that it is the result of fewer cooperation and irresponsible attitudes of the contractors. He said this in an interview with pushto TV channel “Shamshad”.
“Since the past few years the Pukhtoons nation has faced huge losses and blood shedding and the history lack such precedent. The intervention of Russian Army in Afghanistan , their exit, and the events after 9/11 has severely affected Afghanistan and Pakistan , particularly our province. When the destruction started in Afghanistan no one think of it that it will spread to our region as well. When it spread to Waziristan still people in Peshawar were of the view that it is the problem of Waziristan and we are safe. Such feelings were erroneous and now the fire of extremism spread all over the province.”Hoti maintained.
The chief minister said that the conditions are critical and the problems and difficulties cannot be avoid, however, it is fact that without peace and stability in Afghanistan, the peace and stability in FATA and in the province is impossible, but we have faced the challenges bravely and still our morals are high.
“We are committed for winning the war of the survival of the Pukhtoon nation and security of our land. Now the success in the war is the collective responsibility of the Pukhtoons and they are left with no other option”. Hoti declared.
Answering to a question regarding the change of the name of the province, the chief minister said that for the first time in Pakistan the president on the floor of the National Assembly and on the forum of United Nation has called the province as Pukhtoonkhwa.
“We are trying and believe on coalition parties that the name and autonomy of the province will remain in the upcoming constitutional amendments.” he declared.
To another question the chief minister said that orders have been issued regarding the establishment of Pashto department in Khan Abdul Wali Khan University .
Citing the Nizam-e-Adl deal in Swat the chief minister said that it was the just demand of the people of the region to provide them speedy justice at their door steps and they felt deficiency in the present judicial setup adding that the conditions are alarming but the Nizam-e-Adl Regulations will be implemented all over Malakand Division which include peaceful regions of Kohestan and Chitral.
The chief minister said that the support of all political, religious parties of the province and different sections of the society are with us and it is our responsibility to fill the deficiency of the lack of provision of justice to the people.
Regarding the video of flogging a 17years old girl the chief minister said that I am not known to it whether it took place or not and there is information that the incident did not take place in Swat.
“Suppose it did happen wherever and whenever, it is highly condemnable and every Pukhtoon, muslim even every human being condemns such acts. And the decision of the implementation of Nizam-e-Adl is made for the prevention of killing of innocent children, women and beheading of common people.”Hoti observed.
The chief minister also expressed concern over the publicity of such videos at such a critical juncture of time and said that there are some elements involved and struggling for the sabotage of Nizam-e-Adl and peace process in Malakand. The chief minister said that as far as the peace deal is concerned people of Malakand have promised to live peaceful lives and will never do something which may prove to be fatal for the peace in the region, for the deal or which is against Pakistan. Our policy regarding the tribal areas is clear and that the peace deal must contain the element of no infiltration from both sides of Pakistan and Afghanistan .. We will never wish that our land will be used against our neighbours and expect the same from them. He said that the history of Pukhtoon suggest that they always prefer the jirga system for the solution to their problems and we also believe in it. The use of force should always be the last option.
In reply to a query regarding the abduction of the diplomats of Afghanistan and Iran , the chief minister said that both the incidents are highly condemnable. Iran is our neighbor brethren Islamic country and we share the common historical relations. Afghanistan is our second home and there is no second opinion that the security of the diplomats is the duty of the government of Pakistan. We are facing problems due to the proximity of the tribal region and it doesn’t mean to hold the tribal people responsible for it. They are themselves severely affected due to such circumstances and have rendered great sacrifices.
“Our purpose is to fight those groups and forces that have established their own small states and are involved in such accidents on both sides of the border; however we will continue our efforts for the safe return of both the diplomats. The purpose of the abduction of the ambassadors is to defame the government of followers of Bacha Khan and Wali Khan on one side and on the other wants to weaken relations between the two brethren neighboring countries”. Hoti concluded..
The chief minister said that both the countries are facing terrorism and can only counter act it through cooperation and collective efforts.
Regarding a question about the drone attacks the chief minister said that it is basic that no country is allowed to act in such a manner in any independent sovereign country. Such attacks are fatal for the independence of Pakistan and are against its sovereignty. The attacks will ruthlessly affect the efforts against terrorism because it is leading towards. He clarified that operation against terrorism is the responsibility of Pakistan Army in Pakistan and Afghan Army in Afghanistan and American attitude in this regard is not in the interests of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Americans should consider the ground realities of both the countries otherwise the situations will remain intimidating.
To a question regarding the attacks on NATO terminals the chief minister said that these attacks are the results of the less cooperation and irresponsible attitudes of the contractors. The government has conducted inquiries and made some arrests, however, it is a sensitive matter.
The chief minister said that plots were designed against the Pukhtoon for several times to prove them terrorists, however, it is a good sign that the Pukhtoon have now became aware of it and they should now fight it collectively.
“From day one our government follow the policy of settling the problems peacefully and opted for the jirga system for solution to these problems and we can’t depend on others in this connection.” he maintained.
To a question regarding the new American administrative policy the chief minister said that every policy has its shortcomings and plus points, however, its fruitfulness and success depends on its practical execution. And if the policy was followed generously it might have its positive impacts on both Afghanistan and Pakistan and if any mayhems exists it will not only badly affect Afghanistan and Pakistan but also will render serious repercussions for America as well.
Towards the end of the interview the chief minister stressed on the Pukhtoon particularly the youth and said that they should follow the philosophy of peace of Bacha khan where the time is critical and the decisions about their present even the future is still to be made.
The chief minister also requested the media both in Afghanistan and Pakistan to provide objective information to the general public and play its role in the solution to their problems. The disembark of the sentiments and voices of the people of both the countries to one another is the need of the hour.
ANP's Think Tank meets at Peshawar
Federal government or Pakistan Peoples Party did not deem it fit to take ANP in confidence before making this decision public.
A meeting of consultative committee of Awami National Party was held in Chief Ministers House yesterday. The meeting was presided over by Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, the acting Central President of Awami Natiional Party.
In an in-depth and detailed discussion the meeting took stock of the situation emerging out of the decision of the federal government to send Nizam-e-Adl Regulation to parliament. At the end of discussion the consultative committee passed the following resolution “-
“Awami National Party is disappointed at the decision of the federal government to send the Malakand Nizam-e-Adle Regulation to parliament on many
“Awami National Party is disappointed at the decision of the federal government to send the Malakand Nizam-e-Adle Regulation to parliament on many courts.
One, the aforementioned decision is in total violation of the understanding with the federal government and Presidency. At that point of time it was clearly agreed that the president of Pakistan will sign the Regulation when peace will return to Swat. After the February 16 agreement between the provincial government and Maulana Sufi Mohammad, head of TSNM, initially cease fire was declared followed by a gradual return of peace. Now with the establishment of a comparatively peaceful situation we owe it to the people of Malakand to give them Nizam-e-Adl.
Decision to fulfill our commitment. the provincial government has already sent the draft regulation to the presidency through governor of the province.
Two, we were also disappointed by the fact that the federal government or Pakistan Peoples Party did not deem it fit to take ANP in confidence before making this decision public. We learnt about it through media. We are part of the coalition government and our two parties are supposed to be in a political alliance. Keeping ANP and provincial government in dark about such an important decision in which we as the elected representatives of the people of Pakhtunkhwa are the main stake holders can not be justified on any ground.
Three, already precious time has been wasted in signing the Nizam-e-Adle Regulation and only further delay can undermine the peace process and God forbid if violence erupts again in Malakand Division it will lead to a catastrophe in our region.
We are not opposed to taking every piece of legislation to the parliament. As a matter of principle we are in favour of amending the constitution for enabling the parliament to legislate for both PATA and FATA. But in the present case time is of the essence and the constitution permits the President of Pakistan to sign the Regulation.
Therefore we demand that Nizam-e-Adle Regulation should be signed by the President of Pakistan on urgent basis. We also request our party leadership to reconsider the decision to remain part of the coalition government in case of further delay in signing the law since it involves the supreme interest of the people of the province. We assure the people of the province in general and of the Malakand Division in particular that ANP will stand firmly for their right to live in peace and shall go to any extent for this cause.
We had consulted all the political parties in the province. We shall take them into confidence about the latest development in the hear further. We repose full confidence in our leader Asfandyar Wali Khan and give him full authority to take the final decision
courts. One, the aforementioned decision is in total violation of the understanding with the federal government and Presidency. At that point of time it was clearly agreed that the president of Pakistan will sign the Regulation when peace will return to Swat. After the February 16 agreement between the provincial government and Maulana Sufi Mohammad, head of TSNM, initially cease fire was declared followed by a gradual return of peace. Now with the establishment of a comparatively peaceful situation we owe it to the people of Malakand to give them Nizam-e-Adl.
Decision to fulfill our commitment. the provincial government has already sent the draft regulation to the presidency through governor of the province. Two, we were also disappointed by the fact that the federal government or Pakistan Peoples Party did not deem it fit to take ANP in confidence before making this decision public. We learnt about it through media. We are part of the coalition government and our two parties are supposed to be in a political alliance. Keeping ANP and provincial government in dark about such an important decision in which we as the elected representatives of the people of Pakhtunkhwa are the main stake holders can not be justified on any ground. Three, already precious time has been wasted in signing the Nizam-e-Adle Regulation and only further delay can undermine the peace process and God forbid if violence erupts again in Malakand Division it will lead to a catastrophe in our region.
We are not opposed to taking every piece of legislation to the parliament. As a matter of principle we are in favour of amending the constitution for enabling the parliament to legislate for both PATA and FATA. But in the present case time is of the essence and the constitution permits the President of Pakistan to sign the Regulation. Therefore we demand that Nizam-e-Adle Regulation should be signed by the President of Pakistan on urgent basis. We also request our party leadership to reconsider the decision to remain part of the coalition government in case of further delay in signing the law since it involves the supreme interest of the people of the province. We assure the people of the province in general and of the Malakand Division in particular that ANP will stand firmly for their right to live in peace and shall go to any extent for this cause.
We had consulted all the political parties in the province. We shall take them into confidence about the latest development in the hear further. We repose full confidence in our leader Asfandyar Wali Khan and give him full authority to take the final decision.
A meeting of consultative committee of Awami National Party was held in Chief Ministers House yesterday. The meeting was presided over by Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, the acting Central President of Awami Natiional Party.
In an in-depth and detailed discussion the meeting took stock of the situation emerging out of the decision of the federal government to send Nizam-e-Adl Regulation to parliament. At the end of discussion the consultative committee passed the following resolution “-
“Awami National Party is disappointed at the decision of the federal government to send the Malakand Nizam-e-Adle Regulation to parliament on many
“Awami National Party is disappointed at the decision of the federal government to send the Malakand Nizam-e-Adle Regulation to parliament on many courts.
One, the aforementioned decision is in total violation of the understanding with the federal government and Presidency. At that point of time it was clearly agreed that the president of Pakistan will sign the Regulation when peace will return to Swat. After the February 16 agreement between the provincial government and Maulana Sufi Mohammad, head of TSNM, initially cease fire was declared followed by a gradual return of peace. Now with the establishment of a comparatively peaceful situation we owe it to the people of Malakand to give them Nizam-e-Adl.
Decision to fulfill our commitment. the provincial government has already sent the draft regulation to the presidency through governor of the province.
Two, we were also disappointed by the fact that the federal government or Pakistan Peoples Party did not deem it fit to take ANP in confidence before making this decision public. We learnt about it through media. We are part of the coalition government and our two parties are supposed to be in a political alliance. Keeping ANP and provincial government in dark about such an important decision in which we as the elected representatives of the people of Pakhtunkhwa are the main stake holders can not be justified on any ground.
Three, already precious time has been wasted in signing the Nizam-e-Adle Regulation and only further delay can undermine the peace process and God forbid if violence erupts again in Malakand Division it will lead to a catastrophe in our region.
We are not opposed to taking every piece of legislation to the parliament. As a matter of principle we are in favour of amending the constitution for enabling the parliament to legislate for both PATA and FATA. But in the present case time is of the essence and the constitution permits the President of Pakistan to sign the Regulation.
Therefore we demand that Nizam-e-Adle Regulation should be signed by the President of Pakistan on urgent basis. We also request our party leadership to reconsider the decision to remain part of the coalition government in case of further delay in signing the law since it involves the supreme interest of the people of the province. We assure the people of the province in general and of the Malakand Division in particular that ANP will stand firmly for their right to live in peace and shall go to any extent for this cause.
We had consulted all the political parties in the province. We shall take them into confidence about the latest development in the hear further. We repose full confidence in our leader Asfandyar Wali Khan and give him full authority to take the final decision
courts. One, the aforementioned decision is in total violation of the understanding with the federal government and Presidency. At that point of time it was clearly agreed that the president of Pakistan will sign the Regulation when peace will return to Swat. After the February 16 agreement between the provincial government and Maulana Sufi Mohammad, head of TSNM, initially cease fire was declared followed by a gradual return of peace. Now with the establishment of a comparatively peaceful situation we owe it to the people of Malakand to give them Nizam-e-Adl.
Decision to fulfill our commitment. the provincial government has already sent the draft regulation to the presidency through governor of the province. Two, we were also disappointed by the fact that the federal government or Pakistan Peoples Party did not deem it fit to take ANP in confidence before making this decision public. We learnt about it through media. We are part of the coalition government and our two parties are supposed to be in a political alliance. Keeping ANP and provincial government in dark about such an important decision in which we as the elected representatives of the people of Pakhtunkhwa are the main stake holders can not be justified on any ground. Three, already precious time has been wasted in signing the Nizam-e-Adle Regulation and only further delay can undermine the peace process and God forbid if violence erupts again in Malakand Division it will lead to a catastrophe in our region.
We are not opposed to taking every piece of legislation to the parliament. As a matter of principle we are in favour of amending the constitution for enabling the parliament to legislate for both PATA and FATA. But in the present case time is of the essence and the constitution permits the President of Pakistan to sign the Regulation. Therefore we demand that Nizam-e-Adle Regulation should be signed by the President of Pakistan on urgent basis. We also request our party leadership to reconsider the decision to remain part of the coalition government in case of further delay in signing the law since it involves the supreme interest of the people of the province. We assure the people of the province in general and of the Malakand Division in particular that ANP will stand firmly for their right to live in peace and shall go to any extent for this cause.
We had consulted all the political parties in the province. We shall take them into confidence about the latest development in the hear further. We repose full confidence in our leader Asfandyar Wali Khan and give him full authority to take the final decision.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Swat: What are the Solutions?Zia Ur Rehman
Source:Pakhtu,Yahoogroups Discussion forum.
I think we feel easy to criticize the ANP-led provincial government but hesitate
to give them an alternative solution. Despite all the blunders, political
leadership and organistional lacking and policies, we should appreciate the
mandate of people of Swat which they gave to ANP in general elections held on
Feb 18th last year on only the slogan of recovery of peace in the area. They
received the Talibanisatin and terrorism on the peak in inheritance by former
MMA government about which is clear that MMA, esp Jammat Islami and JUI-F is
equally responsible to make Swat a safe heaven of Taliban on the behest of then
dictator ruler Musharaf. Leaving the past, ANP government started to deal with
situation but they failed. In the beginning, they made directly a truce with
Maulana Fazlullah’s team in very haste, ignoring all the stakeholders of the
society, opposing parties and even ANP lawmakers from Swat which resulted the
failure of the truce. Then they
tried to solve this problem through a military operation but we saw the
military has played a dual role, strengthen Taliban and targeted the civilian
population instead of targeting the hideout of Taliban which resulted a mass
anger against the military and provincial government and sympathy for Taliban.
Massacre of the commoners was going on by the both the military and the Taliban
in Swat. Human rights violations were on the peak by both parties. A huge
pressure from the people of Swat came forward on the provincial government to
stop the shame military operation and impose Sharia rule so that this mess could
go to an end. They started to negotiate with Taliban by putting also Sufi
Muhammad’s TNSM in this process. After consultation with all opposition
parties, including both factions of People Party and Muslim League, JUI-F, PkMAP
and others, the Swat Qaumi Aman Jirga, the local legislators, the President and
PM, Military head, and ambassadors of
USA and the Britain, they again made a truce with Taliban and enforced a Qazi
court system replacing the magistrates. According to the truce, the Taliban
prisoners made freed. After the truce, we see a thing that there is a situation
of calm in the valley comparatively. No a bloody mishap or suicide attack
happened. schools, bazaars and hospital opened . Personally I have many
reservations on this truce as Taliban are still patrolling, there is no
government writ in different areas of Swat and so on, but the truce was the key
demand of the inhabitants of the valley which I also respect. They need the
peace whaterver it is on temporality basis.
آ
I have many things to criticize the ANP government on the truce but nothing to
give them a solution of this problem so I think it is better for all of us to
give an alternate solution. Some circles are demanding ANP to quit the
government. Okay, they will resign, what will be happen? religious parties or
PPP come to the power? are they will solve the problem? or the resignaiton of
ANP from governmnte is the solution.
like Asfandyar, I am also searching the
solution....................................of the issue.
آ
Ziaآ Ur Rehmanآ
I think we feel easy to criticize the ANP-led provincial government but hesitate
to give them an alternative solution. Despite all the blunders, political
leadership and organistional lacking and policies, we should appreciate the
mandate of people of Swat which they gave to ANP in general elections held on
Feb 18th last year on only the slogan of recovery of peace in the area. They
received the Talibanisatin and terrorism on the peak in inheritance by former
MMA government about which is clear that MMA, esp Jammat Islami and JUI-F is
equally responsible to make Swat a safe heaven of Taliban on the behest of then
dictator ruler Musharaf. Leaving the past, ANP government started to deal with
situation but they failed. In the beginning, they made directly a truce with
Maulana Fazlullah’s team in very haste, ignoring all the stakeholders of the
society, opposing parties and even ANP lawmakers from Swat which resulted the
failure of the truce. Then they
tried to solve this problem through a military operation but we saw the
military has played a dual role, strengthen Taliban and targeted the civilian
population instead of targeting the hideout of Taliban which resulted a mass
anger against the military and provincial government and sympathy for Taliban.
Massacre of the commoners was going on by the both the military and the Taliban
in Swat. Human rights violations were on the peak by both parties. A huge
pressure from the people of Swat came forward on the provincial government to
stop the shame military operation and impose Sharia rule so that this mess could
go to an end. They started to negotiate with Taliban by putting also Sufi
Muhammad’s TNSM in this process. After consultation with all opposition
parties, including both factions of People Party and Muslim League, JUI-F, PkMAP
and others, the Swat Qaumi Aman Jirga, the local legislators, the President and
PM, Military head, and ambassadors of
USA and the Britain, they again made a truce with Taliban and enforced a Qazi
court system replacing the magistrates. According to the truce, the Taliban
prisoners made freed. After the truce, we see a thing that there is a situation
of calm in the valley comparatively. No a bloody mishap or suicide attack
happened. schools, bazaars and hospital opened . Personally I have many
reservations on this truce as Taliban are still patrolling, there is no
government writ in different areas of Swat and so on, but the truce was the key
demand of the inhabitants of the valley which I also respect. They need the
peace whaterver it is on temporality basis.
آ
I have many things to criticize the ANP government on the truce but nothing to
give them a solution of this problem so I think it is better for all of us to
give an alternate solution. Some circles are demanding ANP to quit the
government. Okay, they will resign, what will be happen? religious parties or
PPP come to the power? are they will solve the problem? or the resignaiton of
ANP from governmnte is the solution.
like Asfandyar, I am also searching the
solution....................................of the issue.
آ
Ziaآ Ur Rehmanآ
Friday, April 10, 2009
Pashtu Literature:Reference on Dr. Sahib Shah Sabir
Reference on Dr. Sahib Shah Sabir
Report by Muhammad Arif, Roohul Amin
http://www.airra.org/meeting/Referen...ShahSabir.html
pictures
http://www.airra.org/meeting/sabirshah.html
Report by Muhammad Arif, Roohul Amin
http://www.airra.org/meeting/Referen...ShahSabir.html
pictures
http://www.airra.org/meeting/sabirshah.html
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Swat Girl Video by Samar Minallah
Swat Girl Video by Samar Minallah
Khan Baba
Khyberwatch.com
The horrible, reprehensible and shocking video of lashing a 17 years girl in Kabal (Swat), produced by Samar Minallah, has been condemned throughout the country.
It is worth mentioning that as per Muslim Khan (Taliban representative) the incident occurred 10 months back. When Samar Minallah was asked about the time of incident, she initially gloss over the question. When she was asked again, then she didn’t give the time of incident. Now how it is possible that she got the video but didn’t ask the date of incident.
In fact, many like Samar Minallah are against the peace deal in Swat right from day one. However, Samar Minallah very cleverly chooses the right time to release the video. As she was rewarded by USA for her human right efforts and now she wanted to reciprocate US by releasing the video when any such issue was required for USA agenda.
The worth of Samar Minallah is not less than those Taliban who committed the crime. She never spoke even once about the miseries of Swatians, she didn’t ask US to help the poor and miseries stricken people of Swat but she came forward to release a shocking video and disgraced that young girl in the entire world.
Shame on Samar Ninallah, Tahira Abdullah and all those who are trying their earnest to sabotage peace in Swat and bring back the same barbarism in Swat.
A more detailed hot discussion:
http://www.khyberwatch.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6450
Khan Baba
Khyberwatch.com
The horrible, reprehensible and shocking video of lashing a 17 years girl in Kabal (Swat), produced by Samar Minallah, has been condemned throughout the country.
It is worth mentioning that as per Muslim Khan (Taliban representative) the incident occurred 10 months back. When Samar Minallah was asked about the time of incident, she initially gloss over the question. When she was asked again, then she didn’t give the time of incident. Now how it is possible that she got the video but didn’t ask the date of incident.
In fact, many like Samar Minallah are against the peace deal in Swat right from day one. However, Samar Minallah very cleverly chooses the right time to release the video. As she was rewarded by USA for her human right efforts and now she wanted to reciprocate US by releasing the video when any such issue was required for USA agenda.
The worth of Samar Minallah is not less than those Taliban who committed the crime. She never spoke even once about the miseries of Swatians, she didn’t ask US to help the poor and miseries stricken people of Swat but she came forward to release a shocking video and disgraced that young girl in the entire world.
Shame on Samar Ninallah, Tahira Abdullah and all those who are trying their earnest to sabotage peace in Swat and bring back the same barbarism in Swat.
A more detailed hot discussion:
http://www.khyberwatch.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6450
Why Samar Minallah trying to sabotage Swat peace process?
Retrieved from: www.Chowrangi.com
Why a five/six month old incidence of flogging a woman has been now publicized by Samar Minallah, and later widely circulated around the world. It is learnt that recording from a phone camera of above event was sold to international brokers, a lottery for Samar Minallah to earn hundred thousand dollars and free publicity.
Punishment to woman was Islamic or non-Islamic; it is duty of courts and clergy to comment on the matter. Distribution and publicity of above event on such a large scale around the world have political ambitions rather human rights or women protection concerns. If you pick today’s newspaper the statements of a particular group is witness to the fact that this political drama is based on sectarian abhorrence.
Minallah family is known crony of Musharraf and poses as die hard lover of Bhutto and Peoples Party. In the present circumstances when Athar Minallah played a role in restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, he and Aitzaz Ahsan were responsible for sending CJ to the Zardari house, which was widely criticized throughout Pakistan. It is presumed that Hamid Mir of GEO TV is aware of whole conspiracy to sabotage Swat peace agreement, and he tried to give feelers about this on his Capital talk TV show.
It is assumed that some elements want to disrupt peace agreement of Swat area, as it is in final course of action and lying on the table of Zardari for signature. Moreover since Americans have announced USD 1.5 billion annual stipends; briskness of expected beneficiaries is on highest altitude to pose them warriors or crusaders, who are dictating Pakistan army to join civil war.
Since last few months lots of human rights abuses have been reported by media but Samar Minallah did not bother to came forward and comment on any of events such as:
Israr ullah Zehri appointed as minister in PPP’s government
Mir Hazar Khan Bajarani appointed as Minister of Education by PPP.
Abdul Qayyum Jatoi was caught red handed at Cat House Islamabad, later appointed as minister by PPP.
Altaf Hussain kicked out his wife from his home; later goons of MQM deprived her from rights and legal proceedings.
Legislation has been passed in Afghanistan denying right of Shia women by Hamid Karazai.
Pakistan army has brutally murdered hundreds of women and children with the help of air strikes and canons in Swat and FATA areas.
NATO is regularly killing women and children through drone attacks.
Hundreds of girls of Jamia Hafsa were brutally murdered, kidnapped and humiliated by Pakistan army.
Pakistan army, Frontier Forces still have occupied dozens of schools in war torn areas, but no one has courage to point out that why security forces are sitting in schools. And whenever Taliban attacks on those schools then a different picture is presented.
At Peshawar today anybody can visit and see “Heera Mandi Street”, no Taliban or Al Qaida ever attacked there nor did Samar Minallah ever help prostitutes to adopt any other profession. NWFP has largest market of male Prostitutes as well; titles of some of the sex business are so vulgar that peoples avoid quoting them. Crying on the name of Women protection is a political drama or means to receive aid from overseas countries.
There are so much hue and cries for polio vaccination, question is why Musharraf awarded such contracts to Agha Khanis? and why whole education system was handed over to Agha Khan School Board. All privatized tourism hotels have been awarded to them and even 99.9% five star hotels is owned by that group. On other hand Karakoram State and Agha Khan State is in pipe line. That was the only reason that Idi Amin kicked them out from Uganda.
All above are a few examples excluding Aafia Siddiqui case and many women who have been involved in terrorism related cases by agencies. In the month of March Zardari was involved in allowing security agencies to jump in to homes with the help of ladders to crush lawyer’s movement. It is on record that security agencies brutally humiliated protesters including women during entire movement of restoration of justice.
Athar Minallah who was crony of Musharraf and minister in his cabinet want to fail ANP government for the sake of making room for PPP. Question is why Minallah family now abruptly started to broadcast on TV channels that Swat peace agreement has been failed and condition is for worst then civil war times? Additionally Army should continue to fight in those areas and so many other pessimistic theories could be witnessed on TV channels and papers.
Nasr Minallah who served Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as a civil servant later he was ill-treated by General Zia ul Haq due to his contacts with Bhutto. After death his wife Bilqis became MNA. They have four children Athar, Fauzia, Akmal and Samar. Their close relative, Justice Safdar Shah, was the Supreme Court judge who wrote a judgment declaring Bhutto innocent of the crime for which he was ultimately hanged (a 4 to 3 majority vote in the Supreme Court).
Athar Minallah poses that he is a lover of Z A Bhutto but why he worked as a Minister in Musharraf Government. His story of participation in lawyer’s movement is well known. Samar Minallah is his sister who claimed to be living in Swat since last two years but neither Taliban touched her nor Al Qaeda.
There is a strong group of Afghan Northern alliance in Islamabad, who have established an Aryana Institute for Regional Research and Advocacy (AIRRA) at Islamabad funded by anti-Pakistan quarters. Their major aims and ambitions include keeping Pakistan army busy in civil war. Majority of communists and cronies of India and Russia are sitting in Islamabad for spying on Pakistan. Their office is established in a large palace at a posh area of Islamabad. Farhat Taj Andersen is their spokes person, who is a Christian convert and based at Oslo. She is a great friend of Jang group and Salman Taseer media group who usually publish her poisonous sermons based on hatred and fascist theories.
People of Pakistan are watching helplessly to observe maneuvers of politicians, army and bureaucracy. They were asked to pray for peace during civil war. Now when peace has returned to the area anarchists, fascists and groups surviving on the stipend of imperialists are trying hard to interrupt whole peace process. Restoration of judiciary which left a soft impression on global level has now been tactfully sabotaged by Samar Minallah. The video she has sold to overseas agencies is continuously running on all leading channels around globe.
It is certainly move of Musharraf and Zardari, who are behind Samar Minallah.
By International Professor
[Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are sole responsibility of the Author. Chowrangi assumes no liability for this.]
Why a five/six month old incidence of flogging a woman has been now publicized by Samar Minallah, and later widely circulated around the world. It is learnt that recording from a phone camera of above event was sold to international brokers, a lottery for Samar Minallah to earn hundred thousand dollars and free publicity.
Punishment to woman was Islamic or non-Islamic; it is duty of courts and clergy to comment on the matter. Distribution and publicity of above event on such a large scale around the world have political ambitions rather human rights or women protection concerns. If you pick today’s newspaper the statements of a particular group is witness to the fact that this political drama is based on sectarian abhorrence.
Minallah family is known crony of Musharraf and poses as die hard lover of Bhutto and Peoples Party. In the present circumstances when Athar Minallah played a role in restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, he and Aitzaz Ahsan were responsible for sending CJ to the Zardari house, which was widely criticized throughout Pakistan. It is presumed that Hamid Mir of GEO TV is aware of whole conspiracy to sabotage Swat peace agreement, and he tried to give feelers about this on his Capital talk TV show.
It is assumed that some elements want to disrupt peace agreement of Swat area, as it is in final course of action and lying on the table of Zardari for signature. Moreover since Americans have announced USD 1.5 billion annual stipends; briskness of expected beneficiaries is on highest altitude to pose them warriors or crusaders, who are dictating Pakistan army to join civil war.
Since last few months lots of human rights abuses have been reported by media but Samar Minallah did not bother to came forward and comment on any of events such as:
Israr ullah Zehri appointed as minister in PPP’s government
Mir Hazar Khan Bajarani appointed as Minister of Education by PPP.
Abdul Qayyum Jatoi was caught red handed at Cat House Islamabad, later appointed as minister by PPP.
Altaf Hussain kicked out his wife from his home; later goons of MQM deprived her from rights and legal proceedings.
Legislation has been passed in Afghanistan denying right of Shia women by Hamid Karazai.
Pakistan army has brutally murdered hundreds of women and children with the help of air strikes and canons in Swat and FATA areas.
NATO is regularly killing women and children through drone attacks.
Hundreds of girls of Jamia Hafsa were brutally murdered, kidnapped and humiliated by Pakistan army.
Pakistan army, Frontier Forces still have occupied dozens of schools in war torn areas, but no one has courage to point out that why security forces are sitting in schools. And whenever Taliban attacks on those schools then a different picture is presented.
At Peshawar today anybody can visit and see “Heera Mandi Street”, no Taliban or Al Qaida ever attacked there nor did Samar Minallah ever help prostitutes to adopt any other profession. NWFP has largest market of male Prostitutes as well; titles of some of the sex business are so vulgar that peoples avoid quoting them. Crying on the name of Women protection is a political drama or means to receive aid from overseas countries.
There are so much hue and cries for polio vaccination, question is why Musharraf awarded such contracts to Agha Khanis? and why whole education system was handed over to Agha Khan School Board. All privatized tourism hotels have been awarded to them and even 99.9% five star hotels is owned by that group. On other hand Karakoram State and Agha Khan State is in pipe line. That was the only reason that Idi Amin kicked them out from Uganda.
All above are a few examples excluding Aafia Siddiqui case and many women who have been involved in terrorism related cases by agencies. In the month of March Zardari was involved in allowing security agencies to jump in to homes with the help of ladders to crush lawyer’s movement. It is on record that security agencies brutally humiliated protesters including women during entire movement of restoration of justice.
Athar Minallah who was crony of Musharraf and minister in his cabinet want to fail ANP government for the sake of making room for PPP. Question is why Minallah family now abruptly started to broadcast on TV channels that Swat peace agreement has been failed and condition is for worst then civil war times? Additionally Army should continue to fight in those areas and so many other pessimistic theories could be witnessed on TV channels and papers.
Nasr Minallah who served Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as a civil servant later he was ill-treated by General Zia ul Haq due to his contacts with Bhutto. After death his wife Bilqis became MNA. They have four children Athar, Fauzia, Akmal and Samar. Their close relative, Justice Safdar Shah, was the Supreme Court judge who wrote a judgment declaring Bhutto innocent of the crime for which he was ultimately hanged (a 4 to 3 majority vote in the Supreme Court).
Athar Minallah poses that he is a lover of Z A Bhutto but why he worked as a Minister in Musharraf Government. His story of participation in lawyer’s movement is well known. Samar Minallah is his sister who claimed to be living in Swat since last two years but neither Taliban touched her nor Al Qaeda.
There is a strong group of Afghan Northern alliance in Islamabad, who have established an Aryana Institute for Regional Research and Advocacy (AIRRA) at Islamabad funded by anti-Pakistan quarters. Their major aims and ambitions include keeping Pakistan army busy in civil war. Majority of communists and cronies of India and Russia are sitting in Islamabad for spying on Pakistan. Their office is established in a large palace at a posh area of Islamabad. Farhat Taj Andersen is their spokes person, who is a Christian convert and based at Oslo. She is a great friend of Jang group and Salman Taseer media group who usually publish her poisonous sermons based on hatred and fascist theories.
People of Pakistan are watching helplessly to observe maneuvers of politicians, army and bureaucracy. They were asked to pray for peace during civil war. Now when peace has returned to the area anarchists, fascists and groups surviving on the stipend of imperialists are trying hard to interrupt whole peace process. Restoration of judiciary which left a soft impression on global level has now been tactfully sabotaged by Samar Minallah. The video she has sold to overseas agencies is continuously running on all leading channels around globe.
It is certainly move of Musharraf and Zardari, who are behind Samar Minallah.
By International Professor
[Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are sole responsibility of the Author. Chowrangi assumes no liability for this.]
Monday, April 06, 2009
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
New book on Ghani Khan published
New book on Ghani Khan published
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
KW news
PESHAWAR: Qalam Taqat Literary Society has published a new book about the literary achievements of Ghani Khan, the legendary Pashtun poet and phosphor. It is titled as "Ghani Khan- Da Pukhto Adab da Shalami Sadai Shakhsiat".
It is a thesis by late Fazli Ghani Ghani, the eminent Pashtun writer who was killed when a suicide bomber targeted the house of Asfandyar Wali Khan on October 2, 2008.
Since his college days Fazli Ghani Ghani (Shaheed) was greatly inspired by Ghani Khan's life and works. Being an enlightened nationalist himself Fazli Ghani Ghani always appreciated Ghani Khan's nationalistic fervor, his ecstatic poetry and his deep philosophical thought. A time came that the two Ghanis' found themselves in a stronger bond of mutual trust and friendship.
He was a regular visitor of Ghani Khan's study room where they would sit for hours and would resolve issues of an unseen world.
Based on his interviews with Ghani Khan, the writer delves deep into Ghani Khan's works and discovers him from quite new and refreshing angles. He discusses Ghani Khan's themes of love, Beauty, Truth and Death with the mastery of a prolific writer and seasoned critic.
Many other wrote about Ghani Khan's literary achievements and they wrote pretty well but this thesis written by one of Ghani Khan's most trusted lovers is totally different in its approaches and content. Fazli Ghani Ghani don't rely on accounts written by other people but he himself observes Ghani Khan from a very close angle, talking and laughing with him, learning from him and asking him why is he so different from others?
Literary circles have applauded Azad Hashtnaghri for publishing this original and refreshing thesis by his uncle Fazli Ghani Ghani (Shaheed) that discovers Ghani Khan in his true artistic and philosophical colours.
The book is available from all good book shops in the city.
The News International added;
The book spanning 115 pages is available for Rs100.
Since his college days, Fazli Ghani Ghani (Shaheed) was greatly inspired by Ghani Khan’s life and works. Being an enlightened nationalist himself, Fazli Ghani Ghani always appreciated Ghani Khan’s nationalistic fervour, his ecstatic poetry and his deep philosophical thought. A time came that the two Ghanis found themselves in a stronger bond of mutual trust and friendship. He was a regular visitor to Ghani Khan’s study room where they would sit for hours.
Based on his interviews with Ghani Khan, the writer delves deep into Ghani Khan’s works and discovers him from quite new and refreshing angles. He discusses Ghani Khan’s themes of love, beauty, truth and death with the mastery of a prolific writer and seasoned critic.
Many others wrote about Ghani Khan’s literary achievements and they wrote pretty well but this thesis written by one of Ghani Khan’s most trusted fan is totally different in its approach and contents.
Fazli Ghani Ghani does not rely on accounts written by other people but he himself observes Ghani Khan from a very close angle, talking and laughing with him, learning from him and asking him why is he so different from others?
Literary circles have applauded Azad Hashtnagri for publishing this original and refreshing thesis by his uncle Fazli Ghani Ghani (Shaheed) that discovers Ghani Khan in his true artistic and philosophical colours.
Social and Environmental Impact of Hujra
Social and Environmental Impact of Hujra
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Mughal B. Khan
Government. College of Technology Mingora Swat.
Abdul R. Ghumman
Department of Civil Engineering UET Taxilla.
Hashim N. Hashmi
Department of Civil Engineering UET Taxilla.
The main aim of this paper is to identify the social and environmental impacts of the fall (change) of the hujra culture. Hujra in Swat, Pakistan has been taken as a case study. Its impacts on eco-neighborhood, controlling health hazards, water pollution and disasters have been investigated. These may be beneficial for planners, sociologists and environmentalists. The means adapted in the study include literature review, web search and survey through open-ended questionnaires, field visits and interviews. The study area was divided into various zones. Eleven communities have been studied in different social units. Different age groups and professionals have been included in the survey to know about different views and information. It is concluded that hujra culture used to have more positive and less negative impacts on various aspects of life of people in Swat. aspects of life of people in Swat.
Complete Article:http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/env.2008.0540
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Mughal B. Khan
Government. College of Technology Mingora Swat.
Abdul R. Ghumman
Department of Civil Engineering UET Taxilla.
Hashim N. Hashmi
Department of Civil Engineering UET Taxilla.
The main aim of this paper is to identify the social and environmental impacts of the fall (change) of the hujra culture. Hujra in Swat, Pakistan has been taken as a case study. Its impacts on eco-neighborhood, controlling health hazards, water pollution and disasters have been investigated. These may be beneficial for planners, sociologists and environmentalists. The means adapted in the study include literature review, web search and survey through open-ended questionnaires, field visits and interviews. The study area was divided into various zones. Eleven communities have been studied in different social units. Different age groups and professionals have been included in the survey to know about different views and information. It is concluded that hujra culture used to have more positive and less negative impacts on various aspects of life of people in Swat. aspects of life of people in Swat.
Complete Article:http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/env.2008.0540
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Nonviolent Philosophy of Bacha Khan, Today and Tomorrow
khyberwatch News
Pakhtoon Thinkers Forum is a Karachi-based Pakhtoon political group which is working on the issues facing by Pakhtoon living in Karachi. PTF always played its vital role in the political arena of Karachi to address and raise the voice on Pakhtun issues by organizing seminars, gatherings, protest, art seminars and Mushairas.
Now we are addressing the seminar entitled “The Nonviolent Philosophy of Bacha Khan, Today and Tomorrow” in the context of the prevailing ongoing Genocide of Pakhtoon in the region in general and threats facing by Pakhtuns in Karachi. We are providing an opportunity to leaders of all partiers to set together in order to discuss and find out a political solution of the problems facing by Pakhtuns.
Program is scheduled as:
When: 4 pm, March 8th, 2009, Sunday
Where: PMA House, Off M.A Jinnah Road, Karachi
Main Speakers;
Dr. Farooq Sattar
Mir Hasil Bezanjo
Nafees Ahmad Siddiqui
Parveen Malal
Salahuddin Gandapoor
Dr. Jabbar Khattak
Dr. Haider Lasharie
You are cordially invited to participate in the program.
Love and Peace
Muhammad Arshad Khan (MAK)
Pakhtoon Thinkers Forum, Karachi
pukhtoonthinkersforum@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Pakhtoon Thinkers Forum is a Karachi-based Pakhtoon political group which is working on the issues facing by Pakhtoon living in Karachi. PTF always played its vital role in the political arena of Karachi to address and raise the voice on Pakhtun issues by organizing seminars, gatherings, protest, art seminars and Mushairas.
Now we are addressing the seminar entitled “The Nonviolent Philosophy of Bacha Khan, Today and Tomorrow” in the context of the prevailing ongoing Genocide of Pakhtoon in the region in general and threats facing by Pakhtuns in Karachi. We are providing an opportunity to leaders of all partiers to set together in order to discuss and find out a political solution of the problems facing by Pakhtuns.
Program is scheduled as:
When: 4 pm, March 8th, 2009, Sunday
Where: PMA House, Off M.A Jinnah Road, Karachi
Main Speakers;
Dr. Farooq Sattar
Mir Hasil Bezanjo
Nafees Ahmad Siddiqui
Parveen Malal
Salahuddin Gandapoor
Dr. Jabbar Khattak
Dr. Haider Lasharie
You are cordially invited to participate in the program.
Love and Peace
Muhammad Arshad Khan (MAK)
Pakhtoon Thinkers Forum, Karachi
pukhtoonthinkersforum@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
FATA is beyond my domain. CM Pakhtunkhwa
KhyberWatch News
Chief Minister Ameer Haidar Khan Hoti has said that his government will spare no efforts for the enforcement of Nizam-e Adl Regulation, establishment of government’s writ, rehabilitation of the affectees and distribution of payments and reconstruction in Swat. "Swat, Hangu and Dera Ismael Khan are injured parts of my body and to take care of it is my top most responsibility".
Nations are tested and face challenges but alive nations face these challenges generously and appear triumphant. Nizam-e-Adl is the just demand and right of the people of Malakand and for its fulfillment government has taken practical and sincere steps. All the political forces, Ulemas and civil society must assist the government in making these efforts successful. He expressed these views during a forum with BBC Urdu service. On the occasion representatives of people from all section of district Swat, students and senior journalists were also present.
The chief minister reject the perception that the peace accord took place of someone pressure and clarified that Nizam-e Adl Regulation 2009 will be enforced in Malakand Division and peaceful districts of Chitral and Kohistan. Purpose of the accord is to provide system of speedy justice to the people available to them during the reign of Walai Swat. After the affiliation of the state with Pakistan, space occurred people were not able to comply with the slow system for providing of justice to them. Later twice efforts were taken for the enforcement of Adl Regulation but due to no practical steps dismay and consternation produced among the people. He said that some people raise arms for this purpose.
The chief minister said that after the enforcement of Nizam-e Adl Regulation they have left with no justification of raising arms. After this those people who have raised arms, will left that are stick to an agenda for destabilization of the region.
“Their agenda is consternation and lawlessness and not peace. The government and the society must collectively fight such handful elements. Every one has the right of criticism for the sake of betterment but there is no justification for criticism for the sake of criticism. Successful implementation of Nizam-e Adl Regulation is the government and civil society’s responsibility.” he asserted.
He said that the President of Pakistan will sign the Adl Regulation by the grace of God in a few days and will be implemented soon.
The chief minister said: “Judicial officers will be appointed by the provincial government and will be provided training for this purpose. Soon a workshop of judicial officers will be conducted in Swat in which prominent religious scholars will be invited.”
The chief minister on a question of practical implementation of the accord said that the provincial government is sincere and committed for the restoration of peace, establishment of government’s writ and practical implementation of Nizam-e Adl Regulation.
He lauded the bravery and courage of the people of Swat who haven’t left patience in such long challenging circumstances.
He clarified that the government has made resolution with peace loving religious scholar Maulana Sufi Muhammad and the people of Swat and will follow it.
To a question on situations in Bajaur and FATA Ameer Haidar Khan Hoti said that FATA is beyond his domain however being a Pakhtoon he will play his role positively in these regions as well. He said that peace and stability in Afghanistan, FATA and in the province are inter-linked.
“Peace is not a problem of a single part but is a collective problem of the whole region and every need to play its role positively for its solution.” he maintained.
On the attack on the shrine of great Pashto poet Rahman Baba the other day the chief minister said that attacking the shrine of rector of love, peace and brotherhood Sufi poet is a highly condemnable act.
The chief minister on the occasion also answered queries of the attendees.
The chief minister expressed the hope that journey of the people of Malakand Division particularly of Swat has started from darkness towards brightness and Inshallah every passing day will be more lighted and bright.
Lahore Attacks: Mumbai Deja Vu
Shaheryar Ali
http://sherryx.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/lahore-attacks-mumbai-deja-vu/
Today in Lahore the Sri Lankan cricket team was ambushed by a dozen or so Jihadi terrorists. Pakistan TV showed footage of gunmen with rifles and back packs running in the streets of Lahore and firing indiscriminately. The Jihadis were armed with AK 47, hand grenades, rockets and rocket launchers.
The convoy was ambushed as it slowed down at a traffic circle near Lahore’s Qadafi Stadium. The Sri lankan sports minister stated that 5 players and their coach were injured in the attack. All of them remain out of danger. Spokesman for Punjab police acknowledged death of 5 police men in the attack.
Lahore attacks
It has also been reported that the Jihadis threw a grenade under the bus which fortunately failed to detonate otherwise the guest team would have been blown up. The Lahore attack in its operative mechanics looks remarkably similar to Mumbai attacks. The terrorists looked much trained. Those who have studied these attacks in detail can tell that it had the signature marks of LeT. The ISI controlled Wahabi group based in Muridkay Punjab.
The administrative head of the Punjab Governor Salman Taseer stated, “One thing I want to say, it’s the same pattern, the same terrorists who attacked Mumbai”. While the governor is saying what’s obvious but it’s not that simple. Who were the real attackers of Mumbai? , Governor Taseer knows better than what he has publicly stated. LeT is an ISI proxy; it was made, trained and funded by Pakistani agencies. When Pakistan joined United State’s War on Terror, LeT was protected from United States assaults by banning it and allowing it to operate with another name “Jammatuddawa”. When Mumbai attacks took place, it was clearly visible who was responsible for these attacks, the facts spoke for them but Pakistani establishment adopted a policy of denial.
Carnage
We than wrote on this politics of denial and how it has resulted in the current crisis of Pakistan. We were abused and ridiculed not only by Islamists but also by the pseudo-secular self proclaimed vanguards of Pakistani patriotism. We had written than that the democratic regime of Pakistan is a virtual hostage of Pakistani establishment, which does these sorts of acts to increase pressure on it. A virulent anti-India line was taken under cloak of supporting the “democratic Pakistani regime”. In our article “Pakistan at cross-roads: Democracy, Terror and Politics of Denial”, we had written:
“With a country in democratic transition, we often forget that policies of post-colonial states especially those like Pakistan which had taken Neo-fascist turn some time in their history [Zia era], cannot be reversed in few months. It needs a structural reform within the state itself. With a few months of PPP-ANP coalition such a structural reform has not yet occurred. Attempts to do such reform have been severely criticized by dominant classes in Pakistan and hence have to be abandoned. Attempts by PPP to bring ISI under political control were converted into a scandal by corporate media and its allies. Similar campaign is going on with the Pakhtoonkhawa issue where Right wing has openly come up in arms against government. These two issues represent the core issues when it comes to challenge the oligarchy. ISI has been blamed by almost all political forces in Pakistan for its attempts to control democracy and for spreading Jihad———In all this patriotic discourse, what we are forgetting is that it’s Pakistan not India which has more at stake. The first victim of this sort of patriotism, which subscribes to values of Oligarchy and its State and not to the values of people, will be democracy in Pakistan and this time the state, may not recover from its consequences. When Mr Manmohan Singh talks about “certain elements within Pakistan” being responsible for the attacks we are fast to condemn it. But are we that naive or suffering from collective amnesia. Have we forgotten that our agencies along with CIA supported insurgency in a country against a government which we recognized as legal government and had diplomatic ties with? For all the period of Afghan Jihad, our government at all international forums shamelessly maintained that Pakistan is “not interfering” in Afghanistan and our support is strictly moral and humanitarian in nature. Then any one who tried to warn oligarchy against it was termed as a “soviet agent” or “RAW agent”. Did our denial do us any good?—— Most of these organizations were allowed to operate by different names in General Musharraf’s time but were they were destroyed? Have Mureedke and Mansoora been shut down? Hafiz Saeed and Molana Masood Azhar serving time in prisons?” The article can be reached here
When I wrote this article most self proclaimed secularists were busy lecturing India and mocking Ajmal Kasab’s story, such was their contempt and self righteousness that they couldn’t find “Faridkot” on map of Pakistan. Within the few days Faridkot was on world’s map and lies of Pakistani establishment and so called patriots became a joke in International politics. Now Steve Cole, the Pulitzer Prize winner and famous investigative journalist has written an article in the prestigious New Yorker magazine. The article basically is about the “back channel” diplomacy between India and Pakistan which resulted in a near settlement of Kashmir dispute during General Musharraf. This brilliant expose confirms the position which we have long been taking that Pakistani establishment and ISI is using terrorism for gaining certain political and strategic objectives. One such objective is to weaken Peoples Party-ANP government. Cole in his article confirms what we wrote about mistrust between PPP government and ISI and also about it involvement in Mumbai attacks
“The historical ties between Lashkar and the Pakistani security services are for the most part undisputed; one book that describes them, published in 2005 and entitled “Between Mosque and Military,” was written by Husain Haqqani, who is currently Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States.——— On July 7th, a suicide bomber rammed a car loaded with explosives into the gates of India’s Embassy in Kabul, killing fifty-four people, including the Indian defense attaché. The United States intercepted communications between active I.S.I. personnel and the Taliban-aligned network of Jalaluddin Haqqani, which is believed by U.S. military and intelligence officials to have carried out the Kabul Embassy attack. Haqqani has a long history of collaboration and contact with the I.S.I.; he was also a paid client of the Central Intelligence Agency during the late nineteen-eighties—-Pakistan’s new civilian President, Asif Zardari, had entered into his own struggle with those in the Pakistani security services who favor the jihadis and covert war against India. Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party has fought the Army for power since the late nineteen-seventies; neither institution fully trusts the other, although they have sometimes collaborated. (Some P.P.P. officials believe that the I.S.I. may have been involved in Benazir Bhutto’s murder.)Last May, Zardari tried to assert civilian control over the I.S.I. by placing it under the authority of the Interior Ministry; the Army rejected this order, and Zardari backed down. In November, speaking extemporaneously by video at a conference in New Delhi, Zardari declared that Pakistan might be willing to follow a policy of “no first use” of its nuclear weapons, a remarkable departure from past Pakistan Army doctrine. Privately, in discussions with Indian officials, Zardari affirmed his interest in picking up the back-channel negotiations . Some Indian officials and analysts interpreted Mumbai as a kind of warning from the I.S.I. to Zardari—“Zardari’s Kargil,” as some Indians put it, meaning that it was a deliberate effort by the Pakistan Army to disrupt Zardari’s peace overtures. Several Pakistani and American officials told me that Zardari is now deeply worried about his personal security”
Steve Cole, the Back Channel, New Yorker March 2009
What has to be understood that in the final year of General Musharraf , even the “cosmetic anti terror” acts became unacceptable for Islamist section of Pakistani establishment which started open revolt [series of suicide attacks on Army and certain agencies ] and started supporting anti Mush political agitation. The lawyer’s movement which started as a non political, secular protest against dictatorship was linked with Right Wing. Now this cooption is complete. The Islamist section of establishment wants PPP out and restores the glorious Islamic jihadi era of Zia and his political son Sharif. Now let’s come to Lahore attacks. I agree with Taseer that it was done by those who attacked Mumbai, though he just like Hussein Haqani cannot explain this “who”. Punjab was a safe heaven for Taliban during Shahbaz Sharif ministry who was slowly Islamizing the province; He had turned a blind eye to Talibanization in southern Punjab, Lahore and other areas. Punjab police acted 24 hours later to implementation of United Nation’s resolution of banning Jamat-ud-Dawa [front of LeT], the result was Jihadies evacuated their offices in comfort and took all the record with them. The Supreme Court’s decision ended SS’s control over Punjab. The right wing political alliance and its masters in Pakistani establishment were and are hoping to topple Zardari regime in this unrest. Unfortunately for them, PML-N failed miserably to get public support. Their agitation was limited to 3 cities in central Punjab and even there it took shape of mob violence. The call of general strike failed. Streets went silent on 2nd day and PPP was able to mobilize its workers all over the country to protest on desecration of Benazir Bhutto’s monument in Rawalpindi. Even in Lahore which is considered hub of Sharifs PPP was able to conduct a big rally. Millions were mobilized in Karachi by MQM against PML-N. Mr Shaif couldn’t bring 1/4th of this crowd in Lahore. In Saraiki Multan and Baluch Quetta , PML-N armed goons had to run away due to clashes with PPP.
With the failure of political agitation and expected failure of long march due to strong arm administrative tactics of Governor Taseer , it became critical for certain invisibles to create unrest and the good old Jihadis did the trick. Weather its LeT or some other new name, the hands behind them is same. There should be no doubt about the motives of Lahore attacks and on its responsibility after listening to Ansar Abbasai’s attacks on Salman Taseer’s administrative failure and SS’s warning about possible “RAW” attacks in Lahore. Now a rightwing and their secular patriotic counterparts will start a violent attack against India. This will further marginalize Peoples Party’s regime which will give in more to establishment’s demands. More chaos will be created and our beloved Qazi Hussein Ahmad and Nawaz Sharif both supporters of Sharia and Jihad will come to power. But I warn again that Pakistani state is so much over stretched due to organic decay and war between its different faction that it can no longer sustain this stress. Zardari may fall but Pakistan will not remain standing.
PS: With Lahore attacks every conscientious Pakistani should hold Jihadi sympathizer Imran Khan accountable for deliberately confusing the cricketing world and Pakistan by downplaying the issue of terrorism. Mr Khan declared that terrorists will not attack cricketers, Mr Khan I can just say “Shame on you”.
http://sherryx.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/lahore-attacks-mumbai-deja-vu/
Today in Lahore the Sri Lankan cricket team was ambushed by a dozen or so Jihadi terrorists. Pakistan TV showed footage of gunmen with rifles and back packs running in the streets of Lahore and firing indiscriminately. The Jihadis were armed with AK 47, hand grenades, rockets and rocket launchers.
The convoy was ambushed as it slowed down at a traffic circle near Lahore’s Qadafi Stadium. The Sri lankan sports minister stated that 5 players and their coach were injured in the attack. All of them remain out of danger. Spokesman for Punjab police acknowledged death of 5 police men in the attack.
Lahore attacks
It has also been reported that the Jihadis threw a grenade under the bus which fortunately failed to detonate otherwise the guest team would have been blown up. The Lahore attack in its operative mechanics looks remarkably similar to Mumbai attacks. The terrorists looked much trained. Those who have studied these attacks in detail can tell that it had the signature marks of LeT. The ISI controlled Wahabi group based in Muridkay Punjab.
The administrative head of the Punjab Governor Salman Taseer stated, “One thing I want to say, it’s the same pattern, the same terrorists who attacked Mumbai”. While the governor is saying what’s obvious but it’s not that simple. Who were the real attackers of Mumbai? , Governor Taseer knows better than what he has publicly stated. LeT is an ISI proxy; it was made, trained and funded by Pakistani agencies. When Pakistan joined United State’s War on Terror, LeT was protected from United States assaults by banning it and allowing it to operate with another name “Jammatuddawa”. When Mumbai attacks took place, it was clearly visible who was responsible for these attacks, the facts spoke for them but Pakistani establishment adopted a policy of denial.
Carnage
We than wrote on this politics of denial and how it has resulted in the current crisis of Pakistan. We were abused and ridiculed not only by Islamists but also by the pseudo-secular self proclaimed vanguards of Pakistani patriotism. We had written than that the democratic regime of Pakistan is a virtual hostage of Pakistani establishment, which does these sorts of acts to increase pressure on it. A virulent anti-India line was taken under cloak of supporting the “democratic Pakistani regime”. In our article “Pakistan at cross-roads: Democracy, Terror and Politics of Denial”, we had written:
“With a country in democratic transition, we often forget that policies of post-colonial states especially those like Pakistan which had taken Neo-fascist turn some time in their history [Zia era], cannot be reversed in few months. It needs a structural reform within the state itself. With a few months of PPP-ANP coalition such a structural reform has not yet occurred. Attempts to do such reform have been severely criticized by dominant classes in Pakistan and hence have to be abandoned. Attempts by PPP to bring ISI under political control were converted into a scandal by corporate media and its allies. Similar campaign is going on with the Pakhtoonkhawa issue where Right wing has openly come up in arms against government. These two issues represent the core issues when it comes to challenge the oligarchy. ISI has been blamed by almost all political forces in Pakistan for its attempts to control democracy and for spreading Jihad———In all this patriotic discourse, what we are forgetting is that it’s Pakistan not India which has more at stake. The first victim of this sort of patriotism, which subscribes to values of Oligarchy and its State and not to the values of people, will be democracy in Pakistan and this time the state, may not recover from its consequences. When Mr Manmohan Singh talks about “certain elements within Pakistan” being responsible for the attacks we are fast to condemn it. But are we that naive or suffering from collective amnesia. Have we forgotten that our agencies along with CIA supported insurgency in a country against a government which we recognized as legal government and had diplomatic ties with? For all the period of Afghan Jihad, our government at all international forums shamelessly maintained that Pakistan is “not interfering” in Afghanistan and our support is strictly moral and humanitarian in nature. Then any one who tried to warn oligarchy against it was termed as a “soviet agent” or “RAW agent”. Did our denial do us any good?—— Most of these organizations were allowed to operate by different names in General Musharraf’s time but were they were destroyed? Have Mureedke and Mansoora been shut down? Hafiz Saeed and Molana Masood Azhar serving time in prisons?” The article can be reached here
When I wrote this article most self proclaimed secularists were busy lecturing India and mocking Ajmal Kasab’s story, such was their contempt and self righteousness that they couldn’t find “Faridkot” on map of Pakistan. Within the few days Faridkot was on world’s map and lies of Pakistani establishment and so called patriots became a joke in International politics. Now Steve Cole, the Pulitzer Prize winner and famous investigative journalist has written an article in the prestigious New Yorker magazine. The article basically is about the “back channel” diplomacy between India and Pakistan which resulted in a near settlement of Kashmir dispute during General Musharraf. This brilliant expose confirms the position which we have long been taking that Pakistani establishment and ISI is using terrorism for gaining certain political and strategic objectives. One such objective is to weaken Peoples Party-ANP government. Cole in his article confirms what we wrote about mistrust between PPP government and ISI and also about it involvement in Mumbai attacks
“The historical ties between Lashkar and the Pakistani security services are for the most part undisputed; one book that describes them, published in 2005 and entitled “Between Mosque and Military,” was written by Husain Haqqani, who is currently Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States.——— On July 7th, a suicide bomber rammed a car loaded with explosives into the gates of India’s Embassy in Kabul, killing fifty-four people, including the Indian defense attaché. The United States intercepted communications between active I.S.I. personnel and the Taliban-aligned network of Jalaluddin Haqqani, which is believed by U.S. military and intelligence officials to have carried out the Kabul Embassy attack. Haqqani has a long history of collaboration and contact with the I.S.I.; he was also a paid client of the Central Intelligence Agency during the late nineteen-eighties—-Pakistan’s new civilian President, Asif Zardari, had entered into his own struggle with those in the Pakistani security services who favor the jihadis and covert war against India. Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party has fought the Army for power since the late nineteen-seventies; neither institution fully trusts the other, although they have sometimes collaborated. (Some P.P.P. officials believe that the I.S.I. may have been involved in Benazir Bhutto’s murder.)Last May, Zardari tried to assert civilian control over the I.S.I. by placing it under the authority of the Interior Ministry; the Army rejected this order, and Zardari backed down. In November, speaking extemporaneously by video at a conference in New Delhi, Zardari declared that Pakistan might be willing to follow a policy of “no first use” of its nuclear weapons, a remarkable departure from past Pakistan Army doctrine. Privately, in discussions with Indian officials, Zardari affirmed his interest in picking up the back-channel negotiations . Some Indian officials and analysts interpreted Mumbai as a kind of warning from the I.S.I. to Zardari—“Zardari’s Kargil,” as some Indians put it, meaning that it was a deliberate effort by the Pakistan Army to disrupt Zardari’s peace overtures. Several Pakistani and American officials told me that Zardari is now deeply worried about his personal security”
Steve Cole, the Back Channel, New Yorker March 2009
What has to be understood that in the final year of General Musharraf , even the “cosmetic anti terror” acts became unacceptable for Islamist section of Pakistani establishment which started open revolt [series of suicide attacks on Army and certain agencies ] and started supporting anti Mush political agitation. The lawyer’s movement which started as a non political, secular protest against dictatorship was linked with Right Wing. Now this cooption is complete. The Islamist section of establishment wants PPP out and restores the glorious Islamic jihadi era of Zia and his political son Sharif. Now let’s come to Lahore attacks. I agree with Taseer that it was done by those who attacked Mumbai, though he just like Hussein Haqani cannot explain this “who”. Punjab was a safe heaven for Taliban during Shahbaz Sharif ministry who was slowly Islamizing the province; He had turned a blind eye to Talibanization in southern Punjab, Lahore and other areas. Punjab police acted 24 hours later to implementation of United Nation’s resolution of banning Jamat-ud-Dawa [front of LeT], the result was Jihadies evacuated their offices in comfort and took all the record with them. The Supreme Court’s decision ended SS’s control over Punjab. The right wing political alliance and its masters in Pakistani establishment were and are hoping to topple Zardari regime in this unrest. Unfortunately for them, PML-N failed miserably to get public support. Their agitation was limited to 3 cities in central Punjab and even there it took shape of mob violence. The call of general strike failed. Streets went silent on 2nd day and PPP was able to mobilize its workers all over the country to protest on desecration of Benazir Bhutto’s monument in Rawalpindi. Even in Lahore which is considered hub of Sharifs PPP was able to conduct a big rally. Millions were mobilized in Karachi by MQM against PML-N. Mr Shaif couldn’t bring 1/4th of this crowd in Lahore. In Saraiki Multan and Baluch Quetta , PML-N armed goons had to run away due to clashes with PPP.
With the failure of political agitation and expected failure of long march due to strong arm administrative tactics of Governor Taseer , it became critical for certain invisibles to create unrest and the good old Jihadis did the trick. Weather its LeT or some other new name, the hands behind them is same. There should be no doubt about the motives of Lahore attacks and on its responsibility after listening to Ansar Abbasai’s attacks on Salman Taseer’s administrative failure and SS’s warning about possible “RAW” attacks in Lahore. Now a rightwing and their secular patriotic counterparts will start a violent attack against India. This will further marginalize Peoples Party’s regime which will give in more to establishment’s demands. More chaos will be created and our beloved Qazi Hussein Ahmad and Nawaz Sharif both supporters of Sharia and Jihad will come to power. But I warn again that Pakistani state is so much over stretched due to organic decay and war between its different faction that it can no longer sustain this stress. Zardari may fall but Pakistan will not remain standing.
PS: With Lahore attacks every conscientious Pakistani should hold Jihadi sympathizer Imran Khan accountable for deliberately confusing the cricketing world and Pakistan by downplaying the issue of terrorism. Mr Khan declared that terrorists will not attack cricketers, Mr Khan I can just say “Shame on you”.
Desecration of Rahman Baba’s tomb is desecration of humanity
“Desecration of Rahman Baba’s tomb is desecration of humanity”
It is a matter of national shame for Pakistan to have sunk this low. Rahman Baba (1653 -1711 AD) commands a universal following for his mystic syncretism, has now fallen prey to the cannibalistic doctrine of bigotry and intolerance.
The desecration of his resting place is a desecration of humanity. Jens Enevoldsen in a preface of translated poetry “Selections from Rahman Baba” 1977, says, “Rahman Baba, son of Abdur Sattar, belonged to Khalil Mohmand tribe bordering Peshawar. Born in Bahadur Killi, Rahman Baba was the king of love, the guide to contemplation, master of virtue and piety, the walking stick of the blind, the leader of poets, the saint of Pukhtuns and the master of simple verse”.
"Return the bad things done to you with good,
For trees are only stoned when they bear fruit;
The good man always suffers from the bad
The insects always seek the tender wood;
In every storm that heart shall stay afloat
Which carries people’s burden like a boat;
Though God may not let evil run its course,
RAHMAN must still the prayer for pardon quote”
(The Golden Rule)
Gandhara heritage which survived the Huns, Hindu Shahi, Moghal, Sikh and British periods is at mortal risk in the Islamic state of Pakistan. The buck does not stop here. The icons of sufi tradition, preaching peace and tranquility are now at the mercy of terrorists, which the Pakistani state refuses to eradicate.
The Pukhtuns need to make a national decision today as they are being systematically annihilated and their history wiped out by the salafi wahabi tradition and their bigoted gangs, to stand up and challenge the state sponsored anarchy. For the past one year, centuries old tombs and shrines have fallen victim to terrorism disguised as Taliban vigilantism.
The first victim was a 400 year old shrine of Abu Saeed Baba at Shaikan village, bordering Bara Tehsil, by L I vigilantes, besides killing many innocent civilians in March 2008. Later saboteurs bombed the revered shrine of Ashaab Baba at Mathra village. Besides, several historic shrines and worship places in the province have fallen prey to premeditated acts of terrorism. Renowned shrine of Pir Baba in Buner narrowly survived an attempted attack last December.
The ANP-PPP government prides itself on being secular, too has fallen victim to this organized annihilation of their constituencies. They stand helpless and speechless. It is time the UNESCO, UN and other world bodies come to the rescue of NWFP and investigate the organized genocide and destruction of their heritage landmarks as both the government and state, has failed to identify and take action against shady terrorist organizations.
Sarhad Conservation Network
SCN Press Release
It is a matter of national shame for Pakistan to have sunk this low. Rahman Baba (1653 -1711 AD) commands a universal following for his mystic syncretism, has now fallen prey to the cannibalistic doctrine of bigotry and intolerance.
The desecration of his resting place is a desecration of humanity. Jens Enevoldsen in a preface of translated poetry “Selections from Rahman Baba” 1977, says, “Rahman Baba, son of Abdur Sattar, belonged to Khalil Mohmand tribe bordering Peshawar. Born in Bahadur Killi, Rahman Baba was the king of love, the guide to contemplation, master of virtue and piety, the walking stick of the blind, the leader of poets, the saint of Pukhtuns and the master of simple verse”.
"Return the bad things done to you with good,
For trees are only stoned when they bear fruit;
The good man always suffers from the bad
The insects always seek the tender wood;
In every storm that heart shall stay afloat
Which carries people’s burden like a boat;
Though God may not let evil run its course,
RAHMAN must still the prayer for pardon quote”
(The Golden Rule)
Gandhara heritage which survived the Huns, Hindu Shahi, Moghal, Sikh and British periods is at mortal risk in the Islamic state of Pakistan. The buck does not stop here. The icons of sufi tradition, preaching peace and tranquility are now at the mercy of terrorists, which the Pakistani state refuses to eradicate.
The Pukhtuns need to make a national decision today as they are being systematically annihilated and their history wiped out by the salafi wahabi tradition and their bigoted gangs, to stand up and challenge the state sponsored anarchy. For the past one year, centuries old tombs and shrines have fallen victim to terrorism disguised as Taliban vigilantism.
The first victim was a 400 year old shrine of Abu Saeed Baba at Shaikan village, bordering Bara Tehsil, by L I vigilantes, besides killing many innocent civilians in March 2008. Later saboteurs bombed the revered shrine of Ashaab Baba at Mathra village. Besides, several historic shrines and worship places in the province have fallen prey to premeditated acts of terrorism. Renowned shrine of Pir Baba in Buner narrowly survived an attempted attack last December.
The ANP-PPP government prides itself on being secular, too has fallen victim to this organized annihilation of their constituencies. They stand helpless and speechless. It is time the UNESCO, UN and other world bodies come to the rescue of NWFP and investigate the organized genocide and destruction of their heritage landmarks as both the government and state, has failed to identify and take action against shady terrorist organizations.
Sarhad Conservation Network
SCN Press Release
Najib Aamir Nazam:Da Malang Pa Astana ie dazai Okrre
دملنګ په استانه یې ډزې وکړې
نجیب عامر
د رحمان په هدیره یې ډزې وکړې
دپښتون په هر کاله یې ډزې وکړې
شیطاني لښکرې څومره شوې پیاوړې
د حرم په مناره یې ډزې وکړې
پښتنې جونې په زلفو خاورې نولي
په ګودر او تناره یې ډزې وکړې
چې د ګردې پښتونخوا لپاره بس وه
په هغه لویه هجره یې ډزې وکړې
دا وجدان نه قلاریږي راته وایي
هوش کې وو که په نشه یې ډزې وکړې ؟
ټول یې پیژني ، خو شونډې یې ګنډلي
او تپوس کوي په څه یې ډزې وکړې ؟
اوس نو وچې شونډې ګرځئ افغانانو
دساقي په پیمانه یې ډزې وکړې
ستوری ستوری آسمان نشته تروږمۍ ده
د سپوږمۍ په پلوشه یې ډزې وکړې
خود کشور د افغانانو پرې ګلګون شو
چې د ګلو په غونچه یې ډزې وکړې
په دې چم به عذابونه را نازل شي
دملنګ په استانه یې ډزې وکړې
ماڼو ګانو تدبیرونه مو عبث دي
ډوبیدل دي په جاله یې ډزې وکړې
۲۰۰۹/مارچ/۵پېښور
نجیب عامر
د رحمان په هدیره یې ډزې وکړې
دپښتون په هر کاله یې ډزې وکړې
شیطاني لښکرې څومره شوې پیاوړې
د حرم په مناره یې ډزې وکړې
پښتنې جونې په زلفو خاورې نولي
په ګودر او تناره یې ډزې وکړې
چې د ګردې پښتونخوا لپاره بس وه
په هغه لویه هجره یې ډزې وکړې
دا وجدان نه قلاریږي راته وایي
هوش کې وو که په نشه یې ډزې وکړې ؟
ټول یې پیژني ، خو شونډې یې ګنډلي
او تپوس کوي په څه یې ډزې وکړې ؟
اوس نو وچې شونډې ګرځئ افغانانو
دساقي په پیمانه یې ډزې وکړې
ستوری ستوری آسمان نشته تروږمۍ ده
د سپوږمۍ په پلوشه یې ډزې وکړې
خود کشور د افغانانو پرې ګلګون شو
چې د ګلو په غونچه یې ډزې وکړې
په دې چم به عذابونه را نازل شي
دملنګ په استانه یې ډزې وکړې
ماڼو ګانو تدبیرونه مو عبث دي
ډوبیدل دي په جاله یې ډزې وکړې
۲۰۰۹/مارچ/۵پېښور
Attack on Rehman Baba is attack on Pashtun identity
Editorial: Attack on Rehman Baba is attack on Pashtun identity
Daily Times, March 7, 2009
On Thursday, terrorists from Khyber Agency blew up the mausoleum of the great poet of the Pashtun and put the state of Pakistan on notice once again about their intent against Pakistani culture. The tomb of Rehman Baba was rebuilt as a complex in 1994 and it included other tombs of great Pashtun cultural icons, such as Akhund Darweza. The Taliban had come to the mausoleum and told the devotees that saying namaz at the mosque attached to the grave was “haram”. The administration knew that a strike would take place but did nothing.
Rehman Baba (1632-1707), who appeared on a Pakistani postage stamp in 2005, is an acknowledged cultural symbol of the Pashtun and Afghan people. While Khushal Khan Khattak (1613–1689) stands together with him as a classical foil, Rehman Baba has moved the soul of the Pashtun far more. He also stands at the root of Pashtun nationalism and has been adopted in the past by all kinds of secular and conservative movements. He marks a significant phase in the development of Pashto language and his lines are often quoted spontaneously by the speakers of the language. The various schools of thought in the Sufi tradition like the Naqshbandiya, Chishtiya and Qadiriya have claimed him as their own, so great was his appeal among the masses.
In Pakistan, religious culture has been traditionally represented by the Sufi tradition. The culture of the elite, represented by painting, architecture and calligraphy, doesn’t touch the masses whose way of life is reflected more accurately in the collective celebration of Islam’s mystical heritage. The Sufi taught the people how to link their faith with their entertainment and imbue their culture with their religious belief. It is often said that many of the Muslims of the region of Pakistan were brought inside the pale of Islam by the Sufi who sang of Allah’s divinity in the music and dance he inculcated among them, composed in the classical tradition.
It is this culture of the masses that has been targeted by Talibanisation, a new faith born out of the terrorist coercion of Al Qaeda which is steeped in the anti-mystical Saudi-Wahhabi Islam. The trend towards anti-culture extremism, however, is seen across the Islamic world, much aided in the 1990s by Saudi investment in the spread of the Wahhabi faith. Pakistan’s culture has also been under assault from the Taliban who target the dominant Barelvi school of Pakistani Hanafi jurisprudence as representing the “impure” faith. In 2006, a large congregation of Barelvi clerics and leaders was suicide-bombed in Karachi where, too, scores of Barelvi mosques have been grabbed by the more powerful Deobandis.
Pakistan committed cultural suicide when it allowed a purely Deobandi jihad in Afghanistan after 1996, empowering jihadi militias increasingly under the influence of Al Qaeda. Those who planned this strategy were devoid of any sense of culture. This was helped by the fact that Pakistan’s Constitution is silent on culture, most probably because the framers, bedevilled by clashing linguistic and regional identities, were unwilling to define it. Today, the violence of terrorism is expressed through its assault on culture, on entertainment in general, on female education, and the destruction of cultural landmarks.
In Khyber Agency, the Sufi tradition was defeated and ousted by the Taliban as the state stood by and watched. The Sufi leaders fled the agency and left the field open to the extremists. In Swat, a Sufi leader was killed and later exhumed from his grave and made to hang in the city square. Without the refinement of culture, Pakistan is a rudderless society characterised by extremism. The masses are deprived of all collective celebration and are losing their male children to the Taliban as suicide-bombers. The Sindhi, whose mysticism-based culture is still intact in the interior of the province, is yet to appear as a suicide-bomber in the service of Al Qaeda. But even that could change in the face of relentless assault by the Taliban and the desperate secession of the writ of the state. *
Rahman Baba poetry:
http://www.rahmanbabadiwan.com/
English translation of Rahman Baba's Poetry
http://rahmanbaba-poetry.com/
Daily Times, March 7, 2009
On Thursday, terrorists from Khyber Agency blew up the mausoleum of the great poet of the Pashtun and put the state of Pakistan on notice once again about their intent against Pakistani culture. The tomb of Rehman Baba was rebuilt as a complex in 1994 and it included other tombs of great Pashtun cultural icons, such as Akhund Darweza. The Taliban had come to the mausoleum and told the devotees that saying namaz at the mosque attached to the grave was “haram”. The administration knew that a strike would take place but did nothing.
Rehman Baba (1632-1707), who appeared on a Pakistani postage stamp in 2005, is an acknowledged cultural symbol of the Pashtun and Afghan people. While Khushal Khan Khattak (1613–1689) stands together with him as a classical foil, Rehman Baba has moved the soul of the Pashtun far more. He also stands at the root of Pashtun nationalism and has been adopted in the past by all kinds of secular and conservative movements. He marks a significant phase in the development of Pashto language and his lines are often quoted spontaneously by the speakers of the language. The various schools of thought in the Sufi tradition like the Naqshbandiya, Chishtiya and Qadiriya have claimed him as their own, so great was his appeal among the masses.
In Pakistan, religious culture has been traditionally represented by the Sufi tradition. The culture of the elite, represented by painting, architecture and calligraphy, doesn’t touch the masses whose way of life is reflected more accurately in the collective celebration of Islam’s mystical heritage. The Sufi taught the people how to link their faith with their entertainment and imbue their culture with their religious belief. It is often said that many of the Muslims of the region of Pakistan were brought inside the pale of Islam by the Sufi who sang of Allah’s divinity in the music and dance he inculcated among them, composed in the classical tradition.
It is this culture of the masses that has been targeted by Talibanisation, a new faith born out of the terrorist coercion of Al Qaeda which is steeped in the anti-mystical Saudi-Wahhabi Islam. The trend towards anti-culture extremism, however, is seen across the Islamic world, much aided in the 1990s by Saudi investment in the spread of the Wahhabi faith. Pakistan’s culture has also been under assault from the Taliban who target the dominant Barelvi school of Pakistani Hanafi jurisprudence as representing the “impure” faith. In 2006, a large congregation of Barelvi clerics and leaders was suicide-bombed in Karachi where, too, scores of Barelvi mosques have been grabbed by the more powerful Deobandis.
Pakistan committed cultural suicide when it allowed a purely Deobandi jihad in Afghanistan after 1996, empowering jihadi militias increasingly under the influence of Al Qaeda. Those who planned this strategy were devoid of any sense of culture. This was helped by the fact that Pakistan’s Constitution is silent on culture, most probably because the framers, bedevilled by clashing linguistic and regional identities, were unwilling to define it. Today, the violence of terrorism is expressed through its assault on culture, on entertainment in general, on female education, and the destruction of cultural landmarks.
In Khyber Agency, the Sufi tradition was defeated and ousted by the Taliban as the state stood by and watched. The Sufi leaders fled the agency and left the field open to the extremists. In Swat, a Sufi leader was killed and later exhumed from his grave and made to hang in the city square. Without the refinement of culture, Pakistan is a rudderless society characterised by extremism. The masses are deprived of all collective celebration and are losing their male children to the Taliban as suicide-bombers. The Sindhi, whose mysticism-based culture is still intact in the interior of the province, is yet to appear as a suicide-bomber in the service of Al Qaeda. But even that could change in the face of relentless assault by the Taliban and the desperate secession of the writ of the state. *
Rahman Baba poetry:
http://www.rahmanbabadiwan.com/
English translation of Rahman Baba's Poetry
http://rahmanbaba-poetry.com/
Friday, March 06, 2009
Picture:Bacha Khan Media cell
------------------------------------------
Chairman Pakhtun Democratic Council zar ali khan musazai has strongly condemned the
explosion at the Tomb of Rehman Baba by the hands of terrorists.
He said terrorists and miscreants committed a crime which is unforgivable and this
is a clear declaration of the WAR against Pashtun Nation. Rehman Baba masoleum is as
sacred for us as Makka and Madina for Muslims because he followed the true teachings
of Islam and he was the real lover of the prophet of Islam. Those who bombed the
tomb are the real enemies of the Pashtun or they are doing such heinous crimes on
the directives of their masters who have been opponents to Pashtun nation for long
time.He demanded of the government to arrest the criminals immediately otherwise the
rage of Pashtun at this incident has reached to the point which is to be exploded.
Zar ali musazai called upon all Pashtun to rise against this barbarism of the
terrorists and their mentors who have no regard for the elders of Pashtun nation.
---------------------------
Shan said...
http://letusbuildpakistan.blogspot.com/
The destruction of the shrine of Rahman Baba, the Pashtun mystic and poet who is widely regarded, indeed revered, across NWFP is yet another indicator of the advancing wave of intolerance and extremism that now engulfs us. Reports say that the shrine was blown up by militants using up to 40kg of explosive because it was frequented by women. There are reports that militants had warned that they would not tolerate women attending the shrine, and that they suspected them of involvement in immorality or 'illegal acts'. It is difficult to imagine precisely what immoral or illegal acts might have been performed by pious women - but not difficult to imagine the misogynist mindset of those who would banish women forever to a darkened room where their sole function is to cook and produce male children. The deal done in Swat is a Pandora's Box of troubles that now pour out everywhere. The validation of one set of extremist demands now gives them the green light to make other demands wherever they choose in the entire country where they wish their vrit to run. Let us be under no illusion here – the militants now ruling in NWFP have their sights set on ruling Pakistan. All of Pakistan. They wish their interpretation of Islam to be the one followed by all of our people, no matter what their Muslim denomination or their faith – which is why our religious minorities fear for their safety and their future.
Are we to see the great shrines of Uch Sharif similarly attacked? Are we prepared to see our cultural heritage destroyed before our very eyes? Remember the Buddhas of Bamiyan, those ancient structures in Afghanistan that had stood for over a thousand years? Remember their destruction, just a few short years ago? Or the Buddhist statues in Swat? Or the agitation for the destruction of Buddhist and Hindu rock carvings of great antiquity at Chilas? Are we to see the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro pulverized because they are from a time before Islam or our museums razed to the ground in an iconoclastic frenzy that will leave us bereft of our cultural past? How long will it be before bookshops are burning, following hard on the heels of music and video shops? Ours is a land which was a part of the cradle of civilization. Within what are now our borders were sown the seeds of human greatness and invention. We are the custodians of that heritage. We have a duty to ourselves and the rest of the world to protect it. A duty which, as of recent times, we might be said to be failing in. Dark tides,
Friday, March 06, 2009, The News.
06 March 2009 07:27
--------
Dirjae said:
This is a crime against the Pashtun Nation, specifically against our culture and heritage. Rehman Baba was a great Pashto poet and Sufi and a Wali. It is strange beacuse the mosques and seminaries, breeding grounds of terrorism, remain safe and actually are multiplying but symbols of Pashtun Heritage are under threat. I condemn this barbaric and savage act.
------------------------
Khurshid Khan :
A great matter of concern for all of us as wel as a wake call for Pukhtunkwa Govt.
The bloody game is in progress. Today Rakhman Baba, tommorow the tomb of Khushal Khan Baba, Pir Baba and other saints and leaders.
------------------
Zahid:
پېښور : نن سحر په ساخت کښې د پښتنو د صوفي شاعر عبدالرحمان بابا په مزار يوه بمي چاؤدنه اوشوه ـ په مزار کښې پروت هر يو څيز ټوک ټوک اؤ ذرې ذرې شولو ـ
د خبر مطابق سحر وختي ځنې نامعلومه شرخوښو دلته يو پنځه کلو وزني بم اېښودے وۀ چې په يو غټ درز سره اوچاودو ـ
هر څو چې د آبادۍ بنياد سلامت پاتې شوے دے ، په دې کښې پراته هر څه تس نس شوي دي اؤ په ديوال کښې ئې يو غټ سورے هم جوړ کړے دے ـ
د رحمان بابا په مزار د پښتونخوا د پخواني وزير اعلے خدائې بخلي امير افضل خان په وخت کښې کار پئېل شوے وۀ اؤ ايله اوس اوس څو مياشتې وړاندې د افغانستان د حکومت په مرسته ددې سرسڼه سر ته رسيدلې وه ـ
په دې اړه نن سحر په باچاخان ريسرچ سنټر کښې يوه هنګامي غونډه هم اوشوه چې مشري ئې د باچاخان ريسرچ سنټر ډائريکټر ډاکټر فضل الرحيم مروت کوله ـ په دې غونډه کښې د نورو نه علاوۀ نوموړي شاعر اؤ د پښتون مجلي مشر ايډيټر ښاغلي رحمت شاه سائل ، ليکوال مشتاق مجروح يوسف زئې ، ځلان مومند ، فضل الرحمان زاهد ، امجد شهزاد اؤ عبدالله اؤ قاضي حضور الله هم شرکت درلود ـ
په غونډه کښې په دې واقعه د زړه د تلۀ افسوس اوشو دا ئې يو ډېر ناوړه کار اوبالۀ ـ
په اجلاس کښې رحمت شاه سائيل وئيل چې دا چاؤدنه يواځې د پښتون صوفي شاعر په مزار نه ده بلکه دې دا سوال پېدا کړے دے چې په سيمه کښې د پښتنو نور تاريخي اؤ مقدس مقامات په څه حال کښې دي ـ
دوۍ زياته کړه چې که ګډ وډۍ اؤ اړي ګړي دا کار داسې جاري اوساتل شي نو دا به يواځې په پښتنه سيمه خپل اغېز نه پرېباسي بلکه په منطقه کښې به هيڅ يو مقدس ، تاريخي ځائې هم په امن پاتې نه شي ـ
(( د رحمان بابا په مزار چاؤدنه به اخر ناخر د بللهے شاه ، داتا دربار ، بټهائي اؤ نور مقدس ځايونه هم په خطره کښې واچول ـ
فضل الرحمان زاهد
------------------------------------------
Chairman Pakhtun Democratic Council zar ali khan musazai has strongly condemned the
explosion at the Tomb of Rehman Baba by the hands of terrorists.
He said terrorists and miscreants committed a crime which is unforgivable and this
is a clear declaration of the WAR against Pashtun Nation. Rehman Baba masoleum is as
sacred for us as Makka and Madina for Muslims because he followed the true teachings
of Islam and he was the real lover of the prophet of Islam. Those who bombed the
tomb are the real enemies of the Pashtun or they are doing such heinous crimes on
the directives of their masters who have been opponents to Pashtun nation for long
time.He demanded of the government to arrest the criminals immediately otherwise the
rage of Pashtun at this incident has reached to the point which is to be exploded.
Zar ali musazai called upon all Pashtun to rise against this barbarism of the
terrorists and their mentors who have no regard for the elders of Pashtun nation.
---------------------------
Shan said...
http://letusbuildpakistan.blogspot.com/
The destruction of the shrine of Rahman Baba, the Pashtun mystic and poet who is widely regarded, indeed revered, across NWFP is yet another indicator of the advancing wave of intolerance and extremism that now engulfs us. Reports say that the shrine was blown up by militants using up to 40kg of explosive because it was frequented by women. There are reports that militants had warned that they would not tolerate women attending the shrine, and that they suspected them of involvement in immorality or 'illegal acts'. It is difficult to imagine precisely what immoral or illegal acts might have been performed by pious women - but not difficult to imagine the misogynist mindset of those who would banish women forever to a darkened room where their sole function is to cook and produce male children. The deal done in Swat is a Pandora's Box of troubles that now pour out everywhere. The validation of one set of extremist demands now gives them the green light to make other demands wherever they choose in the entire country where they wish their vrit to run. Let us be under no illusion here – the militants now ruling in NWFP have their sights set on ruling Pakistan. All of Pakistan. They wish their interpretation of Islam to be the one followed by all of our people, no matter what their Muslim denomination or their faith – which is why our religious minorities fear for their safety and their future.
Are we to see the great shrines of Uch Sharif similarly attacked? Are we prepared to see our cultural heritage destroyed before our very eyes? Remember the Buddhas of Bamiyan, those ancient structures in Afghanistan that had stood for over a thousand years? Remember their destruction, just a few short years ago? Or the Buddhist statues in Swat? Or the agitation for the destruction of Buddhist and Hindu rock carvings of great antiquity at Chilas? Are we to see the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro pulverized because they are from a time before Islam or our museums razed to the ground in an iconoclastic frenzy that will leave us bereft of our cultural past? How long will it be before bookshops are burning, following hard on the heels of music and video shops? Ours is a land which was a part of the cradle of civilization. Within what are now our borders were sown the seeds of human greatness and invention. We are the custodians of that heritage. We have a duty to ourselves and the rest of the world to protect it. A duty which, as of recent times, we might be said to be failing in. Dark tides,
Friday, March 06, 2009, The News.
06 March 2009 07:27
--------
Dirjae said:
This is a crime against the Pashtun Nation, specifically against our culture and heritage. Rehman Baba was a great Pashto poet and Sufi and a Wali. It is strange beacuse the mosques and seminaries, breeding grounds of terrorism, remain safe and actually are multiplying but symbols of Pashtun Heritage are under threat. I condemn this barbaric and savage act.
------------------------
Khurshid Khan :
A great matter of concern for all of us as wel as a wake call for Pukhtunkwa Govt.
The bloody game is in progress. Today Rakhman Baba, tommorow the tomb of Khushal Khan Baba, Pir Baba and other saints and leaders.
------------------
Zahid:
پېښور : نن سحر په ساخت کښې د پښتنو د صوفي شاعر عبدالرحمان بابا په مزار يوه بمي چاؤدنه اوشوه ـ په مزار کښې پروت هر يو څيز ټوک ټوک اؤ ذرې ذرې شولو ـ
د خبر مطابق سحر وختي ځنې نامعلومه شرخوښو دلته يو پنځه کلو وزني بم اېښودے وۀ چې په يو غټ درز سره اوچاودو ـ
هر څو چې د آبادۍ بنياد سلامت پاتې شوے دے ، په دې کښې پراته هر څه تس نس شوي دي اؤ په ديوال کښې ئې يو غټ سورے هم جوړ کړے دے ـ
د رحمان بابا په مزار د پښتونخوا د پخواني وزير اعلے خدائې بخلي امير افضل خان په وخت کښې کار پئېل شوے وۀ اؤ ايله اوس اوس څو مياشتې وړاندې د افغانستان د حکومت په مرسته ددې سرسڼه سر ته رسيدلې وه ـ
په دې اړه نن سحر په باچاخان ريسرچ سنټر کښې يوه هنګامي غونډه هم اوشوه چې مشري ئې د باچاخان ريسرچ سنټر ډائريکټر ډاکټر فضل الرحيم مروت کوله ـ په دې غونډه کښې د نورو نه علاوۀ نوموړي شاعر اؤ د پښتون مجلي مشر ايډيټر ښاغلي رحمت شاه سائل ، ليکوال مشتاق مجروح يوسف زئې ، ځلان مومند ، فضل الرحمان زاهد ، امجد شهزاد اؤ عبدالله اؤ قاضي حضور الله هم شرکت درلود ـ
په غونډه کښې په دې واقعه د زړه د تلۀ افسوس اوشو دا ئې يو ډېر ناوړه کار اوبالۀ ـ
په اجلاس کښې رحمت شاه سائيل وئيل چې دا چاؤدنه يواځې د پښتون صوفي شاعر په مزار نه ده بلکه دې دا سوال پېدا کړے دے چې په سيمه کښې د پښتنو نور تاريخي اؤ مقدس مقامات په څه حال کښې دي ـ
دوۍ زياته کړه چې که ګډ وډۍ اؤ اړي ګړي دا کار داسې جاري اوساتل شي نو دا به يواځې په پښتنه سيمه خپل اغېز نه پرېباسي بلکه په منطقه کښې به هيڅ يو مقدس ، تاريخي ځائې هم په امن پاتې نه شي ـ
(( د رحمان بابا په مزار چاؤدنه به اخر ناخر د بللهے شاه ، داتا دربار ، بټهائي اؤ نور مقدس ځايونه هم په خطره کښې واچول ـ
فضل الرحمان زاهد
Militants Bomb Mausoleum Of Legendary Pashtun Poet
Shaheen Buneri
Thu, 05-Mar-2009
Destroyed Portion of Rahmab Baba's Mausoleum. PPost Photo
PESHAWAR: Unidentified militants Thursday bombed the mausoleum of Abdurrahman Baba, the 17th century legendary Sufi poet of the Pashtuns in Hazarkhwani area close to Peshawar city in North West Frontier province (NWFP) of Pakistan.
Police confirms that the outer wall of the Mausoleum completely destroyed.
Locals told the Pashtunpost, that a group of unidentified militants used remote control bombs to destroy the four pillars of the under-construction building in the premises of Rahman Baba’s Mausoleum.
The bomb explosion has partially damaged the building. Eye witnesses say that if timely efforts are not taken the building may collapse.
Yousaf Ali Dilsoz, President of Rahman Baba Adabi Jirga says that Rahman Baba is the icon of Pashtuns spirituality and their love for peace and tolerance.
“In wake of the raising militancy in the region, it is cry of the hour that we understand and spread the message of peace and universal humanity conveyed by Rahman Baba through his poetry. By targeting the Shrine the militants want to destroy our identity and want to present us to the world as a wild and uncivilized nation”, he maintained.
It merits a mention here that every year in the month of April, fans of Rahman Baba hold a grand cultural festival at the Mausoleum. Poets, writers and lovers of Rahman Baba from Afghanistan and Pakistan Pashtun dominated areas would come together to celebrate the festival. This time the festival was scheduled for April 5.
“By bombing Rahman Baba shrine, the forces of darkness want to discourage people not to participate in the festival and to forcefully divert them to their extremist and fundamentalist agenda”, says Usman Ulasyar, president of Swat Cultural Society and a devouted lover of the poetry of Rahman Baba.
Rahman Baba was born in 1632 A.D. at Bahadur Kala, a village, 4 km south of Peshawar. He enjoys the same status in Pashto poetry as Hafiz Shirazi does in the Persian Literature.
Rahman Baba’s poetry is popular for its simplicity, spontaneity and universality not only among Pashtuns but all those who are interested in evolution of Sufi thought in the region.
Besides many others, Major Reverty in his book "Selection from the poetry of Afghans" has also paid rich contributes to him. He writes; Rehman Baba's poetry is the heart beat of every Afghan and is recited through the Afghan lands.
Saidu Baba, a revered saint from Swat valley, is known to have said that if the Pashtuns were ever asked to pray on a book other than the Koran, they would undoubtedly go for Rahman Baba's work.
English writer Robert Sampson introduced Rahman Baba to the western world by translating his poetry and writing commentaries on his work. The translated work is titled Rahman Baba - Poet of the Pashtuns.
Earlier Janes Enveldson translated a selection from Rahman Baba’s poetry and published it as “Nightingale of Peshawar”.
A selection of Rahman Baba's poetry
Sow Flowers
Sow flowers so your surroundings become a garden
Don’t sow thorns; for they will prick your feet
If you shoot arrows at others,
Know that the same arrow will come back to hit you.
Don’t dig a well in another’s path,
In case you come to the well’s edge
You look at everyone with hungry eyes
But you will be first to become mere dirt.
Humans are all one body,
Whoever tortures another, wounds himself.
-- Rahman Baba
....
Why I’m not dying
Why I’m not dying
Why I’m not dying,
Of the sorrow of separation,
Why I’m not dying,
Of this mourning intense.
Why I’m not dying,
Of the cruelty of this age,
Which snatches a lover from the lover.
Why I’m not dying
Of witnessing these mornings,
Which laugh at my sobs every rising day.
Why I’m not dying
Without my lover,
For it is a death, not to stare in the lover’s eyes.
Why I’m not dying,
To see these unfaithful drops of dew,
That leave the flower upon seeing a slight warmth.
Why I’m not dying,
Of this deadly miserable life,
That I’m carrying with myself,
O’Rehman from so long.
(trans: Adil Shah)
Such have your sorrows overpowered me
Such have your sorrows overpowered me,
That I’ve lost every place in and out. My sobs have rendered people restless,
Like fire of a burning dry wood engulfing the moistured.In your pain, I’m weeping like a candle,
But you are smiling at me like a bright morn.
My heart’s hanging in your path,
Like your black hair dangling in front of your face.
Tis’ a norm for all the sorrows to be crushed under your feet,
When you are burdened with that single grief.
They come towards you, leaving me behind,
All those who advisingly forbade me from your path.
Such is the effect of yours over the face of Rehman,
Like a flame of fire over a thinly dry stalk.
(trans: Adil Shah)
Barbarians strike at the Pashtuns' great poet
The damaged mausoleum of Abdurrahman Baba (Pashtun Post)
Source:http://circlingthelionsden.blogspot.com/2009/03/barbarians-strike-at-pashtuns.html
I arrived in Peshawar last night much quicker than I expected. This frontier city is now only a two-hour drive from Islambad along the new motorway. Instead of the chaos and confusion of the Grand Trunk (GT) Road, the journey was almost serene as the road cut through green fields and orchards and crossed river after river. Peshawar was once considered an Afghan city, until the Sikhs won it in battle and then the British defeated the Sikhs. Thus was it inherited by Pakistan.
But at its heart Peshawar is still Afghan to the core. Its huge expansion in the last 30 years, fuelled by the millions of Afghan refugees for whom it became home during the war against the Soviets, has done nothing to lessen this feeling. Women wearing the Afghan burka can be seen everywhere and whole districts are populated by those Afghans who never returned home.
More particularly, Peshawar is a Pashtun city, sitting in the heart of the North West Frontier Province and close by the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
And it is increasingly a Taliban city. Although they have no electoral support, theTaliban have the muscle and the influence to dominate the city. Since I arrived I have heard many accounts of Pashto language poets and singers giving up their profession for their own safety. Some have left for foreign countries and even - ironically - for Afghanistan, where they feel less constrained than here, where the Wahhabi influence is strong and growing.
One consequence of all this is that few visitors come here any more. Last night I went to the Khan Club for dinner. This magnificent and famous five-storey haveli or guesthouse in the old part of the city, boasts five-star rooms decorated with wonderful local carpets, "classical eastern music" and "full service eastern and western fare restaurant".
In fact, when we arrived, there were no guests. We were the first foreigners to enter the building since February 2008. Despite this, our hosts produced a wonderful meal, served to us by candlelight.
This morning, the reality of the alien intolerance introduced by the Arabs of al-Qaeda into Pashtun culture was brought home in the usual way - by an explosion. There have been many explosions in this city, but few were as poignant as this one. No one was killed, but every Pushtun was hurt by this bomb.
The target was the mausoleum of Abdurrahman Baba, the greatest of the Pashtun Sufi poets. The outer wall of his mausoleum in the Hazarkhwani area of the city was completely destroyed. According to an article in the Pashtun Post a group of unidentified militants used remote control bombs to destroy the four pillars of the building.
No matter which misguided people carried out this bombing, it was aimed at destroying Pashtun culture - the poems of Khushal Khan Khattak and Rahman Baba and later followers such as Ameer Hamza Shinwari and the journalist Mahmud Tarzi.
None was more important to Pashtun culture than Rahman Baba. He was born in 1632 just to the south of Peshawar and was a great Sufi poet in the tradition of Rumi. His wonderful poems teach the need for toleration, peace and spirituality. What could justify an attack on his mortal remains?
Four years ago Robert Sampson and Momin Khan Jaja published the 900-page The Poetry of Rahman Baba - Poet of the Pashtuns, the poet's complete works. You can find out more about the book here. In fact, I urge you to buy a copy, just to show the bastards who did this today that the pen of a great man is mightier than the sword.
As I mentioned in my previous blog, the Pashtuns are the real victims of the vicious strain of Wahhabi Islam that was introduced into this region during the anti-Soviet jihad and which is now in the ascendancy. It is not their choice, but one that is being imposed on them by outsiders. Their culture is being strangled by gunmen and killers who care nothing for the great traditions of a proud people.
Source:http://circlingthelionsden.blogspot.com/2009/03/barbarians-strike-at-pashtuns.html
I arrived in Peshawar last night much quicker than I expected. This frontier city is now only a two-hour drive from Islambad along the new motorway. Instead of the chaos and confusion of the Grand Trunk (GT) Road, the journey was almost serene as the road cut through green fields and orchards and crossed river after river. Peshawar was once considered an Afghan city, until the Sikhs won it in battle and then the British defeated the Sikhs. Thus was it inherited by Pakistan.
But at its heart Peshawar is still Afghan to the core. Its huge expansion in the last 30 years, fuelled by the millions of Afghan refugees for whom it became home during the war against the Soviets, has done nothing to lessen this feeling. Women wearing the Afghan burka can be seen everywhere and whole districts are populated by those Afghans who never returned home.
More particularly, Peshawar is a Pashtun city, sitting in the heart of the North West Frontier Province and close by the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
And it is increasingly a Taliban city. Although they have no electoral support, theTaliban have the muscle and the influence to dominate the city. Since I arrived I have heard many accounts of Pashto language poets and singers giving up their profession for their own safety. Some have left for foreign countries and even - ironically - for Afghanistan, where they feel less constrained than here, where the Wahhabi influence is strong and growing.
One consequence of all this is that few visitors come here any more. Last night I went to the Khan Club for dinner. This magnificent and famous five-storey haveli or guesthouse in the old part of the city, boasts five-star rooms decorated with wonderful local carpets, "classical eastern music" and "full service eastern and western fare restaurant".
In fact, when we arrived, there were no guests. We were the first foreigners to enter the building since February 2008. Despite this, our hosts produced a wonderful meal, served to us by candlelight.
This morning, the reality of the alien intolerance introduced by the Arabs of al-Qaeda into Pashtun culture was brought home in the usual way - by an explosion. There have been many explosions in this city, but few were as poignant as this one. No one was killed, but every Pushtun was hurt by this bomb.
The target was the mausoleum of Abdurrahman Baba, the greatest of the Pashtun Sufi poets. The outer wall of his mausoleum in the Hazarkhwani area of the city was completely destroyed. According to an article in the Pashtun Post a group of unidentified militants used remote control bombs to destroy the four pillars of the building.
No matter which misguided people carried out this bombing, it was aimed at destroying Pashtun culture - the poems of Khushal Khan Khattak and Rahman Baba and later followers such as Ameer Hamza Shinwari and the journalist Mahmud Tarzi.
None was more important to Pashtun culture than Rahman Baba. He was born in 1632 just to the south of Peshawar and was a great Sufi poet in the tradition of Rumi. His wonderful poems teach the need for toleration, peace and spirituality. What could justify an attack on his mortal remains?
Four years ago Robert Sampson and Momin Khan Jaja published the 900-page The Poetry of Rahman Baba - Poet of the Pashtuns, the poet's complete works. You can find out more about the book here. In fact, I urge you to buy a copy, just to show the bastards who did this today that the pen of a great man is mightier than the sword.
As I mentioned in my previous blog, the Pashtuns are the real victims of the vicious strain of Wahhabi Islam that was introduced into this region during the anti-Soviet jihad and which is now in the ascendancy. It is not their choice, but one that is being imposed on them by outsiders. Their culture is being strangled by gunmen and killers who care nothing for the great traditions of a proud people.
Explosion at Rahman Baba's tomb
Side-effect
Rahman Baba
Friday, March 06, 2009
Harris Khalique
After the tragedy in Lahore where eight people, including six policemen, died and six of our guests from Sri Lankan cricket team got injured by an assault by terrorists, the news of the bombing of the shrine of Rahman Baba in Peshawar came as another severe blow.
It is not only an attack on Pakhtun culture, history and civilisation, it is an attack on Shah Latif, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Bulleh Shah, Waris Shah, Ghulam Farid, Mast Tawakkali, Amir Khusrau, Mir, Ghalib and, above all, Rumi. It is an attack on Iqbal. It is an attempt to desecrate and dishonour everything that we could be proud of as a part of the cross-countries Muslim civilisation spread over Central and South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
It is comparable only to the destruction of the historic Buddhas of Bamiyan under Taliban rule in Afghanistan and the damaging of Quli Qutub Shah's tomb in Indian Gujarat by Hindu fanatics. The Sufis, the writers, poets and artists, of this godforsaken country must rise up against this madness now and fight the battle for our survival.
The battle for our survival is actually a war that has three battles to be fought simultaneously. The battle of ideas where bigotry, obscurantism, reactionary thought and eloquent legitimisation of violent means to impose your brand of Islam on others through our print and electronic media, have to be taken on by professing intellectual freedom and tolerance, promoting rational understanding of what is happening around us and encouraging creativity and critical thinking.
This battle has to be fought in schools, colleges and universities, on television, radio, in newspapers and in all public spaces. Michael Ignatieff once said that television is the church of modern authority. The current domination of our primetime discussion hours on key news channels by the semi-literate, reactionary and pompous television anchors needs to be challenged. Exceptions are few and far between. Likewise, newspaper columns, especially in Urdu, which is the language of public discourse in Pakistan, make heroes out of those who inflict pain and suffering on the masses in the name of Islam. The editors have to wake up now and give equally prominent space to rebuttals of such nonsense or to writers who are logical and progressive.
The second is the battle to save, strengthen or establish social and political institutions in the face of chaos, terrorism, mediocrity and plutocracy. What we need is a sovereign Parliament, an independent judiciary and a competent executive. We need political parties which are strong and democratic from within and a military which focuses on professional excellence and defending the country when faced with outside aggression.
The third is the battle to be fought on the streets of Pakistan, where people need to come out and ask for their right to a safe, secure and decent life. They have to ask for their legitimate right to employment, education, health, clean drinking water and basic infrastructure. They have to assert their right to a life with dignity where the justice system works and where all citizens are equal in the eyes of the state whether they are women or religious minorities.
Once common people demonstrate their desire for change, newer and stronger pro-people political forces will emerge from within to challenge plutocracy and incompetence. But is it incompetence alone which makes the provincial information minister of the NWFP (to be or not to be Pashtunkhwa) request the TNSM leader that he ask the militants in Swat to stop random firing on the government's security forces? Mind you, he has publicly said after taking charge of Swat that he considers democracy to be an un-Islamic concept.
It will not end in Swat. When a local spiritual leader was killed and buried by the militants, their commander was not fully satisfied. So they decided to exhume his body and hung it by a tree or a pole for some days. Now there is an attack on the symbol of our civilisation, Rahman Baba. Should we now request the TNSM not to let these things happen in future?
The writer is an Islamabad-based poet and rights campaigner. Email: harris@spopk.org
Rahman Baba
Friday, March 06, 2009
Harris Khalique
After the tragedy in Lahore where eight people, including six policemen, died and six of our guests from Sri Lankan cricket team got injured by an assault by terrorists, the news of the bombing of the shrine of Rahman Baba in Peshawar came as another severe blow.
It is not only an attack on Pakhtun culture, history and civilisation, it is an attack on Shah Latif, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Bulleh Shah, Waris Shah, Ghulam Farid, Mast Tawakkali, Amir Khusrau, Mir, Ghalib and, above all, Rumi. It is an attack on Iqbal. It is an attempt to desecrate and dishonour everything that we could be proud of as a part of the cross-countries Muslim civilisation spread over Central and South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
It is comparable only to the destruction of the historic Buddhas of Bamiyan under Taliban rule in Afghanistan and the damaging of Quli Qutub Shah's tomb in Indian Gujarat by Hindu fanatics. The Sufis, the writers, poets and artists, of this godforsaken country must rise up against this madness now and fight the battle for our survival.
The battle for our survival is actually a war that has three battles to be fought simultaneously. The battle of ideas where bigotry, obscurantism, reactionary thought and eloquent legitimisation of violent means to impose your brand of Islam on others through our print and electronic media, have to be taken on by professing intellectual freedom and tolerance, promoting rational understanding of what is happening around us and encouraging creativity and critical thinking.
This battle has to be fought in schools, colleges and universities, on television, radio, in newspapers and in all public spaces. Michael Ignatieff once said that television is the church of modern authority. The current domination of our primetime discussion hours on key news channels by the semi-literate, reactionary and pompous television anchors needs to be challenged. Exceptions are few and far between. Likewise, newspaper columns, especially in Urdu, which is the language of public discourse in Pakistan, make heroes out of those who inflict pain and suffering on the masses in the name of Islam. The editors have to wake up now and give equally prominent space to rebuttals of such nonsense or to writers who are logical and progressive.
The second is the battle to save, strengthen or establish social and political institutions in the face of chaos, terrorism, mediocrity and plutocracy. What we need is a sovereign Parliament, an independent judiciary and a competent executive. We need political parties which are strong and democratic from within and a military which focuses on professional excellence and defending the country when faced with outside aggression.
The third is the battle to be fought on the streets of Pakistan, where people need to come out and ask for their right to a safe, secure and decent life. They have to ask for their legitimate right to employment, education, health, clean drinking water and basic infrastructure. They have to assert their right to a life with dignity where the justice system works and where all citizens are equal in the eyes of the state whether they are women or religious minorities.
Once common people demonstrate their desire for change, newer and stronger pro-people political forces will emerge from within to challenge plutocracy and incompetence. But is it incompetence alone which makes the provincial information minister of the NWFP (to be or not to be Pashtunkhwa) request the TNSM leader that he ask the militants in Swat to stop random firing on the government's security forces? Mind you, he has publicly said after taking charge of Swat that he considers democracy to be an un-Islamic concept.
It will not end in Swat. When a local spiritual leader was killed and buried by the militants, their commander was not fully satisfied. So they decided to exhume his body and hung it by a tree or a pole for some days. Now there is an attack on the symbol of our civilisation, Rahman Baba. Should we now request the TNSM not to let these things happen in future?
The writer is an Islamabad-based poet and rights campaigner. Email: harris@spopk.org
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Milestones in Pashto Literature
Milestones in Pashto Literature
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Hamish Khalil, in his book Da Qalam Khawandaan (A directory of Pakhtun men of letters), has mentioned around 3,000 Pakhtun poets and writers between 1800 and 1975 who were prolific writers and have contributed to Pashto language and literature by writing books both in prose and poetry.
Sher Alam Shinwari
The history of the written word in Pashto goes back to 522-486 BCE with the discovery of a three-line poetic piece engraved on the rock of a mountain near Baghistan, Iran. If so it can be assumed that the written history of Pashto is 2,500 years old. However, researchers have identified three periods of the history of Pashto literature.
The first period begins with Ameer Korer Ghuri (747 CE), the second period starts with Bayazid Ansari (1535-1579) popularly known as ‘Pir Roshan’ or the enlightened Pir, while the third period — according to one theory — began in 1908 when Rahat Zakheli Baba (1884-1963) wrote the first ever short story in Pashto language.
Hamish Khalil, in his book Da Qalam Khawandaan (A directory of Pakhtun men of letters), has mentioned around 3,000 Pakhtun poets and writers between 1800 and 1975 who were prolific writers and have contributed to Pashto language and literature by writing books both in prose and poetry.
Pashto has never enjoyed official recognition and patronage, as it has never been the court language despite the fact that Ahmed Shah Abdali and Sher Shah Suri were Pakhtun kings; even they preferred Persian to Pashto for court proceedings and other matters.
After the advent of the British, Pashto language and literature took a new turn. The British and Orientalists rediscovered literary giants like Khushhal Khan Khattak (1613-1690), Rahman Baba (16531711) and other classical poets and writers.
Pakhtun writers and poets of the early 20th century began to express their feelings and emotions by bringing out literary magazines and pamphlets.
These journals not only helped Pashto to flourish but also brought about a change in the social, political and cultural vision of the Pakhtun nation. Translations were also done into Pashto from English.
Nun Paroon was one such literary magazine published from New Delhi in pre-partition era edited by the founding director of the Pashto Academy University of Peshawar, Maulana Abdul Qadir (1905-1969).
Abdul Ghafoor alias Saidu Baba brought out the first ever Pashto monthly magazine in the pre-parti tion era titled Islam in 1884. In addition to Pashto, it used to publish scholastic and literary translations from Persian as well as Urdu classics. It was followed by Anjuman, and Payam-i-Haq Anjuman-iHimayat-i-Islam.
One cannot term these journals as being pure literary as they carried religious teachings too. Often they would not touch upon social issues or criticise government policies. After all, the environment was not conducive for freedom of expression under the British Raj.
Many attempts at bringing out weekly newspapers and monthly journals were made but each one faced closure following the imposition of the 1910 Press Act. Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Bacha Khan), founder of the Khudai Khidmatgaar Tehrik, launched the first ever full-fledged Pashto magazine Pakhtun under the auspices of Anjuman Islah-i-Afaghina in 1927 to bring about a qualitative change in the outlook of the Pakhtuns.
Prominent men of letters affiliated with the Tehrik would contribute their poetic and prose works in it but in 1930 Bacha Khan was arrested and the magazine was closed down.
It was re-launched in 1931 under Abdul Khaliq Khaleeq and after several closures and re-launches, it was finally banned it in 1948.
With the publication of Pashto weeklies and monthlies like Sailaab (1931), Strray Mashay (1932), Azad Pakhtun (1932), Rahbar (1936) and Jamhooriat (1937), the scope of public awareness was enhanced.
Social issues became dazzling headlines and fiery editorials were printed. After partition, Abdul Haleem Asr (1910-1978) brought out the first Pashto weekly magazine Insaaf in 1948 from Mardan which published literary pieces and research articles aimed at promoting the region’s language and literature.
A government sponsored magazine (later Jamhoor-i-Islam renamed Abaseen) attracted writers and poets as it paid well and also highlight the government’s policies and programmes. Apart from these magazines, some Urdu daily newspapers like Shabaz, Anjaam and Baang-i-Harum also catered to Pashto readers by publishing a separate supplement.
The magazines Pakhto and Qand also contributed to modern Pashto literature. So much so that two professors have recently submitted their doctorate theses to the University of Peshawar on the role and contributions of these historic literary journals.
Today more than 100 literary magazines are published in Pashto from various places like Afghanistan and of course from Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, Bannu, D.I.Khan, Charsadda, Karachi and Quetta. Most of these literary magazines have gone out of print due to financial constraints, yet they are considered milestones in the history of Pashto literature.
Despite various problems, it is the poets and writers who have had kept the Pashto language alive and enriched.
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