Tag: Pakistan (Page 1 of 5)

73 Years

January 26, 2021 / rubeel / 0 Comments

I wrote this last year but never posted it.

today is the 73rd year of the independence of Pakistan. The country I left as 19 years old looking for a better future. I did find religion and a future but being away from Pakistan left a gaping hole in my personality. this will be something I need to come to terms with but alhamdulillah I was born in Pakistan and lived as a Pakistani and still love Pakistan.

what religion gave me was a sense of no nationalism. Islam doesn’t preach that. but I feel that we as Pakistanis overdo it. religion is something that needs to be lived, not just professed. we pay lip service to the religion but don’t act on it. this is true in current-day Pakistan or maybe many Muslim countries but I am talking about Pakistan. what has destroyed Pakistan in the last 50 years is the culture that was elevated above religion, the nonaccountability of religious authority, the use of religion by political forces. this created a disconnect between a normal man and the accountability that needs to exist at every level. What we still wait for in Pakistan is a better day. Inshallah it will come, not sure when. Allah helps those who help themselves.

we have institutionalized corruption, given it religious NRO. you can do corruption and you are fine. the Law is for the poor. It will keep on going for the poor. The rich are untouchable. The movie Elysium, it was something that portrayed the plight of the people while the rich lived out of reach and out of reality.

Maybe this is a rant and I am just venting but we tried. We tried when the time was right but the rich won the race. I remember when i was in Islamabad there was a Landrover showroom in Blue Area, I used to think about who buys cars from there. Never saw much Landrovers on the road. I did see a lot of Land cruisers which were a status symbol and the UN had a lot of them in Islamabad also. So I assumed it is in the garages of the rich people. Come to my last visit in 2015 and the roads were littered with high-end cars. The roads were never fixed but the Rich got Audis, Mercedes, Landcruisers and alot of Range Rovers.

Long Live the Halal earned money.

Rangeela

December 27, 2020 / rubeel / 0 Comments

The time is 1997 and I am preparing for my FSc. I would stay up all night and study and sleep during the day. this kept on happening for months before the actual exams. I had the rangeela songs for my entertainment. it was winter in Islamabad and was cold at night. but hoping to score the best results for FSc kept me going.

there are moments when you hear or smell something and it brings back a lot of memories. It could be the smell of flowers while walking back from school and walking parallel to F-9 Park or could be the sound of a bird that brings back the green belt area between F-10 and E-10 Area. so the song for Rangeela kind of hit me. I was browsing thru some YouTube videos and came across the song. it sent chills through my spine. maybe it unlocked the memories or the feelings that I had during that time. I felt the coldness of the winter in 97-98 or the coffee that I would make and drink at night when I did start studying. it just brought back a river of memories.

Good times when the life was infront and the possibilities were unlimited.

K2 Base Camp

August 12, 2020 / rubeel / 0 Comments

I have become obsessed with the trek to K2 base camp. it seems that it has come to the point where I am not able to see beyond it. I even dreamt about it. I have imagined standing at Concordia and looking at the majestic view of the 4 eight-thousanders and being in awe of it.

Panorama from this http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/

My interest in hiking and exploring has peaked since I got more involved in Boy Scouts of America. Last year at this point was completing my Woodbadge training at Gilwell in UK.

So off to new adventures. I had planned to make this K2 base-camp trip this year but thanks for Corona, it didnt happen. Inshallah 2021 is the year for this trek and i pray i am able to make it with my Son.

Maybe some scouts will show up for it.

May 8, 2014 / rubeel / 0 Comments

Pmln . We made roads and motorways
Ppp . We cried about rights for the liberals.
Pti . We will fix all this
Jui . We defended rights for terrorists
Ji. We just complained
MQM. We kill until we r in the government

The awam is still waiting for some relief. نه بجلی نہ پانی نه سستا کهانه
But still bhutto zinda hai. Pmln peeling bar teesri dafa vizer e azam bani. Aur blah blah blah

Nothing solid but bakwas

Lagay rahoo

Stick it to the Pakistanis

February 19, 2012 / rubeel / 0 Comments

Stick it more i say, Pakistanis need to be pushed to the limit to realize how to work for their country and get rid of likes of Zardari, Sharif and everyone else. The problem with Pakistanis is that we will live in our cocoon and let the leaders of the country get away with everything. Pakistan cannot be fixed without the people rising up and taking care of the corrupt, Leaders are strong because the masses are weak, if someone would deal with corrupt politicians in a matter that sets an example then i dont think anyone would think twice about corrupt

The Article is here http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/18/stick-it-to-the-pakistanis.html

Karachi and Pakistan (A Solution)

September 8, 2011 / rubeel / 0 Comments

When we hit a 1000 dead then maybe we will do something about it. Until then we will just sit and watch. I don’t get it, Pakistan as a nation had become so ineffective that we can’t even fix our own house. I think the word castrated comes to mind.
Our Armed forces can’t deal with the issues of security, Pakistani people are confused about whom to ask for help, we hate American help but can’t live without it. It is like a drug addict in denial that he/she is a drug addict but keeps taking them. The nation as a whole cannot seem to decide what we need. I feel we are like ME, when I want to study, I just around topics and subjects, never able to concentrate on anything. Pakistani nation is exactly like me, they can’t seem to decide what to do. Here are few steps I think that would solve this issue.

Instruct the Pakistani Army and Security agencies to do a full crackdown in Karachi, be it MQM, JI, ANP or anyone, they get arrested and dealt with.
At the same time, issue Arrest warrants through Interpol for Altaf Hussein, Balouch leaders in exile.
Increase the salary for security agencies and paramilitary agencies by double or triple of the budget, same for the staff at jails.
Reduce the salary of the Politicians by half and also take away 80% of their perks.
Sell off government unused property to generate revenue to cover this all for 1 year.

Then what we do are a couple of years of planning.

Kick out CIA and backwater type agencies from Pakistan for good.
Cut the military budget by 40 percent and put that money one year in education, then in Infrastructure and then in health. This should help in stabilizing the needs that are overlooked for the last many years.
Start collecting taxes, once the revenues are coming in then we can spend it, otherwise World Bank is standing outside the door to make us slaves.
Decrease the Armed forces by 20%.
Land reforms to get rid of this Feudals, cut the maximum amount of land owned by 70%.
Ehtesaab Bureau to be inducted under the judiciary rather than the government appointed agency.

I can keep on going talking about some common sense stuff that can be done about Pakistan but I am sure everyone can come up with these ideas except the losers who sit in power in Islamabad, they can just figure out to give awards to their supporters in national Assembly to keep the government from not working.
I know what would happen to us if these guys will stay in power. DOOMED is the word that comes to mind :(. Inshallah Allah will rid these losers of Pakistan, I can only pray and vote for Imran Khan 🙂
http://www.dawn.com/2011/09/08/isi-briefs-cj-on-parties-involved-in-karachi-unrest.html

How long can we wait (A view from over there)

September 6, 2011 / rubeel / 0 Comments

Pakistan needs to be liberated, either by hook or crook, in my opinion either the Libyan style rebellion or a saner solution which I think is Imran khan. There is a lot of talk about Imran khan right now; his popularity is increasing much to the dismay of Zardari-Sharif and Co. But there are many who still doubt his leadership and qualities. You can always find plenty of articles or news segments about him in negative light from various news outlets, some call him a Taliban Sympathizer or some call him outright Fundamentalist. I won’t get into these discussions as it is fruitless.

Imran Khan is miles ahead of any political Leader currently aspiring to lead Pakistan, be it the usual suspects of PML (N and Q), PPP or ANP. These parties over the last many decades have proven one thing only, “they are not fit to lead Pakistan”. PPP and PML (N) have been tested twice, PMLQ has been tested once with Musharraf, all these parties have one thing in common, ” they are opportunist and prefer to make the masters happy and the public sad”. Imran Khan on the other hand is a fresh mind and a new experience, he has been on the sidelines for too long and this has worked to his advantage. This time has been a blessing in disguise, it has helped him formulate his policies and sharpen his thoughts about how he wants to lead the country out of its current mess. Rather than making deals he has stuck to principles (much to the dismay of many) and stayed clear of situations where he would have ended up like every other political leader (Lotay is my thought here). He is the only leader who can boast about truly helping the real Pakistanis, From Namal University to Shaukat Khanam, from his time as MNA from the district in Mianwali to PTI’s programs for the poor. Imran doesn’t represent himself; he is the front man to a party which is full of people like Imran Khan. It is the senior leadership and the party workers; they all aspire to be like Imran Khan, who has done everything to make Pakistanis proud. He has been successful in every thing he has been part of, World Cup Cricket, Best Cancer care hospital in Asia and Higher Education for everyone (Namal University). Imran Khan is not alone in this; PTI is full of people who think along the lines of what Imran Khan thinks.

I am currently outside Pakistan; I look at Pakistan from a different perspective than how people might view it from inside Pakistan. Overseas Pakistanis do feel strongly about Pakistan and its future. It is not comfortable to see where Pakistan is heading. The view from over here is not very pleasing and this decent into the darkness needs to stop before we cross the point of no Return. Imran Khan is the only choice for Pakistan. If we miss this chance then we will forever be sorry to our future generations.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Imran Khan but above all i have had a chance to meet members of PTI’s Central Executive Committee. These people are extraordinary folks; they are professionals in their field, patriot Pakistanis and above all normal people who care. They care for the common Pakistani, the everyday laborers, the folks who can’t afford bread at the end of the day, the kids who can’t get admission into the university, parents who can’t provide medical care of their family. They want to make a change that will benefit the future generations of Pakistan, benefit Pakistan and stand up for Pakistan when it is threatened. I met some of the CEC members in America, although i have seen how the political leaders from other parties come and go in luxury, the servants of the servants of current government ministers get to spend the tax rupees on luxuries that we in the west cannot think of, on the other hand Every PTI official i have met in USA including Imran Khan and CEC members, they all travelled humbly and without any pomp and show. They talk about Pakistan and exist for its better future. I would invite you all to go online to insaf.pk and read about PTI, its manifesto, ask questions on forum and if you think Imran Khan will make a difference then convince your friends, family and relatives to join PTI and make a better future for our future generations.

Intelligence not required

June 27, 2011 / rubeel / 0 Comments

I am a bad exam taker; I have had times when I have left exams without writing a single word on the paper because I couldn’t BS my way through it. I have always been in awe of people who are able to do exams and score well. I don’t know what my problem is but it surely is a problem. I have been struggling with a preliminary exam for some time. This December the window into that exam will close also and might never open again. If I fail that exam then I am done with the PhD or lets say that the school is done with me (I wouldn’t give up that quickly).

I remember the days during FSc exams in Pakistan, people would spend less time and effort but master the technique of copy paste onto the paper materials from the book, and on the other hand I would make sincere efforts to understand the materials. The outcome was that I couldn’t get admission into any university. Well by gone be bygones and I am not worried about it anymore but this PhD exam is killing me, the fear of failing it and losing that opportunity at the PhD has kept me awake at nights and even made me fear the exam so much that I don’t want to take it anymore. I know I have to but in the back of my mind I know that I will fail it.

I don’t consider myself a loser or bad at learning, in fact I absorb a lot of information every day, reading/watching and exploring everything from everyday life to internet. I would even consider myself more informed than an average person and even quite a few PhD’s I know or knew. Maybe the problem is that I love to learn everything and can’t just give them up to focus on one thing. Take today for an example, from reading about the Boston mob boss who got arrested last week to mayhem in Libya, Sony cancelling start wars galaxy to some physicist make a glorified jack hammer to create fusion for greener times and so on. I even sometimes make the effort to go on Wikipedia and read and learn about things that I might have read as part of something else. But I guess these are all the tasks of normal people and not the super smarts that do PhDs. If that is the case then I can’t help it. I am fine with a masters but if it not then I should find a way to pass this Damm exam.

I guess while I am on the page of ranting or complaining let me ask this question

“Why everyone talks about the over achievers, why no one talks about the rest of the people like anyone who is not a Ivy league graduate, born to the rich parents, spoon fed their careers and jobs …”

What about the rest of us who are trying and living everyday? I guess we will never know 🙂 Well as far as the exam is concerned Inshallah I will take my best shot at it and if I don’t pass it then it is the loss for the PhD program 🙂

Will write about it after I am done in December with the exam.

Mukhtaran Mai

April 26, 2011 / rubeel / 0 Comments

The case and the verdict in Mukhtaran Mai is very sad state of affairs of Pakistan. What is even sadder is that the judiciary is being held responsible for the failure to deliver justice. I may not be an expert but it seems people who are holding the judiciary responsible (liberals, Feminists and other judiciary bashers from the current government in Pakistan) keep forgetting that the judge can only pass a judgment on facts and evidence presented to him/her in the court of law. They have to be unbiased and fair but obey the law to the letter and not let their personal feelings come in between what is proved in the court and what others might think of the issue.

The sad aspect is that the case was originally brought up in early 2002, when Musharraf was in power. Courts took up the matter but as it became very visible internationally, the culprits were arrested and incarcerated for some time. Sadly Police didn’t do a good job at investigation, gathering facts or getting confessions, then our system of feudal took over who wouldn’t want their people get punished for whatever reason. I am not an expert here so won’t try to explain more of what happened.

The bottom line is that in a country where Supreme Court can’t enforce its own decisions will not be able to do investigation or enquiry in case. The police failed (most probably corruption to blame here) in their due diligence and presented a weak case, muddied facts and no solid facts. What is a judge got to do? He can’t read the newspapers, watch CNN, see Mukhtaran Mai get awards and decide the guilt of others but he/she can only judge based on what happens in the court room.

Friends

March 31, 2011 / rubeel / 0 Comments

Spending my life in parts has left me with no true friends I think. I lived in Pakistan until I was eleven and left all my school friends to move to Bahrain. Then spent my teenage years in Bahrain and made friends there. When it was time to move again, I had to leave all that. I moved back to Pakistan to a new adventure, without Email/Skype/Facebook during those days meant that those friends had better things to do.

Leaving all behind in Bahrain was especially hard as all I knew and learned was in Bahrain. But in Pakistan I did make friends and good friends, but once I settled in and had a social life, I had to move again, this time to USA, to unchartered territory.

USA was specially a different game; I didn’t know anyone or anything. Learning the ropes of life on my own for the first time was hard and kept me busy though. Friends in USA is a different scenario, it was especially along the lines of friends who were opportunist. This meant that whoever became a friend was a friend for a little while until his or her opportunity or personal gain was fulfilled. Then it was off to other people. Also one thing here is that people do tend to move all over the place, so someone you know today might not be in your area for long and might move somewhere else due to job, family or education. This means that they were there for a little while and what you thought was a friend was an acquaintance actually. I can’t think of any true friends that I can fall back on; I do have some friends that I am proud of but they are not here in USA.

I did make one friend who I thought that was a true friend (literally thought that), who I could rely on in my bad times, sadly in my bad times he was the first one to dump and run away from me. It was harsh and hurting, it still hurts but I can say this that he helped me a lot in life so not holding a lot against him. Although I haven’t forgiven him, if I was at fault then that doesn’t matter but if I wasn’t, then I will see him on the day of judgment Inshallah, I am glad he did abandon me as I would have otherwise trusted him with my life, my family and most probably would have been surprised and shocked to see his actions, if I needed his help in worse Times.

Allah is my Lord, my friend, mytrustee and everything at this point but sometimes it is nice to have someone who you can call or sit down to talk to and open your heart. As of now that doesn’t exist and I doubt it will ever be. Time for such friendships have come and gone, it would have helped to stay in one place to have such luxuries. Lack of true friends, cousins or family sometimes truly sucks.

All I just can say

hassbunallah wa ni’mal wakeel

‘Allah is sufficient for us, and how fine a trustee (He is).’