SAWJ Blogs…

Have to hand it to Dr. Younus Butt. Like the Ali Ahmed Kurd part best!

EXPLICIT CONTENT: Viewer discretion is advised.

Have you noticed how a small group of self-righteous lawyers and journalists are turning Asif Zardari and Rehman Malik into villains now? This group of lawyers and journos are bent on spoon feeding the Pakistanis how to tell right from wrong. For six months they have been celebrating Zardari and Malik when it suited their narrow objective. But suddenly today, they’re saying Zardari is corrupt and Malik is ‘NRO-laundered.’ So who is changing faces now?

By AHMED QURAISHI

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Some Pakistani lawyers and journalists have suddenly discovered that Asif Ali Zardari and Rehman Malik are bad, corrupt and ‘NRO-laundered.’ This last adjective is the original creative invention of Ansar Abbasi, my veteran colleague at The News International. It had a real sense of humor.

If Mr. Zardari and Mr. Malik were bad, corrupt and ‘NRO-laundered’ then this did not happen now. They were the same people –if the charges stick- on Oct. 18, 2007, the day Benazir Bhutto landed in Pakistan. Mr. Malik escorted her. Strangely, none of today’s self-righteous lawyers and journalists called Mr. Rehman Malik bad, corrupt and ‘NRO-laundered.’ Certainly no one dared tell the same to BB’s face or in their newspaper columns and television appearances. Why? Because of hate. The self-righteous group was and still is focused on hating Mr. Musharraf and taking revenge, not on telling the truth.

Then Mr. Zardari became party cochairman. He seized control of the main opposition party in the country. He sidelined veteran party leaders. He decided to set the tone of future Pakistani politics. He appeared from nowhere to take major decisions affecting every Pakistani citizen. In brief, Mr. Zardari took actions that warranted scrutiny and close examination of his role and background. You would have expected Mr. Abbasi to come forward at that time and throw a probing question or two at the ‘NRO-laundered’ Zardari. You would have expected some of the haughty lawyers, set on teaching the nation how to tell right from wrong, to have said something about Mr. Zardari at that time, all of course for the sake of the rule of the law, the constitution, the future generations, etc.

But nobody said anything. Why? Because of hate. The self-righteous group was and is focused on hating Mr. Musharraf and taking revenge, not on telling the truth.

Then came March 9, 2008. The historic summit meeting. A long press conference. A new beginning in Pakistani politics, we were told. A new beginning comes with a clean slate. So many of us ordinary Pakistanis thought we will see some self-critical straight talk from the assembled leaders. Certainly the media would ask those questions. But not a single reporter, senior journalist, anchorman, anchorwoman, analyst, or commentator from the self-righteous group dared stand up during the conference or write later in their columns or say in their television commentary that Mr. Nawaz Sharif should have atoned for ordering his paid activists to break into the building of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Mafia-style, an event that even Mr. Musharraf couldn’t match in his second coup of Nov. 3.

No single reporter, senior journalist, anchorman, anchorwoman, analyst, or commentator from the self-righteous group dared stand up during the conference or write later in their columns or say in their television commentary that Mr. Asif Ali Zardari should also come clean before the nation on NRO and the alleged corruption cases.

All of this could have been done in a spirit of a new beginning. But no one from the self-righteous group raised any of these legitimate and warranted questions that concern the rule of the law, the constitution, the future generations, etc.

And then Mr. Zardari surprised most skeptics. The immaculate change in his looks – the new haircut and moustache style, the wardrobe, the demeanor, the articulate speech – matched the immaculate change in his politics. He became the grand uniter, bringing a politically battered Pakistan together. His impressive reaching out to different political parties, his handling of the relationship with the presidency, his focus on the real problems facing Pakistan, all of this surprised even his hardened critics. Even those who couldn’t agree with Mr. Zardari’s background could find some common ground with him if it benefited the country.

With this welcome change in Mr. Zardari, this was the time to strengthen his hand and encourage him on this path for the sake of our homeland, all of us. The bitterness and questions about Mr. Zardari’s past notwithstanding, this was the time to show openheartedness. For the sake of Pakistan, not for the sake of anyone.

But surprise, surprise. The self-righteous group sprang up to condemn Asif Zardari and Rehman Malik. All of a sudden, lawyer groups on the Internet began circulating defamatory material against Mr. Malik. Some even went as far as accusing him of complicity in BB’s assassination. And Mr. Zardari became a target of ‘hate journalism’, which means fresh newspaper commentaries that suddenly turned Zardari from a good person to a bad person.

So, the question is: Was Zardari bad, corrupt and ‘NRO-laundered’ before March 9 or was not?

Was Rehman Malik bad corrupt and ‘NRO-laundered’ before March 9 or was not?

What is the criterion for being good or bad: corruption cases and a checkered past? Or hating Musharraf and taking revenge from him, from Naeem Bokhari, from PML, from Atiqa Odho, from Dr. Arbab, and from whomever this select self-righteous group of lawyers and journalists condemns to eternal hell?

Mr. Zardari and Mr. Malik have not changed. They are who they are. They never claimed anything else. The only difference is, maybe they are doing something good by bringing all our warring political parties together.

But the real change has come in this self-righteous group of a few journalists and lawyers. This group told us that Zardari and Malik were good. Now the group has had a change of mind. Zardari and Malik are bad.

So who is the real hypocrite?

© Copyrighted Material. AhmedQuraishi.com.

Who said “justice is blind”? It’s also cross-eyed!

It conveniently condemns all wrongs by those who oppose it but is medically unfit to acknowledge those committed by it’s supporters.

Jab Tu Peida Huwa Kitna Majbour Tha
Yeh Jahan Teri Sochon Se Bhi Door Tha

Hath Paon Bhi Tab Tere Apnay Na Thay
Teri Ankhoan Main Duniya Ke Sapne Na Thay

Tujh Ko Ataa Sirf Rona Hi Tha
Doodh Pee Ke Kaam Tera Sona Hi Tha

Tujh Ko Chalna Sikhaya Tha Maa Ne Teri
Tujh Ko Dil Main Basaya Tha Maa Ne Teri

Maa Ke Sayay Main Tu Parwan Chalne Laga
Waqt Ke Sath Qad Tera Barhnay Laga

Aahista Aahista Tu Kariyal Jawan Ho Giya
Tujh Pe Sara Jahaan Meherban Ho Giya

Zor-e-Bazoo Pe Tu Baat Karne Laga
Khud Hi Sajnay Laga Khood Hi Sawarnay Laga

Aik Din Ik Haseena Tujhe Bha Gayi
Ban Ke Dulhan Woh Tere Ghar Agayi

Apnay Farz Se Tu Door Hone Laga
Beej Nafrat Kay Khud Hi Tu Bone Laga

Phir Tu Maa Baap Ko Bhi Bhulanay Laga
Teer Bato Kay Phir Tu Chalanay Laga

Baat Be Baat Unn Se Tu Larne Laga
Qaaida Ik Naya Tu Parhne Laga

Yaad Kar Tujh Se Maa Ne Kaha Ik Din
Abb Humara Guzara Nahi Tere Bin

Sunn Ke Yeh Baat Tu Taish Main Aa Gaya
Tera Gussa Teri Aqal Ko Kha Gaya

Josh Main Aakay Tu Ne Yeh Maa Se Kaha
Main Tha Khamosh Sub Dekhta Hi Raha

Aaj Kehta Hoon Peecha Mera Chor Do
Jo Hai Rishta Mera Tum Se.. Woh Tor Do

Jao Ja […] Continue Reading…

I put on Geo today and one of their “Breaking News” promos suddenly came up. It was about the body of another Pakistani, Muhammad Akram, killed in Indian custody, being delivered to the Pakistani authorities on the Wahga border.

After the victim’s brother, Muhammad Aslam, identified the body, the Geo correspondent went up to him and asked, “How do you feel after looking at your brother’s body?”

Second question: “After this incident, what do you think about the relations and goodwill actions between India and Pakistan?”

They then showed the face of the dead body after the coffin was opened.
******
Are these people really human? The guy just received the dead body of his brother and they’re asking him about his perspective on Indo-Pak relations in the light of his brother’s death! Do they have any respect for other people’s feelings? So much for “freedom of the media”!

Feel free to Tag yourself if you want to.

1. Last movie you saw in a theater?
“Jo dar gaya woh mar gaya”. Jis ne dekha woh ghussay se mar gaya!

2. What book are you reading?
Zahoor-e-Imam-e-Zamana(A.S.), printed collection of ten majalis (Ash’ara) of Allama Dr. Syed Zameer Akhtar Naqvi from 1993.

3. Favorite board game?
Snakes and Ladders!

4. Favorite magazine?
National Geographic.

5. Favorite smells?
Burberry Touch, Swiss Army, Denim Musk, Walls Mango Ice Cream, Diesel, Petrol and Kerosene!

6. Favorite sounds?
Blues Guitar. Also, the voice of my lost pet cat Guido, we used to make him beg for food just to hear his “Maaaeeeaaaooowww”.

7. Worst feeling in the world?
Grief, Apprehension, Tension and Irritation tie for first place.

8. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?
I pay my respect to the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) and his Progeny (A.S.) and curse their enemies.

9. Favorite fast food place?
Hot N Spicy.

10. Future child’s name?
Most probably will be named after someone from the Progeny of the Prophet (S.A.W.W.)

11. Finish this statement. “If I had lot of money I’d….?
Rebuild the Samarrah Shrine of Imam Ali Naqi(A.S.) and Imam Hasan Askari(A.S.)

12. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
I am a stuffed animal! I stuff myself, then go to sleep.

13. […] Continue Reading…

Nawaz Sharif allegedly hijacked a plane in 1999. Nine years later, he hijacks a nation. With just twenty percent of the vote, he manages to hold everyone – Asif Zardari, Pervez Musharraf, ordinary Pakistanis and even Washington – hostage to the judicial crisis. Our political and media elites are busy in their little judiciary pastime while Rome burns. While we are busy in our little circus, the last laugh goes to General Hood, the notorious Quran-bashing commander of the Guantanamo Bay who most probably is in Islamabad right now attached to the U.S. embassy here. Happy countdown to May 12. […] Continue Reading…