صدر شي جي ”عوام ۾ واپسي “ واري مهم

نومبر 23, 2017 تبصرو ڪيو  https://awamiawaz.com/206922/

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شفيق سولنگي سيتائي 

سال 2012ع ۾ ٿيندڙ نيشنل ڪانگريس چين جي موجوده صدر شي جن پنگ کي ملڪ جي سڀ کا طاقتور پوزيشن لاءِ چونڊيو ويو ھيو، ان وقت سندس عمر 59 سال ھئي. عالمي دنيا ۾ اڻ ڃاتل ھي شخص اڄ دنيا جي سڀ کان وڌيڪ طاقتور ۽ مشھور شخصيتن مان ھڪ آھي. 2016 ۾ چائنيز ڪمونسٽ پارٽي کيس پارٽي جو ”ڪور“ يعني مرڪزي  اڳواڻ مقرر ڪيو جنھن سان سندس اقتدار ۽ پارٽي ۾ پوزيشن تمام مظبوط ٿي. سندس سياسي قد ۽ مضبوطي جو اندازو ان مان لڳائي سگھجي ٿو ته سي پي سي ھن سال نيشنل ڪانگريس ۾ شي جن پنگ جي سياسي نظريي کي ڪميونسٽ پارٽي جي منشور ۾ شامل ڪيو آھي، جنھن جو مطلب صدر شي کي سي پي سي جي باني اڳواڻ مائو زي تنگ جي برابريءَ واري حيثيت ڏني وئي آھي. ھاڻي سي پي سي جي باني اڳواڻ وانگر شي جن پنگ جي نظرئي کي چين جي اسڪولن، ڪاليجن ۽ يونيورسٽين ۾ لازمي پڙھايو ويندو.

ھن سال به سڄي دنيا جون نظرون چين جي گادي واري شھر بيجنگ مين ھلندڙ چائنيز ڪميونسٽ پارٽي جي 19 نيشنل ڪانگريس تي ھيون، عالمي ادارن ۽ ماھرن اڳي ئي شي جن پنگ جي ھڪ دفعو وري چونڊجڻ جي اڳڪٿي ڪئي ھئي، چين جي ڏيهي ۽ پرڏيهي پاليسي ۽ ٻين معاملن تي نظر وجھبي ته اھيا اڳڪٿي بلڪل صحيح ثابت ٿيندي. پوليٽڪل سائنس ۽ پرڏيهي پاليسي جي ماھرن جي اڳڪٿي مطابق ئي 19 نيشنل ڪانگريس صدر شي جن پنگ کي ئي ايندڙ پنجن سالن لاءِ پارٽي جو اڳواڻ ۽ ملڪ جو صدر چونڊيو آھي. مشھور عالمي ميگزين فارين پاليسي ته اھيو به لکي چڪي ھئي ته صدر شي جن پنگ جو اقتدار ٻن ٽرمز کان به وڌيڪ ٿي سگھي ٿو.

صدر شي جن پنگ موجوده دنيا جو شايد واحد اڳواڻ آھي جنھن پنھنجي ننڍپڻ ۾ زندگي جا ست سال غار ۾ گذاريا آھن. شي جن پنگ جي زندگي جو ھڪڙو پھلو اھو به آھي ته ھو موجوده چين جي بانين ۾ شامل چائنيز ڪميونسٽ پارٽي جي ھڪ اڳواڻ ۽ مائو زي تنگ جي ساٿي جي گھر ۾ پيدا ٿيو، ان جي زندگي جو ٻيو پھلو اھيو آھي ته ھو مزدور ۽ انتھائي غريب طبقي جي ماڻھن سان غار ۾ رھيو ۽ انھن غريبن سان گڏ ھارپو ۽ مزدوري به ڪيائين ته جيئن چين جي ھيٺئين طبقي جي زندگي ۽ ماڻھن مان زندگي جو ھنر سکي سگھي ۽ عام ماڻھن جي زندگي ۽ مسئلن کان واقف ھجي.

پھريون دفعوچين جي صدر ٿيڻ کان پوءِ شي جن پنگ وڏي پيماني تي ڪرپشن خلاف مھم ھلائي، صدر شي جي ڪرپشن خلاف تحريڪ جا تمام مثبت نتيجا نڪتا آھن، چائنيز ڪميونسٽ پارٽي تقريبن ڏھ لک چيني آفيسرن جي چال چلت ۽ نظم و ضبط کي ٺيڪ ڪرڻ ۾ ڪامياب رھي آھي، نه صرف عام چيني بلڪ فوجي جنرلن کان وٺي سي پي سي جي جنرل سيڪٽري کي ڪرپشن جي ڪري عھدي تان لاھي سزا ڏني وئي. ڪرپشن خلاف بلا امتياز مھم صدر شي جي مقبوليت ۾ وڏو اضافو ڪيو آھي. صدرشي جي ڪرپشن خلام مھم تي تنقيد ڪندڙ چون ٿا ته سندس مھم جو مرڪز ڪرپشن جا طريقيڪار ڳولڻ ۽ ملوث آفيسرن چاھي سي پي سي جو مرڪزي اڳواڻ ھجي يا عام ڪلرڪ، ان کي سزا ڏيڻ آھي، جڏھن ته ڪرپشن جي بيماري کي جڙ کان ٻاھر ڪڍڻ تي صدر شي جي مھم جو ڌيان گھٽ آھي. انھن جو چوڻ آھي ته صدر شي جي بدعوانين خلاف قدم سندس اڳوڻي قيادت کان گھڻي منفرد نه آھي بس سندس عزم ۽ ڪاوشون غيرمعمولي آھن جنھن جي ڪري ھو عام ماڻھن جون دليون کٽي چڪو آھي.

صدر شي جن پنگ عملي طور تي پيپلز لبريشن آرمي ۾ سڌارا آندا آھن جنھن سان نه صرف چيني فوج مظبوط ٿي پر  ان سان شي جن پنگ کي چيني فوج جي سڌي سنئين قيادت به ملي آھي. ھاڻي صدر شي چيني فوج جي اعليٰ ترين ڪمانڊ سينٽرل ملٽري ڪميشن جو سربراھ آھي.

ھن چين جي معيشت ۽ عوام جي اعتماد کي وڏي حد تائين بحال ڪيو آھي. شي جن پنگ کي قيادت سنڀالڻ وقت ڪيترائي مسئلا سامھون ھيا ھن وڏي پيماني تي مسعلن تي برتري حاصل ڪئي آھي پر اڄ به سندس سڀ کان وڏو مسئلو چين ۾ وڌندڙ غربت آھي. ان اھم ۽ انتھائي حساس مسئلي کي صدر شي قاميابي سان حل ڪرڻ ۾ مصروف آھي، چين جي انگ اکرن مطابق سال 2016 ۾ لڳ ڀڳ ستر ملين چيني غربت جي لڪير کان به ھيٺ زندگي گذاري رھيا آھن، جڏھن ته صدر شي جي پاليسي مطابق ھر سال لڳ ڀڳ ڏھه ملين چيني غربت جي لڪير کان ٻاھر نڪري رھيا آھن، صدر شي جي حڪومتي پاليسي مطابق 2020ع تائين چين ۾ ڪوبه ماڻھو غربت جي لڪير کان ھيٺ نه ھوندو. اهو ئي سبب آھي جو صدر شي جن پنگ جي نئي پوليٽبرو جي پنجويھه نمائندن ۽ ست اسٽينڊنگ ڪميٽي جي ميمبرن جو انتخاب چين جي معاشي ۽ سياسي استحڪام کي نظر ۾ رکندي ڪيو آھي.

صدر شي جن پنگ ۽ سندس ٻٽيهه ميمبر تمام مشڪل انتخابي طريقيڪار مان گذري ان جڳھگ تي پڳا آھن، شايد اھيو چوڻ غلط نه ٿيندو ته سندن پاليسين ۾ ناڪامي جا چانسز زيرو برابر آھن. ھي چيني اڳواڻ ڪروڙي سي پي سي ميمبرن کي پنھنجي قابليت ۽ عقل جي بنياد تي پوئتي ڇڏي آيا آھن.

چين جي انگن اکرن مطابق ھن وقت سي پي سي جا اٽڪل 89 ملين پارٽي ميمبر آهن ۽ ھر سال لڳ ڀڳ ويھ لک چيني سي پي سي ۾ شموليت ڪري رھيا آھن. سي پي سي گراس روٽ ڪميٽي هميشه ماڻھن جو سڌ سماءِ ۽ انھن جي مسئلن کي حل ڪرڻ لاءِ زميني سطح تي موجود ھوندي آھي.

چين ۾ طاقت جو مرڪز سي پي سي آھي، سي پي سي فيصلا ڪندي آھي ۽ حڪومت انھن فيصلن تي عمل ڪندي آھي. سي پي سي ۾ ميمبرشپ حاصل ڪرڻ جو طريقيڪار ۽ معيار تمام مشڪل ۽ سخت مقابلي وارو ھوندو آھي. پاڪستان جي سياست وانگر سي پي سي ۾ ٽولن جي صورت ۾ پارٽي جوائن نه ٿي ڪري سگھجي، سي پي سي جي ميمبرشپ اجتمائي نه پر انفرادي ھوندي آھي. ميمبرشپ حاصل ڪرڻ لاءِ ھر شخص کي امتحان مان گذرڻو پوي ٿو جڏھن ته معيار کي يقيني بنائڻ لاءِ تمام مشڪل طريقڪار ۽ ساليانو امتحان به رکيو ويندو آھي.

ڪو به فرد جيڪڏهن سي پي سي جو ميمبر ٿيڻ چاھي ٿو ته ان کي سي پي سي جي گراس روٽ ڪميٽي کي درخواست لکڻي پوي ٿي، جنھن کان پوءِ ڪميٽي ان فرد کي سي پي سي جي منشور مطابق سياسي تربيت ڏيندي آھي، ان فرد کي ھر سال چار دفعا سي پي سي جو امتحان ڏيڻو پوي ٿو جنھن کان پوءِ وڃي پارڻي جو ميمبر ٿئي ٿو. ڪو به شخص تيسيتائين سي پي سي جا ميمبر نه ٿو ٿي سگھي جيسيتائين ھو امتحان پاس نه ٿو ڪري ۽ جيسيتائين گراس روٽ ڪميٽي ان شخص جي ميمبر ٿيڻ جي صلاحيت جي تصديق نه ٿي ڪري. چين جي ھيڏي وڏي آبادي ۾ سي پي سي جا صرف نو ڪروڙ ميمبر ھجڻ شايد ان ڳالهھ جو ثبوت آھي ته سي پي سي جو ميمبر ٿيڻ ڪنھن وڏي امتحان پاس ڪرڻ جي برابر آھي. سي پي سي شايد دنيا جي واحد سياسي جماعت ھوندي، جنھن مان ھر سال ناقص ڪارڪردگي جي ڪري ھزارين ميمرن جي پارڻي ميمبرشپ معطل ڪئي ويندي آھي. سي پي سي جي سڀئي ميمبر پارٽي فيس ڏيڻ جا پابند ھوندا آھن، پر فيس ميمبر فرد جي ڪل آمدني تي منحصر ڪري ٿي، جيتري وڌيڪ آمدني اوتري وڌيڪ فيس، جيتري گھٽ آمدني اوتري گھٽ فيس، ليڪن ڏيڻي لازم آھي، ڪو به ميمبر جيڪڏھن ڇھه مھينا فيس نه ٿو ڏئي ته ان جي ميمبرشپ معطل ڪئي ويندي آھي. سي پي سي ڪميٽي ھر ميمبر جي سالياني رپورٽ تيار ڪندي آھي جنھن ۾ ان رڪن جي ڪارڪردگي، خيالن ۽ روين کي پرکيو ويندو آھي. پارٽي جو ميمبر ٿيڻ مطلب حڪومتي نمائندو ٿيڻ آھي، جڏھن ته سي پي سي مان خارج ٿيڻ مطلب سياسي زندگي جو خاتمو پڻ آھي.

ھن وقت وڏي درجي جي شھرن طرف لڏپلاڻ سي پي سي لاءِ به چيئلنج ثابت ٿي رھي آھي. صدر شي عوام ۽ چيني حڪومت جي وچ ۾ وڌندڙ فرقن ۽ فاصلن کي گھٽ ڪرڻ لاءِ پھرئين دور ۾ ھڪ مھم جو اعلان ڪيو جنھن جو مقصد حڪومت ۽ عوام وچ ۾ ويجھڙائي آڻڻ ۽ عوام جي دلين ۾ جڳھه ٺاھڻ آھي ڇو جو صدر شي جي سي پي سي جو چوڻ آھي ته عوام ۽ حڪومت ۾ فاصلا ۽ فرق وڌن پيا جيڪي نه وڌڻ کپن. صدر شي ان مھم جو نالو ”عوام ۾ واپسي“ رکيو آھي. صدر شي جن پنگ جي وڌندڙ مقبوليت ۽ طاقت مان اندازو لڳائي سگھجي ٿو ته ھو چيني عوام ۾ پنھنجي ۽ سي پي سي جي ساک بحال ڪرڻ ۾ وڏي حد تائين ڪامياب ٿي چڪو آھي.  اميد ٿي ڪجي ته صدر شي جن پنگ وانگر پاڪستان جون سياسي پارٽيون به عوام ۾ واپسي جي مھم شروع ڪنديون ۽ اسان جا سياسي رھنماءَ صدر شي جن پنگ وانگر اھڙا سياسي نظريا متعارف ڪرائيندا جن کي آئين ۽ نصاب جو حصو بڻائي سگھجي.

https://awamiawaz.com/206922/

The Shadow of the Crescent Moon - by Fatima Bhutto

I am not very much interested in reading novel books and the fiction. Three years back I read Mohsin Hamid’s “How to get filthy rich in rising Asia”, and then I decided it was, perhaps, the last fiction I have ever encountered with. Same year, I read about Fatima Bhutto’s The Shadow of the Crescent Moon. I had couple of books in queue on my reading list, mostly on history of Sindh and literature, which I bought from an old book shop of Hyderabad. But, The Shadow of the Crescent Moon was always in my mind whenever I visited book shops, but then again I don’t know why I always told myself ‘not now’. However, in December 2015, while I was about to finish ‘Peak of Eloquence’, I bought The Shadow of the Crescent Moon on my way home.  

The Shadow of the Crescent Moon is not only the story of a single family or three brothers and women associated with them living in Mir Ali, it is the story of every Pakistani, and the story of entire Pakistan, I believe. Author touches sensitive issues like missing persons, drone strikes; suicide bombing, vulnerabilities and above all great psychologic trauma people are living with.  Fatima Bhutto has perfectly portrayed the life and possible threats every Pakistani, especially people of war ridden Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are facing, ever since war against terrorism broke up.  

I have spent a few years with Pakhtun friends and have little idea about their culture and everyday life. Plot of this novel, characters and the scenes are amazingly described and well written. Pashto bites throughout the novel will give you an impression of author’s grip on region, characters and the entire story. Only a few months back I visited Diplomatic Enclave and US embassy in Pakistan - and that too in a rainy winter. While reading Aman Erum’s experience I felt every bit of it. The way write has expressed scenes of Islamabad and Diplomatic Enclave, are amazingly real.

The book is full of drama, love, emotions, sacrifices and the tragedies. Don’t think (like me) if you should read it or not, grab the copy and read it. This will no doubt prove a treat to yourself. Also, Aman Erum’s tailor “Zulfiqar Sons” will definitely bring a smile on your face.

P.S. Remember, on a rainy morning, while you are traveling in a Cab with broken side-window, this book may save you from cold wind and the rain.   

@ShafiqSolangi

#BookReview #FatimaBhutto #TheShadowOfTheCrescentMoon

Mystical Sindh and Sindhi Taliban by Shafiq Solangi

The only province in Pakistan pure of religious extremists is no more the place of peace and harmony it used to be decades ago 

Published in Daily Time October 15, 2014.

 

Was it so unacceptable and shocking to read that the “Sindhi Taliban” might have had a hand in the recent attack on the naval dockyard in Karachi? Most Sindhi writers, intellectuals and common people have scowled over this and strongly ruled out any possibility of the involvement of a Sindh chapter of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Maybe they think the word “Taliban” is not meant for Sindhis, who they may consider were never born to be religiously extremist. Some years back, when the term “Punjabi Taliban” was revealed, Punjabis reacted in exactly the same way. Neglecting this possibility just because Sindh is the land of Sufis and mysticism is neither wise nor a cure for this disease. Let us suppose the Sindhi Taliban label is just a conspiracy, but is socio-religious fanaticism not at its height in Sindh? Is infiltration of religious groups not so visible now?

We regularly witness dangerous sectarian, religious and psychological violence in our lives; it is just a matter of how we see it and if we consider it a real ‘threat’ or not. Remember last year, when a mob burnt a man alive in a small village in Sindh over religious beliefs? This should have been a wake-up call for policymakers, especially for the Sindh government and the Sindhis. The people and government in power perhaps thought it a normal incident and that such incidents happen in a religion-dominated society. Some condemnation statements were issued and, after some days, nobody even remembered this tragedy. This indifference led to a series of such incidents when the dead bodies of the Bheel (Dalit Hindu) community were dug out from local graveyards and were thrown away because local clerics declared that Hindu communities could not bury their dead bodies in Muslim graveyards. In January this year, five people were found dead at the Keenjhar Lake shrine of Noori Jam Tamachi and six other decapitated bodies were found near Ayub Shah shrine, Karachi, with a warning note from the banned TTP Fazlullah group.

It does not stop here; another dangerous wave of religious hatred started when some local religious fundamentalists started to target places of Hindu worship, dharamsalas. First they attacked and burnt a temple in Larkana, then in Karachi, Hyderabad, Rohri and Tharparkar. These extremists have started targeting and harassing Hindus and other non-Muslim communities living in Sindh, already a vulnerable segment of our population. Forced conversion, kidnapping for ransom and target killings of Hindhu business community members are already routine headlines of local newspapers.

The objectives of these attacks and incidents are not just to threaten and terrify the Hindus or other minority communities but are visibly planned attacks on the religious harmony of Sindh by banned militant groups. The only province in Pakistan pure of religious extremists is no more the place of peace and harmony it used to be decades ago. Sindh, which was the land of love and Sufi rituals, is facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab style religious radicalisation. 

Banned religious-militant outfits are operating freely; they have established thousands of religious seminaries that inject ideological jihadism into the minds of the children enrolled. Shockingly, there are no checks and balances on what they are teaching in these seminaries and who is funding them. According to official data on registered seminaries, out of 20,000 seminaries in Pakistan, 5,500 are operating in Sindh. However, senior local journalists and intellectuals think that the number of unregistered seminaries is around 30,000, run by Barelvi, Deobandi, Shia, Ahle Sunnat, Ahle Hadith and other sects. These religious schools and thousands of students being trained will produce Taliban-like jihadists in the coming years, which may pose a serious threat to Sindh.

When Hafiz Saeed visited some cities in January 2014 and later organised huge rallies in Tharparkar district, even the government of Sindh could not stop him. This raises serious concerns of whether the Sindh government has the power and courage to stop the religious and political activities of banned outfits. Liberal secular fronts in Sindh and of nationalist parties have also kept mum on these religious activities and the expansion of such banned organisations.

Currently, there are two kinds of threats to the Sufi land of Sindh. First is the increase of banned outfits in urban and rural areas of Sindh through old and new seminaries. Second is the radicalisation of society in general based on sectarian and anti-humanitarian grounds. Both are equally harmful for the future of Sindh and there is a dire need to counter it at all levels. The government should take action against these extremist quarters and structure a mechanism to review their curriculum and monitor their activities. The Sindh government, secular political parties, nationalist parties and civil society should now stand against this before it is too late.


The writer is a communications specialist in an Islamabad-based organization. He tweets @shafiqsolangi 

 

 

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/opinion/15-Oct-2014/mystical-sindh-and-sindhi-taliban  

I have an Objection, My Lord

Institutionalization of Judiciary remains

By Shafiq Solangi

My Lord, who was guarded by his close companions, like, Aitzaz Ahsan, Ali Ahmed Kurd, Asma Jahangir and many others during Lawyers Movement during 2007-08, left for his home alone on his final day in Supreme Court. My lord’s gloomy departure from Supreme Court raises may questions. Like, why his close aides left him soon after his restoration? Was it because ‘lawyers’ movement’ had achieved its prime purpose after Chief Justice was restored in 2008? What ‘lawyers’ movement’ actually was, had it the only purpose to restore CJP?

No, the actual ‘lawyers’ movement’ had to begin after the restoration of Chief Justice of Pakistan which unfortunately went covert and the judicial system and institutionalization of judiciary remained untouched.  

The second phase of ‘lawyers’ movement’ was to bring an institutional revolution in judicial system itself, to deliver speedy justice and end corruption in it. While my Lord kept taking notices of corruption cases in different government department, he never noticed that in all the ‘national corruption perception surveys’ judicatory was also one among the top most corrupt departments of the country.  Prime Ministers, Politicians, bureaucrats, executives, and some of security personnel were summoned in corruption charges by his court but let’s also recall how many Judges were convened in same charges? Surprisingly, none!

My lord’s court always pressed federal government and provincial government to do ‘Do More’. From petroleum prices to samosa prices, he always intruded in government affairs.  Interestingly, on his last day in Supreme Court, one of the newspapers estimated that around 1.65 million cases are still pending in small and big courts of the country. Including, the presidential reference to review into ‘judicial murder’ of first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

Analyze my lord’s eight years in office and one will find that he was mainly focused on administrative, executive and political issues, while the cases of Pakistan Peoples Party remained his court’s priority. Sensational, flashing Sou Moto breaking news remained the center of attraction of news channels. Former Chief Justice also summoned elected then Prime Minster Yousif Raza Gilani in National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) cases and decided his disqualification on June 19, 2012 while declining the ruling of constitutional authorities like Speaker National Assembly and Chief Election Commissioner. Fascinating, wasn’t it?

The Chief Executive of Pakistan was summoned and sacked by My Lord, justice was served and the people give him a huge applause. But, Justice Markandey Katju, a former Judge Supreme Court of India opposed this and said “In my opinion the Pakistan Supreme Court has gone totally overboard, flouted all canons of Constitutional Jurisprudence, and is only playing to the galleries and not exercising judicial restraint. It is thereby upsetting the delicate balance of power in the Constitutional scheme. Moreover, how can the court remove a Prime Minister? This is unheard of in a democracy. The Prime Minister holds office as long he has the confidence of Parliament, not the confidence of the Supreme Court.” He also wrote, “I regret to say that the Pakistani Supreme Court, particularly its Chief Justice, has been showing an utter lack of restraint. This is not expected of superior courts”.

Once he dismissed unanimously elected Prime he convened his predecessor, Prime Minster Raja Pervez Asharf. My lord ordered new chief executive to write letter to Swiss Authorities to reopen the cases against Mr. Zaradri, otherwise he will be sent back to pavilion, like Mr. Gillani. Afraid of judicial victimization, Farooq H Naek on behalf of then Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf wrote a letter to Swiss government to reopen the cases again Mr. Zardari. Since the causes were already closed by Swiss authorities so they refused to reopen the cases. Now, wasn’t that superior Courts responsibility to review its decision and admit this miscarriage of justice and apologize democratically elected Prime Minister, Mr. Gillani?  

Some of the political analysts believe that it was him who stopped military intervention. But, how can I give credit to former CJP for restraining military intervention, while he himself is one among those who validated General Musharaf’s Coup and violated the constitution of Pakistan? How can I praise him for raising the issue of missing persons of Balochistan while he never took a single notice of missing persons in Sindh? How can I give him the credit of Asghar Khan Case when he directed FIA to initiate investigation and fair trail only if sufficient evidences are found? He took notice when Babar Awan recited some poetry outside Supreme Court, while Fasil Raza Abidi, who requested you on almost every news channel to summon him in Arslam Iftikhar’s case, was not heard.

I have an objection! My lord. This was not the actual idea behind ‘Lawyers Movement’. Your court was more of a politically inspired institution than a justice department. During your long tenure, judicial system of this country remained the same, corrupt, lazy, politically and financially motivated.

Since, the era of political-justice has reached to an end; it is now responsibility of Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, new Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan to continue real lawyers’ movement and bring an institutional change in judicial system of Pakistan.

Shafiq Solangi

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Who will embrace Vero Kolhi?

Shirimati Dero alias Vero Kolhi - unknown to the many, is challenging traditional political paradigms in Sindh. She has become a hope of local community and symbol of courage and women empowerment in Sindh. She is inspiring thousands of women, children and men, especially vulnerable section of Sindhi society, the Hindus.

Veero Kolhi has become the first Hindu woman contesting provincial general elections in the history of Pakistan. Veero is contesting as independent candidate against Sharjeel Momon of Pakistan Peoples Party and others at PS-50 Tandojam-Sindh. While submitting her papers in Election Commission she declared her wealth as two beds (Charpai), five mattresses (Rili), cooking pots - and 2,800 rupees savings.

Once herself bonded-laborer of a landlord in Sindh, Veero has been struggling for bonded-labourers and fighting against the landlords for labor rights.  She may not win the elections but at least she has given a hope to her people and gained a huge public support across the province.

Today when we are celebrating International Labor Day – May 1, this brave lady is fighting alone for labor rights in Sindh!

Many political parties in Pakistan claims to be pro-poor and laborer – lets see which political party embrace Verro and takes her mission forward!

Shafiq Solangi

And, they burnt him alive – Shafiq Solangi

And, they burnt him alive

By – Shafiq Solangi

Every time I read about crucifixion I ask myself that how could Romans kill Jesus so brutally? How could men behave like animals to kill a person? How could a man kill another with no mercy and humanity?  If human is superior creation of its creator - what makes it different? And, I end-up with many such unanswered questions.

On January 21^st, 2012 when the Sindh was celebrating cultural ‘Topi Ajrak’ day – some people were busy in torturing an unknown person at Sita Village, a small village in Dadu district.

The day was marked to convey the world that Sindh is the land of peace, and Sufism, and the Indus is the proud civilization where people live with peace, love and tolerance since thousands of years. The day when people were chanting the slogans’ of Hosho and Hemoon - these villagers were butchering an unknown accused man. The day when our scholars were talking about message of peace given by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sachal Sarmast and Saami - one mob was busy there in killing a human being.

When a friend texted me about this I was shocked to know that such inhuman incident could happen in Sindh, and in village very near to my own village. I was thinking wither this has happened in Afghanistan or in Sindh because I have never heard such incident had happened in Sindh before.

Later, I learnt that around 1:00am at the night watchman of the village saw some smoke in the Mosque, he called other villagers and when they went inside the mosque they saw something was burning and a man was sitting near. Those who entered into the mosque first saw that the man was burning the copies of Quran and the pictures of Quranic verses. They caught him - beat him and then hand over to the Rajo Dero police station near village. Police lodged First Investigation Report (FIR) against him under Sections 302 and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

This was fine, he desecrated holy book - you beaten him and handed over to the police. Now, let the law decide in what conditions he did all that - and why. Unfortunately, this didn’t end here. 

Around 9:00am crowd gathers outside the police station and demanded that man be given to them. When police refused, they raided the police station, beaten police officers and snatched their weapons. They took unidentified accused person into their custody and throw him down form three story building of the Rajo Dero police station. He was dragged down by the mob from police station to the Village bus stop where he was fired with fuel and burnt till death around 10:30am.

Ask the villagers and then will tell one thing this about this unknown person very surely that he was mentally disturb, an insane person. Infect a normal person will never set on fire religious books and watch them burn. Instead of sending him to the mental hospital he was beaten up and dragged to the police station – and consequently was burnt alive.

Now, the question arises that is this the way to punish any accused? Who will decide the life or death of an accused, the law or the single Pontius Pilate? Who has authorized these people to decide and kill such accused? Why our state machinery is so inefficient and powerless - while these mobs so powerful? Even if this unknown person had desecrated holy Quran – who was authorized to investigate the truth and punish him, the courts or the crowd?

This incident is alarming for our law and order agencies, courts - and for we the people. Religious extremism and religious intolerance has engulfed our society where people are killed and burnt alive in the name of religion. Now when all this has happened, I am thinking who among these was real mentally abnormal, the person who burnt the holy Quran or the people who burnt this unknown person alive.  

Janay kab kon kisay maar de kafir keh kay

Shehr ka shehr musalman hua phirta hay.

Shafiq Solangi tweets @shafiqsolangi 

VIEW : In Pakistan: accusations and protests — Shafiq Solangi Daily Times – Monday, October 08, 2012

VIEW : In Pakistan: accusations and protests — Shafiq Solangi

Daily Times – Monday, October 08, 2012

Iron rods, sticks and weapons were defiantly not the stuff to celebrate the Ishq-e-Rasool day with

In September, we experienced two very caustic events that raised some questions on the credibility of Pakistan at the national and international level. First, there was the statement of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan on nuclear proliferation and second, the countrywide violent protests against the sacrilegious film.

The nuclear scientist revealed that the former prime minister of Pakistan, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, asked him to transfer nuclear technology to two countries. He said, “At least 800 people are used to supervise the process. The then prime minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto summoned me and named the two countries that were to be assisted, and issued clear directions in this regard.” However, in 2004, Dr Khan confessed that he helped in the proliferation of nuclear technology to three countries including Iran, Libya and North Korea. If this story is true, the question arises why he remained silent for the last eight long years. Why did he not reveal this information when Ms Bhutto was alive; she would have answered him more appropriately. Would it not be appropriate to say that while Ms Bhutto is not alive, Dr Khan wants to cleanse his guilt by blaming a person who cannot answer his fabricated claim?

In the same interview, while talking about the former prime minister, Mian Nawaz Sharif and the nuclear test, Dr Khan said, “...But I made it clear that if he did so, I shall put the facts before the media. After this, Mian Nawaz Sharif was compelled to conduct the nuclear tests.” Now, Dr Khan, in his own words, proves that he compelled Mr Sharif to go for nuclear testing. If he disobeyed the then prime minister Mr Sharif, why did he not refuse Benazir Bhutto? Why did he not threaten her that he would put the facts before the media?

Interestingly, there are some contradictions within Dr Khan’s statements. If 800 people supervise the process, how did he manage to do the business of proliferation alone? Or did he take all 800 concerned people on board before obeying the command of the then prime minister, Ms Bhutto? While Dr Khan now claims that he proliferated nuclear technology to two countries on the command of the late Ms Bhutto, while in his confession in 2004, he admitted he proliferated to three countries (Iran, Libya and North Korea). Can Dr Khan tell the nation if he assisted the third country as a personal goodwill gesture?

Now since Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan wants to prove that he merely followed orders and he is innocent, he should also realise that such a statement is highly irresponsible from a nuclear scientist. It will not help him to clear the mess created in the past but it will also further damage the image of Pakistan at the national and international level. Therefore, he should act responsibly and not blame a twice-elected prime minister, and the pride of the nation, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

Then came a Friday, of September 21, 2012. Not a good Friday, it was indeed. The way we behaved was unfortunately undisciplined, unorganised and violent. This was not the way to show the love for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In fact, what we as a nation conveyed to the world community was something very bad and unexpected. Iron rods, sticks and weapons were defiantly not the stuff to celebrate the Ishq-e-Rasool day with.

If noted, a majority of these violent protesters were young (under 18) and it would not be a wild guess that many of these were students of madrassas. These young madrassa students seemed too well prepared to damage public property; it was as if they were asked to do that. Burning and destroying government and private property and killing innocent people is un-Islamic and it is strongly condemnable.

Later on, some political parties and media sections accused the government for all that happened on that unfortunate day and termed it as ‘state-sponsored’ violent strikes. However, keeping political point scoring statements aside, we should give the credit where it is due. It was a wise decision to ensure there was no loss of lives and property. That day people were considered to be more secure in their homes than on the roads or at the workplace.

I keep thinking, which one from the above two was more dangerous; when I reach a conclusion, I find both of them equally terrible, irresponsible and vicious in their own way.

The writer is a research analyst in Islamabad and tweets at @shafiqsolangi He can be reached at Shafiqsolangi_ir@hotmail.com

http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\10\08\story_8-10-2012_pg3_5