Admiring Taliban (God Help Me)

Well as the title suggests, this post is not for weak hearts, people with no sense of humour, adults under the mental age of 7 and proponents of freedom of speech. Wait a minute did I say proponents of freedom of speech, well thats what I said. Normally those who advocate freedom of speech mean, freedom of 'their' version of speech and admiring Taliban may not conform to their concept of free speech. Only anti-religious and blasphemous stuff qualifies for that (pun intended).
Anyway all I wanted to say was that these Taliban guys are really dashing. I mean they have a rugged, rustic, macho and chauvinistic air about them. They look so manly. Now honestly if we take our regular, cleanly-shaven, trying-to-look-bad Hollywood icons and any Talib walking down the FATA hills; who would look more manly and bad. I got you there didn't I; because we all agree that Taliban are more BAD. But I was emphasizing manliness here (Ahem).
Okay now lets make a side by side comparison. Lets compare Mr. Rambo with (Late) Nek Mohammad. Just for the record, Nek Mohammad was probably the first victim of a US drone operating on the wrong side of the border.

Oh by the way for the record once again, Mr. Rambo also had the honor of fighting in Afghanistan against the Commies alongside (the then called) Mujahideen. How time changes!
Coming back to the point. Now guys (and especially girls) please leave all your biases aside and tell me whose your man?
No, didn't impress you. Okay then lets try Taliban vs. Bollywood. Here we go:

Here we have Mr. Salman Khan (Sallu G) versus Hakeem Ullah Mehsud (the newly appointed TTP chief, believed to be already dead by some). Now both of them are 'BAD' in their own ways but whose more manly? The earring clad guy with an aura of stupidity OR the really dangerous guy on the right (side of the column). Please also keep in mind that Taliban are a species that are really hard to photograph. Ask any Nat Geo photographer whats easy to catch on film, the tonsils of a living African Lion or the turban of dead Taliban and he's sure to choose the African version. Unless you get abducted by them (Taliban I mean) its really hard to photograph them. In fact when one does get abducted its Talibaan who 'shoot' the photographer, with all those exotic settings and props. On the other hand the filmy guys are meant to be photographed. They use all means possible to improve their looks whereas Taliban may spend the least of their time in front of a mirror. But still I guess they manage to steal (rather kidnap) the show.
Now all those self-righteous, forward-looking and liberal-minded folks might be thinking, whats the point of this whole post. Well folks, there is no point in this post, it was just for laughs. Humour doesn't have to 'politically correct'. If it can make you laugh it has done the job. Got my point now??? :)

At Imran Khan's Rally

On the eve of 3rd July, 2009, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) organized a protest rally on the monumental Mall Road (Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam) of Lahore.
protest was against acute power shortage, a sudden rise of prices in petroleum products (that will trigger an across the board price hike) and unemployment. The issues are indeed the most burning ones faced by Pakistan today. I'm sorry but terrorism, religious extremism, Talibanization etc. does hurt me but NOT as much as these things do. A suicide bomber is a real threat but he would rather kill me in an instant, however the above stated issues will leave me lurching somewhere between life and death, a much more painful ordeal. To get killed by a bomber is NOT a priority here .. its plain sarcasm. But lets leave that debate for a later occasion.

I later learnt that Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) also organized similar rally on that very day at about the same location, few hours before this particular event. PTI and JI are two political groups that opted to boycott last years' general elections. It is good to see that they are playing their role in national politics one way or the other. I wish these political forces join hands for these issues and make a united front to get them resolved, just like they did for the "Chief Justice" issue.

Anyhow coming back to the rally. The rally was properly organized and had lot of party workers and a representation of women too. However, one thing which I was looking for and was utterly lacking was the educated youth and the white collar middle class. The workers present there were the typical paid party workers. Not saying that they shouldn't be there but my image of PTI was a bit different. A friend of mine who is a party member and comes from an educated background was there at the rally but he too was watching the event from the sidelines like me. But lets not draw any conclusions from these observations at this point in time.

Imran Khan joined in the rally later on and as is natural the crowds were electrified by his presence. The procession then marched on towards WAPDA House where Imran Khan had to make a speech. The numbers out there in the procession were quite plausible. According to my most conservative estimate there were 2 to 3 thousand people in that rally. News items from national dailies about the event are also attached.

The News

Express News

Strange Behaviour of a Dog

When I was a lad of 13-14 I used to have a pet dog. I called him DoDo. Not that he resembled any bird or something, it just sounded nice to me. Dodo was an interesting character. Like most of the pets he picked up some human habbits. However once he showed a really peculiar behaviour. I don't know if he picked it from humans .. or its the humans who pick it from them (the dogs i mean).
Once I took Dodo for a walk in the park. It so happened that another dog was also there in the park and was rather big, at least bigger than my Dodo. The devil barked at him and tried to challenge him. Dodo behaved as if nothing had happend, as if he did'nt hear anyone barking. I urged him to pick a fight but he just ignored. I was a bit disappointed.
Anyhow when I came home our 'brave' Dodo stumbled upon a dust bin with some papers in it and boy he went mad on the dust bin. He tore apart the papers, barked at it and bit the dust bin too. As if he was showing that he is a ferocious creature and once angered can go to any limits to tear apart his rival. This behaviour really amused me and my family. He was probably trying to overcome the embarassement he faced in the park, due to the other dog. Well, interesting story, isn't it, but whats the point? Ah forget the point and why must I always try to make a point. However, read these news items and make a point yourself .. if you can!!!
COAS [Gently] Asks US to Stop Drone Attacks
Striking Down Drones Could Trigger War, says Rao Qamar
And Lastly,
COAS Flies F-16, Takes Part in Operation

The Puppet Show

"Dehshat Khan" sitting somewhere in his cave, oiling his guns and listening to 'FM' radio. His mind is crystal clear about his deeds and beliefs. No shadow of doubt or an attempt of self analysis ever crosses his mind. His religious thought deeply entwined with his local customs is devoid of sane religious and worldly thought. He acts fearlessly and even, mercilessly.

Captain "Hero Malik" trained in the elite army school, filled with pride and sense of superiority. His organization is the "most honest" and "patriotic" institution of the country. Obeying his superiors is not just his professional etiquette, its his way of life. He never flinches before he acts upon what is ordered. He too, never thinks before and after any command he carries out. The success of mission, his primary goal and the integrity of his deeds, never shaken or even questioned.

Be it Dehshat Khan or Capt. Hero Malik, both seem to be just puppets. With their strings in the hands of a puppeteer. What do we know about their puppet masters, they are behind the scenes. Do they have a same puppet master? Or they have different masters who sometimes shake hands and sometimes just stay aloof. What do we know? We are just watching the puppet show, where Dehshat Khan and Capt. Hero Malik are trying to fight the hell out of each other. Their masters are orchestrating the show perfectly and we, are just watching the show ... just watching the show!!!

Where are we heading?

Shortage of power, rising prices, rising insurgencies, less water for irrigation, a starkly divided society, "friendly" yet hostile neighbours, religious extremism, liberal fascism, terrorist attacks, dwindling economy, subjugation to foreign masters ..... the list goes on.
Should we all seek immigrations to first world destinations? Should we just leave this "mess"? Should we stop thinking and just keep believing the "official truth"? Should we just "talk" about it and forget the next moment? Should we keep living the way we do or try to change ourselves inside out? Should we just forget about it? Should we lose hope?
To walk away is easy, to let go is simple .. the struggle to survive is daunting.
Nobody knows where the destiny will take us? But the question is where are we heading as individuals, as citizens of Pakistan and as Muslims loyal to Allah and His Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?
Where are we heading???