For the last few days I had not been watching too much TV (apart from IPL), given my somewhat busy routine and the facts that:

1) Our local TV has become extremely uninteresting
2) Our local TV tends to over-hype, dramatize, scandalize and criticize every single news event to the last extent known to mankind
3) I prefer internet as a more reliable source of news on Pakistan

But today I sat down for a while to watch a news channel. Three pieces of news one after the other struck me and I will paraphrase them here without commenting on them. It may be business as usual (or life as usual) in our country, but it hasn’t always been like this… or has it?

a) Severe traffic jam in Lahore due to a mass procession in front of Governor’s House. The protestors were carrying 3 corpses of their tribe/community who were killed in a clash. The scenes were very disturbing. Chief Minister Punjab had to come over and negotiate.
b) Similar protest in front of Governor’s house in Quetta on the same day. I have actually forgotten what was this protest about, but probably on some killings as well. As I said, these instances are business as usual now.
c) A tribal clash broke out some days ago on killing of a dog. The rival tribes fought for a few days (killing several people) before the elders were able to sort it out. As a way of punishment, one tribe handed over its 10 young girls to the rival tribe along with 7 lakh rupees.

A few days ago, mob in Karachi burnt a couple of thugs to death on the grounds that police would not be able to get them prosecuted. A few days later mob in Lahore tried to do something similar.

Before that we were trying to figure out why do we have 3000W shortage of electricity leading to 6-8 hours loadshedding per day, not to mention shortage of wheat which is supposed to be the staple food of Pakistan, an agriculture based country.

And before that we were having one new suicide bombing every 6th day in one city or the other.

And before that we were trying to cope with a situation where our GDP growth targets were being revised downwards, while inflation (food, fuel and housing) kept going upwards.

And before that our major problems were 55% illiteracy, utter lack of health facilities outside main cities, serious pollution and frequent violence inside main cities and corruption everywhere around.

Not to mention poverty and lawlessness… the list goes on…

However I don’t blame the present or any of the past governments. The problems that we have are much more deep rooted. One particular regime (whether Mush (1999-2007) or PPP (1988-90, 1993-5) or PML-N (1990-93, 1995-9) cannot be blamed for all this and that. Maybe as a society, we have all failed in doing our bit, or making our contribution towards progress.

After all, when we blame the mob, we forget that in aggregate terms, “we” are the mob. Why don’t we look at things this way… if 55% of Pakistanis are illiterate, mathematically speaking we all are 55% illiterate, no matter what degrees we tend to flaunt among peers and friends… it’s only when we start to realize our duty as citizens (not that of standing in protests and shouting slogans, but that of actually doing something constructive and positive)… only then we will achieve anything.

Every effect has a cause behind it and for the horrific act of terrorism involving two suicide attacks at the Pakistan Navy War College on the Mall road yesterday must have an equally horrendous one behind it.

‘Scene of the blast’ - Image: BBC News

The sad event resulted in death of almost 8 people in all (including two bombers) while injuring around 20.

We as a nation and our upcoming government as the newly elected representative of the people should now seriously try to understand what is making such events a regular occuring in our country.

Poverty, illiteracy, unplanned families, brainwashing by extremists, deprivation from the basic necessities of life; all are too clear to surprise us if we don’t know the causes behind a young teenager’s motivation to blow himself up in protest, revenge or in the name of God!

We dearly need to address these issues first before blaming ‘external’ forces, the religious extremist mullahs or simply the West’s war on terror for everytime a poor 19 year old dies and kills many with himself.

Any Aitzaz Ahsan is going to protest for this??????
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Though i full heartedly support the protest by lawyers as many of others do - but we often see these issues - yesterday an Ambulance was stuck in traffic jam at The Mall. The poor guys had to drive the vehicle on to the Pedestrian Walkway - he managed to get himself to a U-Turn around Alhamra Cultural complex and drive out.

Well i don’t blame any body - i know these protests are valid and necessary to bring peace and stability to our country and i know every Thursday lawyers protest and its not wise to take any route via Mall before 3 PM. I wonder why the driver of the ambulance didn’t knew this (perhaps out of city patient or something)

In a recent news, Traffic is not being blocked for Punjab Governor, Khalid Maqbool - and I’ve seen his car stuck couple of times in traffic as well. I wonder when every one will follow the same path….

It was the most grieving news for the people of this city; a suicide bomb attack; killing none but on-duty policemen and innocent civilians; at least 22 of them while injured more than 70.

Tragedy struck when a heavy police presence was guarding surroundings of the Lahore High Court building on Mall Road for an anti-government Lawyers’ Protest Rally scheduled to be held in the court premises this afternoon.

Just ten minutes before the black-coated men could reach the General Post Office building, right next to the courthouse; a young man arrived at the scene on a motorbike, approached the guards and blew himself up. The result, as all saw in shock, was a mind-wreaking scene of blood and dead bodies scattered on the road.

Twenty-two people, 20 of them policemen, a tonga and a rickshaw driver as well as two passengers included.

Eye-witnesses claim to have heard the blast from at least a kilometer away and that it shook office blocks, shops, GPO and the Lahore High Court building in the vicinity.

City’s emergency service, Rescue 1122, claims to have picked up 22 dead bodies while at least 70 of the critically injured have been shifted to the Mayo, Services and Ganga Ram Hospitals.

It seems like after similar incidents of terrorism in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Karachi last year, Lahore could not have avoided such an imminent threat.

It was truly a very sad day after such a horrific occurrence right in the heart of city’s commercial district.

We request our readers to please pray for these brave men, who either died or are lying injured and helpless on hospital beds, and sacrificed themselves while protecting us from the terror these inhuman creeds of fanatics pose to our lives.

We salute and pray for martyrs who became victims of this horrendous act of terrorism.

We salute our Heroes; the Policemen!

My cities…..for the last three days, precisely, are being defined by deserted streets with governing silence filled of fear, death and destruction, what else???

Benazir has been killed, grave, I heard the news, something died right inside there (don’t they know how precious a life is????????), then I saw that on TV, I was about to leave for market when my cell got a burst of SMSs and then calls, ….stay home, don’t go out, its not safe out there. At the first place, it was not easy to absorb the shock and then these instructions, but more important was to ensure the safety of the loved ones who were outside home (with “a busy network”). The very moments, whole nation was mourning on the sad demise of Ms. Bhutto vehemently, I really did not feel the urge to have my dinner (reminded me of the earthquake days). Pain (is there any bigger word to express pain?), sadness, and a definitive sense of bereavement was everywhere. I saw it on the faces of anchor persons on TV, the leaders, and even nonpolitical persons… also inside my home.

But, what the heck?… why we had to feel so unsafe with the news that reaction to her brutal assassination has spread anarchy across the country (khatra hay, don’t go outside), I mean this was too much, destroying/burning government and private properties and vehicles???? FOR WHAT???? (even Edhi vans were burned down in Karachi). WHERE IS Peaceful Protest thingy??? ….(did you guys observed that most of the leading protesters were youngsters/teenagers breaking the cars??).

The second day, though Qari sahib made his way to our home to teach kids (unexpectedly, motorbikes were on the go), my brother was still in the factory area, he was forced by us to spend the night there. A few grocery stores were opened in the morning in Lahore, say three or four maybe. Petrol pumps did become active by evening, that you can see in the pictures, which was the biggest concern for people.

Anyhow, tomorrow is a working day (?)….. (lets see whats gonna happen) as everyone is hoping for a peaceful and calm situation in the whole country (we are losing billions on daily basis due to closed businesses), everyone is concerned and praying for the stabilization and that this chaos withers away ASAP. All I know is that I want my cities back, I want no one to be unsafe ….. I want peace for everyone, lets pray and hope for the best.
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Lawyers, civil activists who had gathered at the Lahore High Court this monday to protest on Human Rights Day made the event more interesting by shouting slogans in Punjabi Tappa Style. Have a taste of it:

ballay ballay,
ho ballay ballay,
asan judgaan di bahali waikhni,
PCO dian jarran kata kay,
judgaan di bahali waikhni

(We want to see the judiciary restored; we will uproot the Provisional Constitutional Order)

ballay ballay,
ho ballay ballay,
bhae shehrian ne paye wakhtay,
policaan beh gyan thaanay jaa kay,
shehrian ne paye wakhtay

(The citizens have rose to the occasion and now the police is in trouble)

ballay ballay,
ho ballay ballay,
bhae choraan nay judge dak laye,
saday bolan tay pabandian la kay,
choraan nay judge dak laye

(The thieves have caught the judges and put a ban on freedom of expression)

ballay ballay,
ho ballay ballay,
bhae tor muzahmat di,
kalay kapray tay kalay banner,
tor muzahmat di

(Look how well the protest is being carried out by the lawyers and other civil society members)

Full Story: DT

i just had to take a detour due to a protest going on outside the police station in front of Bhage-Jinnah. Large number of people were shouting “Rhia Kero - Riha Kero” - and on speaking with one person , he told me they are protesting for some students caught by police.

Seems like the same incident is being followed here

PTI Lahore Wing has announced for two different events in the city and both are scheduled on Friday 30th November. Details are as follows:

Event Title: Peaceful Protest for Restoration of Judiciary
Arranged By: Joint Students Action Committee & Civil Society
Venue: Liberty Market
Date: Friday Nov 30th 2007
Time: 2:00 p.m.

Description: Many students from several institutes (FAST, LUMS, LSE, PU, GC, NCA, Skans, BNU, UCL, FC etc) have arranged this. They will be joining the protest rally on neutral grounds. i.e. no political party or representation will be there.

Since you as PTI supporter believe in ‘Rule of Law’ and ‘Restoration of Judiciary’ thus requested to join Students there on neutral grounds. no party banners or play cards to be displayed.

—————

Event Title: Student Convention (Address by Imran Khan)
Arranged By: Insaf Student Wing
Venue: Ichara More
Date: Friday Nov 30th 2007
Time: 3:00 p.m.

Description: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Student Wing has organized a Student Convention where Chairman Imran Khan will be addressing to the youth about Rule of Law and current political scenario.

Hussain Nawaz Sharif:

“I’m feeling really happy to come to my birth place. How would you feel if you come to your home after 9 years… I feel the same. Lahore is my birth city and I drove myself from Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore to Jatti Umrah to feel the difference; Lahore has changed a lot but still, home sweet home. We thank all the party members and the public, because; they are here just because of there (public/party) support.”

He was asked to say something on his political stance but Hussain Nawaz Sharif refused to comment.

Mariam Nawaz Sharif:

“I am overwhelmed with the love and can’t stop my tears. It has been with the grace of Allah and is a result of our patience. As much the public waited for us, we desperately waited for this moment too. Thanks to Allah that we are here.”

Captain Saffdar (Retrd.):

“It’s so welcoming and we are really happy to be back home. Congratulations to all the people on this great occasion.”

He got off the car and embraced with the party members and congratulated the party members.
{Captain Saffdar is the husband of Mariam Nawaz Sharif}

Kulsoom Nawaz was not available for any comment.

The pics of above three would be added tomorrow. (I got it but is unable to upload)

Stay tuned for today’s live updates at Lahore Metroblogging.