Coming back to streets of lahore! i drive around at different place but when i come at any signal to stop my car, the beggars starts to come car by car for asking money. Well, in my heart i feel pain and help poor people asking for people, may be one or two rupee can do it. But as a society i have to think why these so many beggars are present at every signal and places asking for money. Are we really poor or potrait to be poor society.

The beggars on streets and roads of lahore are very organized and they are multiplying with time.
i define the lahore beggars in few categories.

1)Old Beggars
Amma jee and baba jee, the old people who come to you and ask for money.
these old people use to accept anything whatever you give but some dont take money less then
Rs.10 Rupee. This shows a new attitude in beggars due to high cost of living.

2)Family of beggars
One lady holding son in one arm and asking for money, once you give some money to her
her daughter will come to you, if you have given to her also, the son or another small child will come
for asking more money.

3)Smart Beggars
They come to you and asking for money by telling you a problem e.g.
One person on bike come to you and ask u, pls help me as i dont have money to petrol
Pls give me some money for bread or Pls give me some money for traveling back by home town
which is out of lahore.

4)Newspaper Beggars
The unsuccessful newspapers agency which no one bothered to read, they hired small boys for
distributing newspapers on signals, if you dont buy the newspaper, they ask you for some money

5)Glass cleaner Beggars
if you stop your car and the car is dirty, the small boy will come to your car and start cleanning
if you tell him to stop, he wont, untill you really get angry. So the small boy will clean your front
and back car window and come for asking some money.

6)Cursing Beggars
These beggars have their own terms, they can be old person wearing rings or some snake-man who
shows snake dances or it can be monkey-man, these low profile jugglars in early 80’s, earn money by show tricks but now they ask for money on signals or shops or coming at your home.

7)Accidental Beggars
These beggars have some physical problem like arm or hand is not present or they dont have leg
or burnt or some other physical or mental problem. I can understand, they might be requiring money
and prefered on other people.

8)Naked Beggars
These beggars are very few in lahore, few slices of clothes are present on their body and these old
men are walking naked on main roads. Once one man was standing in center of main road facing to
traffic and not wear clothes and yelling to the coming cars towards him. This incident recently happened few days back near link canal road joining Mall and Jail road.

9)Healthy Beggars
These beggars looks quiet okay, who can work but they are asking money as they find its easy to
earn money via begging.

Well, these all above people should be stopped, as they creating problems for themselves and us
due to them, traffic jams can happen and we should not encouraged them by giving money as i think
you can give money to really needy person who u know rather then on streets as these people play
with your emotions. The police present on signals should stop such people on roads and we can stop them by not giving money.

Radio channels were airing a traffic report all yesterday evening about the massive traffic jam at Chowk Chauburji and the resulting chaos in and around the area. Diversions were being recommended to alternative arteries by the Lahore Traffic Police Department.

Photo by Khalid Babur at Wikipedia

For every Lahori, this beautiful monument is a familiar structure and now lies in the middle of a thriving commercial area. Shops, restaurants and offices circle the intersection where Chauburji stands reminiscent of Princess Zeb-un-Nissa’s once grand and extensive gardens.

Built around 1646 AD by Zebinda Begum or Princess Zeb-un-Nissa, daughter of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir, Chauburji’s current dilapidated state is not a new sight. Go to the Shalimar Gardens; Emperor Jahangir’s Tomb; Queen Noor Jahan’s Tomb, all these places were once crown jewels among the ‘City of Gardens’ i.e. Lahore’s green heavens and now there hardly is anything left in color there.

Our general respect for our heritage and particularly regarding such architectural wonders is as low as for the traffic rules inscribed for us by the ‘goras’ and which are considered to be followed only by the really dumb.

A visit to Chauburji gives you a glimpse into Lahore’s magnificent past and, somehow makes you sad when thinking of its unsure future.

Daughter of the first popularly elected Pakistani Prime Minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto;
.
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Again; a Bhutto;
.
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A Harvard and Oxford alumnus;
.
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The first Asian woman to become the President of the Oxford Union;
.
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A lady to lead a nation after her father’s execution;
.
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The first female head-of-state of an Islamic country;
.
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Also the youngest Prime Minister in the world at that time;
.
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Two stints at power as the elected Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
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Daughter of the East;
.
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Darling of the West;
.
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A Mohtarma; even to her opponents;
.
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A sister to witness very early deaths (assasinations) of her two brothers;
.
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A wife to a controversial husband;
.
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A mother to three;
.
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Our BB;
.
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Papa’s Pinky!
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.
She was……. Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007)
May her soul rest in peace

You would be remembered for so many feats of which the above-mentioned are just a pint…

I wasn’t near a city with a population in excess of 200,000 when tragedy struck and we all saw ‘Daughter of the East’ so brutally murdered in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007. Still, I’m witness to the uncertain law and order situation, widespread across cities and even smaller towns of Punjab at that time.

December 29, 2007 was the night when we, as a family, decided to head back to Lahore from the Southern part of Punjab province where we all had spent the last couple of days in reunion fun and Eid happiness.

The plan was to leave after sunset for a seven hour journey that was to take us through several important settlements and cities including Multan, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Okara and finally to Thokar Niaz Beg at Lahore.

With news of total chaos and violence taking place in many parts of the country, especially in Sindh and Karachi, we were quite expecting live accounts of damaged infrastructure, burnt banks, ransacked offices and unlawful crowds roaming the streets and that obviously added to our fear of safety.

We started moving on the Grand Trunk Road - N5, country’s main logistics artery running from Karachi to Peshawar, 1,819 KM in one stretch, in the direction of our destination quite late in the evening.

Our vehicles proceeded without any extended stay except for a break of about two hours at a relative’s house in the middle way. The N5 gave quite a deserted look, the first time I saw it so clear, except obviously in Ramadan during the Iftaar (fast breaking) timing when almost every moving thing abandons roads for at least 15-30 minutes.

Silence and darkness was all that was to be seen throughout the journey which made me feel at that time, how attractive and significant was NHA’s motto of ‘Friendly Highways’.

Despite all fears and apprehensions, we, thankfully, did not encounter a single damaged thing and reached Lahore in the late hours of the night between 29th & 30th of December. And Lahore at that time was no different with now the usual scene of all gas and petrol stations cordoned and closed in fear of getting burnt or end gutted.

All we could relish was refueling our tanks at the Shell Station - Thokar Niaz Beg opposite Toyota Ravi Motors, which probably seemed to be the only operational station in this part of Lahore and that too under armed police guard.

God was to be thanked for making us feel relieved after getting home safely and securely for I have never traveled to my city in so much fear!

{L} Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto {C} Indra Gandhi {R} Benazir Bhutto

The three legendary prime ministers were once together.

This picture was taken during the Shimla Agreement in which the Bhutto family is sitting with Indra Gandhi.
The Picture was published in a local newspaper under the caption “Past Memory”

(Caption reads in English as)
Past Memory: Three Prime Ministers: To the right is the current Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto.Beside her the Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, is sitting who was assassinated by her own Sikh guards. In the left corner the former Prime Minister, Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto, is sitting who was executed in 1979 on the orders of court. The pic has been taken during Shimla Agreement in 1973.

“Shaheed ki beti agar shaheed na hoti to mjhe darr tha ke woh marr jaati!”

“If the daughter of martyred had not been martyred; I’s afraid she had been dead!“

I, Usman Latif, was one of the greatest offenders of Ms. Benazir Bhutto (BB) and never considered her a successful Prime Minister. I don’t want to think why I didn’t like her but I had no logic to prove her a good ruler. My focus was totally on her performance being a ruler and I think, like all other Pakistanis, I’ve a right to think so. But, I never thought of her personal life… yup, I did a bit… but never bothered to analyze her personal life deeply. The main reason was her dominating negative role of a ruler of my country; which had been built-up in my mind and never let me to think like this. But still I’m not able to satisfy myself of her professional career as a ruler, but… today, after this grave incident, she has the greatest sympathy of mine, at least for a while.

“Kuch log marr kr ammar ho jaate hein!”

“Some die and become immortal!“

Now, I fully understood the meaning of this quote because, I’ve observed and I strongly believe that her death brought her more pride than her life. She got what people never get even after years of struggle. Whenever the history of Pakistan will be recalled. She has got sympathy of all the world and even in the hearts of her enemies. Everyone condemnd her death. No one (pro/anti) dared to even think against BB at this moment. It was not fear or her stature but the criticality and the sensitivity of the time and issue that squeezed their souls and left every one with a question mark in his mind, blank faces, sobbed hearts, horrible thoughts, blurred future, fear of safety and with so many unable to explain feelings. This single death can lead us to a mass devestation if riots are started. I mean, we can never ignore the extraneous elements creating violence in our country and have planned a lot more for us. The situation is critical and the unity is badly needed. That’s what’s going on in the minds of most of the people.

The rivals, who used to criticize and sometimes abuse the lady, just forgot the professional jealousy and rivalry and 100% of them accepted that it’s cruelty. Whether she was your favorite or not, a two time Prime Minister must not die like that.

Shaheedo ki dastan,

Bhutto tera khandan.

The story of martyred,

Is Bhutto’s Family.

Despite all other things, I’m greatly grieved over the incident and believe that her murder washed away all the negations on her personality (atleast for a while) and he’ll live in the hearts of many people.

Yeh Baazi khoon ki baazi he,

Yeh baazi tm hi haaro ge,

Her ghar se bhutto nikle ga,

Tum kitne bhutto maaro ge.

This game is a game of blood,

You’ll definitely lose this game,

Bhutto’ll come out of every house,

How many Bhuttos you will kill.

In the end I’ll say that what ever she was, her death made her important and overall her death is the evidence of the failure of our system and every one doubts one’s own security. May her soul rest in peace.

(The quotes are among the txt messages circulated on mobiles to honor BB. I really appologize about the mistakes in English adaptation.)

Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the PPP leader has expired in a suicide bomb blast in Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi. According to the source, she may have been hurt in the neck and was immediately taken to the General Hospital Rawalpindi. In the suicide bomb blast 20 people have been killed and 42 casualties have been reported, according to Aaj TV.

Here are some of the remaining updates which were not delivered to the LMB due to constant network failure there at Jatti Umrah, Link Raiwind Road. The updates are really late coz I just got home a while ago but; they (updates) are factual, unlike the ones aired by the media to favor/promote/support the Sharif’s arrival.

Updates:
(read the updates from the bottom)

12:15 am - I left the scene for my home.

12:00 am - Security increased and a bus carrying 25 policemen arrived with the indication of more vans to come.

No police force is seen except 4 to 5 personnel.

The roads are deserted at Jatti Umrah at about 8:30 pm.

No person is seen except the media and the management. They both combined to form a group of about 25 to 30 people total.

10:00 pm - The banners are being displayed and are tied with the trees, on the fences and above the roads.

9:00 pm - The chairs from the catering company arrive for the seating arrangements arrive.

8:47 pm - Son Hussain Nawaz arrives with two cars following him. The second car was having black covered screens and no one came out or showed one’s presence inside the car. It’s doubtful that the wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz had been present in that car.

8:45 pm - Daughter Mariam Nawaz and her husband Captain Saffdar (Retrd.) arrive at Jatti Umrah.

6:25 pm - DSP Raiwind City Police Station, arrives with his squad of 12 policemen. (no special forces or no special security arrangements) The policemen were from the police station and were on their regular duty and were not especially assigned for Sharif’s arrival.

As we move into the second day of ‘Martial Law’, the city streets might seem calm and peaceful but the minds and hearts of the general public are far from anything as such. As the news of the arrests of opposition leaders, notable lawyers, human rights activists and even academicians on a massive scale pour in - our eyes desperately wander around, looking for someone to fill the vacuum left by their absence. Some of us have taken the initiative to mobilize people but while the strategy for a future action is chalked out, we also need to expose and be wary of the enemies within, the ‘aasteen kai saamp‘, the Mir Jaafers and Mir Saadiqs of our time - who cry foul yet are in cahoots with those who’ve brought this nation to its current state.

One politician we should certainly not look up to is the “Daughter of the East, Star of the West”, who left the country in a manner that raises more questions than answers - one can’t help but feel suspicious about her timings and motives especially in the backdrop of her deal. The news reports appearing in various newspapers have deepened this suspicion and with time it will become clear that she had prior knowledge of the emergency promulgation and was in fact, done with her consent - after all, a change in judiciary was as much in her favor as anyone else’s. Below is a quote from an article that appeared in yesterday’s The Nation:

It was learnt that Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Benzir Bhutto recommended the name of Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar for new Chief Justice of Pakistan. “The top government quarters took BB in confidence on the issue and she nodded in favour of Mr Dogar,” the official stated. To authenticate his information, he said that Justice Dogar was appointed by Benazir Bhutto in 1995.

The other one to watch out is none other than the Grinch in the guise of Santa Claus - our very own Molvi Diesel, a PM-wannabe, a boot-licker that is willing to go to any extent to get a dash at Premiership. The negative role that he has played in the last few weeks is quite well known.

Sadly, our history is replete with traitors, and the history that’ll be written after a few months and years would only unearth more of these wolves in sheep’s clothing. Sigh… If only traitors had been an exportable commodity, we would’ve flooded the world!

In 1947, Subhadra Butalia was only 26 years old and used to work as a teacher in Delhi. At the time of partition, she had her family, including her mother and brother, living in Model Town, Lahore as they all orginally belonged to this city.

Subhadra Butalia [Image Courtesy: BBC Online]

In a touching memory recall, Ms Butalia shares her own experience of the events; scenes of massacre & utter madness; a family’s suffering and the circumstances in which her own brother refused to leave for independent India and did not let even their mother go, falling victim to insecurity, greed and selfishness and finally converted to Islam due to social pressure and inside fears.

Audio Slideshow: A Memory of Partition

If I’m not wrong, Ms Butalia’s own daughter has also written about her reunion journey to Lahore where she met her lost maternal uncle and his family. Her story, which has been published in several newspapers and books, was titled as ‘Ranamama’ (Uncle Rana).