MQM, the talibans and Buner

Who thought there would be a day when I would support the MQM. Growing up in a family with strong supporters, I had the tendency to move the other way. Today after reading the Dawnregarding parliaments shameful reaction to the Nizam’s Adl and Sufi Mohhamad (SM) and his followers, I have to respect the party and thank them for their stance.  At Karachi Univeristy, while the APMSO was involved in all the activities that made us dislike student political parties with their phaddas and fights, they were also the party the girls went too when they  had “guy” trouble in the form of stalking and teasing.

Let’s just say that the girls were not bothered again.

Although I am a 90% optimist and have always believed that Pakistan can come out of everything, and that things will pass, I also don’t believe in just sitting back and not doing anything. I think the people of Pakistan need to be more vocal about their desires. Why is it that a bunch of extremely vocal “Talibans” can aspire to control the country and the silent majority just stay silent? If all its going to take is a “dozen” individual to invite SM into Buner, I would say to everyone please don’t keep sleeping. We saw the way the movement to restore the Chief justice succeeded, we need a similar one to ensure that Pakistan remains the relatively secular, moderately religious state that it is and that these people go back to where they belong- ie Afghanistan.

After all wasn’t it in my Islamiat class that I learnt that the Prophet (PBUH) said we should adopt the middle path ie moderation.

God takes care of Pakistan

2 days have gone, we’re all back at work.

so what has happened in the last 2 days. According to Reuters mush has said that elections will be held on time, or at least within the same period.  lets wait and see what happens.

It has been interesting to see the role of the Internet.

8 yrs ago the internet was just starting to gain popularity. During the blackout then although were able to gain news, it was in no way comparable to what we are able to do today.

so thank you all of you who have contrived to make the media available to all of us online.  I was able to hear mush’s speech online. not much of a speech but was at least able to hear what he had to say.

Its frustrating to hear the news, but to quote one of my KU professors.. God takes care of Pakistan. The country has been through so much, and so often that only God is responsible for its survival.  come what may we will survive b/c God takes care of Pakistan;). Interesting belief don’t u think. Its what makes all of us keep going.

On a side note.. saw a documentary on the actual blood diamonds.. ( not the movie) it put things in perspective. We still have a lot going for us. its just time for all of us to put our act together and start doing our bit.

Over and out.

A frustrated yet still optimist pakistani

PS: dawn website has a link connecting to their tv channel.. its working on and off. but good source of news.

The Voice of a UniKarian

Sitting in DC I read the news on GEO News about a grenade attack and firing in a mini bus in front of Karachi University. According to the first news 6 people have been killed. (They later increase the number to 7)

 

A sudden sadness and anger overwhelms me and I am immediately taken back 4 years- The commute, the bus stop, talking to friends, waiting for the G7.  The G7 is something that all us students have taken many times over. For many of us it was our daily commute.

 

How can someone be so heartless to partake in such an incident? If it was because of rivalry between students group, has the value of life become so meaningless?

 

I spent 4 years in Karachi University. I think those were the last few years of peace at KU. We had student clashes. We accepted it as a part of our life and also of our political training, there were injuries but never deaths. But that’s also because weapons could not be brought in, ( or would not be brought in) but now the rules seem to have changed, the battleground has moved from within the campus to just outside, putting every student’s life at risk.

 

The blame game has started, each side putting the blame on the other, but what is even more sad is I would not put it pass either of the parties to have done this. They value the life of their opponents as worthless.

 

It is sad that this is to be our future generation. For those students who manage to keep out of such activities it is even more saddening to know that 10 years down the lane it may very well be these people who hold our country’s future in their hands and not the many position holders and Gold medalists that come out from these universities.

 

When I started at the department of IR at the University, I remember in my earliest conversations with students coming from political backgrounds, I was repeatedly told that Karachi University was the best training ground for politics and that was the reason why parents preferred to send their children to KU for at least a couple of years. I also strongly believe their parents sent them for training, not to have them killed.

 

If you have no value for life between the ages of 20 and 30, how much value are you going to have for it at the age of 40 or 50?? Can someone please answer that question?

 

For that matter, if you have no value for human life what are you doing studying in a medical college? Or has studying on cadavers made you so heartless??

 

Over and Out

 A very sad and frustrated UniKarian