The Non-Existent Tourist’s Guide To Pakistan

Skirmish of Wazir/Mehsud/Burki Tribes against British Army in enlightened and civilized colonial era Tribes were mostly led by Faqir Appi, who was Wazir. Syeds (Mullahs) in Wana were instrumental for wheeling/dealing and keeping Wazirs, Mehsudes, and Burkis united, intact and motivated against British. An ordinary Pathans has to consider himself the best therefore he would not allow anyone else to lead him even if he is Pathan. Though Pathan does not have Piri/Murdi or Feudalisms like rest of Indo-Pak particularly Sindh/Punjab because they were never Part/Parcel of enlightened and civilized British Royal India. Nonetheless they respect/regard only Syeds after themselves in the whole universe.
Few clans from Syeds, Wazir, Burkis and Mehsud, being weak hearted could not face the heat, so therefore quietly came down and opted for enjoying the peace and cool life in adjoining area of Bannu, DI Khan, Lucky Marvat and Mianwali. These fleeing clans were welcomed by British. Presently mostly from these fleeing clans are well settled and have average education and some power in Pakistan. Those in hill always look down and still taunt their cousins for their forefathers rent seeking behavior. As a return those fleeing clans of Wazir, Mehsud and Syeds like rest of Pakistanis (especially Husain Haqani) consider those in hills backward, evil, uncultured, uncivilized, terrorist and considers themselves enlighten, modern and forward looking.
Those freedom living tribes are still bearing US/Western Defacto-Colonialism with help of local Establishment. These tribes does not understand that resistance against might, struggle for truth is obsolete as it does not pay any more in this land of pure cartels. By the way, what good Faqir Eppi did by fighting against our colonial masters if compared with collaborators and middle men who still rule and control our fate, I mean Establishment. Generally it is considered that it is feudal class who collaborated with Colonials for exploitation/deprivation and they are main beneficiaries of that era till today. There is true to some extent, however it is a smoke screen to cover various other cartels, mafias and other brute forms of feudalism. Feudalism is rampant in every walk of life of Pakistan. Do not you think a DCO till recently lived/acted like a royal feudal? What about SP, he seems to be Generation Next Feudal. Big dirty fishes of Pakistan i.e. 50-60 Business mafias/cartels controlling II Chundrigar Road and Mall Roads (mostly beneficiaries/ blue eyed of East India Company) are also feudal in nature. As a simple example just Google the reason for vast fortune of Agha Khan. So called poor class political parties like MQM also rely on feudal violent tools for exploitation and deprivation. Do not you think well-heeled acolytes university professors are not feudals. Go and see their dirty politics and leg pulling which they do for petty gains. I have never been impressed by Deeni Madrasha/Mullah but what about clerk cloning Macaulay’s plants (Western Universities/College) in name of education, enlightenment and progress. I leave rest all such white collars feudal to your imagination in every sphere of life.
Most of the tribal clans coming down to settled area were naïve and not smart, and intelligent like Saifullah Family fore fathers. Saifullah father Faizullah was shepherd, however he sided with Colonial Royal Army against Waziri/Mehsud/Burki tribes in Wana/Meran Shah. Saifullah Marvat and his father was first Muslim League in Lucky Marvat area since 1930s. Aslam Khatak (Brrother in-law of Saifullah) was also among first Muslim League in adjacent Karak District since 1930. He along with Chaudery Rahmat Ali while in Cambridge on British Royal Scholarship. They coined the name of Pakistan. Aslam Khatak and his family main services for British Royal Army were against Ajab Khan Afridi (Dara Adam Khel). Gen Ali Quli Khan (Musharaf competitor for CAS back in 1997) is nephew of Aslam Khatak and one of his brother in law was Governor. Saifullah family share a vast fortune of more than 25 concerns like Lucky Cement, Mob link, General Tires, Nissan Ghandraha etc. It is such irony that most of the Army/Air Force units which are fighting now in Meran Shah, Wana and other tribal areas have also fought with same tribes/clans till 1947. Another big irony India is fighting in held Kashmir for last 30 years and how many times they have used Jet Fighters for bombing Kashmiris. Azad Kashmir held today by Pakistan was not liberated by Pak Army and Air force rather liberated by same clans/tribes who are sometimes labeled as Taliban, uncivilized, dirty Naswar eating Pathans, and according to Nadeem Paracha (The Dawn Writer/Aaj TV anchor) a pseudo-intellectual think that in north/tribal area no woman live and only men/goats live.
Some time I feel crippled when I think about my Identity. When I am unable to read my mother language and unable to related to my profound history which has been made irrelevant and meager. I can hear this history in local songs and it is off course trouble some for local establishment (various economic/political/feudal/bureaucratic cartels controlling II Chundrigar Road, Mall Roads and Constitution avenue) but also international establishment (Jews/Zionist/US/UK). Though we will not find any consensus on the definition/causes of terrorism but there is 101 % agreement on ethnic cleansing of all those who in one way or other resisted colonial five/six decades ago or still think of resisting neo-colonialism or their imposed local cartels of business/politics/bureaucracy/identity. In Pakistan, in every walk of life those people are in control, whose forefathers in one or other way helped British or East India Compnay. Rest all are masses, they does not count anywhere. While for last fifty we are crushing those people who were/are against local and international establishment or show any such inclinations.
In defacto-colonial society like Pakistan most of roles are supposed to be clerk type, which are boring, insignificant and monotonous. These roles/opportunities are never impressive. With passage of time procedures policies and work practices have become obsolete, are against simple rational and mostly based on mistrust, difficult to extent where pity/ordinary jobs are accomplished with huge wastage of time, money, manpower and resources. The biggest motivation in life is work and trust, however most of the time, our productive work pace is dead slow and unrealistic. Pakistan was supposed to continue inherited colonial state structure. Therefore middle/lower classes in general and poor most in particular are exploited and deprived at multiple levels on pretext of various merits, standards, ethics and unseen Berlin walls erected by our colonial masters. Our pre-1947 pseudo freedom fighters and so called god fathers did not have vision, capacity or planning for these issues. Muslim league was Sarkari League from the first day of its origin. The main objective was to create faithfulness among Indopak Muslim for British Royal Establishment. Similarly ANP and Congress at that time were preaching non-violence meaning that you do not fight against British Raaj. We were/are victim of the LAW OF NECESSITY even before our birth. This so called politics/democracy/voting is for fooling the Masses. It does not implies that Gen Mush, Zia, Ayub are better than Zardari, Nawaz, BB and other stuff. They all are pawns among thousands pawns controlling whole Muslim world for the their Western Masters.
Unquestioned and unconditioned subordination is expected in every walk of life Due to same colonial traditions. While all corrupts (various economic/political/feudal/bureaucratic cartels controlling II Chundrigar Road, Mall Roads Lhr/R-Pindi/Pesh/Queta and Constitution Avenue) will enjoy, control and set the rules of games. They will exploit masses in name of democracy, identity, merit, logic and history. Crippled honest masses will be expected to be a tiger, who will able to bear rotten system for whole life, dodge the corrupts and avoid all temptation against all natural forces. The only way to survive is absolute conformist behavior, and any deviation/difference on any issue/crisis/identity is not tolerated. Most of our state rules/laws/ traditions/norms are decades old and date back to colonial era therefore mostly irrelevant and inapplicable. As a result middle and lower classes in general and poor most in particular are manipulated according to corrupts (various economic/political/feudal/bureaucratic cartels controlling II Chundrigar Road, Mall Roads Lhr/R-Pindi/Pesh/ Queta and Constitution Avenue) politics, whims, goals, personal agenda and likes/dislikes. Wrong practices are justified by these corrupts by other wrong practices. Our colonial social set up expect/support/ promote only conformist roles. Role redesign opportunities or change in such colonial societies like Pakistan are limited by design. The narrow range and depth of social roles does not have any space for innovation or change. For past 60 years, it is not coincidences or masses errors that every time we have laid flat in front of US or West.
Shahzeb Khan English Lecture in GC University in one of his article writes about the same in DAWN that “Few of us know that tens of thousands of British officials were denied reappointment in their home country once India and Pakistan won independence in 1947. They were not terminated but were disallowed to work because they were considered unfit to work in a free and democratic country. The context of colonisation influenced working habits of these officials while they were in India. These officials considered themselves part of the metropolis and that they were there only to govern the subjects of the colony. This notion was accompanied with a set of ‘skills’ which these officials were supposed to internalise. After they arrived in India, they were indoctrinated with the ideas of 'superiority' and ‘inferiority’ of Indians they were supposed to govern. “
Any rational and thinking animal in such colonial society, will consider honest/sincere growth/existence in Pakistan, out of context, irrelevant and wasteful not only for honest/sincere and his family but Pakistan also does not need such people. Only Idiots and super idiots thrive, who are well connected and fattest. If any honest continue to live in Pakistan as honest/sincere, he lead boring, static, hypocritical life and this feeling constantly pinches him like wearing a shoe of small size than his foot. On other hand, if he leaves for abroad, he start from zero and have to work really hard for his existence some where else as second grade citizen without any noble IDENTITY. At this juncture in our national life, we Pakistani have to redefine our original identity based in Islam and Land (Punjabi/ Sindhi/Balochi/Pashtoo), which will burgeon our potentials and endow our faculties for more exacting. We have to shed our colonial identity (insecure and fragile) imposed on us. We should undertake a fresh challenge, an IDENTITY -altering venture that allow us to paint the happenings and experiences of our existence and our dreams on a broader canvass. I rest our IDENTITY dilemma for your kind comments, expert advice and candid opinion. I can bear facts without sugar coating.

Thank you and best regards.
FM Shah

Sunday mag 13 July 08 article “The non existent tourist’ s guide to Pakistan�, by NFP.
theme parks-who will direct the non-english speaking tourist to these places.if he is pakistani italian or pakistani from beverly hills then what are his chances?
the ethnic group that is called martians, any chance of any martian being a victim of favoritism?
you forgot that tourists like to visit places.these are called tourist spots.climate is fine. but people and religion,the culture and the politics cannot bring you the ticket nor get you the bus to go to these tourist spots.the department or the ministry of/ for/ tourism otta.people-are very hospitable.religion-like ansar burney’s motto=help the ‘musafir’.culture very hospitable and food and food streets!politics well, maybe they have a say in what the ministry of tourism does!

"The male-female ratio of the population is 50-50, even though, according to local traditions in the north, women do not exist" -- really??? is this true?? how did you figure all this out? you are so wise.
Culture, isn't that the word that talks about like about 'language and stuff', why are all your articles about politiks? (did I spell it right, godforbid i didn't, don't behead me please)

I very grandly, like women who don't exist, skipped most of your politiks articles which didn't exist, but the culture bit, had its sting. you must be god or something. wow man, way to go, bro, brother-christ. bravo.
In the nearest language, it always works.

Dear Nadeem,

I had myself wanted to write similar/such an article about my India...
You did about yours, C'grats !!!

We belong to the generation which is far from hypocracy & so called pain emerging out of the 1947 partition.

I am happy that people like you exist in Pakistan.

I sincerely believe, that both the countrys' people will be much more closer & dearer in the coming 10-15 yrs , once the existing generation (leaders of both sides, pre-1947 born) vanishes...(reaches, where they deserve).

Bhai, Congratulations once again .

Re: # 143 Naqsh

Give these folks some time; they WILL turn this place into a tourist attraction. As we visit the land of the Pharaohs, people will flock to see the land of miltary dictators; and Indians will envy us!

Think, think hard....

I foresee years of conflict around the world as followers of exclusivist world views face the inexorable march of science. I foresee a triumph of those ideas that value experiential knowledge and universality. New religions will have to learn to respect the old and also respect the right of the individual to choose. Eventually there can be only one religion, that of truth and humanity.

It is fascinating how people justify their situation even if they must side with their oppressors. In India this has happened countless times. Some of the worst tyranny on the Hindus was imposed by new converts. In Kashmir, Sikandar's minister Suha Bhatta, a new Muslim, abetted his king in the forcible conversion of the Hindus. According to the historian Ferishta, Sikandar ordered that only Muslims be allowed to reside in Kashmir. Those who tried to flee the valley were cut down by armed soldiers at mountain passes.

Another interesting case of a different type is that of Muhammad Iqbal, the poet and originator of the idea of Pakistan. His grandfather Sahaj Ram Sapru, a revenue collector, embezzled funds and when discovered the Afghan governor, Azim Khan, gave him the choice of death or conversion to Islam. Sahaj Ram Sapru chose life and, assuming new names, he and his family moved to Sialkot in the Punjab. Later Iqbal never acknowledged his native Kashmiri and Indian tradition that his grandfather had been so cruelly forced to renounce.

Perhaps this reveals that terror wins. The victims wish to be like their tormentors. Which is why the descendents of the American Indians, who were treated with such monumental barbarity by the Spaniards, wish to forget their native heritage. But such amnesia leads to a weakening of the spirit, a loss of purpose, confusion about ends and means. To progress all are alike; it recognizes no religion, only a search for truth. Those who would not be true to their past will not be able to recognize the truth about the future.

You had a nice tourist visiting Karachi in 2002. Do you remember him. He was in one piece while coming but while going back he was in two pieces in a body bag. I am not sure abut the later part, but we all saw on a video he becoming 2 pieces.

It was a witty piece in places but, I must ask, was it really necessary? Self-hate is the worst form of hatred.

IF (and it is a big IF) the imbeciles who run the blighted country were bright enough to invest heavily in promoting tourism--and building the necessary infrastructure to go with it--Pakistan could have a booming tourist industry in 10 years.

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Re: # 140; parthaab mian

Despite my previous assertions I think you have a very valid point. Sometimes there can be far too much pandering and undue importance given to women's issues and I also agree all this (at least in the educated east and west) is very disproportionate.

I think the issue was that sometimes your posts were a little out of context to what the article was/is about; this can at times lead to a sense of irritation on the part of some ineteractors which, I am sure you'd agree, can be counter productive.

May I recommend an article perhaps, or even an ilog or a thread on UnPlugged. I am sure your message IS important and there would be many who'd want to discuss this issue ..... albeit at times in their own, individualised yet intellectually refreshing ways.

Re: # 138

nb, Never let an injustice pass by. ESPECIALLY if it has the potential to be done to others.

Re: # 136 Thanks mr. Mujumdar for giving voice to our friend Mr. Nasadi. You have done social service in real sense. You have frustrated people who want to supress voice of mr. masadi.
Again thanks.

parthaab, you should move on, you'll never find anyone else if you're so angry and bitter.

Re: # 132

Exactly the point. I got jilted by my lover and thats when I found out that the laws were hopelessly skewed. And I dont want other males to go through the same path. Is nt that pretty obvious?

Masadi sahib wishes to share the condolence message he has sent to Fox News and O'Reilly on the death of Tony Snow.

Hello

Saw your segment on Tony Snow. Like other right wing loons who advocate the destruction of entire countries (lraq being the case in point) over lies and then cover up those lies with other lies, we can be sure that hell has gained an inhabitant. Good riddance to another immoral lying sob.

Sincerely,

Masadi

Regards

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