Cuts Both Ways

DT Letter:

Discovering democracy

Sir: Apropos the news item, ‘Tarar supports democracy’, the article points out that Mr Tarar has exhorted political parties to resist dictatorial rule.

It is strange that the former Pakistani president has suddenly discovered a love for democracy. If he really cared about democracy, he would have resigned in protest on October 12, 1999, the day Nawaz Sharif was overthrown by General Pervez Musharraf. Instead, he remained president till June 20, 2001 until he was kicked out by General Musharraf. Next time Mr Tarar talks about democracy and resisting dictators, I hope someone reminds him of his own hypocrisy.
TAIMUR M KHAN
USA

its a shame, those trees i am sure are as old as this country ...
and they cut them ... for securing some bullshit embassy..wow....
inn logoun key paas aqal naam ki shayad koi cheez hi nahin ...

#5 cyberian
A tree is a tree is a tree. Anywhere and wherever it may be. Apart from this, all else that you have said stands true. And that`s Karachi. And it`s a shame. And there is nothing elitist about this piece. Just strictly and maybe perversly individualist. That`s where I am at after my painful, sweaty, agitated and bruised brushes with Marxism, NSF and the PPP. Quite like yours with the fauj, MQM ... and wait a minute. How come you did not mention the MMA? Reserving any populist hope for them to plant a few new trees in Korangi, Landhi, Malir, Federal B Area, Nagin Chowrangee, Haidery, New Karachi, Ancholi or Lines Area?

I guess if the finger can go up so can this already notorious Cactus Gas stuff.
Is it like Acidity? So what`s the hitch? Now I Really want my eyes on it

downers??? `non, merci!` as cyrano de bergerac said emphatically. life contains enough downers. as of now, only the natural uppers will do (and natural mystics!)

Noor,

Perhaps you might negotiate for some downers? Hmmm?

samina. .

was wondering who was going to come up with that question. the answer is yes, i am. and we are currently negotiating my commission. i don`t quite feel that cheap beer and cheap afghan hash are going to be enough! will keep you posted though!!!

Nadeem,

Also, nice conflation of endangered trees and endangered freedom of expression...its almost as if you middle finger is daring the Pakistani infrastructure to cut it down...(who says liberal arts students can`t read visual metaphors?)

Noor,

Are you Paracha`s press agent? Just wondering...

trashman. . .

message acknowledged! : ) as for cactus gas. . oh should i really spill the beans? cactus gas is one of NfP`s more recent pieces that has not appeared here yet. . .now perhaps the editors of chowk did not consider that the supersized middle finger was vulgar, since they seem to have pulled this out of the vault, but cactus gas. . .now THAT`s vulgar, and more recent!!! the trees in front of the karachi marriot were chopped down ages ago na. . .not that it still isn`t pertinent to talk about it. . .but oh well. ONE more article on karachi, na? and some well-meaning indians are frankly tired of hearing about karachi. go figure. . .will chowk publish cactus gas and offend the lot of us? will we have to wait for months, just as long as it took for this article to appear? do they have the courage to finally piss all of us off? stay tuned. . .same bat channel, same bat station!

*end of sarcasm mode* : )

n~

Will one of Chowk`s writers just moon us already? Can we vote and pick the lucky scribe?

I vote for Urstruly`s!

[[I say cut off the grass, uproot the remaining plants and flowers as well. Make the area really super, dooper secure. ]]

Paracha Saheb,

This cutting and chopping is going on unnoticed in this city for generations, but no one bothers. Some, like you concentrate on the eco-destruction if it is in their area of influence in other words where the Marriot is located or the Sind club or the old Clifton.Atleast some one decries at the harsh treatment meted out to those beautiful broad avenues and boulevards on or on the other side of the divide.I wonder why no one comes to our shabby little homes in Korangi, Landhi, Malir, Federal B Area, Nagin Chowrangee, Haidery, New Karachi, Ancholi or Lines Area. Our young children are being chopped and cut by the mafia which controls the mohalla or the government which promises to take strongest action against the culprits, yet seeks the support if that very mafia to be able to continue ruling us, or the Punjabi SHO sahebs stationed at those areas which need to bedisciplined. Our girls are molested on a daily basis but that is not something which is considered important enough for the IG Saheb and the Sarkar be it the Sarkar of PPP, ML, MQM, or the Bahadur Fauj.

Obaidullah Aleem says- Mera shahr jal raha hai meray log murr rahay hain - and no one listens.

What is this Cactus Gas I keep reading about? There were people talking about it
in Graffiti Christ:2 and now here?
anjaan jee, what of those who are not shocked? Does that mean this photo
is the opposite of `vulgar` to them? For shock read Graffiti Christ I & II. For vulgar watch
CNN. Cheers. And noor, stop calling me kachra admi :) Sohail should do.

#1 nass :-)
Looks like nfp is using his enfant terrible brand image to sell his products.Looks like some day we will see him upursing at us from the billboards in an ad for paracha-cola.

nadeem. . .

basically what it all comes down to is that not all of us rock when it comes to being environmentally conscious, socially aware, etcetera etcetera etcetera *in king of siam accent* i hear things are opening up, and becoming more `progressive` but does that make us free? ah such things are relative anyway. . as is your expressiveness here.

urban centres are rarely ever arcadias. . . .but why add to the sterility of karachi by chopping down trees? really, leave some of the `natural` beauty to be appreciated and admired?

anyway. . .shall we wager on how long that picture will last up here alongside your article??? and yes, do stop smoking and don`t turn to shoes (or chew)

and the finger and a moment of silence in observation of cactus gas!!!!?

n~

One need not be vulgar to be shocking.

Paracha`s big fcuk off! Very graphic. Must ... be ... stoned?