Scream

Here’s an excerpt from an essay appearing on today’s AlterNet. Please click on the URL for the entire story…

Pakistan`s Invisible Quake Victims
By Jalal Ghazi, Pacific News Service
Posted on November 2, 2005, Printed on November 2, 2005

http://www.alternet.org/story/27691/

Viewed through the lens of Arab media, world relief efforts for the earthquake in Northern Pakistan were far less than other natural disasters because the victims are Muslims, many pundits said. The Oct. 8 quake killed at least 55,000 people and injured tens of thousands. With winter settling in, millions will be left homeless and vulnerable, Arab media warned, unless more actions are taken by the world.

The October 21 issue of Asharq Al-Awsat, a London-based Arab daily newspaper, reported that the Indian Army has played an ``active role in providing relief to hundreds of families.`` Riad Ahmad from Tanghdar village near the border that separates the Indian and the Pakistani Kashmir, told Asharq Al-Awsat, ``Seven of my family members were killed and no one helped me but the Indian soldiers. They helped me to pull out the dead bodies from underneath the rubble, preparing the coffins and burying the dead.``

Similar reports came from the village of Jblah, where all residents praised the kindness of Indian soldiers for providing food and shelter to afflicted families. One villager said, ``We will remember this forever.``

Al Jazeera television reported on Oct. 17 that that Islamabad had agreed to allow Indian military planes to help in the rescue efforts as long as the pilots are not Indian. The agreement coincided with the arrival of the third cargo of Indian aid to the Pakistani part of Kashmir.

Pakistan was probably humbled into accepting aid from its nuclear enemy and neighbor, partially due to the lack of international response. The Pakistani government announced that it will need $5 billion to rebuild what the earthquake destroyed. But it only got a half billion dollars promised from foreign donors, most of which have not yet arrived.

Romair,
Do you get now why world is paying no attention to your SCREAMS? they understand that any help going to Pakistan is actually going to end-up in hands of Jehadis.

An excerpt from the Nov 1 Asia Times:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GK01Df02.html

India and Pakistan push on, despite blasts
By Ranjit Devraj

NEW DELHI - While Saturday evening`s serial blasts in the Indian capital claimed at least 60 lives, they have not officially stopped India and Pakistan from going ahead with plans to open the border in divided, insurgency-hit Kashmir to facilitate relief operations for the survivors of the October 8 earthquake.

Suspicion for the blasts has fallen on the Lashkar e-Toiba (Soldiers of God) jihadi group, which is based in Pakistani-administered Kashmir and sworn to liberate Muslim-majority, Indian-administered Kashmir or have it accede to Pakistan. But authorities were determined to allow relief work across the Line of Control (LoC) that separates the two regions

A scream will soon turn into a shout

A shout into a quiet voice

A quiet voice into a whisper

A whisper into utter silence

Re: #170 by behram1 on October 27, 2005 1:31pm PT

``You are not sitting in the corner somewhere that I can ignore you. I wish that I could ignore you, but I can’t.``

But, yes, you can! It`s just a matter of editing your profile and typing in the ``nickname`` of those you want to ignore - you can type in up to 16 different ones. Then you have to be sure and sign in before reading any of the ``Interacts.`` Without signing in all interacts appear, even those you want to ignore.

Re: #168 by mohammedamjed on October 27, 2005 10:44am PT
``Dear Chowk Editors:

Please keep Umair Khan`s SCREAM on the front page.``

A hearty second to this suggestion!!!!

Dear Umair Khan
It is not the SCREAMing that is required at this time, it is action.
It is given to understand that one of the Pakistani Senator has donated his three years senate remuneration to the relief fund. That is ACTION if true. All the other politicians should do the same.
It would be considered sacrilegious in the realm of the “religious institution” to suggest that the thousands of potential Pakistani Hajis should donate their Haj expenses to the relief fund and acquire many fold thawaab of the pilgrimage.
Further, all the money spent on killing thousands of animals for qurbani should be spared their life and money donated to the fund.
Again in order to acquire the true benefit of the fasting in Ramadhan, the lavish expenditure on Eid should be curtailed and the spare monies given to the fund for the reconstruction. THAT WOULD BE A REAL SCREAM. Hasanah for akhiraa is acquired in this dunya. Your article made me scream! ! Keep it up.
Rashid

Dear Umair Khan
It is not the SCREAMing that is required at this time, it is action.
It is given to understand that one of the Pakistani Senator has donated his three years senate remuneration to the relief fund. That is ACTION if true. All the other politicians should do the same.
It would be considered sacrilegious in the realm of the “religious institution” to suggest that the thousands of potential Pakistani Hajis should donate their Haj expenses to the relief fund and acquire many fold thawaab of the pilgrimage.
Further, all the money spent on killing thousands of animals for qurbani should be spared their life and money donated to the fund.
Again in order to acquire the true benefit of the fasting in Ramadhan, the lavish expenditure on Eid should be curtailed and the spare monies given to the fund for the reconstruction. THAT WOULD BE A REAL SCREAM. Hasanah for akhiraa is acquired in this dunya. Your article made me scream! ! Keep it up.
Rashid

Romair,

Please your interacts are distateful on this board. its not time and this baord is not the place for your blurps.
we neet to concentrate on what happening on relief front and what can we do about it.
Please dont waste space on this baord

Now, this is another attempt to send some tents to Pakistan. Please check it out. If you have any questions/concerns/issues or suggestions, please send your responses to HDF directly. Thanks.


> Easier way to Doanate Tents for the Earth Quake
> area in Pakistan
> >>
> >>One of the most desperately needed items in
> Pakistan these days is
> >>winterized tents. For those of us abroad, now
> there is a way to
> send
> >>tents to Pakistan without any hassle. Yes ladies
> and gentlemen,
> someone is
> >>actually using their head! :)
> >>
> >>The Human Development Foundation has opened a gift
> registery with
> >>Sears that lists all the items badly needed. If
> you follow the
> >>instructions below, the items will be available
> for pick up in a
> Sears
> >>store right next to the JFK airport and there will
> be no
> transportation
> >>cost. Pakistan International Airlines has agreed
> to pick up and
> deliver
> >>these tents to Government Rescue Center setup in
> Islamabad free of
> cost.
> >>Can`t beat this deal! :)
> >>
> >>Believe it or not, the winterized tents needed so
> badly cost around
> $100,
> >>not $1000 as I had heard on some news websites.
> For those who`ve
> already
> >>donated oodles of money, perhaps they can still
> spare another $20
> to buy
> >>atleast a sleeping bag...or 100$ for a big weather
> resistant tent
> that can
> >>house upto 10 people.
> >>
> >>Do a complete cut and paste (from http: to 0&)
> >>
>
>>http://www.sears.com/sr/gr/getGiftListBuyer.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0299288263.1130135725@@@@&BV_EngineID=cciladdgddlmimmcegecegjdghldfoo.0&
> >>
> >>If the above link doesn`t work, follow these
> instructions to have
> the
> >>items delievered to the people in desperate need:
> >>
> >>1) Log on to www.Sears.com
> >>
> >>2) Click on Gift Registry
> >>
> >>3) Click on Buy Gift (Not just Gift!)
> >>
> >>4) Select ``Special Occassion``
> >>
> >>5) Enter the First Name: Meena, Last Name :
> Siddiqui
> >>
> >>6) Select 11 for Month and Year 2005
> >>
> >>7) Click on Find Registry
> >>
> >>8) You`ll see the following items and numbers
> required etc.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Swiss Gear 13 x 17ft Dome Tent 00674115000 501497
> $99.99
> >>
> >>Swiss Gear 6 person Dome Tent 00675420000 501492
> $89.99
> >>
> >>Hillary 78 x 60 in. Queen Airbed $14.99
> >>
> >>Swiss Gear 33 x 77 in. Sleeping Bag $19.99
> >>
> >>Swiss Gear 33 x 84 in. Sleeping Bag $24.98
> >>
> >>Click on Add to gift cart
> >>
> >>9) Click on `In Store Delivery` and select Rego
> Park store #1544
> >>
> >>10) Fill in your payment info., print a copy for
> your records.
> >>
> >>Every tent you send ensures six people will be
> protected from a
> very harsh
> >>and possibly fatal winter. Please donate all that
> you can. Yes,
> even if
> >>you think you`ve done your share! Also pass this
> on to your friends
> and
> >>relatives.
> >>
> >>Thanks.

Behram1 #163: As I stated earlier, if you want to interact with someone, then accept the writing style of the individual. If you don`t like the writing style, don`t interact with them. I am not trying to get you to change your writing style. Please don`t try to change mine........

Institutions are nothing more than the people who are their members. And there are honest poeple in every institution and group. But as a whole, Pakistan is a very corrupt country. And in any corrupt country, it is the affluent and the powerful who will be carrying out the most corruption, as a group. Since they have access to the most resources. And all of us on Chowk, are part of the affluent group. We must take responsibility, instead of always passing it onto others.......

The business community is as corrupt, as anyone else. The business community works through various institutions, and it works with various institutions. This includes the various Chambers of Commerce, Securities Exchanges, various Business organizations, Income Tax, Wapda, Customs etc. If you don`t think these organizations are corrupt, then I think both you and I have a different idea of how business gets done in Pakistan.

Just a simple customs collector in Pakistan can make a fortune. How exactly does he do that? He does it by accepting bribes on items that come into the country for various business houses. Similarly, how can the Income Tax dept. be corrupt, without someone on the other end, who is carrying on tax evasion? The larges amount of tax evasion is by the business community.........

The highest level of corruption, in a poor society, will always occur amongst the most affluent group. In Pakistan, the dice is heavily loaded in our favor. And unfortunately, we, as a community (which includes Chowk crowd) have let the society down. There are individual stories of success, and perhaps as you claim you maybe one. But as a whole, we, the group, have been a failure............

In any case, let`s agree to disagree..........If you don`t feel you have to take responsibility for the problems and corruption in Pakistan, that is your choice. But I do take responsibility. That is my choice........And I doubt we will be able to convince each other, of our views..........

Re: # 169

Romair #169: Interacting with someone who stands at a street corner is different than interacting at this site. Generally, your interaction at almost all sites, it seems to me appears from left field. You build your arguments gradually with references of other people’s post, and that is interaction. You control the discussion unnecessary and twist and turn in whichever way you do, and that is interaction. You are not sitting in the corner somewhere that I can ignore you. I wish that I could ignore you, but I can’t.

And you call all of this your writing style. Why don’t you just write articles for the chowk and see how that makes you feel when others tear you down. Sitting in the corner and poking all convoluted points does not carry the conversation forward.

I will continue to expect that you will provide some respect to others, because you are part of this conversation whether one likes it or not. It is not enough, just to say that one has a foul mouth that is easily detectable. What about an opinion that is expressed and cannot be contained to decipher what the heck it is.

Your mumbo jumbo continues between institutions (that is corrupt) and people of Pakistan. The two are not the same and should never be evaluated in the same breath. The custom’s officer that you cited is part of an institution and as such takes baksheesh. Totally wrong, I agree. People who have nothing to do with that particular institution will not give baksheesh. And the example can go on and on.

It is the collective nature of institution that promotes corruption. And that has been my argument from the onset of this issue with you. If the enforcement of construction were as we find in California, then your example would be bogus. The death in San Francisco was limited in their recent earthquake. I know you would bring a new variable of low level on the Richter scale, etc, or whatever your argument would desire.

[Institutions are nothing more than the people who are their members.] Correct, but institutions have their own identity of their own where corruption breeds. You want to suggest that every single person of Palestine was corrupt, because of the shenanigans of their leadership.

Please do not mix the institution with group. I have known individuals in United Bank as corrupt but I would not call the whole Bank as corrupt. This is because Banks are in commerce and they can never be corrupt. You want to suggest that BCCI as an institution was corrupt.

Once again, I am assuming that you are defining corruption as financial corruption.

I completely disagree with this rubbish talk about [And in any corrupt country, it is the affluent and the powerful who will be carrying out the most corruption, as a group. Since they have access to the most resources.]. Then why do we not ask the National Accountability Board make up their freaking mind, and indict somebody? They are trying to create a corrupt institution. And that has been my argument all along.

How can an ordinary thellah walla be corrupt when the police are pounding up for the bhatta? He might be doing something illegal, and he should not. The police as an institution asks for, nay demand, and get away with corruption.


[If you don`t feel you have to take responsibility for the problems and corruption in Pakistan, that is your choice. But I do take responsibility. That is my choice...] You are not taking responsibility by claiming that “shucks everyone in Pakistan is corrupt”. I am not corrupt and will not allow you or anyone else to argue such a ridiculous thought. I will not agree to disagree with you.

Dear Chowk Editors:

Please keep Umair Khan`s SCREAM on the front page.

Iowa Asian Alliance Foundation, a subsidiary of the Iowa Asian Alliance, a network of fifteen Asian communities in Iowa has established SOUTH ASIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND to help provide emergency medical relief for victims of earthquake in Kashmir and northern areas of Pakistan. This fund will be used to provide focused medical care in affected area. Doctors rotating on 2-week basis take necessary medical equipment such as orthopedic cases, antibiotics, pain killers, bandages, sutures.

Funds will not be handed over to government functionaries or organizations with large overheads. We will buy medical supplies as carry on luggage to be transported to Pakistan by Pakistani doctors providing emergency relief in the hard to reach areas. Donations are tax-deductible and can be mailed to: Mohammed Amjed, 12841 Sunset Terrace, Clive, Iowa 50325, Phone 515-223-9202; e mail: amjed12841@hotmail.com. Write your checks to: SOUTH ASIAN EARTH QUAKE RELIEF.

We need US government`s immediate help in airlifting winterized tents, sleeping bags, blankets, mobile X-Ray machines, electric generators, orthopedic cases, pneumatic drilling machines with hoses. Please call the governor in each state and your Congressman to line up support. America is capable of doing a lot more.

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=== Interact Removed ===

The scream is being heard and repeated ....

Today`s editorial from WashingtonPost

Uncharitable Charity


Thursday, October 27, 2005; Page A26

RICH COUNTRIES should give more money to poor ones. But it`s even more obvious that, when they do give money, they should do so in a helpful way. The United States, for example, should not promise food for famine victims half a world away, then allow those victims to starve because it insists that the food must be bought domestically and shipped across the ocean on American vessels. Yet this and other forms of ``tied aid`` are common. A Bush administration plan to untie part of U.S. food aid is being held up in Congress.

The latest example of uncharitable charity comes from the Kashmir earthquake. Some 80,000 people have died as a result of the quake, nearly all of them in Pakistan, but relief workers say that the death toll is sure to rise further unless help arrives immediately. About 3 million people are homeless, many of them in inaccessible mountain villages, and the punishing Himalayan winter arrives soon. People need shelter and food to survive the freezing temperatures, but bad weather is already hampering helicopter relief missions, and once the winter sets in, further relief may become impossible. Medical help is even more urgent. At least 75,000 people were severely injured by the quake, and many are suffering infections for lack of timely medical care. Limbs that could have been saved must now be amputated.


Against this background, the United Nations convened a conference of donors yesterday. Rich countries stepped forward with pledges of $580 million. But less than $16 million of that was for immediate relief, leaving the United Nations with just a fifth of what it says it needs over the next few weeks. A new $251 million pledge from the Islamic Development Bank is supposed to be spent on long-term reconstruction, and the same is true of an earlier pledge for $333 million from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. The European Commission has promised $96 million for reconstruction, but just over $2 million for immediate use. In a rare instance of understatement from a relief official, Jan Egeland of the United Nations commented: ``It is, in my view, not right to sit with reconstruction money for one year from now if we`re not sure whether those people will be alive one year from now.``

The earthquake was a natural tragedy; the postdated checks from donors are a man-made one. What`s needed now is cash that can be spent immediately, along with more helicopters; the relief agency Oxfam has also called for tents to be released from military stockpiles, because suitable ones can`t be procured on the world market fast enough. Pakistan`s government could help by setting aside historical suspicion and accepting India`s offer of helicopters, rather than objecting to the fact that Indian helicopters come with Indian crews. But the outside world, and particularly the United States and its allies, have an interest in doing their part. Kashmir is home to Islamic terrorists whose war against the Indian government does not preclude attacks on Western targets. If the West stands by while thousands die from infections and hypothermia, it will fuel the anger from which the terrorists gain.

#154 by khamkhwa. on October 26, 2005 4:04pm PT
Re: # 140
ijaz gul...
veeresh`s slanted views are nothing new...specially his wishful thinking of the repetition of the `71 tragedy... ignore him and his cynical comments and carry on with your good work...our prayers are with you...

+++

Yes, and some people`s historical habits of shooting or even hanging the messenger are also nothing new . . . as for the `71 tragedy, thank the Lord that at least you have finally admitted that it WAS a tragedy, for most others of your ilk it was a Glorious Victory over Unsuitable Pakistanis of bengali origin etcetc., right?

All I am saying is that screams (or prayers) at this juncture are not all that is needed. Some common sense and quantifiable results are.

+++

Re: # 160

Romair,

{{Behram1 #156: If you are going to ask questions, then you need to try to interact with people, without using words like rubbish. Otherwise they will not answer your questions. Everyone has their point of view on life. If you disagree with it. A simple, ``I disagree with it,`` suffices.}}

As someone who has grown up & shared many a dhanshak with bawas (albeit; on the right side of the border)...may I give you some unsolicited advice?

---

the word ``RUBBISH!!!`` is a very miiiiild word in the rich bawa armamentorium of brutally honest criticism...so much for your ``thick`` skin...

---

never cross a determined bawa...big mistake....they think FIRST...then hit...

---

if they werent so annoyingly RIGHT all the time...they`d deserve a spankin`:)

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Ahmadzai #155: ``Just to clarify many contributors of Pakistani origin on downsizing of Pakistani military, we will not do it to the level as being proposed by them. The reason is that we have our own vision.``

There will be no other way to adjust the budget for this earthquake, then to cut military purchases. I don`t think Musharraf will cut down the size of the military, but I think he should. At least for ten years. He should cut down all other unnecessary expenditures also. 65 ministers etc. And introduce land reforms. The country is united, and it will support him.....

Pakistan has enough of a deterence against India, as long as it has nukes. It just needs a military, to hold back India for a day or two, so that it can launch nukes. No country with nukes has ever had its international border crossed. Such countries always fight their wars in other disputed areas.......

At its current size, the Pakistan military is too small to attack India, and too large than what is needed to defend itself against India........Social services needs to be the name of the game for ten years. After which Pakistan can think about being a leader of other groups, including the Muslim countries, or Central Asian countries etc........

Re: # 159 Romair said ``It just needs a military, to hold back India for a day or two, so that it can launch nukes.``

+++

Gosh, Romair, you are really really out of touch with reality. If you think that the whole Indo-Pak thing is a contest, forget it! We have our lives to lead in India, and I do not see any ``invasion`` of Pakistan as being any part of it. If anything, Bangladesh is capable of creating more of a problem for India now than pakistan.

Yes, it does seem as though Pakistan is in re-shaping mode already, if you look at what is happening in Baluchistan and the North West as well as the Tribal belts adjoining Afghanistan. That is your internal issue, then again, for most of you, even Lahore Railway Station is a distant land as you go on and on about Lahore Airport, so how would you know?

Yes, Indian Sukhois have now been flying over Islamabad at 65-70000 feet for the past few years without being challenged, so what, the Americans have been doing it for almost a decade now, or more. But your Government has to make a fuss about Indian choppers with Indian pilots, even if they were going to be in United Nations colours. (White choppers with UN written on them operated by people wearing blue berets, and I know that these were on stand-bye)

Bandwidth into Pakistan is from Indian companies. tea is from Indian companies. Trucks, highways, these are from Indian companies. On the other hand, Indian companies are setting up assembly plants for two-wheelers and irrigation pumpsets in Pakistan. One of the most succesful solar programmes in the world is in in rural Pakistan and is in collaboaration with, right, you guessed it, an Indian company. Pakistani medicos are now interning under Indian doctors in Indian hospitals. Indian doctors are going into Pakistan to set up branches.

Look at the positive side of what I am saying.

Is that too much to ask or will you continue leading poor and illiterate people along the path of imaginary fears, as your rulers have been doing for decades now?

Behram1 #156: If you are going to ask questions, then you need to try to interact with people, without using words like rubbish. Otherwise they will not answer your questions. Everyone has their point of view on life. If you disagree with it. A simple, ``I disagree with it,`` suffices.

As a whole, in any poor society, a tiny elite that is rich, to the point of being in the top 3% of the USA society, much less in the Pakistani society, has greatly benefited from the corrupt system. If everyone in Pakistan is as honest as you say, then why in the world is the country ranked regularly as one of the top 10 corrupt countries in the world, year after year.

Institutions are nothing more than the people who make them. The business community, like any community, in an institution. Are you seriously going to tell me that it is honest as an institution? I am a part of it. Do you know how much tax evasion goes on in Pakistan. The business community is supposed to pay the most taxes. Barely 1% of Pakistan pays tax. The whole tax coming out of Liberty Market in Lahore is a tiny fraction of what should be paid. While crores of business goes on there. The Income Tax dept, in Pakistan, is considered one of the most corrupt in Pakistan. Who is at the other end of the corruption? Obivously the guys who are to pay taxes. Of which businessmen are the main group, where the taxes should come from. As a group, the Pakistani business institution carries out massive tax evasion.

The guy who built the Margalla tower was a businessmen. He carried out massive corruption. You mentioned Cowasjee. He regularly writes about the massive corruption in so many business entities, to the point of there being mafia........

Wapda, according to the book, ``Waiting for Allah,`` by a British author, is the most corrupt institution in the world. How does that corruption occur? Who is at the other end? It is people and businesses, who bribe Wapda employees to make sure their homes and businesses don`t have to pay correct electricty bills, etc.

This is all part of the affluent society in Pakistan. Everyone is in it. Military leadership, civilian leadership, business leadership, civil services, feudals etc. This is where all of us in Chowk hook up into. Our parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. are all in the affluent group. I have never done a penny of corruption in my life. But being in this group, I am also an indirect beneficiary.

We need to, as a group - the affluent group of Pakistan - need to start taking responsibility and blame, for where Pakistan is today. Instead of looking for others to blame..........We cannot keep passing the buck to the next institution.......That has always been Pakistan`s achilles heal. The Army blames the feudals, who blame the businessmen, who blame the civil servants, who blame the Army, And then everyone blames the mullah. Who then blames Israel and then USA and India and what not..... First and foremost, lets blame ourselves and clean out the houses of the insititution/community we belong to......

Ahmadzai# Welcome back..........Good to see you again......Sangayee

Re: # 158

Romair #158: Your twisted and fuzzy logic becomes rubbish about your posts. I have mentioned several times that please be crisp, clear and pointed. Most of us are not interested in your narratives. That is what the actual articles are supposed to generate. On some sites your posts are much more voluminous than the article itself. You can decide to just post one or two comments.

But, it appears to me that you create an unnecessary dialogue, and over take the article itself. It is rude and disrespectful in and of itself. I wonder how the writer’s must be feeling. It is similar to inviting you to my house, and you start telling me everything what is wrong with my house and with me.

Just look at the first few comments posted by most people. One-liners mostly. Until you show up with your long drawn out logic, and then all hell breaks loose. And you call it a discussion.

Sir, I can be sure that is not what the writer’s intended to be. Mostly, it is you that tears to whole articles intention. And you must stop doing that.

Now, commenting your mostly ridiculous argument that mafia’s are considered businesses. Maybe you consider a thief as business, but I don’t. I don’t consider a thief as a business. People who don’t pay taxes are thieves, as well as those tax collecting government bureaucrats who show mechanism of avoiding tax collecting.

I never knew that businesses are institutions until I heard your definition.

I have never said that Pakistan is not a corrupt country. It is because of the institutions inside Pakistan, and yes institutions are made of people. But, there is a dynamics of institutions, in and of itself that breed corruption. And that is true with all countries. The level of corruption just varies. And that is why Pakistan has attained that distinction in being the corrupt country.

But this argument does not validate your thought regarding group being corrupt. And that is where we were at the beginning of this long drawn discussion.

Your constantly change the variables, the bases of your arguments. You constantly compare values Pakistan and the US. Pakistan is not the US. It could be one but it is not. There are 200 years of methodical implementation of institutional values. Pakistan has 60 years of methodical destruction of institutional values. Do you see the difference?

Mostly those who were part of the so-called institution brought this destruction, namely the military, the mullahs, and some politicians. Any and all of the intellectuals were side stepped by these players of the institutions.

{The business community, like any community, in an institution.} I disagree. I do not consider businesses as institution.

[The Income Tax dept, in Pakistan, is considered one of the most corrupt in Pakistan.] It is the enforcement that is lacking. This institution is corrupt. Just like police is corrupt and they go about raping women. Would you argue that women want to be raped, because your President thinks that’s what it is? Are you nuts?

Again, mafias are not businesses in my opinion. You might consider people who sell opium as businesses, but I don’t.


[It is people and businesses, who bribe Wapda employees to make sure their homes and businesses don`t have to pay correct electricity bills, etc.] Again, the bureaucrats of institution established the system first.

[I have never done a penny of corruption in my life. But being in this group, I am also an indirect beneficiary.] This is where your logic gets twisted. Just because you are a Muslim does not make you a terrorist. Just because I was born in Pakistan does not make me corrupt.

I will let my argument rest for a while by agreeing with you that all people in Pakistan should take leadership and bring corrupt institutions under control […lets …… clean out the houses of the institutions only]

Ahmadzai,
Bienvenue!

Hi.

I have joined after a long hiatus just to share the following:

• This is an excellent article.

• The people of Pakistan have thanked foreign donors (both countries like Turkey, USA, UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc. and humanitarian groups) to have come to our help. While the foreign countries, no matter how prosperous they are, may or may not extend the kind of help our people need, it’s the Pakistani people who have shown that we are capable of responding to all kinds of challenges given our meager resources. It is a heartening experience to see Pakistanis of all ethnic and political background united for the same cause to reach out to their brethren in the hour of their greatest need. I personally know of women belonging to extremely conservative families of Mardan District who have traveled to Kashmir and are working with women and children there.

• Just to clarify many contributors of Pakistani origin on downsizing of Pakistani military, we will not do it to the level as being proposed by them. The reason is that we have our own vision. We want to see Pakistan as a moderate Muslim country that is fully capable of playing a bigger role at the international level in the future. As a nuclear power state and a population that is 150 million strong we are already doing that in the international arena. Due to our active involvement, favorable results not only for Pakistan but also for the entire world are there loud and clear for all of us to see. In view of the realities around our borders, we will maintain a conventional force strong enough to meet any challenges.

• Kindly do not underestimate our adversary. Both Government officials and individuals working with international media have found that there is a strong force out there to block the news or paint a negative picture.

Once again, thanks to the writer for sharing what we needed to hear to act in a more humane manner.

Btw, this article has become attached in a chain email and is under circulation all over the world. I got an email today with this article. I am not sure where people read it and decided to forward it to others.

www.earthquakepakistan.com is the best website I have seen so far that provides information on this tragedy...........

UN doubles Asia earthquake appeal
BY SAM KNIGHT AND AGENCIES




The United Nations nearly doubled its appeal for aid for the victims of the South Asia earthquake today, telling member nations to dramatically increase their donations to the region.


The UN had so far managed to raise just $68 million of the $312 million it had requested to fund a response to the disaster. Today, the UN said it would need $550 million to provide tents, food and medical help to the estimated 3.3 million people left homeless by the earthquake.
``The scale of this tragedy almost defies our darkest imagination,`` Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, told today`s donors conference in Geneva. ``We meet today to prevent a second shockwave of deaths and to prevent further suffering.``
Donations to the UN relief effort, which was launched by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the aftermath of the earthquake on October 8, have been sluggish. Before this morning`s meeting, the US had donated $10.8 million to the fund and the UK $9.4 million. Seven prosperous countries, including Spain, France and Belgium, had given nothing.
Jan Egeland, the UN`s chief aid co-ordinator, said today that some relief teams have already spent all their money and that limited funding meant that the 74,000 people injured by the earthquake were receiving inadequate medical care. At least 55,000 people were killed by the quake.
``We needed the money yesterday. We are amputating far too many limbs,`` said Mr Egeland, who told today`s meeting that hundreds of thousands of survivors will need food, blankets and winterised tents to survive the Himalayan winter, where temperatures are already dropping below freezing.
Hilary Benn, the International Development Secretary, was at today`s meeting in Geneva. Britain has given a total of £44 million ($78 million) so far to fund earthquake relief, including its donation to the UN and £11 million ($19.5 million) to Echo, the EU`s humanitarian organisation. The US has pledged a total of $50 million.
According to a spokesman at the Department for International Development, Britain has chosen to give most of its money to Oxfam and NGO`s such as Islamic Relief because they have contacts in the disaster zone and are able to dispense aid more quickly.
``The thing about this relief operation is that... we need to fund groups with established relief networks in the area,`` said the spokesman.
The British public has so far given around £25 million for the victims of the earthquake, which has killed around 80,000 people. Donations for the victims of the tsunami reached £100 million within ten days of the disaster.
In a message to donors today, Oxfam said that the practical difficulties of the relief operation, which the UN has described as a worst case scenario, are being exacerbated by the slow donations of the world`s richest nations.
``The logistical nightmare in Pakistan is bad enough without having to worry about funding shortfalls as well,`` said Phil Bloomer, Oxfam’s Policy Director, in a statement. ``Governments meeting in Geneva today must put their hands in their pockets and pay their fair share. The public will be shocked that so many rich governments have given so little.``
In a separate appeal, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies also doubled its aid appeal today, to $117 million.
Top donors to the UN OCHA appeal, before today`s meeting:
US $10.8m
UK $9.4m
Japan $8m
Netherlands $7.8m
Norway $7.1m
Sweden $6m
Canada $5.3m
Australia $3.8m
Denmark $2.9m
Countries yet to donate to the UN appeal:
France
Spain
Belgium
Austria
Finland
Greece
Portugal

Behram1 #150: There are honest and dishonest individuals everywhere. I am looking at groups at an abstract level. For example, civil services in Pakistan is generally considered very corrupt. Some of the most honest people I have ever met are individual civil servants. But, as an organization and group, I would say they are corrupt in Pakistan.....

1. Any group that gains influence, in a poor society, at an abstract level, will have done so through a corrupt system. The system will have catered to them, and they will have benefited from it. Each and everyone of them, will not be corrupt. But as a group, they will, at the very least be direct beneficiaries of a corrupt system.

Let me give you an example: A lot of us on Chowk have homes in affluent areas (Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi etc.). The values of these homes are very high. They may constitute the main portions of our wealth. Using this wealth, we can study in good colleges, or buy a car etc. Much of the value of those homes is due to a corrupt system. If I sell mine, the money I will be getting may be drug money. Or money that was a product of someone else`s corruption. Feudal money. Kickback money. However, I will become wealthy through it. Had the system been honest, my net value would be lower, because much of the money under circulation, in the group we (Chowk crowd) belong to, is from corruption. If not yours and mine individual corruption, other people`s corruption.

We are all directly and indirectly benefitting from it. So at an abstract level, as a group (not individually, for each person) that is affluent in Pakistan, we are part of the problem. Not part of the solution. We are living at Western world standards in a society that has a per capita income of 1/50th of the Western world. Much of this is due to our hard work. But much of it is due to the unfair advantages we enjoy; even if we did not individually create those unfair advantages. Rest assured the middle class and lower middle class views us as such........

2. As you you being part of the upper class or me being part of it: That is not a group one can join or leave, by making a declaration. It is based on income, assets, net value, access to facilitites, etc. The per capita income of Pakistan is $726. That is $2/day. Compare your income to it. My guess is you make many times that per hour. If you make even $10/hr, you are already 5 times the per capita income. Five times per capita, puts one in the top financial group of any society. The literacy rate of Pakistan is 45%, i..e people who can read an Urdu newspaper, at minimum level. The college literacy rate is a tiny fraction of that. Those with foreign education are far less than 1%. Less than 1% of Pakistani have access to an English newspaper. There are only 1.5 million cars in Pakistan, for a population of 150 million. So only 1% have access to their own personal car. Less than 1% have Internet access at home. In addition, anyone who can employ another human being for domestic help as a cook, etc. 24x7 is generally from the upper class, in any society. So on and so forth......

If you fall under any or all of those, you are without a doubt from the top 1%. Infact, from a fraction of the top 1%. I think everyone in Chowk falls in nearly each of the above category. I think they don`t realize how poor the rest of Pakistan happens to be. Most of the people in Pakistan live like those who got affected in the earthquake in the villages. Compare your lifestyle (or mine) to theirs.....

Anyways, while the discussion around budget re-allocation is related to the topic of earthquake relief, this discussion is not. So based on Ijaz_Gul`s comment, we should continue it some other place...........

Re: # 151


Romair #151: Please look at people at the realistic level. People are just people. You should not brand people. Institutions are different. Military is an institution, police is an institution, school is an institution, WAPDA is an institution, political parties are institutions, and mullahism is an institution. People in these institutions can and do get away with being corrupt. And then of course the whole institution gets a band name.

But groups are made up of individuals. Memons are groups, Bohras are groups, Ismailis are groups, Parsees are groups, Catholics are groups, and in my opinion, none of them are corrupt. So please do not get mixed up between the terms groups and institutions. Look at group at the practical level, and not at an abstract level as you suggested.

Actually, your assertion that groups are always corrupt, merely because it grew in a corrupt environment is totally baseless and erroneous. [But as a group, they will, at the very least be direct beneficiaries of a corrupt system.]

[Let me give you an example…]

I have already refuted your similar examples, so there is no need to get into similar hypothetical examples. Those Pakistanis who were rich did not stay back in a foreign land to start all over again.

The example on house values that you have given is ridiculous. Comparing it with drug money is humiliating to the millions of dollars remitted to Pakistan by hard working Pakistanis abroad. I would, however, concede that the ill-gotten wealth by the military wallas and their usurping of the Pakistani land for defense housing societies, etc, is a topic that you concentrate on.

But, please do not include me in that story. I do believe that most on the Chowk are just regular schmucks who have nothing to do with corruption. If any of them are wealthy, then they are probably wealthy because

a. they were competent, and
b. they worked hard

I do agree with you, however, that we must be a part of some solution to get rid of corruption.

[We are living at Western world standards in a society that has a per capita income of 1/50th of the Western world.]We must provide opportunities for everyone to grow to the western standards. And not dumb down others to provide for an egalitarian society. Why penalize excellence?

[Much of this is due to our hard work. But much of it is due to the unfair advantages we enjoy; even if we did not individually create those unfair advantages.] You failed to enumerate. How much of this is due to hard work? How much of this is due to unfair advantage?

The rest of your item 2 is just some left wing communist rhetoric, which does not deserve a response at least on this board.

[If you fall under any or all of those, you are without a doubt from the top 1%. Infact, from a fraction of the top 1%.] For your information, most people on Chowk are considered to be in the top 3% of the US economy, due to their income, education level and living standards. By your thought then, this is all due to the corrupt system. What rubbish!

[I think they don`t realize how poor the rest of Pakistan happens to be.] Actually, I do realize how poor Pakistan is and that is why I am contributing by participating in these discussions with you. It is the poverty in Pakistan that should be discussed, and not try to place blame on groups of people. As usual, people who ever were part of the established institutions continue to work toward deflecting the keen eye from the ball.

Yes, I agree with you [we should continue it some other place...........]

Respectfully submitted,

nice articles atleast someone who knew the right time. Umair khan sir whom are talking to pakistani nowaday do not care about politics, they have done what they have to as a human being. As far as shouting is concern, no , ppl are too busy to keep themselve nd their family alive that they barely think about going against government or marching against there policies cuz they know there will be no solution and its a waste of time. Talking about media , media speaks the language of the government as our government have done nothing to save there nation.

Ijaz_Gul #133:

``Thanx Vareesh Romair and Behram for sidetracking the discussion. Are we all the fly by night type drawing room reformists?``

I have not sidelined the discussion. The whole point of this article is to discuss the tragedy. We are discussuing the policies the Pakistan govt. should make, in regard to handling this situation in the long run. This is an important discussion........I am quite sure it is taking place at the highest levels of the Pakistan govt. also........Rest assured, all of us are helping. Some, perhaps, quite a bit more than you may realize. No nee to minimilize other people`s efforts.........There is quite a bit people are doing, without making it public.......My attachments with that area, go quite deep.........

I am not sure what one can do on a website, other than carry out a discussion.........Anyway continue your good work, and don`t doubt others` intentions.........

Behram1 #132: ``Now how do you correlate........ How does having political contacts become corruption? Here your logic becomes a little fuzzy.``

There is a general rule you can apply to societies that have corruption and a lot of poverty. If in a neighborhood, everyone is poor, and there are two huge houses, then there is a pretty good chance those houses are a product of corruption, somewhere.

All of us on Chowk have done extremely well in Pakistan`s corrupt system (this was my referal to foreign degrees etc.). We are in the less than 1% elite. This, obviously does not mean that all of us are corrupt. But as a group, we have benefitted from the system. And this is how the general society in Pakistan views us. The upper class of Pakistan, as a whole, is viewed quite negatively by the middle and lower class of Pakistan.

We, on Chowk, are from families that run Pakistan. We are related to politicians, businessmen, civil servants, mliitary generals, feudals, etc. We need to accept the fact that we have had the power, and have not delivered........

``We might be intellectually from upper class of Pakistan, but financially we are not.``

Less than 1% of Pakistan has Internet access at home. An even tinier number has a foreign degree. So if you have both of these, you are definitely from the 1% or far less of Pakistan. I think most urban Pakistanis do not realize how poor Pakistan is.

The rest of your comments on Pakistan`s economics are accurate. Though I think this govt has done far better than previous ones..........

Re: # 147

Dear Romair:

Thank you for a response.

Just by extending your definition it would appear that any body who succeeds in life must have been corrupt. This is wrong.

By corruption, I am assuming that you mean ill gotten financial wealth.

Let us be clear about this, once and for all. I do not consider myself from the upper class. You can go around and blow your own bugle that you are from the upper class, etc. but I will never do that. Because I am not and that will be inauthentic about me.

[The upper class of Pakistan, as a whole, is viewed quite negatively by the middle and lower class of Pakistan.] I never for once considered our Parsee philanthropists` as corrupt. And they are not. Ardeshir Cowasjee is rich and I know that he is not corrupt. The Bugtis are rich, but I would not consider them corrupt. The Gabols are rich but I would not consider them corrupt. Khan of Kalat is rich but I would not consider them corrupt.

However, I do consider military wallas generally as corrupt. I do consider some politicians generally as corrupt. I do consider some mullahs generally as corrupt. But I will not brush all of them with one brush, as you do.

I do consider this thought of yours as corrupt. Please reconsider your corrupt thought.

[Less than 1% of Pakistan has Internet access at home. An even tinier number has a foreign degree. So if you have both of these, you are definitely from the 1% or far less of Pakistan. I think most urban Pakistanis do not realize how poor Pakistan is.] That I do realize. I have hardworking friends at Siemens in Karachi and I know that they are not corrupt. I have hardworking friends in K.E.S.C. and I know that they are not corrupt. I have hardworking friends in other Karachi businesses and I know that they are not corrupt.

I do agree with you, however, that there is corruption in Pakistani ruling class.

So WHAT?

Respectfully submitted,

#126 ZahraJ
I completely understand the sentiment to do everything and anything to help. However, the type of tents needed AFAIK are not camping tents. They are looking for tents that you can pretty much live in, cook in, etc.
As you may imagine, there is not a great demand for these normally and that`s why current supply cannot meet the sudden spike in demand. FYI pakistan, the largest manufacturer, exports some 300,000 such tents each year.

Re: # 145

I agree with your observation. You should send a note to the email address and let the person know about the pros and cons. The tents on the provided site looked like ``toy tents``.

143# Shankar,
Got your email and replied alongwith two pics.

Hands that help are better than hands that pray.

I feel obliged.

Cheerios

#134 Vareesh,
Anwers to your querries will be found in my upcoming article on Front Page, ``PAKISTAN ROCKED``. I think the title SCREAM irks you more than anything else, but I am sure you know what it means.

1. A catastrophe of this magnitude per se becomes an international concern. International organisations of which most countries are members are supposed to respond. Your slanted comments in no way assist or obstruct the process. This is Pakistan not yelling for help but asking for assistance for which it has a right under the international code.

2. Not ask questions and pray. Thats the least.

3. Ground realities are dilated in my essay.

#135 Shankar,
I am not using recycled bottles. These are brand new packaged in my own mineral water plant in Rawalpindi. To clarify I have no link with any charity nor anyone including chowkies responded in any manner with donations. Being a Pakistani and a human, I owe it to my country and its people.

Cheerios

Re: # 140
ijaz gul...
veeresh`s slanted views are nothing new...specially his wishful thinking of the repetition of the `71 tragedy... ignore him and his cynical comments and carry on with your good work...our prayers are with you...

Re: # 140
{{am not using recycled bottles. These are brand new packaged in my own mineral water plant in Rawalpindi. To clarify I have no link with any charity nor anyone including chowkies responded in any manner with donations. Being a Pakistani and a human, I owe it to my country and its people. }}

I`m afraid you misunderstand me, sir. My comment to you wasnt supposed to be tongue-in-cheek. I`d like to send a check to a respectable charity. Buying tents & sending bottled water seems like the right thing to do. Now, is this the same charity that ZahraJ is talking about? I`d like to send a check in US dollars....to somebody who puts his money where is mouth is...now, who do I send it to?

Khuda Hafiz

OXFAM joins the scream

http://www.oxfam.org/eng/pr051026_southasia_appeal.htm

Despite Kofi Annan’s urgent call for more aid last week, the UN appeal remains only 19% funded and if pledges are included (which are often not delivered) this only brings the total to 30%. ($90 million has been pledged out of the $312 million the UN requested).
Only four countries (Sweden, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Denmark) have so far given more than their fair share to the appeal.
Governments that have given less than one fifth of their fair share include, Japan (17%), Germany (14%), the US (9%) and Italy (7%).
Seven rich country governments have so far given nothing at all to the UN appeal – Belgium, France, Austria, Finland, Greece, Portugal and Spain. By contrast much poorer countries such as Poland and Chile have given contributions to the appeal.

Thanx Vareesh Romair and Behram for sidetracking the discussion. Are we all the fly by night type drawing room reformists?

``The smallest of actions is always better than the noblest of intentions.`` Robin Sharma
Thanx Zaharaj.

Re: # 133

Mr Gul,

Do you have an extra ticket on your relief aircraft?

May I humbly recommend you give it to the exalted Field Marshall on Chowk, who seems to have nothing better to do that give silly editorials & look at gift horses in the mouth.

He is well trained & well travelled. I`ll have you know that the only expertise he doesnt possess is living with penguins in Antartica. Maybe those poor victims` sorrow will be lightened by his Polyannish attitude to life.

Maybe he could regale us with his incredible insight from a tent in Muzaffarbad, as he freezes his butt off with his bretheren. For company, he ought to take ol` man bawa-ji to pour cold water over him, when his mind goes out of this galaxy.

Re: # 133, Ijaz, I am not side-tracking the real issue, which, to my mind relevant to this article is:-

a) How to make a scream effective?

b) How to do something over and above the scream?

c) How does the ground reality impact what will happen to pakistan looking forward.

There are related issues of refugees flooding into India (which is the loudest scream possible that any country can not afford to ignore) and my queries from some chowkies like Romair and Manto on what they are doing (or not).

This Jinnah-Gandhi stuff that Yasser has brought up, I agree, has nothing to do with the subject.

forgot sake is it time to discuss military is pakistan!!!

i felt like the SCREAM Umair talked about is already dead.

thanx to YOU ppl

Behram1 #127: I will try to answer you questions, one by one:

``do agree with you that the military wallas should not be given any other government job. But that is wishful thinking, and you know that.``

I am providing with the solution. Not with the means of achieving it. The only means for achieving it is for Musharraf to make decisions. Which, as I stated, he probably will not do, in this regard, to a great extent.........

``The rubbish that Pakistani military .....not be repeating their stupid thoughts or promotions.``

I could not understand this part of your question.....

``I have no idea what their pay scales are. Do you? Please let us know.``

The military pay scales are very low. Specifically for technically qualified people. A PAF pilot makes a small fraction of a PIA pilot. My friend with a Ph.D and ten years of experience, teaching in NUST, makes 1/8th of what he could make teaching at LUMS. I don`t recall the exact figures, but I made around Rs 9000/month or so (all benefits/allowances combined), as a Captain, ten twelve years ago. My friends outside with similar qualifications were making three times that.....

``I am sure that Pakistani military wallas do not get that kind of a generous retirement package, and they should not.``

The retirement package is quite good, in relation to the salary. Free medical for life. A pension. etc. I think the miltiary`s retirement costs are higher than the salary costs of the whole military, in the budget.......

`` will only have a vested interest if there is a postive outcome of my involvement``

Every group in Pakistan has huge vested interests. As do all of us on Chowk. We are the financial upper class of Pakistan. We are not very popular with the middle class of Pakistn, by the way. And as a group, we have done quite well in Pakistan`s corrupt system. It has served us well, in most cases. Some of us are feudals, some are sons of senior civil servants, military officers. Some are in PIA. Some have political contacts etc.....Some are abroad with foreign degrees........

``What level? Captains, don`t make enough? Compared to what?``

Everyone from Col and below, lives hand to mouth. Brigadiers and above live well. Generals live really well - serving or retired. There are about 150 total Generals in the combined three forces, at any one time. Also those who can leave the military and get good jobs - PIA, Foreign service etc. - live well also.....

``Military wallas are not supposed to have any vision. Their only mission is to defend their country. And this is not a vision. It is their MISSION.``

Yes, this is true. However, I was talking about vision to make these changes. Since it is the military that is running Pakistan. It would be the one which needs the vision. Which it doesn`t really have, due to reasons you mentioned.....

`` How can people`s rule flourish with this logic?....Who decides better options? You!``

I don`t know how. I am not providing logic, though. It is my personal opinion, as a citizen of Pakistan. An opinion that others may disagree with. But one that I have a right to have.....

``But,you opined that the military wallas think that they can build better roads etc. and of course, they have guns.``

Yes, this is what they think. Which is the core of the problem I am highlighting. Though this regime has changed this thinking, somewhat. But it still will not let go of Fauji Foundation, etc.

``So? these guys should be fired at a faster pace, I suppose!``

Not necessarily. They just should not be given civilian assets.....

``Please do not hold your breath for the military wallas to get out anything. Because they won`t. There is too much in it for them.``

I don`t think they will get out. As I said I am just giving the solution. Not a mechanism for the solution. As I also said, it will only happen if a major decision is taken by Musharraf. This was my whole point. Can he or will he take the decision, after this earthquake?

P.S. two things have happened, which point to the correct direction........

1. Education budget has been raised by 35%
2. F-16 deals is being cancelled or delayed

Re: # 129
A Pakistani Capt only makes 9000 Pakistani ruppees. Wow.....

Dude, join Indian Army, you will about twice that and free ration on top.

Re: # 129

Dear Romair:

Thank you for a response clarifying your posts.

{``The rubbish that Pakistani military .....not be repeating their stupid thoughts or promotions.``}

[I could not understand this part of your question..... ] OK, let me explain it this way.

When you write about how things are at hand, it comes across that you are accepting those conditions. And then suddenly you throw an opinion at the end. This style has created most of the confusion.

[We are the financial upper class of Pakistan.] You might be, but I am not. And almost all my Parsee friends who are in the west are not. We might be intellectually from upper class of Pakistan, but financially we are not.

[Some have political contacts etc.....Some are abroad with foreign degrees........] Now how do you correlate having foreign degrees with the corrupt Pakistani system? Having political contacts is what democracy is all about. Civic mindedness is a virtue. Getting involved in enlightening the masses. How does having political contacts become corruption? Here your logic becomes a little fuzzy.

[I don`t know how. ] I think that you do. Once you start listening to your heart, you will know right from wrong. Since early days, unfortunately, Pakistan had unscrupoulus leaders. And this has been imbedded in our society. That is why there will always remain a desire for everyone to get out of Pakistan.

As a general rule, intellectuals have be shuned in Pakistan. These days thanks to the US, we are seeing some freedom of press. If we can only work with Amnesty group and monitor the political freedom we will be moving in the right direction.

[1. Education budget has been raised by 35%] This is factually true. As I read in Dawn`s editorial, this was reduced in the early years of the Musharraf administartion (year 2000?) and brought back to its original level or a little bit higher. BFD>

[2. F-16 deals is being cancelled or delayed] Yes, I was pleasantly surprised at this news, as well.

Romair, Pakistan`s main problem is not these nuances. The government`s challenge is that it is not authentic in its behavior towards its own citizens. It`s biggest challenge has always been law and order. I gaurantee you that PM Shaukat Aziz and his administartion will continue to remain a failure, until they address the law and order situation. In FDI, the west will not invest a single dime. Pakistan should not worry about large MNC to invest in Pakistan. It can promote and advertise in smaller newspapers across the US, and stop spending money in the NY Times. Shaukat Aziz thinks that his friendship with Paul Wolfowitz wll bring Pakistan something is absolutely ludicrous. His friendship with Paul might bring an employement for his won self, but nothing for Pakistan. So what? Shoaib Ahmad used to be in the World Bank.

There are thousands and thousands of smaller companies in the western world that if proper country marketing is done could end up investing inside Pakistan. But of course the law and order situation must be absolute. The Judiciary should then be made completely independent.

Tell me where and how often do you discuss intellectually with Pakistanis in your area where you live. I hardly have a chance to discuss any with my Pakistani friends. Most of them are just stuck in their own family circles. And there is no vision (heck there is no mission, either). Most Pakistanis live with Getho mentality.

Respectfully submitted,

Re#116 Behram

Behram B. Atashband,

Just when I had the whole contingent figured out!

Just when I concluded creating a neat division of chowk`s selected shady somnambulists – into the two camps – the camp of the Beej versus the camp of the Booze-stricken – the latter including Behram the bad boy and his lowly gang of lawyer-likes and likewise looter ladies!

And just when I was getting ready to start considering what life-long vow to take to exact unending justice from those crafty, cruel, cucumber-like culprits – from the gang that would stoop to make Gangadin of a certain glorious G. – but for a few pictures and the efforts of a lowly janitor – alas, those pictures so cruelly condemned into the annals of chowk’s cyber trash merely on the basis of a few crass copyright clauses – alas, the pictures now all gone except for the measly few saved courtesy of Google caches and fearlessly extracted (no matter whether copyright or copyleft) and now safely ensconced on the back of that work horse that listens to the Beej and none else – that pride of a machine – the work-station-a-beej!

Yes, those pictures now held in reserve – should the same urgency or need arise again!

And so comfy was I!

And here you throw this completely new zinger!

Behram B. Atashbund, you have gotten hold of the brush! And what a brush it is!

The brush whose bristles burst with the slippery golden yellow – O what a butter! That subcontinental specialty – like no other specialty neverwhere!

Oh, that aroma!

And what a sneaky attack you carry out – how much worse than even Machiavelli’s!

You praise my writing! Do you have ANY idea what a pickle that puts me in?! And how difficult it makes things – to take your posts apart?! What was a fun pastime – instantaneously transformed into an act that would be morbidly saturated with guilt and consternation!

Have you heard the old Sanskrit couplet, which translates – “if you want the tree to give good fruit, make sure you irrigate its roots – just like if you want to be in the good books of a person, you better be nice to his babies!”

Behram B. Atashband – as you have guessed, my words are my babies! They come out Behram – I have no ownership of them! My babies have a mind of their own!

Behram B. Atashbund – you have made your master move – and brilliantly executed it – you have created an illumination from that flash of lightning and the illumination has left my vision stunned – and you have done it all from behind that humble façade!

The lubricating effects of the butter have done their job – they rescued you Behram – the butter has served you as it has done in the past for a few other chowkies – to get them off the hook – and to earn the proverbial nine lives – and therefore….

Therefore Behram B. Atashbund, you must hang on in there!

Hang on there, Behram B. Atashband – I give you back the remaining eight to use them wisely!

To live, to let live, and to prosper!

Not by cowering behind the coattails of dead leaders – but riding the crest of a powerful young tide that carries us to that brave new tomorrow!

And before you embark on that long journey of lecturing the Beej, Behram B. Atashbund, on the complexities of life and how life is more than a confrontation “between the Hindus and the Muslims” – go back and read some of the earlier posts that certain interactors have posted in the past – and go back and read with an OPEN mind what has been continuously been hammered in – again and again – about the evils of intransigence, and the repeated exhortation to not being its victim – so you can develop a more comprehensive profile – and a more complete picture!

Of the method behind the “madness”!

I wish you well,

Beej.

Re: # 128

Dear Beej:

Once again, you were awesome. Your post refreshes Mark Anthony`s speach at Ceasar`s death. Vow! Thank you for such praise...(is it?) Your prose about my style is humbling.

No, butter. Pure admiration and respect for your writing skills. I wish I can write like you. Your thoughts are powerful. Your words are crisp and clear. Your message is emphatic.

And please Beej, rest assured that I will have no malice towards you, when you tear me apart, if that is what your mind desires. Because I know your heart is the right authentic heart. Because in the end, nevertheless, I shall remain honored. For it was none other than the best writer at this chowk.

Respectfully submitted,

Behram B. Atashband