‘Dare to bare’ Pak fashionistas” thumb a nose at Taliban

KARACHI: Bare shoulders, backless gowns and pouting models are wowing Pakistan’s glitterati as Karachi fashion week shows the world a different side of the Taliban-troubled nation.

A model presents a creation by Pakistani designer Samar Mehdi during the Pakistan Fashion Week in Karachi. (ASIF HASSAN-AFP Photo)

While women in much of Muslim, conservative Pakistan opt for headscarves over baggy shalwar khamis or even burkas, on the catwalks of financial capital Karachi, designers are exposing midriffs and flashing cleavage.

Fashion week runs until Saturday, taking place three weeks late because of security jitters and as a mark of respect for more than 300 people who perished in a string of attacks blamed on Islamist militants last month.

Fashionistas in Karachi, however, shrug off security fears in the southern city of 14 million people, known for its glitzy malls and thriving cafe culture a two-hour flight away from militant hubs in the northwest.

“We, the members of Fashion Pakistan, feel great to be hosting this colourful event at difficult times in our history, when the entire nation is waging a battle against militancy,” she said.

The eight local designers who opened the event experimented with twists on traditional Pakistani dress and western styles.

Intricate and colourful fabrics lit up the catwalk, while a towering black feather hat, off-the-shoulder dresses and halterneck gowns graced the frames of sultry models strutting in high heels past an awed audience.

Baba Ramdev’s ‘Kapaal bhati’ catches ‘Muslim’ clerics’ fancy

Baba Ramdev does what no LEADER could do …UNITE INDIA !!

Deoband, November 3————–

BABA RAMDEV ACHIEVES THE IMPOSSIBLE ---UNITE INDIA

In a rare confluence, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev performed ‘pranayam’, while a Hindu priest recited Vedic hymns at the largest congregation of Muslim clerics of the country here today.

The 30th General Assembly organised by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind at the Darul Uloom Islamic seminary was the first occasion when a Hindu religious figure addressed the audience, primarily comprising Muslim clerics.

The jam-packed pandal of the seminary, which is the seat of Sunni Muslims in Asia, fell silent as Pandit NK Sharma started reciting sacred Sanskrit texts at the dias.

More than two lakh clerics and students first listened attentively to Hindu religious texts which dealt with peace, unity and brotherhood and then watched the yoga performance of Baba Ramdev.

Ramdev, in his signature style, started with a brief introduction about unity, health and well being followed by demonstrating ‘anulom-vilom’, ‘pranayam’, ‘kapaal bhati’ and other ‘yogasans’ to the gathering.

“I teach people yoga. I spoke of well being, healthy life. Haven’t changed anyone’s religion,” a beaming Baba Ramdev said.

Incidentally, the 143-year-old influential seminary had in the past issued a fatwa in favour of yoga after some clerics banned Muslims from practising it. Stressing on the need to promote yoga, Ramdev sought to dispel misconceptions about the activity by saying, “The yoga is like an exercise to keep the body fit and do not violate any tenets of Islam since one is not required to recite any shlokas.” As the Baba, who is the founder of Patanjali Yaogapeeth in Hardwar, exhibited some fine technique about breath control, concentration, meditation, the audience was seen following him in the acts.

He emphasised the need for promoting communal harmony saying the unity between Hindus and Muslims was the strength of the nation. —PTI

LAHORE DI KIRAN BEDI NEELMA NAHEED DURRANI

BY RASHMI TALWAR

LAHORE DI KIRAN BEDI NEELMA NAHEED DURRANI

FIRST PUBLISHED IN SATURDAY SPECIAL MAGAZINE OF PUNJABI TRIBUNE issue of October 31, 2009

LAHORE DI KIRAN BEDI NEELMA NAHEED DURRANI

ENG- ROMAN TRANSLATION OF ABOVE ARTICLE

Punjabi Tribune
Amritsar 31.10.2009

Lahore (Pakistan) di pehli aurat SSP Neelma Naheed Durrani nu utho di Kiran Bedi kiha jave ta atikathni nahi hovegi. Aajkal Uh Sanjukt rashtar mission (UN)de daure te Sudan gahi hoe hain.
Durrani vaste Pakistan varge desh vich police jahe kitey (profession) nu apnona, uss dian chunotian nu kabool ke ek safal police adhikari banna, jithe uss85
de vadhi parapti hai ate punjabian lye maan wali gal hai, uthe bharat daurian duran Bharat-Pakistan te vishesh karke dove desha de Punjabian vichanle nige ate sadbhavna wale samband sirjne uhna de sakhshiat da ek vilakhan pehlu ve hai.

Uhde andarli shairaa da hi shayad eh ek hor pehlu hai ke sakhat police afsar hundian ve uh manukhi sabandaa de nave aayam hi nahi sirjadi, sagoo sabandaa de sukhmata nu ve maandi hai.
Uh Amritsar apne purkian da ghar labhaan aye tan us nal mulakat hoi.

Usne kiha ke jadon mein Wagah sardhad paar kiti tah mainu lagia ke lambe chir to athe auan da mera supna aaj pura ho gaya hai. Mere Abba te mera dada aaj Lahore de momenpura de shamshanghat vich kabran vich pai khush ho rahe honge ki uhna di dhee sada apna shehar vekhan gai hai. Us kiha ke mera Abba agahan Ajaz Hussain Durrani 1947 de vand vele Lahore aa vase san. Aaj mein apne purkan da shehar vekhan aye ha taan eh pal mere maan nu tripati den wale hann te usne apne bjurgaan de shehar de mitti nu mathey nal chhuhaya atte Allah da shukar kita.
Uh 11 pustkaa de lekhak hai, Jina vich char pustka Urdu kavita ate do Punjabi kavita dian haan. Us da shairana andaz kewal Pakistani punjabian nu hi nahi bhaunda sago bharati Punjabi ve uss de kavia de murid haan ate usde shairi di khusbu nu maande haan. Uh bhut farakdil hai. Jadoon uh Amritsar dee Sharifpura abadi vich apna pushteni ghar labhan gai ta Udthey stith ik chah de dukan te Satpal Soni nal hi shairi de mehfil jama layi.
Shairana andaz vich gal kardian uss kiha ki shairi dian mehfalan vich jadoon mein shamil hundi haan taan us vele thode ghabraht mehsus kardi haan par jadoon shairi sunadi han tan is taran mehsus hunda hai ki mein andron bahut majboot haan. Mera vishvash nahi dolda.
Us kavita deian satran chuhian:

”tera mulak menu apne mulak jiha keon lagde ne,
` tere lok menu apne jihe keon lagde ne.
Tere mulk de mitti vich mere mulak dee
mitti di khushbu keon aundi hai.
Tu menu apne hi keon lagdi ai,
Ke hain jo sahnu jorda hai
Ki hain jo sanu torda hai
Larai nal nuksan ek da nahi, dovan da hunda hai.”

Mein uhna nu puchhia ke police ate shairi da ke mel hai keonki dovan de subha vakho vakhre haan, tah uh muskurandian akhan lagi ”police mera apna chunian kita hai te shahri mera jamandru ”Nuks”. Us kiha ki police officer banna mere laye saukha kam nahi se. Jadon 27 vare pehlan mein is kite vich ayi tah har paseon mera virodh hoiya. Sabh kehde san ke mein adihapak bana ja koe hor sokha jiha kita apnavan, par mein apne faisle ‘teh drir saan. Aaj Uhee sare mere te maan karde han.

Mein uhna nu ek sawal kita, je uh police afasar na bandi tah hor kise kite nu uss pehal deni si, tah uss turanat keha ”mein patarkar banna si”.

Neelma ek kavitri te police afasar he nahi sagon us andar ek paritba da khazana hai. Uhne farsi, patarkari te Punjabi vich post graduation degree kiti hoi hai. Uh Column- nivis ve hai. Uh Pakistan Television vich news caster the Announcer veh rahi. FM-101 radio Lahore te radio jockey ve rahi.
Uhdian pustakan usde zindagi di jaddoo jedhaad da nichor han.

“Jab nehar kinare sham dale, tuhara shehar kesa hai, vapasi da safar, chanan kithe hoya dukh sabaiya jg, “Chand Chandni Chandigarh”, “Chadde Suraj de Dharti” (Japan de yatra bare), “Raste mein gulab raken hein”, pustaka vich uhne apnian andarlian bhavnava nu bariki te khubsurati nal lafzaa vich paroia hai.
Uh apni pustak Chand Chandni Chandigarh” vich Chandigarh de yatra bare apne parbav pargat kardian likdi hai, “Menu eh vekh ke harani hoi ke bharat vich ladkian bina kese dar toh dine-raat scooteran teh bajian phirdian haan. Ajeha tah mein apne adunik ban chuke Lahore vich ve nahi vekhian. Lahore vich tah din vich vi ajeha karan de koi ladki jurat hi nahi kar sakdi.
Sudan ravana hon toh pehla uhda suneha aya si. Menu, mere parvar nu, mere desh nu eh maan milya hai ki mein pehli Pakistani aurat Uch police adikari haan, jisnu UNO mission teh bhejia ja reha hai. Kiran Bedi ve bharat de eko ik aurat se, jis nu eh maan milya si . Mein ve Kiran Bedi hon vargi mehsus kar rahi haan.
Mein puchia, bharat aun da progamme kadon banega, us jawab dita ”keho jiha dukh bharia sawal kita? Jadon toh halat kharab hoye han, dil khijia-khijia rehnda hai . Pata nahi kehreh zalim han, jihrah iss khete de lokan nu Pyar-Mahobaat nal mildian vekh nahi sukaonde .”
Us akhia bharat mera ghar hai. Menu Amritsar ve Lahore varga lagda hai. Mein tohade toh , Amritsar toh, vichharia mehsus kar rahi haan. Hor dosta de khaat ve mehsus kar rahi ha.
Fer ek din e-mail te udha suneha aya ”Sade mausam ek han, hawa, badal, barash ekho jehi hundi hai. Phir ve eh doorian kio han.
”kasha asi ve Europe vang miljul ke rahiye, gawandi mulkaan nal jadoon dil kare, ek duje nu mil liya kariye, na dehshatgardi, na jang. Bus pyar, mahobbat , aman, sakoon teh dosti hove.” Shanti de uss dut ne akhia.
Par mein chupp haan, uss dian ehna bhavnavan da ki jawab devan

Rashmi Talwar

Diwali in Pakistan celebrated despite bomb blasts n internal turmoil

by RASHMI TALWAR

Diwali celebrated in Pakistan at Krishan Mandir Lahore despite continuing bomb blasts, casualties and internal turmoil threatening to destroy Pakistan

Photo by FAISAL ANJUM from Lahore

Well turned out! by Rashmi Talwar

Well turned out! by Rashmi Talwar
October 1, 2009

YOU should ‘always be well turned out,” this was the jewel of advice for appropriate appearance that my father gave me. Although the idea stuck and pushed me to take great pains at dressing up right, during my tennis career, it often took a toll on my performance!
In time, the jewel was lost, as I felt that repeating a “winning garment” during a tournament —washing only its armpit section— was the true mantra for winning! Many a winning thus rested solely on superstition. For the times it worked, my resolve only became stronger.
Years later, when I graduated to matrimony, my father’s jewel struck again. I was reprimanded often for not appearing as a newly-wed. A crackpot neighbour added fuel to the fire with his comment: “How has she been kept in the family without any jewellery?” It stung my in-laws! I escaped from the caustic remark as the entire neighbourhood considered him a crackpot.
Miscellaneous excuses. Heat, itching, rash etc helped me to shun customary bangles and my only daily accessory remained a watch, till a younger cousin advised how true dress sense plays many a trick. The shopkeeper is attentive, people flock to you, chat more openly…
I took the baggage of “well-turned-out” with me yet again when I entered newspaper reporting. Thus, politician’s interviews were forthcoming. Dignitaries prioritised my query, refreshments arrived as I waited. Undoubtedly, it felt superb. Initially I felt like a hypocrite but later drew myself as an “expert”.
In my enthusiasm to share my good fortune from the jewel, I pushed this advice: “Look your best when you go for an interview”, I told a senior journalist on her assignment to the university.
Elated, she shored her tresses of rubber bands and went all loose-haired, smart in the hottest month of June! A few kilometres further, sweating and panting, her struggle for a lone rubber band proved futile. Fanning herself and holding her hair in a mock knot, a clerk seeing her dishevelled, promptly handed her a stapler: “This is all I have”. Surely cursing me, she stapled with the oddity! Pulling hair over the silver staples, wishing them to be invisible to the interviewee!

At another time, on a reporting assignment in Pakistan, a fellow journalist washed her crinkly hair. In their washed state, I complimented that her hair reminded me of Bollywood actress Kangna Raunaut’s curls. Her thrill to be the actress’s look-alike was only short lived. During the Punjabi “boliyan” session when the Indian jatha jumped into bhangra mode, a cocky devotee sang: “bari barsi khatan gaya si, khat ke liyandi chhoti bhen, , mainu ki pata si oh vichon “niklegi daain” and pulled the “Kangna” to dance the “bhangra”.
The cutting look she gave me stays with me.

The article was first published in The Tribune’s Editorial Page no 8 on October 1,2009
URL: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091001/edit.htm#5
All mails can be posted at Letters@tribuneindia.com— Editor-in-Chief

Pakistani Lawyer’s ‘greed’ fails to free Indian prisoner from Pakistani Jail

Sukhdeep Kaur wife of Indian Death Row prisoner Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan jail for last 18 years, cries after Sarabjit's Mercy Plea is dismissed by Pak Supreme Court and who upheld his Death Sentence

Photo courtsey AFP by Narinder Nanu

By Rashmi Talwar
Bhikhiwind (Amritsar) 24 June 2009————–
Family members of the Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh were inconsolable in their hometown Amritsar today, over Pakistan’s Supreme Court dismissal of a mercy plea filed by Sarabjit. The Pakistani Apex court upheld the death sentence for Sarabjit’s alleged involvement in bomb attacks in 1990 and dismissed his review petition.
Sister Dalbir Kaur, wife of Sarabjit Sukhdeep Kaur and daughters Poonam and Swapandeep, while talking here, alleged that the counsel for Sarabjit Raja Abdul Hamid had sent another lawyer Raja Abdul Rehman to appear in his place during the hearing of the review petition on Wednesday but he (the lawyer) ‘preferred’ to attend another court hearing instead, leaving the Pakistani Supreme court with no choice but to dismiss the mercy plea.

Ansar Burney Pakistan’s former Federal Minister for Human Rights, Chairman and expert advisor for United nations responsible for release of Indian prisoner Kashmir Singh, is also relentlessly pusuing the case of Sarabjit Singh and had also met Sarabjit’s family in Amritsar, last year. In Sarabjit’s case Burney while talking to Rashmi Talwar from London said “The Ansar Burney Trust is going to file another mercy petition to the President of Pakistan on Thursday June 25,2009.”Sarabjit was set to be hanged on April 1, 2008 though Pakistani authorities on a mercy appeal of Ansar Burney Trust put off his execution indefinitely.

Ansar Burney called the decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan as ‘Murder of Justice.’ “How you can hang a person who already spent more than a life sentence in the death cell.” Burney questioned with Court.

Sister of Indian Prisoner Sarabjit alleges ‘excuse’ by lawyer ‘flimsy’

Dalbir further said that during her talk with their Pakistani lawyer today he told them, that it would take him one month to prepare the second review petition.
Dalbir alleged that the ‘excuse’ by their lawyer was ‘flimsy’ as he had demanded a sum of Rs 6 lakhs more from them when they had earlier agreed to pay Rs 2 lakhs.” We had paid more than the agreed amount”,

“I do not want to reveal the name of Pakistani reporter who demanded Rs 6 lakhs”:Dalbir

And further added ,”Our lawyer Raja Abdul Hamid placed the demand to us at first through a Lahore based Pakistani reporter of a Punjabi Newspaper but lately came out openly with the demand to us. At this moment, I do not want to reveal the name of the reporter “, she said
Canadian Human Rights Association head Sheetal Das Kaler was fighting Sarabjit’s case, that had grabbed the headlines due to allegations of Sarabjit being convicted under false identity of one Manjit Singh. Since his conviction, Sarabjit has been languishing in Pakistani jail for nearly 18 years, after being awarded the death sentence for alleged bomb blasts which he pleads were not of his doing. Sarabjit has contended that he strayed into Pakistan territory in an inebriated state in 1990 and has no role in bomb blasts attributed to him by the Pakistan government. Sarabjit has been on death row since he was convicted for alleged involvement in four bomb blasts in 1990 that killed 14 people.

A three-member bench of Pakistan Supreme court led by Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed on Wednesday dismissed Sarabjit’s review petition and upheld the death sentence awarded to him by an anti-terrorism court in 1991.
It is pertinent to mention that the verdict was given by the apex court after Sarabjit’s counsel failed to appear in court.
The court noted that Sarabjit’s counsel had failed to appear in court for the past few hearings, including the last one on Monday.
Rana Abdul Hamid, the lawyer representing Sarabjit, had appointed another lawyer Raja Abdul Rehman after the former’s appointment last year as an additional advocate general by Punjab province.

Eom…………

“Diabetes plays a major role in permanent blindness”:Top Eye Specialists

Seminar on ‘Diabetic eye’-(2nd from Left) Dr Ravijit Singh-(3rd from Left)-Dr Indu Singh (4th from Left) Internationally Renowned Eye Specialist Dr Daljit Singh and other Eye Specialists of Amritsar

By Rashmi Talwar
“With 50 percent of the patients with ‘eye complications’ suffering from diabetes, as observed at the internationally renowned ‘Dr Daljit Singh Eye Hospital , Amritsar’ alarm bells have rung about diabetes causing blindness.

The ignominious fact that India has emerged as the “Diabetics capital” of the world has compounded matters with untold damage to eyes due to diabetes causing complete vision loss.” These were excerpts of the Interactive Public Awareness Seminar on “Diabetic Eye Disease” organized by the Eye hospital at Hotel Alstonia today.

Their comment on the ‘STUNNING’ results of Parliamentary Elections-2009

Their comment on the Surprising STUNNING results of Parliamentary elections:

‘Singh still King’ —Hindustan Times

‘Bharat Shining, Congress smiling, Left Front Whining’— Swaminathan Ankleshwar Aiyar In Times of India

‘INCREDIBLE —- —-Indian Express

‘Singh fer King’ —-Punjabi Tribune

‘Haath’ ko fir Janta ka ‘Saath’—-Ajit Samachar

‘Congress-Finally a Free Hand’ —Economic Times

‘Natural born Leader’ (Dr Manmohan Singh) –Vinod Sharma Political editor HT

‘Congress Ka Rath Parliament Pauncha—Shaandaar Jeet’ —Hind Samachar Urdu

UPA ki ‘Sardari’ —-Punjab Kesari

‘Fortune favors the Brave’—-Vir Sanghavi in HT

‘Hands Down Win!’ —Shekhar Gupta Indian Express Editor

BJP Party Missed ‘AB Vajypayee’ —Rajnath Singh BJP president

‘Saata’ fir ‘Haath’ mein —Dainik Bhaskar

Wake Up call for the dream merchant (Sukhbir Badal )–Ramesh Vinayak, Resident Editor Hindustan Times
Congress ka ‘Karishma’ —Dainik Jagran

Follower or Leader (history will unravel the enigma that’s Manmohan Singh) –Karan Thapar In HT

It’s affirmation of a functioning democracy —-HK Dua Editor The Tribune

‘I’m here to understand what you mean by Taliban’:Arundhati Roy in Pakistan

Celebrated Indian author and social activist Arundhati Roy addresses a gathering at the Karachi Press Club on Friday.-Photo WhiteStar/Fahim Siddiqui

The media coverage of Arundhati Roy visit to Karachi on May 8 , 2009 was posted to me by Mr Noormuhammad of Pakistan. It is important for us to assess what our fellow Indians say about India when they address audiences of another country. This becomes even more pronounced when addressing the neighbouring countries. Mr LK Advani too went to Pakistan in 2005 and addressed the Pakistani audience. As an author (God Of Small things) and social activitist in India Arundhati’s views may or may not necessarily be the view of Indians but India is committed to the fundamental right of free speech . So be it. …

by Salman Siddiqui/Dawn .com

Is there a threat of Talibanisation engulfing the entire region?

I think it has already engulfed our region. I think there’s a need for a very clear thinking (on this issue of Talibanisation). In India, there are two kinds of terrorism: one is Islamic terrorism and the other Maoist terrorism. But this term terrorism, we must ask, what do they mean by it.

In Pakistan, I’m here to understand what they mean by this term. When we say we must fight the Taliban or must defeat them, what does it mean? I’m here to understand what you mean when you say Taliban. Do you mean a militant? Do you mean an ideology? Exactly what is it that is being fought? That needs to be clarified.

I think both needs to be fought. But if it’s an ideology it has to be fought differently, while if it’s a person with a gun then it has to be fought differently. We know from the history of the war on terror that a military strategy is only making matters worse all over the world. The war on terror has made the world a more dangerous place. In India, they have been fighting insurgencies military since 1947 and it has become a more dangerous place.

Swat and the Taliban boy

It is very important for me to understand what exactly is going in Swat. How did it start? A Taliban boy asked me why women can’t be like plastic bags and banned. The point is that the plastic bag was made in a factory but so was the boy. He was made in a factory that is producing this kind of mind(set). (The question is) who owns that factory, who funds it? Unless we deal with that factory, dealing with the boy doesn’t help us.

Water is the main issue

One danger in Pakistan is that we talk about the threat of Taliban so much that other important issues lose focus. In my view, the problem of water in the world will become the most important problem. I think big dams are economically unviable, environmentally unsustainable and politically undemocratic. They are a way of taking away a river from the poor and giving it to the rich. Like in India, there’s an issue of SEZs (Special Economic Zones), whereby the land of the people are given to corporations. But the bigger problem is that there are making dams and giving water to the industries. This way the people who live in villages by the streams and rivers have no water for themselves. So building dams is one of the most ecologically destructive things that you can do.

Fight over Siachen glacier

There are thousands of Pakistani and Indian soldiers deployed on the Siachen glacier. Both of our countries are spending billions of dollars on high altitude warfare and weapons. The whole of the Siachen glacier is sort of an icy monument to human folly. Each day it is being filled with ice axes, old boots, tents and so on. Meanwhile, that battlefield is melting. Siachen glacier is about half its size now. It’s not melting because the Indian and Pakistani soldiers are on it. But it’s because people somewhere on the other side of the world are leading a good life….in countries that call themselves democracies that believe in human rights and free speech. Their economies depend on selling weapons to both of us. Now, when that glacier melts, there will be floods first, then there will be a drought and then we’ll have even more reasons to fight. We’ll buy more weapons from those democracies and in this way human beings will prove themselves to be the stupidest animals on earth.

Money and the Indian elections

Whatever system of government you have, whether it is a military dictatorship or a democracy, and you have that for a long time, eventually big money manages to subvert it. That has begun to happen even in a democracy (like India). For example, political parties need a lot of publicity, but the media is also run by corporate money. If you look at the big political parties like the Congress and the BJP, you see how much money is being put out just in their advertising budgets. Now where does all that come from?

RSS and the Indian establishment

The RSS has infiltrated everything to a great extent. In India, we have 120-150 million Muslims and it’s considered a minority…It’s impossible to not belong to a minority of some sort in India. Caste or ethnicity or religion or whatever, in some way everyone belongs to a minority. The fights that many of us are waging against the RSS and against the BJP are to say that we live in a society which accommodates everybody. Everybody doesn’t have to love everybody, but everybody has to be accommodated. The RSS has infiltrated the (Indian) army as much as various kinds of Wahabism or other kinds of religious ideology have infiltrated the ISI or the armed forces in Pakistan. They are human beings like everyone else and they too get influenced.

Indian media and sensationalizing of news coming out from Pakistan

I think the media in both countries play this game. Whenever something happens here, they hype it up there, while when something happens there, they hype the news here. We say that we live in times of an information revolution and free press, but even then nobody gets to know the complete picture…

The Pakistani media is a little different from the Indian media. They stand on a slightly different foundation. But both share the problem of a lack of accountability…The trouble in India is that 90 per cent of their revenue comes from the corporate sector…there’s increasing privatization and corporatization of governance, education, health, infrastructure and water management. So in India you see an open criticism of governance, but very rarely criticism of corporations. It’s a structural problem. It’s not about good people or bad people. It’s just that you can’t expect a company to work against itself. This is a very serious issue which needs to be sorted out.

Is the Indian army a sacred cow?

The Indian army is quite a sacred cow especially on TV and Bollywood. But at the same time if you talk to the people in the Indian army, they say that they feel that the media is very critical of them. I don’t share that view. I think it is a sacred cow. People are willing to give them a lot of leeway.

Women and their fight for justice

When women fight for justice, we must fight for every kind of justice…We must fight for justice for men and justice for children. Because if you fight for one kind of justice and you tolerate another, then it’s a pretty hollow fight. You may not be able to fight every battle, but you should be able to put yourself on the line and say I believe this.

Is Gen Parvez Mushraff set for a return to head Pakistan ?

By Rashmi Talwar
Whatever Gen Parvez Musharaff was to Pakistan and whatever cowardly refuge he took by refusing to shed his uniform (small clothes change!) or India Bashing, he did IT to win ‘brownie’ points in his own country. He was most certainly walking a tight rope, as far as politics in his country was concerned.

For India, he was the architect of the Kargil Misadventure and a petulant leader at the Agra Summit.

His recent comments in the “India Today” organized Conclave saw the rug being pulled from right under his feet, when a muslim leader Mehmud Madani, member of Rajya Sabha and leader of Jamat-e-Ulema-i-Hind, bluntly told him to mind his own business as far as ‘Indian Muslims’ were concerned and take care of his own in Pakistan . Adding, “Indian Muslims are capable of handling their own problems and did not need either him or Pakistan to do so for them. Don’t try to play your politics of Pakistan from here” bullseye ! …it exposed Musharaff’s true intentions to be in India right on…

Back home no one really cared how he was run over by the muslim community in India, in the widely televised “India Today Conclave”.
For all his drawbacks and loud mouthed claims, what cannot be ignored is the fact that Musharaff as a martial ruler, tried to bring some veneer of balance for minority communities in a ‘highly’ theocratic state of Pakistan.
During his regime2-million rupees were sanctioned to beautify the “Katasraj” Hindu Shrines in Chakwal district of Pakistan which suffered more from human anger than the rigors of time besides a long pending demand of cremation ground in Lahore for sikh and hindu community (hindus are almost negligible in Lahore) was accepted in addition to Christian community that got funds .
Artists and theatre too flourished more freely. A beginning of the CBMs (Confidence Building Measures) with People to People contact between India and Pakistan started . No major terrorists strikes in Pakistan were seen duirng his regime other than two attempts on his (Musharaff’s)life and assassination of Benazir Bhutto ……that ultimately spelled doom for his political career.

After the effects of emotional franchise brought ‘Mr 10 percent’ –Asif Zardari to power, came —-the Talibans!
Major terrorist strikes, killings, rape, public floggings took place in Pakistan. Consequently, rallies of outrage against terrorism, high-handedness grew, fear psychosis has gripped Lahore and Punjab– the largest of the 4-provinces of Pakistan that also dominates the Political scene in Pakistan. Following this, perhaps people by and large in Pakistan are in a ‘mood-to-forgive’ Musharaff for his acts of omission and commission.
The fact that minorities in Pakistan, though almost negligible in number, had barely started feeling a little comfort during Musharaff’s time while just a few months onto the Zardari regime, has overturned the goodwill and security; Moreso with manifold misery unleashed on them ….is just another factor, albeit, of very little consequence.
At no time, has the alienation of minorities in Pakistan been as great as during the reign of the present incumbent.
News of Sikh community members’ abduction and demands of “Jazia” a Tax Imposed on Non-Muslims living under Sharia law by Taliban of Orakzai Agency in FATA, has shocked the world.
‘Jazia’ a tax on non-Muslims was re-imposed by Aurangzeb after Akbar had abolished it. The unearthing of ‘Jazia’ from the grave by Taliban not only comes as a retreat into the medieval ages but a sharp slap to world sanity.
The Orakzai Agency is one of seven tribal regions in Federally Administered Territory Area of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan which for months has been under control of Tehreek Taliban Pakistan.

After this news, More than five hundred thousand Christians in NWFP province of Pakistan are in wave of fear of life and property.
More than 5000 Pakistani Hindu families have recently migrated to India illegally after Zardari signed off SWAT to Taliban . The Hindus rather be jailed than return to NWFP and areas near Swat, where Taliban call the writ.

The recent incident where Sikhs were targeted happened in areas of Qasim Khel and Feroz Khel in Orakzai Agency. More than 50 Sikh families were living here even before independence of Pakistan. The Sikhs were running small businesses of grocery stores and wholesale outlets in Afghanistan and tribal areas of Pakistan, when thousands of Sikh community members were forced to leave on Islamic Tax on Non-Muslims during Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 1999-2000. Only a few Sikh families remained here loyal to their religion while many others converted.

In recent wave of Sharia law in Swat Valley, Malakand, Dir, and Kohistan Areas 200 Sikh families and 1000 Christian families were forced to leave on issue of Taxation “Jazia” to seek protection living in the Islamic state.

In Orkzai Agency which is ruled by Taliban commander Hakeemullah Mehsud, homes of Sikhs were occupied by Taliban on failing to pay 50 million Rupees as Jazia. The Taliban kidnapped and tortured Sikh community leader Sardar Kalyan Singhand Sikhs collected and paid 7 million but failed to pay full amount on which they were driven out of Orakzai area of FATA.
Later, it was reported that the extremists occupied houses and shops of the Sikhs in Qasim Khel and Feroz Khel areas of the Agency and auctioned their valuables for 0.8 million rupees. Earlier, the Taliban had also demolished houses belonging to the Sikh community in the region.
Many of these sikh families have taken refuge in Nankana Sahib, Hasan Abdal , Panja Sahib , Dera Sahib and other Gurdwaras of Pakistan.

The Taliban bombed Christian Schools in Swat Valley and forced thousands of Christians to convert to Islam or to pay Tax levied to Non-Muslims on which they migrated to Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan.

The Christians from Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Sawabi and Charsadda districts of NWFP province have been already migrating to safer places in other areas with their relatives without any UNO or government of Pakistan assistance.

On news of Sikhs migration from FATA, the Indian government strongly protested to Pakistan and asked to secure life and property of Sikh and Hindu religious minorities in Pakistan.
Agitated Sikhs even burned effigies of Taliban in Amritsar.

India took up with Pakistan the matter related to the treatment of minorities in that country in the wake of reports that Taliban had driven out Hindus from their homes and were demanding ‘jaziya’ (taxes) from them.

Dr Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC commenting on issue of Sikhs and Hindus migration from FATA and Northern Areas of Pakistan appreciated stand of Indian government but expressed his disappointment on killing of Christians and mass migration of Christian families and silence of India and International forums to formally lodge protest with Pakistan.

Be that, Pakistan’s refrain of taking up issue of minorities treatment in Pakistan by India, amounts to interference in the internal matter of the country. But, Chief of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC reminds and clarifies that Pakistani Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and other minorities reserve right to invite India for their moral support according to “Liaquat-Nehru Pact” signed among neighboring states to protect rights of minorities in respective countries.

In all this mele, there is not a word of empathy, for the plight of minorities in Pakistan, from anywhere in the country. A Pakistani civil officer aptly puts it “Minorities in Pakistan are of no consequence, they don’t register and their presence or absence means nothing.”
No one in Pakistan, has gathered the guts for a mere lip-service on the plight of minorities, fearing upturning their political fortunes. Minority leaders themselves admit that Musharaff was a far better ruler than Zardari. However, this opinion means nothing per se.

The major fact is, the vital ground scenario that things have gone ‘Horribly’out of control of the ‘fragile’ Zardari regime. This has indeed instilled morbid fear among those of cushy lifestyles In Pakistan(elite, politicians, army, bureaucrats, landlords and druglords), whose very existence is threatened to be overshadowed by the might of the Taliban. The thread of protests has been joined by various artist organisations, writers forums, NGOs,associations, societies and institutions in Pakistan against Terrorism.

It is they, maybe who will bring Musharaff back as a lesser evil.

Or has Mushraff —the architect –cleverly laid the plans for his return…….albeit– Op Lal Masjid that had an ominous dastardly spillover in the present day Pakistan and no one to clean the mess !

Amritsar :”Tamashas” mark MP election-2009 in Holy City

Kon Kispe Kaanchi Chla Raha Hai ??

:”Tamashbeeni” Amritsar Ishtyle !

Hey everyone …our Rajiv Sharma the talented newsreporter for Star Plus TV Channel has coined a beautiful Punjabi “tappa” . he pasted the comment in an entirely unrelated article to Election –2009 . However having powers of “extraction” I have posted his little piece . The little genius entertainer was a ’shaan’ of our Tribune office in Amritsar.

PUNJABI TAPPA :

By Rajiv Sharma

AA gayian votan, te lag gaye jhande….
Votan ch kharhe hoge sare gande bande….
Ajj votan lain layi, dinde ne sharab te mithayiyan..
kal ehna to hak len layi, khane pain ge police de dande….

x…………………….x

poem by Rashmi Talwar

Sansadi chunav ke mahaul mein,
Jutton ki bauchar mein,
Naresh bhadhoria ne jutte mangvaay,
Pehna haar jutton ka,
Bola votron ko lootonga,
Meine kaha , jutti chor hoga
Kia sansad mein bhi, chori kare ga.

Fir aye Sham lal, Gandhi topi wale
Kettli haath mein, chai, chai pukare
Meiney bola, rail garri mein ja
Varna, sansad mein chai pila

Bal krishan ki ayi bari,
Lagane laga chappati karrari,
Haath pe pani fer ke, allu bhari
Bola security se , bhai pakrao gaddi niyari
Us par lagonga kulcha
Aur voteron pe makhan
sab ka maal khau ga
dunga sab ko dhakkan

haathi pe aya navjot sidhu
kiia capt ko sat sri akal
logon ne uthaya bawal
haathi pe beth kio kare, sat sri akal
meiney kaha ,bhejo issi circus mein
ya shaadi ke koi pandal

Is Congress-BJP Wedding answer to Peace in India ????

Congree-BJP wedding answer to peace in India

Instead of wasting Billions of Rupees on fighting each other, the two National Party Presidents should enter into a Matrimonial Relation for Peace in India …..Is it a good idea ?….. Comment …..

Why did Navjot Sidhu climb up an elephant to file his nomination papers for elections ??????????

There are some humorous replies to the question in my facebook account 

Haathi Merey Saathi :Navjot Sidhu

so i  included all those in this post

Vikram Uppal at 6:05pm April

his image was getting jittery

Lavi Behl at 8:01pm April

probably all other animals were on a strike…..lol

 Mamta Jain at 8:58pm April

because a donkey cant sit on a donkey

 Alisha Talwar at 10:23pm April

cuz he was scared 2 get a chappal on his face!!!..lololololol..

Rashmi Talwar at 4:13pm

me thinks he was upstaging the maharaja and his army of soni et all

Rashmi Talwar at 4:15pm April 24

me also thinks there is still some humour left in the world …wat say navjot Sidhu of phookat laughter challenge ….non-laughable he will still laugh …lol

PUNJAB COUNTDOWN ELECTION-2009

 

Parliamentary Elections 2009

Punjab’s Political Heirs fight  —

 

The two political families of Punjab where winning has become a matter of personal prestige more than a matter of  Public Service is likely to see  its toughest contest in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections of 2009 .

The rivalry between SAD President cum Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and the Maharaja family of Capt Amarinder Singh leading the Congress’s poll campaign committee is legendry.

 It would also be a litmus test of popularity for Capt who had lost Assembly polls to his rival the Badals and family in 2007 while for (Bhartiya Janta Party/Shiromani Akali Dal)  BJP-SAD  ruling coalition,  is facing a wave of resentment from its urban voter on account of severe power shortage in the state,  denial of support to first sikh PM of India, as also the raw deal faced by farmers and industry.

For Sukhbir Badal the election would make or mar his future as the obvious heir to the ‘Badal Throne’ going by the results . although the BSP and other parties such as CPM, CPI , SAD(A) and other parties have floated their candidates some in coalition but they seem to be outmatched by the line-up of candidates declared by arch rivals Congress versus SAD-BJP

Rashmi Talwar would piece together the varied quotients in different parliamentary segments of the state out of which Patiala and Bathinda top the chart.  

“German expert” takes workshop with Special children

  By Rashmi Talwar

“It was amazing to watch Christa Drack   a – ‘hearing impaired’, form an immediate rapport with the students of DAV Red Cross School for physically and mentally challenged . The faculty and students formed an instant bond that gave a remarkable start to the workshop conducted by Drack.

 The DAV management had invited

Jatta Ayi Baisakhi !!!”90th Anniversary of Bloody Baisakhi of Jallianwala bagh

By Rashmi Talwar

Baisakhi is special to undivided Punjab, ushering the start of the golden harvest of ripened Rabi crop and spelling Prosperity for the hard-working Punjabi farmer.

 Legend has it …That so sacred was this festival and so auspicious this day for the mostly agrarian community of the state that is often referred to as the –’food basket’ of the country– that children born were given their first sip of water-or ‘amrit’—nectar of life –on this day. So a child born a day or two after Baisakhi had to wait for the next Baisakhi to wet his lips from the holy sarovar of the Golden Temple!…In some villages of Punjab  the practice still carries on …

WHO IS A BETTER SHOE DODGER ……BUSH OR OUR CHIDAMBARAM …..COMMENT

ShOULd journalists be allowed to take their shoes in PRESS CONFERENCES ?????/ ……..comment

Rashmi Talwar
Email : rashmitalwar@gmail.com

We also do Media Organizing and offer Public Relations Services in Punjab

FOREWARD

Lahore, the ancient, magnificent city is a wonder of sorts. It has braved the vicissitudes of history, the upheavals of pre-historic and modern times and above all it continues to shine despite the negligence of its current residents and administrators.
This blog will post stories of Lahore – its past, present and visions for its future in the vain hope that there are some who will read and think and then act…
-Raza Rumi

Amritsar –the city of the Gurus is a classic example of traditions, unparalleled cultural and visual heritage despite it being in left to fend for itself by successive powers. It is the 6th most visited place among the World heritages sites and its people –the most hospitable. The caste and religious divides thrust upon its people have hardly had any permanent impact despite the tumultuous 80s of terrorism faced by it .
Having a chequered history, the city has borne the brunt of divisionary politics yet its people fought to remain united and choose to live in multi-cultural harmony. Neither politicians nor others have had the vision to tap its great potential in terms of heritage extraordinaire, its medical facilities, as an international gateway to trade or even its rare culinary delights. Many a times it lost out to nonentity regions owing to its geographical position. There would be no effort spared IN this blog to explore the city’s hidden crevices and popular namesakes, its beauty and its dirt along with its rich history, traditions, culture, and its people …
-Rashmi Talwar

ALARM BELLS RING IN INDIA OVER ATTACK ON POLICE TRAINING CENTER NEAR LAHORE

Pakistani security forces deployed at the site of a police training center in Lahore on March 30, 2009. Police and security forces arrested a suspect allegedly linked to a group of attackers who besieged a police academy where 25 people died during pitched battles, police said. AFP PHOTO/ Aamir QURESHI (Photo credit should read AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images)

Pakistani security officials arrest a suspected militant (R) near the site of a police training center in Lahore on March 30, 2009. Police and security forces arrested a suspect allegedly linked to a group of attackers who besieged a police academy where 20 people died during pitched battles, police said. AFP PHOTO/Sameed QURESHI (Photo credit should read SAMEED QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images)

TALIBAN ONLY 12KMS FROM INDIA ‘S BORDER CITY AMRITSAR

RASHMI TALWAR

The Indo-Pak border was on heightened alert following the chartered terrorist attack on Police Training Center PTC at Manawa just 12Kms from the border .

The attack by suspected foreign elements along with local youth has triggered off alarm bells in Delhi over the proximity of the Taliban alleged to be behind the attack to Indian territory .

THE LITTLE MAN HAS WON –PAKISTAN -LAHORE

Lahorites take to the streets for ‘change’ photo courtesy http://www.city42.blogspot.com/
THE LITTLE MAN HAS WON –PAKISTAN -LAHORE

The chaos that gripped Pakistan this week was an important step on the road to democracy

By Farouk Rana, Citizen Special
Russian scholar Yuri Gankovsky believed that there are four nationalities in Pakistan: the Punjabi, Sindhi, Pakhtun, and Baluchi. In a conversation with me in 1989, when I was posted in Moscow, he laughingly dismissed the official point of view that there was one Pakistani nation united by the bonds of Islam and the glue of the national language, Urdu: “You and your four provinces have nothing in common besides a fondness for cricket.”

If Gankovsky was alive today, I would have told him that as it turns out, we also share a commitment to an independent judiciary, and by agreeing on the need for this fundamental value, i.e., the rule of law, we are closer to becoming a united nation despite our disparate ethnicities. That is the true significance of the victory of the lawyers’ movement for the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

It needs to be recalled that Justice Chaudhry was unconstitutionally dismissed by Gen. Musharraf in 2007 because of: