Such injustices have been taking place for ages, but now with a bolder media and growing international interest they are coming into the limelight. It is highly embarassing to learn about such news as it displays a widespread lack of education. This took place in the city of Hyderabad. Once again, the tribal elders sat down and sided with injustice, or against what most people call ‘women’s rights’.
‘Sold’ Pakistani girl in appeal: BBC News
The mother of a girl in Pakistan claimed by a man in lieu of a 16 year old gambling debt has appealed to the authorities for help.
The woman told journalists in the southern city of Hyderabad that she feared for her daughter’s safety.
Women are often used as collateral to settle debts and feuds amongst tribesmen in rural Pakistan.
Last year, Pakistan’s ruling political party introduced legislation to outlaw forced marriages under tribal customs.
Tribal justice
Nooran Bibi said her late husband had promised her daughter, Rasheeda, to one Lal Haider in lieu of a poker game debt amounting to 10,000 rupees ($164).
Continue reading ‘From Mukhtaran Mai to Rasheeda’
NGOnet for Women and Children’s Rights documentary is a short 33-minute film on the everyday lives of women and children in Pakistan, documenting the adverse living conditions and difficulties encountered in their struggle for a better future. The documentary also examines the work undertaken by local and international NGOs working in the field of human rights for the protection of these two vulnerable social groups.
This is an insightful documentary that does well to shed light on the other social issues such as alcholism and men, discrimination and conflict between women and men in all walks of life: domestic, public, education, workplace and politics. Children have their own trials to face at an early age because of child labour, lack of education etc.
Published on February 28, 2007
in Karachi.
This is a 20 minute documentary about Karachi made by Chai Paani Productions. It is a wonderful attempt at capturing as much of the colour and flavour of Karachi in 20 minutes as possible. I didn’t get the title, but it seems to have been taken from the poetry displayed at the back of trucks and buses seen on Karachi roads.
Also, it shows people being asked the way to different city landmarks and I get the impression that is to show how helpful the people generally are. I remember I once asked a man on the street the way to a certain place and he volunteered to sit with me in my car and take me to my destination. And then he walked all the way back. Anyway, loved watching this one.
So, here it is…
Part 1
Continue reading ‘Karachi: Dekh Magar Pyar Se’
I still haven’t read it myself, but given the large circulation that it has received I thought it would be best to post it before I added my own comments. I will comment on it in due course once I have had a chance to go over it.
Update: I just read it. Please do read it in its entirety as it is brilliant. My comment follows the post.
Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
Chief Justice
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Islamabad
Pakistan
My Lord:
I write this letter as an Officer of the Supreme Court of Pakistan; as an Advocate enrolled in the apex Court since 1984 and in the High Courts since 1972; as an Attorney who has paid more income tax from his earnings in the legal profession than many of my friends, colleagues and seniors elevated to the Bench; and as a stake-holder in the dispensation of justice, intimately and vitally interested in the functioning of the Supreme Court.
Continue reading ‘Advocate Naeem Bokhari’s letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan’
Jashn-i-baharan, or the official Basant festival, was held on the weekend of 24th and 25th February. On these two days maximum parties were organized, maximum musical evenings were arranged and maximum kites were flown. In the past few years the festival has grown exponentially and has put Lahore on the international tourist destination map. A lot of money is invested in making this a festival worth visiting. However, for some the festival could turn into a killer.
Even though a ban was placed on kite-flying in 2005 it is constantly removed and then re-enforced. Usually, after protests the ban is removed for a few days to allow for the Basant festivities. Not like people would give heed to these regulations, but it is amazing that those in charge of the law, including our Supreme Court, are willing to twist the law and compromise safety in return for a couple of days of fun. This year, according to Dawn, 10 people (including 6 children) have died. Update: A friend in Pakistan just told me that the figure stands at 12. Jack’s ‘canonical five’ only mentioned five victims, but even if you consider the most liberal estimate it comes to 11.
Continue reading ‘Basant the killer (took more lives this year than Jack the Ripper ever did)’
Seems like some of the Pakistani suicide bombers aren’t really that good at what they do. There was a story last year of a man carrying a bomb on a bicycle, in Balouchistan, who blew up and now its these two guys. Also, the person who was discovered and shot at Islamabad airport recently. I really doubt the theories that there is a foreign hand in this since these guys just come across as real amateurs.
BBC News: Saturday 24 February
Police in Pakistan say two people have been killed in the province of Punjab after the bomb they were carrying on a bicycle accidentally exploded.
Continue reading ‘Explosion kills two in Pakistan: BBC News’
This is something that really severely affects a lot of people living in Karachi and, increasingly, all over the country. Cell phone thefts are not the only problem. Thefts of car CD players, wheel rims and side-view mirrors are all on the rise. Our cities are turning into very dangerous places and if you read the Editorial below its obvious that things are not getting better. A lot of the people who have left the city in the recent past cite religious extremism, increasing traffic, water problems, electricity problems and, above all, crime as their reasons for leaving the city. All are problems; none are impossible to resolve. As the figures below show things have only gotten worse since last year even though new initiatives have been started to catch cell phone thieves. They are definitely not working.
Continue reading ‘Rising cell phone thefts’
Yesterday, the PNSC Building off Keamari flyover caught fire and at least 5 floors of the building were completely damaged. The building was, at one time, the 2nd tallest building in the country. The fire started on the 11th floor in the morning and by afternoon the fire-fighting authorities had left the building to itself because there was no way of getting to those floors. 24 snorkels were used to put off the fire however most snorkels weren’t able to propel water more than 9 floors. Hence, the brave fire-fighters tried their best, and managed, to stop the fire from spreading downwards. Also, Pakistan Navy helicopters managed to rescue six people who had managed to run up to the roof. 4 fire-fighters fainted due to the smoke.
However, the real irony lies in the fact that at a time when our planning authorities are giving permission to build high-rise buildings we don’t have the ability to provide the necessary fire-fighting facilities to relatively much smaller buildings.
Continue reading ‘KPT snorkels unable to propel water to 11 storeys; KPT Tower to be 1,947 ft.’
On the plane back home to the motherland, we all go through various feelings. Spending months away from home, you imagine how things might have changed in your absence. Your city might have improved in some way: Something new must have been built; Some new policy implemented; New restaurants and coffee shops etc.
During the flight, after I guess a warm and wholesome desi meal has been served to you in your comfortable 2×4 seat, you feel its time to think about what all you would want to do once you get back home. Oh the excitement. You decide to make a TODO list. Borrowing a pen from a fellow passenger because that’s where they come in handy and using the back of the e-ticket you printed out for clearance, you start to jot down all those great ideas in your list of things to do. The list would of course include the fab four (not the Beatles): Shopping, Food, Sleeping and GetTogethers (GTs). Continue reading ‘Healthy Outlets, Gossip and then some’
This is a humourous piece that has been forwarding around the net. Missing anything?
1. You get shocked when someone stops at a yellow light
2. You never really know what to say when someone asks you what there is to see in Karachi
3. You know where to find a “dhol vaala”
4. You’ve never really seen a tourist
5. Its December and you attend 5 mehndis/shaadis in one night and end up meeting the same people at each of them
6. You use the phrases “whats the scene?” “scene on hai” or ”whose he sceening with?”
7. You still have some of Everest/ABBA Videos movies and dont plan to return them
8. You’ve met a Parsi Continue reading ‘You know you are a Karachite when…’
