Don't Burn Pakistan

We too are born in Pakistan and we don't burn buildings, kill people or senselessly target anyone when we want to protest. We can talk, write and have a dialogue without setting tyres on fire. Join us if you think likewise. Contact: dontburnpakistan@gmail.com

Friday, February 17, 2006

IHT: Europe could discover self-censorship

American bloggers are wondering why the good people of the USA are suffering the scorn of Pakistanis and Muslims during the current protests. Europeans are wondering how a bunch of countries expect them to rethink their principle of freedom of expression. Muslims are wondering why it is difficult for the West to understand this isn't about a cartoon, its about provocation during difficult times for the international community.

- Robert Wright does acknowledge that small, peaceful demonstrations held in Denmark back in September never made it to the media/international radar screens.

- He also draws an interesting analogy between the civil rights movement of the 60s and the current spate of voilent outbursts across Asia ("what triggers an uproar? what fuels it?" and that history is littered with voilent movements).

- Wright muses what's making the Europeans shirk in horror over the concept of self-censorship. "The Danish editor's confusion was to conflate censorship and self-censorship. Not only are they not the same thing - the latter is what allows us to live in a spectacularly diverse society without the former; to keep censorship out of the legal realm, we practice it in the moral realm. Sometimes it feels uncomfortable, but worse things are imaginable."

Well said, Wright, well said indeed.

Does he even have US$25,000?

Looks like the media hounds were waiting to pounce on an imam, any imam, who would say the words, "off with their heads". Yousuf Qureshi has found his 5 minutes of fame all thanks to AP who broke the story of the imam in Peshawar offering US$25,000+car (no idea what make) to anyone who would behead the 'cartoonist'. There's a sum of $1 million offered by some random jewellers association--according to the imam--and the scribe hasn't bothered to verify this vital piece of info either.

Is anyone, other than AP, taking our man in Peshawar seriously? We hope to God NOT!

Moses or Abraham will pull'em out too

"Tomorrow if Moses or Abraham or any other prophet is insulted you will see me here. There is absolutely no difference," says a protester marching in Dhaka today.

Outside the American consulate: "Lahore, Lahore Aye"

Picture fwded by Deena (thanks!!). Only Lahoris can pull it off :) Shaba!

Mubarik ho: Its been smooth sailing yesterday

An SMS from a friend last night: Congratulations on peaceful protest in Karachi today. Proud to be a karachiite!

It has come as a pleasant surprise after 48 hours of watching voilence on TV. Ishrat ul Ebad's briefing on Wednesday seems to have worked (DAWN).

Fingers crossed it stays this way after Jumma prayers.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Good news: We're not alone

SMS now circulating
"If jews wish to destroy muslims and Pakistan, it is quite easy for them. They just publish a few more cartoons and the Pakistanis will burn themselves and also burn everything else. Isn't it? Pass this one for awareness."

Email buzzing
This email comes from PASBAN in Rich HTML.

--------------------------------------------------
WE LOVE OUR PROPHET MOHAMMAD (PBUH)

REMEMBER THE PROPHET MOHAMMAD (PBUH) MIGHT ASK YOU ONE DAY WHAT DID

YOU DO WHEN THEY MADE FUN OF ME?

REGISTER YOUR PROTEST: PEACEFUL STRIKE FRIDAY – 17TH FEB’ 06

PROVE YOUR LOVE WITH PROPHET MOHAMMAD (PBUH) BY MAKING THIS STRIKE CALL A SUCCESS PASBAN

REGISTER YOUR PROTEST PEACEFUL STRIKE FRIDAY – 17TH FEB’ 06

PROVE YOUR LOVE WITH PROPHET MOHAMMAD (PBUH) BY MAKING THIS STRIKE CALL A SUCCESS.

PASBAN –VOICE AGAINST INJUSTICE
------------------------------------------

Riding in buses with flags on a day of strike

Petrol pumps and shops have cordoned off their entrances, anticipating trouble in Karachi today. We've all arrived at work after frantic session of phone calls confirming whether everybody really intended to come out. Slowly, traffic flowed into the city with public and private transport out on the road, if not in full force.

Its very quite. And then, a cordon of buses rushed past our office...it was a huge convoy. All men, hanging onto buses and trucks loaded like chicken. They were fairly organized carrying green flags printed specially for the occaision perhaps.

Who are these people? Why are they out on a working day? Are the rational questions.

Don't be rational. These are simple minded folks brainwashed into a one point agenda, 'go out and conquer'. Who takes responsibility for their life? Who takes responsibility for the life of those they may harm?

Awais Saleem attempts to answer this question in Who are the miscreants?". 'Groping in the dark....unseen hand...not expecting such a turnout....clamp down would be with an iron ahnd'...all vague phrases. The political parties visible among the 'miscreants' claim no responsibility for the incidents of ransacking and demolition in Lahore. Every party is claiming they were out for a peaceful protest. And most of us are tired of hearing the word 'vested interests' behind each accident that occurs on the Pakistani soil. Fittingly, Saleem ends his thoughtful article, "However, the million dollar question for the quarters concerned (with no possible answer in sight) before taking any remedial measure is, ‘Who were they’?"

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

India-PK: Batting On

Outlook India sounds confident the Indian team will march on to finish the series right up to Karachi.

We hope they do. We really hope they can show up, however, judging by the atmospheric pressure, it sounds unbelievable. "Security for the Indian team was strengthened following fresh protests in Pakistan over cartoons of Prophet Mohammed," says Outlook. So far, the PCB Chairman and Indian High Commissioner have met and said, "...there's no question of calling off the series." Dare we say, YAHOO?

After Bryan's recent gig, Karachi was very eager to receive both the Cricket teams.

Running for life

Schools, universities shut down for a week

Peshawar: And who's loss is it now that students get to do nothing but watch TV for one whole week?

While they sit at home and mull over matters that few have managed to grasp, they might get bored and excited about joining more mobs.

If clamp down is the ultimate solution, I say put on a curfew! But not before giving tons of homework to those students with nothing to do.

Caught in a demonstration!!

From Zahrah Nasir

I got caught up in a 'protest' march in Islamabad yesterday & couldn't help but notice the 'miscreants' in amongst the students egging them on. It was awful. Who are these people? Who is organizing this? Who is getting any benefit? Students are so easily lead!!!!!!!!!

More deaths, more destruction today

We've officially entered the third day of rioting, ransacking and....casualties. 3 dead in Peshawar.

"More than 70,000 people flooded into the streets of the northwestern city of Peshawar, said Saeed Wazir, a senior police officer. The massive crowd went on a rampage, torching businesses and fighting police, who struck back with tear gas and batons." I can't believe police have not been able to control the violence in Lahore even today! 1500 more students took to the streets.

Why are young people not able to understand this is only causing insecurity and fear among civilians. Is this changing anything?

CNN Protest Video Link

Video footage from Lahore yesterday. I was suprised with the young turnout...school kids??

Follow this link.

Let's Get on Camera Vs. Let's Scare Them Shitless

Spot on Amina!

While we rampage the streets of Pakistan, I think its important to remember there is a difference between motives and sentiments.

We realise people feel, get hurt and emotional and that's why they take to the streets.

The problem is, increasingly goverments are slower to respond to a situation which makes it difficult for people to wait too long for action.

One can safely stage a march, form human chains without buring our own property and scaring our own people!

Do you think that's too ideological an approach?

Pakistan Burning Day 2

Is this the image I am likely to see for the rest of my life when I search for Pakistan on the internet?

Do we, or our children, deserve a future based on taking to streets with intent to cause civil disruption or constructive dialogue?