Whacky Idea

I got a call from work around 10 a.m.wondering if I was coming into work. Considering we start at 8:30 (Ramadan timings), I was insanely late. However, this beautiful morning I had a legit reason, an excuse if you will: a meeting at our esteemed Labor Department, "City District Government, Hakoomat-e-Pakistan". Pft.

I left my house to drive down to Muslim Town. Now, my grandparents lived in the neighborhood years ago and I spent most of my childhood there, so I was a little familiar with the area. However, little did I know, it was a world on its own. Since I've started working in Defence, my interaction with varied forms of being has been restricted. I live in a bubble. People on the street sent me in opposite directions when I enquired as to where my destination lay. Twisted entertainment they have.

Anyways, I arrive there around 9-something and that's when my meeting is supposed to be, something o' clock. When I enquired about the Director, Nasrullah Sahib, I was informed that he wasn't in yet, but I could meet with Mr. X. When I went down to look for X, I was told he had surgery and was in the hospital. You'd hope your colleagues would know that! So I make my way back up to Mr. Nasrullah's office and am then passed on to Mr. Y. When they realized that Mr. Y was also not in yet, they sent me to Mr. Z. Please note, at this point I had explained my query/issue a whole of three times and had to explain that I indeed was a lawyer and employed by Kansai, and yes, I had graduated and how sweet of them to think I look too young. In the words of Bee: Disgusterz.

When neither X, Y or Z were there, they decided to allow me to leave and come back another time, when Nasrullah was in fact at work. Now having exercised all patience I possessed, I called the guy (who hadn't answered his phone the 5 times I tried before) and said something to the effect of: "Yo, you said come at 9, its 11 and now I'm expected to leave and return to Neverland another time? I have a life!" (reiterating to meaningless others that I have a life somehow makes me feel like its true).

As I got up to leave, gathering my files, the personal assistant to Nasrullah came running towards me (he was initially the jerk that thought it a good idea to pass me from X to Y to Z) saying "Madam (which I hate, because it makes me sound like a pimp) aap ne batayaa kyon nahin keh aap kinza paint say aayi hain?" Yeah, sure, like he knows a Kinza Paint and like KANSAI is that big a deal to begin with. Anyways, so he sits down with me, appologizes that his boss won't be making it in today and that he was there to assist in any way possible.

After explaining, again, how I had actually graduated college and then law school and then grad school, and that indeed I did work for Kinza a.k.a Kansai (my business card was not proof enough, interrogation is necessary... This is, after all, a branch of the Hakoomat-e-Pakistan) the guy gave me the information I needed. Then he congratulated me on getting so far in life at such a young age and explained how he was sending his own daughter to college. As long as she doesn't have to work for the Hakoomat, good for her.

In all, the work got semi-done around 11:20, two hours after having reached there for a task that ought not have taken longer than 20 minutes, tops. I'm a little glad that I went... I think Defence is making me soft... But what a way to start my day. Of course, I was greeted back at the office by everyone glaring at me, assuming (and I wasn't bothered enough to correct) that I was just sauntering in to work around noon because I slept in.

Whose whacky idea was law school, anyway?

As Cincy Approaches...

Murray, having overstepped Nadal on Sunday by 500-something points (partially due to the fact that he played two extra tournaments this year) lands him about 2,000 points behind Federer. With the 1000 Masters already kicking off in Cincinnati and rumors suggesting Federer might not play, it might leave Murray a little closer to Fed, that is if he can surpass Nadal again (this is the only 1000 Masters Nadal hasn't contested the final for). That said, its hard courts season, meaning anyone can turn the tables with a hard hitting forehand and smashing serves.

But lets focus on the last two games of this Series. Obvious contenders:

Andy Roddick: You can't help but feel sorry for him after his tragic defeat in Wimbledon and the weeks to follow. He's complained about the U.S. Series, pulling out the old “That’s just, you know, at the height of not using common sense.” Ok, so he's not the most eloquent of the lot, but he's referring to the fact that the type of balls used are changed in every tournament. Granted, it sounds inconsequential, but its really not when you're serving between 122-132 mph. Roddick, the new American favorite, is hoping to heir Sampras (a little late for that) and Agassi; and will definitely enjoy home-ground advantage. This is also the best Roddick has played since 2004, when he happily settled at No. 2. He wins some 90% of his service games, but that's no reason he shouldn't be working on his return. However, all said and done, he's matured in his game, in his stamina for longer rallies and his general state of mind (the way he took his defeat in Wimbledon, despite the fact that Federer just got lucky); an applause is well deserved.

Rafa: After he missed (or rather was missed) at Wimbledon with his tendinitis, Rafa returned in complete form, hitting the ball whilst running and sliding (which on a hard court isn't humanly possible, so we thought) and gliding his shots into position. He's always someone to watch for. His unexpected early departure from Montreal left us craving more, but more he shall undoubtedly give. If not here, definitely at Flushing Meadows, where everyone ups their game.

Murray: Cincinnati promises to be tough on Murray, as his body seemed to be giving in at the end of his final in Montreal. If he manages to cling to his position at No. 2 a little longer, New York promises to be that much more exciting.

Cincinnati ending on the 23rd of August and the Grand Slam starting barely a week later, this ought to be a great end to the month. Its never been this unpredictable. Already at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters: Karlovic has defeated Monfils, Ferrero (sadly) is on his way out, giving way to Cilic, Andreev beat Keifer 6-1, 7-5 and Lubicic, Ferrer and Safin are all on to the next round.

Only Andre Agassi, Pat Rafter, and Andy Roddick have won the Canadian and Cincinnati Masters back-to-back. But come New York, the tables will turn as they always do in a Grand Slam, leaving Fed and Rafa untouchable. But how Federer has been playing (or generally not playing) seems to reflect badly on his game as a whole, possibly resulting in my dream come true and Safin taking up a final title as he gracefully exists the game *sigh*. But if Federer regains consciousness, he will set another record, six consecutive US Opens. Is Nike is working on that jacket?

Dear Prudence

Sparked by Dino's interest in the matter, and his question as to whether Freedom of Expression was indeed a part of Islam, I decided to write the following:

The incident in Gojra last week finally brought about a much needed review of our Criminal Code. A layman's understanding of the law is that if someone talks ill of the Prophet or of Islam (which is usually demonstrated by "desecration" of the Qur'an), living in the Islamic Republic, they could be sentenced to death. I don't know what Articles 19 and 20 of the Constitution signify, but then again, its the Constitution, its not set in stone!

Generally, Muslims throughout the world have had little tolerance for anything said against our Prophet. My favorite Hadith [traditions or sayings of the Prophet] goes something like this:

The Prophet and his friend Abu Bakr were walking by this village when this man came up to the Prophet and started yelling, cursing and slandering him. He yelled and cursed and slandered. The Prophet just stood silently listening to everything the man said, saying nothing because he knew that his claims were unsubstantiated, as did the man making them. Some minutes later, Abu Bakr got furious and started talking back to this man. That very instant the Prophet walked away. Abu Bakr questioned this, saying that the Prophet stood around to hear the other man bad mouth him but the moment Abu Bakr responded, he walked off. The Prophet said that as long as he was silent, Angels were answering the man for me, and when Abu Bakr started speaking, the Angels left, and so did the Prophet.

I don't know what everyone else gets from that, but it teaches me that you don't have to have the last word. Its tough, but its the truth. Remember; "if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all"?

Pakistani jurisprudence, lacking all prudence, has never been the benchmark for the Shariah [Islamic Law]. Much like the ordeal with the Hadood Ordinance covering the Zina laws the blasphemy laws were included in Pakistan's Criminal Code by General Zia in the 1970's. As is the situation today, religion was used as a tool to herd the masses into agreement with the government. As is the situation today, Islam is considered esoteric.

Today, the blasphemy laws are used to take over land of Non-Muslims. A Muslim screams "desecration" and the Non-Muslim (read: Christian) will be put behind bars for a year to life, conveniently leaving his land up for grabs.

Section 295 of the Pakistan Criminal Code forbids damaging or defiling a place of worship or a sacred object. 295-A forbids outraging religious feelings; 295-B forbids defiling the Quran and 295-C forbids defaming the Prophet. Except for Section 295-C (defaming the Prophet), the provisions of 295 require that an offence be committed with intent (which my lawyer friends appreciate, is tough). Defiling the Quran merits imprisonment for life. Defaming Prophet Muhammad merits death with or without a fine, with or without intent.

We all remember protests lead throughout the Muslim world with the advent of the infamous Danish Cartoons. Contrary to Islams' call to peace and tolerance, we as Muslims took to the streets and demonstrated just what the cartoons were portraying; that we are violent people. The world knows Islam for the way it sees Muslims today behave. If all they see is violent "protests" and harming your neighbors to take their land, then they'll think that it is a part and parcel of our religion and the teachings of the Prophet. Examples of our Good Samaritan are few and far between, well, at least in the media which is quick to uncover our "extremists."

I have yet to find the passage in the Qur'an that calls me to "punish thine neighbor for views contrary to yours, oh and take his sheep while you're at it." Time and again God asks Muslims to be patient, to respect your neighbor, protect him and if you find yourself in company that is talking ill of your religion, your beliefs, leave their company and only return when they speak of other matters [See Qur'an 2:104 and 6:68]. Oh, and leave his sheep be.

Internally Displaced in Swabi

July 21, 2009

Nasrin, a mother of three and a sewing teacher at the Camp, had walked from Mangora with her family. She thought she had lost her son, Zarak, a four-year-old with Bambi-eyes, huge dimples, cheeks burnt pink and short dark hair cut bluntly across his forehead. She found him again amongst the stream of people relentlessly flowing in the same direction. When Nasrin left her home in Mangora, she didn’t know where her mother and sister, Rozina, were. They’d find one another 25 days later at this very camp.

The Shah Mansoor Camp for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Swabi is set up and run by the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in collaboration with the International Red Cross. 2,400 tents, housed 15,211 people. That's fifteen thousand, two hundred and eleven; 12,211 more than it was intended for. It’s not just a number.

The IDPs aren’t technically refugees because they haven’t crossed a geographical border but that technicality does not render their plight any less severe. These people walked about 30 miles over mountainous terrain, some without shoes, to live in these non-refugee camps. They left their homes with no more than the clothes on their backs, which could be a problem in itself when you’re sitting in 119 degree weather when you're used to (and dressed for) a maximum of 50.

Residents of Mangora and other villages in the region were caught between the cross-fire of the army and the Taliban. Since the Pakistani Government had allowed the Taliban to impose the Shariah (literally “the way,” used to define Islamic Law) in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan, the Taliban became “power hungry,” as women in the camp described it. “They want to spread their Shariah to Islamabad and the army wants them out. We’re the ones that get caught in their exchange,” explained Sultana, another resident of the Camp and mother of nine, her ninth born at the Camp. When the mosques sounded an unfamiliar announcement calling for evacuation, people left behind their lives, their homes, trinkets and heirlooms. As they trekked to these camps, there were people handing out water, like in a marathon, and others offering rides in their cars and mini-vans. Most had now been living, families consisting of up to 12 members, in one tent with one fan, one mattress and a water-cooler, for two months.

Thankfully, these camps are equipped with a surprising variation of amenities. There are mosques, schools, medical facilities, community centers, water filtration plants, psycho-social support teams, coordinated activities for children, vocational training camps and community kitchens, among other things. Still, when they have to sleep head to toe, at least six to a 9 foot tent, they said they’d rather die with dignity in their homes than wither like a stray leaf in the heat.

Many are extremely grateful to the Government for all that they had provided them. The land on which these camps are situated and the electric and water supplies are all donated by the Government of NWFP; everything else is arranged by the PRCS through private donations collected from within Pakistan. During the day, men sit around their community centers while women teach, learn and cook. The camps used to provide cooked meals up until a week ago. A week ago announcements were made for certain areas that were cleared for return. That’s also when the electric and water supplies started to dwindle. Funny how that worked out. Buner was the first place to be declared safe for return. It was declared unsafe to hold local elections on the same day. I guess it’s just not politically safe yet.

Nasrin and Rozina left the Camp on the 19^th of July, with their families, to return to the remnants of their home in Mangora. Two days later news came that Mangora was in fact not safe for return (oops) and that people were stranded on some bridge, between the camp and Mangora village. Their phone is unreachable.

The headlines of the news each day celebrate how many IDPs have returned home. One wonders if they will actually reach there or last there. And those that do in fact get to go home, would their houses be there. How they’ll rebuild their lives? Is it even safe to be there?

What a tale they’ll have to tell their grandchildren, “I was born in a tent, in the middle of a desert, surrounded by 15,211 people. I felt loved.”