By Mansoor Ali Khan
Hi, I am a Pakistani. I am a Muslim first (because I have been told
this since the day I was born and my teachers also told me that this is
the reason I got this country) and then I am a Pakistani. Until I
reached college, I had no idea what a Sunni or a Shia was until I saw
some of my friends in college say the prayers differently. I was also
informed that my country considers Ahmedis as ‘kafirs’, I found it quite
strange as they looked just like me because Kafirs in my opinion were
always supposed to be white skinned. When I turned 18 I was told that
now I am eligible to get a NIC card and subsequently a driving license
also, I found this quite strange because I had been driving the car for
the last 2 years without any one stopping me. Then the elections came, I
kept hearing from the streets the slogans of ‘Jiye Bhutto’, I asked my
parents who was Bhutto and they said he was a great leader and his
daughter is now contesting the elections and we will all vote for her.
When I asked if she would turn out to be as good as Bhutto, I was
silenced. Then came Kargil, my friends told me that any moment now
Pakistan would turn out to be the victor against the enemy called
‘India’. After some time I heard that an Army general had taken over the
government, I thought maybe this was because we won the war? 9/11
happened and I was told that either I am with the US or against it. I
had heard that people always wanted to go to this country and live the
rest of their lives there but if I was against or with it, I didn’t know
as I had never been there. Then I saw people getting killed on the
streets through bombs and terrorist activities. When I asked who they
are, some said they are extremist who are angry at the US occupation of
Afghanistan (but why are they targeting me?) then some said they are US
conspirators (I asked again, why target me?) then someone said they are
the secret agencies (I said if they are the secret agencies then they
aren’t any good in keeping it a secret).
Then one day, I heard Bhutto’s daughter had been killed in an attack
and I saw people crying and condemning it. I also saw many who had been
her staunch opponents when she was alive, they were also terrified. They
started praising her; I was surprised at how people can be so
passionate about someone who has passed away. Then someone told me that
her son will now be head of the party and he has also taken the name
‘Bhutto’, the same question came in my mind if he would be as good as
his mother. I wanted to talk to him but I was told he only talks to
foreign press and party meetings. I started waiting for the day when he
will rule me.
Then I saw my cricket hero, Imran Khan in Lahore. He had such huge
fan following. He used the word ‘Tsunami’ again and again. He said all
are welcome to join in. I was surprised at the direction of Tsunami
because the influx of politicians seemed like a Tsunami indeed. Imran
said no to drones – talks with Taliban. I asked who will punish the
killers who destroyed my home, I was abused and threatened and told I am
an American agent. Yeah the same America, which had threatened me with
‘with us or against us’ question.
Someone then told me to think about nothing else and vote for the
party which created Pakistan – Pakistan Muslim League, but I had only
one problem even though I checked the history books I could not find the
word Nawaz in 1947. May be I was looking in the wrong era. I saw this
party distributing laptops among youngsters, I liked it but when I asked
about the lady who was distributing these laptops, they told me she is
Nawaz’s daughter. I asked is she a minister, they said no, I asked is
she a MNA or MPA?, they said no, then I asked who is she? They said she
is Nawaz’s daughter. I kept quite.
Today, I feel like I am in a room full of slogans, accusations,
counter-accusations. I just want all this noise to stop. I want to put
both my hands on my ears and shout ‘SHUT UP’.
I am a Pakistani, I am no one else. I am only a Pakistani.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Pakistan Police: The unsung heroes
By Murtaza Haider
A big fat thank you is in order. In fact 200 million thank yous would be more appropriate. With millions of Shias marching on the streets in Pakistan, and with hundreds of suicide bombers, mostly radicalised Pushtun militants, ready to target Shias, Pakistan’s police and intelligence agencies have done a commendable job of limiting death and destruction during Muharram.
Earlier this week Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, offered 200 million rupees to anyone offering details of the whereabouts of the Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan. While Mr. Malik has offered reward for information about the Taliban leadership, it is the police in Pakistan who have offered their lives while battling terrorism across the country. Over the years, several police have died while guarding mosques and processions. During the first 10 days of Muharram, the police guarded processions and imambargahs, and managed barricades, thus keeping the suicide bombers at bay.
This is not to trivialise the murder of over 30-plus Shias who died in the first 10 days of Muharram in target suicide bombings in Pakistan. The victims’ families and the communities that they came from have indeed suffered tremendous grief and irreparable loss. But with literally millions on the march on the streets in Pakistan it is next to impossible to have no loss of life when the Taliban militants have vowed to attack and kill Shias.
It is common in Pakistan to blame the police for all ills of the society. Many naively believe that Pakistan will be transformed if the Police were to be free of corruption. Stories of police excesses often surface that attract further criticism. The higher judiciary also calls in senior police officers to the Court where the officers face strong criticism by the senior members of the bench. While the police are criticised for their failure, I wonder why they are not praised when the police excel in achieving the nearly impossible goals set by the public and the politicians.
Take the processions in Muharram as an example. During the first 10 days of Muharram, millions of Shias are on the streets marching during day and night. There are literally hundreds of entry points to cities in Pakistan, which makes it impossible to prevent the militants from entering Pakistan’s major cities. At the same time, some militants are already based in cities and hence, monitoring their movements is even harder because they do not cross the security parameters established around the cities. In such circumstances, the only protection between those marching in the processions and the suicide bombers are the police.
On the 10th of Muharram in Rawalpindi, the police had established three cordons around the processions where everyone crossing the parameter was searched by the police and their identity cards were checked and recorded. Those crossing the pickets had to walk hundreds of meters before they were able to reach the processions. The police and a large number of Shia volunteers were the barrier between the processions and the would-be suicide bombers. The hard work by the police and the civilian intelligence agencies, who kept the usual suspects of all sectarian persuasions in check, prevented massive loss of life during Muharram.
While we grieve the loss of life of civilians and those from Pakistan’s armed forces, we have not been as sympathetic to the sacrifices of hundreds of police who have been brutally murdered by the Taliban in the past few years. Targeted attacks by the militants have caused the death of hundreds of police in Pakistan, but no one is willing to recognise their sacrifice or sing their praise.
Based out of the tribal areas of Pakistan, the Taliban are able to attack targets in Pakistan’s large urban centers. In October, the militants attacked and killed six police, including a senior superintendent of police Kurshid Khan, in Matani near Peshawar. Earlier in July, masked gunmen in Lahore killed nine police cadets, who were on training in Lahore from Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. Ehsanullah Ehsan, the Taliban’s spokesman with a 200 million rupees bounty, claimed responsibility for attacking the cadets. In March 2009, the Taliban, then led by Baitullah Mehsud attacked the Manawan Police Academy in Lahore killing 12 police.
The police are not random victims of militant violence in Pakistan. Often the Taliban have raided police check posts and abducted police whom they have killed in cold blood. The grisly footage released by the Taliban in July 2011 captured the assassination of 15 policemen who were lined up with their hands tied behind their back. A Taliban Mullah, with his face covered, declared in Pushto that the Police were “the enemies of Allah’s religion and have left Islam. Allah orders to kill such people.” Moments later a firing squad shoots the 15 policemen who were abducted earlier by the Taliban in a raid in Dir.
Given how terrorism has evolved in urban Pakistan it is likely that the police, and not the armed forces, will be able to curb this menace. Unlike the armed forces, whose training is based on protecting the border while being on a lookout for external threats, the police instead are trained to, and are experienced in, coping with the treats from within. It is rather odd to see that the establishment in Pakistan has equipped the armed forces to deal with the external threats; it has kept the police ill-equipped for decades even when the nation has started to implode from the threats posed by the militants, who were born and raised in Pakistan.
It is the time to recognize that Pakistan’s enemies lie within. If we continue to scapegoat and blame foreign elements, we will continue to prepare against external threats. What is needed is to bolster Pakistan’s internal defense mechanisms. This would require us to invest in police, civil defense, and civilian intelligence agencies.
A big fat thank you is in order. In fact 200 million thank yous would be more appropriate. With millions of Shias marching on the streets in Pakistan, and with hundreds of suicide bombers, mostly radicalised Pushtun militants, ready to target Shias, Pakistan’s police and intelligence agencies have done a commendable job of limiting death and destruction during Muharram.
Earlier this week Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, offered 200 million rupees to anyone offering details of the whereabouts of the Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan. While Mr. Malik has offered reward for information about the Taliban leadership, it is the police in Pakistan who have offered their lives while battling terrorism across the country. Over the years, several police have died while guarding mosques and processions. During the first 10 days of Muharram, the police guarded processions and imambargahs, and managed barricades, thus keeping the suicide bombers at bay.
This is not to trivialise the murder of over 30-plus Shias who died in the first 10 days of Muharram in target suicide bombings in Pakistan. The victims’ families and the communities that they came from have indeed suffered tremendous grief and irreparable loss. But with literally millions on the march on the streets in Pakistan it is next to impossible to have no loss of life when the Taliban militants have vowed to attack and kill Shias.
It is common in Pakistan to blame the police for all ills of the society. Many naively believe that Pakistan will be transformed if the Police were to be free of corruption. Stories of police excesses often surface that attract further criticism. The higher judiciary also calls in senior police officers to the Court where the officers face strong criticism by the senior members of the bench. While the police are criticised for their failure, I wonder why they are not praised when the police excel in achieving the nearly impossible goals set by the public and the politicians.
Take the processions in Muharram as an example. During the first 10 days of Muharram, millions of Shias are on the streets marching during day and night. There are literally hundreds of entry points to cities in Pakistan, which makes it impossible to prevent the militants from entering Pakistan’s major cities. At the same time, some militants are already based in cities and hence, monitoring their movements is even harder because they do not cross the security parameters established around the cities. In such circumstances, the only protection between those marching in the processions and the suicide bombers are the police.
On the 10th of Muharram in Rawalpindi, the police had established three cordons around the processions where everyone crossing the parameter was searched by the police and their identity cards were checked and recorded. Those crossing the pickets had to walk hundreds of meters before they were able to reach the processions. The police and a large number of Shia volunteers were the barrier between the processions and the would-be suicide bombers. The hard work by the police and the civilian intelligence agencies, who kept the usual suspects of all sectarian persuasions in check, prevented massive loss of life during Muharram.
While we grieve the loss of life of civilians and those from Pakistan’s armed forces, we have not been as sympathetic to the sacrifices of hundreds of police who have been brutally murdered by the Taliban in the past few years. Targeted attacks by the militants have caused the death of hundreds of police in Pakistan, but no one is willing to recognise their sacrifice or sing their praise.
Based out of the tribal areas of Pakistan, the Taliban are able to attack targets in Pakistan’s large urban centers. In October, the militants attacked and killed six police, including a senior superintendent of police Kurshid Khan, in Matani near Peshawar. Earlier in July, masked gunmen in Lahore killed nine police cadets, who were on training in Lahore from Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. Ehsanullah Ehsan, the Taliban’s spokesman with a 200 million rupees bounty, claimed responsibility for attacking the cadets. In March 2009, the Taliban, then led by Baitullah Mehsud attacked the Manawan Police Academy in Lahore killing 12 police.
The police are not random victims of militant violence in Pakistan. Often the Taliban have raided police check posts and abducted police whom they have killed in cold blood. The grisly footage released by the Taliban in July 2011 captured the assassination of 15 policemen who were lined up with their hands tied behind their back. A Taliban Mullah, with his face covered, declared in Pushto that the Police were “the enemies of Allah’s religion and have left Islam. Allah orders to kill such people.” Moments later a firing squad shoots the 15 policemen who were abducted earlier by the Taliban in a raid in Dir.
Given how terrorism has evolved in urban Pakistan it is likely that the police, and not the armed forces, will be able to curb this menace. Unlike the armed forces, whose training is based on protecting the border while being on a lookout for external threats, the police instead are trained to, and are experienced in, coping with the treats from within. It is rather odd to see that the establishment in Pakistan has equipped the armed forces to deal with the external threats; it has kept the police ill-equipped for decades even when the nation has started to implode from the threats posed by the militants, who were born and raised in Pakistan.
It is the time to recognize that Pakistan’s enemies lie within. If we continue to scapegoat and blame foreign elements, we will continue to prepare against external threats. What is needed is to bolster Pakistan’s internal defense mechanisms. This would require us to invest in police, civil defense, and civilian intelligence agencies.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Top Indian Myths about Pakistan
Myth 1.
Pakistan lost all 3 wars with India.
Pakistan and India have fought 3 wars - 1948, 1965 and 1971.
Barring 1971 (which occurred while a civil war, assisted by India, was raging in East Pakistan), no war has resulted in a decisive 'victory' for either side.
Myth 2.
Pakistan fights through proxies
Well, this is true. Pakistan has supported Kashmiri Freedom fighters in Indian Occupied Kashmir, and did support the Mujahideen (with US and Saudi support) and later the Taliban.
However, this allegation by Indians completely overlooks India's own long association with proxy groups.
Myth 3.
India has never committed aggression against Pakistan, or any other country.
This is clearly not the case as seen below
Myth 4.
Pakistan spends 70% (or more, depending upon the Indian) of its budget on Defense.
Pakistan's defence budget for 2009 was about 4.4 billion USD. With a GDP of about 160 billion USD and a budget of 33 billion USD, that works out to be about 2.75% of GDP and 13.3% of the total budget.
PAKISTAN'S TOTAL OUTLAY IN 2007-08 BUDGET TO BE ABOUT US$33 BLN. | Goliath Business News
This compares with an Indian defence budget of about 26 billion that is 14.4% of the total budget and about 2.3% - so what's the big deal with Pakistan's defence budget?
Myth 5.
Pakistani politics is dominated by Kashmir
This argument goes along the lines of 'the Army/leadership makes sure that the only thing Pakistanis are aware of is Kashmir, and in this way distracts them from socio-economic issues and avoids investing in development'.
No doubt most Pakistanis are aware of Kashmir, but the fact that we have cutthroat national politics, with political parties that have significant ideological differences, it is absurd to suggest that the only issue mentioned during stump speeches is 'Kashmir'.
Most of the PR and advertisements run by Pakistani political parties in fact focus on providing development and bringing about prosperity, not Kashmir. Most politicians talk about providing, jobs, investment etc. and most Pakistanis vote on that basis - even when voting on biraadri lines since they believe 'their guy' will provide them with economic opportunity/favors.
The political process in Pakistan remains largely driven by issues that are important to most people elsewhere in the world - jobs, inflation, development etc.
Pakistan lost all 3 wars with India.
Pakistan and India have fought 3 wars - 1948, 1965 and 1971.
Barring 1971 (which occurred while a civil war, assisted by India, was raging in East Pakistan), no war has resulted in a decisive 'victory' for either side.
Myth 2.
Pakistan fights through proxies
Well, this is true. Pakistan has supported Kashmiri Freedom fighters in Indian Occupied Kashmir, and did support the Mujahideen (with US and Saudi support) and later the Taliban.
However, this allegation by Indians completely overlooks India's own long association with proxy groups.
- Supported proxies that destabilized East Pakistan for many years leading into 1971
- Supported the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) - a terrorist organization in Sri Lanka
- Supported the Northern Alliance - a group of warlords and criminals in Afghanistan
- Supported Baluch insurgents in Pakistan
Myth 3.
India has never committed aggression against Pakistan, or any other country.
This is clearly not the case as seen below
- Support for insurgents in East Pakistan leding into 1971 and the ensuing war
- Support for the LTTE (a terrorist organization in Sri Lanka) against the Sri Lankan State
- The invasion of Siachen in 1984 in clear violation of the Simla Accord
- Support for the Baluch insurgency
Myth 4.
Pakistan spends 70% (or more, depending upon the Indian) of its budget on Defense.
Pakistan's defence budget for 2009 was about 4.4 billion USD. With a GDP of about 160 billion USD and a budget of 33 billion USD, that works out to be about 2.75% of GDP and 13.3% of the total budget.
PAKISTAN'S TOTAL OUTLAY IN 2007-08 BUDGET TO BE ABOUT US$33 BLN. | Goliath Business News
This compares with an Indian defence budget of about 26 billion that is 14.4% of the total budget and about 2.3% - so what's the big deal with Pakistan's defence budget?
Myth 5.
Pakistani politics is dominated by Kashmir
This argument goes along the lines of 'the Army/leadership makes sure that the only thing Pakistanis are aware of is Kashmir, and in this way distracts them from socio-economic issues and avoids investing in development'.
No doubt most Pakistanis are aware of Kashmir, but the fact that we have cutthroat national politics, with political parties that have significant ideological differences, it is absurd to suggest that the only issue mentioned during stump speeches is 'Kashmir'.
Most of the PR and advertisements run by Pakistani political parties in fact focus on providing development and bringing about prosperity, not Kashmir. Most politicians talk about providing, jobs, investment etc. and most Pakistanis vote on that basis - even when voting on biraadri lines since they believe 'their guy' will provide them with economic opportunity/favors.
The political process in Pakistan remains largely driven by issues that are important to most people elsewhere in the world - jobs, inflation, development etc.
Monday, November 5, 2012
South Asia Investor Review: India-Pakistan Missile Gap, India's "Indigenous" T...
South Asia Investor Review: India-Pakistan Missile Gap, India's "Indigenous" T...: A Times of India report last year claimed that "Pakistan has surged well ahead of India in the missile arena". It also lamented that "the o...
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Hungarian couple rubbishes ‘tales’ on security in Pakistan
By: Mohsan Ali
ISLAMABAD – Newly-wed couple, Zita and Arpi, hailing from Hungary soon after their wedding decided to travel around the world on bicycles mainly for three purposes - to promote love and harmony among the different sects of people around the world, witness different sites, peoples and places and the most important of all it was purely about healthy purposes.
“We have started our long journey around the world on 11th of June 2011 and have since than visited 14 countries including Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kirghistan, China and Pakistan,” the happy couple revealed in an exclusive interview with TheNation here on Thursday.
Zita was particularly very excited while telling about her visit to Hunza valley. She said that Swat is a place like the heaven on earth and we really enjoyed staying at Hunza.
She further said, the people of Pakistan are very loving and caring, the amount of love and respect we are getting from the Pakistanis is hard to express in words, she further said, “We must like to thank the Pakistani security agencies’ role for providing us extra security throughout and they take well care of us.”
“We have heard a lot about the security issues and the people talk so much rubbish and tried to scare us by telling false stories regarding worsening security in Pakistan,” she said adding, “Let me assure everyone specially the West that Pakistan is completely safe for all kinds of sporting and visiting activities, we have now spend almost two months in Pakistan and we will travel to Lahore next where we will spend 4 days after that we will leave for India.”
They said, “We are already looking forward to visit Pakistan again, we will travel across the borders in next 1 year or so and then return to homeland, they both further said, we will like to say thanks to the Hungarian Embassy in Pakistan for their care and assistance and specially the embassy of Pakistan as they provided us visas without any delay and most importantly without going through unnecessary documentations.” They said that they have found Pakistan full of beautiful places and the people gave us tremendous amount of respect and lend us helping hand without even we asked for that.
‘We must accept one thing we could not have even dream about getting this amount of respect, care, love and guidance from the people of Pakistan,” they said.
Sharing about their experiences Zita and Arpi said, the finest moment of our travel was to cross the 4655 miles Pamira Highway (it is not highway in fact it is motorway but due to its height we called it highway) in Tajikistan.
When this correspondent ask them what does they feel is unique between Pakistan and other parts of the world, they both replied the bonded families is the main difference between the west and Pakistan, we must admit this country is blessed with people who care about their family values and remain together through thick and thin.
A thing, which we, the Western countries, are fast forgetting if we follow the same pattern and value our relations and try to keep our families together, we will soon be able to overcome all our problems and the divorce rate, which has already reached an alarming level can be controlled at a very short span of time.
The world must follow that example that every thing can be achieve through living together and value their customs, Zita and Arpi concluded.
ISLAMABAD – Newly-wed couple, Zita and Arpi, hailing from Hungary soon after their wedding decided to travel around the world on bicycles mainly for three purposes - to promote love and harmony among the different sects of people around the world, witness different sites, peoples and places and the most important of all it was purely about healthy purposes.
“We have started our long journey around the world on 11th of June 2011 and have since than visited 14 countries including Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kirghistan, China and Pakistan,” the happy couple revealed in an exclusive interview with TheNation here on Thursday.
Zita was particularly very excited while telling about her visit to Hunza valley. She said that Swat is a place like the heaven on earth and we really enjoyed staying at Hunza.
She further said, the people of Pakistan are very loving and caring, the amount of love and respect we are getting from the Pakistanis is hard to express in words, she further said, “We must like to thank the Pakistani security agencies’ role for providing us extra security throughout and they take well care of us.”
“We have heard a lot about the security issues and the people talk so much rubbish and tried to scare us by telling false stories regarding worsening security in Pakistan,” she said adding, “Let me assure everyone specially the West that Pakistan is completely safe for all kinds of sporting and visiting activities, we have now spend almost two months in Pakistan and we will travel to Lahore next where we will spend 4 days after that we will leave for India.”
They said, “We are already looking forward to visit Pakistan again, we will travel across the borders in next 1 year or so and then return to homeland, they both further said, we will like to say thanks to the Hungarian Embassy in Pakistan for their care and assistance and specially the embassy of Pakistan as they provided us visas without any delay and most importantly without going through unnecessary documentations.” They said that they have found Pakistan full of beautiful places and the people gave us tremendous amount of respect and lend us helping hand without even we asked for that.
‘We must accept one thing we could not have even dream about getting this amount of respect, care, love and guidance from the people of Pakistan,” they said.
Sharing about their experiences Zita and Arpi said, the finest moment of our travel was to cross the 4655 miles Pamira Highway (it is not highway in fact it is motorway but due to its height we called it highway) in Tajikistan.
When this correspondent ask them what does they feel is unique between Pakistan and other parts of the world, they both replied the bonded families is the main difference between the west and Pakistan, we must admit this country is blessed with people who care about their family values and remain together through thick and thin.
A thing, which we, the Western countries, are fast forgetting if we follow the same pattern and value our relations and try to keep our families together, we will soon be able to overcome all our problems and the divorce rate, which has already reached an alarming level can be controlled at a very short span of time.
The world must follow that example that every thing can be achieve through living together and value their customs, Zita and Arpi concluded.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
How correct are mystical predictions about Pakistan?
How correct are mystical predictions about Pakistan?
by: From the Newspaper | Rauf Parekh | 14 hours ago
BEFORE I say anything about predictions by mystics and saints, please be assured that neither am I one of those who too readily believe in soothsayers, mystical or otherwise, nor do I intend to convince the readers of the validity of divine prophecies about Pakistan’s future. Rather the purpose of this piece is just to share with the readers the contents of an interesting research article on the subject of mystical predictions, which has just appeared in a literary magazine, as the article presents different views with an academic detachment.
Casting shadows of doubts over Pakistan’s future has been a favorite pastime of many ever since the country came into being and there has never been any dearth of pessimists who love to draw bleakest scenarios of Pakistan’s future. The so-called think-tanks in the West had even predicted, in their ‘research-based studies’, total chaos in the country; Pakistan becoming a failed state or even its disintegration in the first decade of the 21st century. A country — the most allied ally of the West — that came into being against all odds and survived against all odds has yet again managed to survive beyond the deadline given by our western well-wishers. Of late, some Western scholars have become more careful and they talk about only the near-future of Pakistan, say five to seven years, and are kind enough to vaguely say that in the near-future the country might “muddle along” in the same manner as it did in the past.
But, strangely enough, there have always been some people, no matter how few, who have had great confidence in this country’s future, which has generally not looked much promising. Aside from the common Pakistanis, the bunch of these optimists includes some mystics and saints, too. Interestingly, some websites have been posting predictions about the country’s bright future on the basis of prophecies attributed to a Sufi saint named Shah Ne’matullah Vali. Shah Sahib’s ‘qaseedas’, or panegyric odes, that have recently become hugely popular again are known for their prophecies. Just as symbolic and as arcane as the predictions by Nostradamus, these poems forecast, according to some interpreters, among other things, Pakistan would not only become a prosperous country but one that leads the world. Sounds too good to be true? Well, maybe.
Mumtaz Mufti, one of Urdu’s prominent fiction writers of the 20th century, had turned to mysticism during the latter part of his life. Mufti Sahib had always been very confident about Pakistan’s bright future. His optimism was based on some spiritual experiences and prophecies of some Sufis he was in touch with. When Dr Najeeba Arif, International Islamic University’s faculty member, carried out a research on Mumtaz Mufti’s life and works, the mystical dimension of Mufti’s life, too, came under her probe. In her doctoral dissertation, Dr Arif had brought under discussion this aspect of his life and works. Now she has come up with a research paper that discusses the prophecies about Pakistan based on Shah Ne’matullah Vali’s predictions.
Published in ‘Mabahis’, a new Urdu research journal from Lahore and edited by Prof (Dr) Tehseen Firaqi, the paper’s title can be translated as ‘Pakistan: a dreamland for South Asian Muslims or a failed state, a recent scholastic perspective of Shah Ne’matullah Vali’s prophecies’.
She begins her paper with some deliberations of the international conference on Pakistan held in Italy in May 2010. Delegates from 16 countries participated in the conference and all but one said that Pakistan was a failed state. The only delegate who disagreed with the view was a former diplomat, Tariq Fatemi. He later admitted to Dr Arif in an interview that he did not have enough evidence to prove his optimism about Pakistan’s future.
Trying to find a balanced approach towards the issue of Pakistan’s future, she reminds the readers of the forecasts posted on different websites and then refers to a paper by a renowned scholar, Prof C.M. Naim, who has been associated with the Chicago University for long.
Titled ‘Prophecies in South Asian Muslim discourse: the poems of Shah Ne’matullah Vali’, Prof Naim’s paper has appeared in an Indian research journal and he has shown doubts about the genuineness of Shah Ne’matullah’s poems. These poems not only predict that a new era of peace and prosperity is to dawn soon but, according to some interpretations, Pakistan is to become a super power. The prophecies include one that says Islam would be revived and Muslims would conquer India. Prof Naim thinks that these versified predictions, originally in Persian and translated into Urdu, surfaced first during the upheaval of 1857 (to encourage those who were fighting against the British forces) and again when political and economic situation deteriorated in Pakistan. The recent reemergence of these predictions shows, according to him, that all is not well in Pakistan and these verses have been used for ulterior motives in the past too. He alleges that the reemergence of these predictions might have been a work of Pakistan’s armed forces. His paper drew sharp reaction and criticism on websites and blogs.
Some 20 years ago, a booklet titled ‘Azeem paishingoiyaan’ (great predictions) containing Shah Ne’matullah’s predictions was published from Karachi, too, and this writer has a photocopy of that booklet. Even if the verses are genuine, the Urdu translation and the interpretations seem wishful. But attributing a renewed general interest in them to Pakistan’s armed forces is so far-fetched that one wonders how a veteran scholar like C.M. Naim can believe in it. Dr Arif has tried to trace the tradition of these forecasts, and the ones attributed to some other mystics, and then tried to figure out how authentic these poems are and whether there are sources other than Shah Sahib’s predictions about the great future of Pakistan that we all dream of.
She has first established the facts about the life of Shah Ne’matullah Vali (C.1329-1431) with historical sources and says that Shah Sahib was not only a well-known and revered Sufi saint but he founded a ‘silsila’ (an order of dervishes). He was a prolific writer and a poet, too. His divan was published from Tehran but more popular are his verses that contain predictions. She then quotes E.G. Browne, who confirms that Shah Sahib’s poems are “couched in the prophetic strain” and they “still exercise a certain influence”. Browne had visited Shah Ne’matullah’s mausoleum in Kirman and reproduced in his book the famous poem that consists of 50 couplets and contains predictions. Dr Arif also tells us that different versions of the poem containing slightly different text also exist. Prof Naim thinks some couplets were added later. Dr Arif has reproduced the entire poem from authentic sources and has given a gist of its meanings. But there are other poems too that have additional predictions. She then reveals that the authenticity of some of the poems may be questionable.
Dr Arif then narrates the visions and dreams of different Sufis, all of which point to a brilliant future for Pakistan. But the paper finishes with a message for her fellow Pakistanis: we must work hard and show a character that justifies the great Pakistani dream.
Now a few words about the magazine ‘Mabahis’ that carries the article: as it is edited by Dr Firaqi who is known for his meticulousness and a knack for perfection, one can well imagine the high standard that he has set from the very first issue.
by: From the Newspaper | Rauf Parekh | 14 hours ago
BEFORE I say anything about predictions by mystics and saints, please be assured that neither am I one of those who too readily believe in soothsayers, mystical or otherwise, nor do I intend to convince the readers of the validity of divine prophecies about Pakistan’s future. Rather the purpose of this piece is just to share with the readers the contents of an interesting research article on the subject of mystical predictions, which has just appeared in a literary magazine, as the article presents different views with an academic detachment.
Casting shadows of doubts over Pakistan’s future has been a favorite pastime of many ever since the country came into being and there has never been any dearth of pessimists who love to draw bleakest scenarios of Pakistan’s future. The so-called think-tanks in the West had even predicted, in their ‘research-based studies’, total chaos in the country; Pakistan becoming a failed state or even its disintegration in the first decade of the 21st century. A country — the most allied ally of the West — that came into being against all odds and survived against all odds has yet again managed to survive beyond the deadline given by our western well-wishers. Of late, some Western scholars have become more careful and they talk about only the near-future of Pakistan, say five to seven years, and are kind enough to vaguely say that in the near-future the country might “muddle along” in the same manner as it did in the past.
But, strangely enough, there have always been some people, no matter how few, who have had great confidence in this country’s future, which has generally not looked much promising. Aside from the common Pakistanis, the bunch of these optimists includes some mystics and saints, too. Interestingly, some websites have been posting predictions about the country’s bright future on the basis of prophecies attributed to a Sufi saint named Shah Ne’matullah Vali. Shah Sahib’s ‘qaseedas’, or panegyric odes, that have recently become hugely popular again are known for their prophecies. Just as symbolic and as arcane as the predictions by Nostradamus, these poems forecast, according to some interpreters, among other things, Pakistan would not only become a prosperous country but one that leads the world. Sounds too good to be true? Well, maybe.
Mumtaz Mufti, one of Urdu’s prominent fiction writers of the 20th century, had turned to mysticism during the latter part of his life. Mufti Sahib had always been very confident about Pakistan’s bright future. His optimism was based on some spiritual experiences and prophecies of some Sufis he was in touch with. When Dr Najeeba Arif, International Islamic University’s faculty member, carried out a research on Mumtaz Mufti’s life and works, the mystical dimension of Mufti’s life, too, came under her probe. In her doctoral dissertation, Dr Arif had brought under discussion this aspect of his life and works. Now she has come up with a research paper that discusses the prophecies about Pakistan based on Shah Ne’matullah Vali’s predictions.
Published in ‘Mabahis’, a new Urdu research journal from Lahore and edited by Prof (Dr) Tehseen Firaqi, the paper’s title can be translated as ‘Pakistan: a dreamland for South Asian Muslims or a failed state, a recent scholastic perspective of Shah Ne’matullah Vali’s prophecies’.
She begins her paper with some deliberations of the international conference on Pakistan held in Italy in May 2010. Delegates from 16 countries participated in the conference and all but one said that Pakistan was a failed state. The only delegate who disagreed with the view was a former diplomat, Tariq Fatemi. He later admitted to Dr Arif in an interview that he did not have enough evidence to prove his optimism about Pakistan’s future.
Trying to find a balanced approach towards the issue of Pakistan’s future, she reminds the readers of the forecasts posted on different websites and then refers to a paper by a renowned scholar, Prof C.M. Naim, who has been associated with the Chicago University for long.
Titled ‘Prophecies in South Asian Muslim discourse: the poems of Shah Ne’matullah Vali’, Prof Naim’s paper has appeared in an Indian research journal and he has shown doubts about the genuineness of Shah Ne’matullah’s poems. These poems not only predict that a new era of peace and prosperity is to dawn soon but, according to some interpretations, Pakistan is to become a super power. The prophecies include one that says Islam would be revived and Muslims would conquer India. Prof Naim thinks that these versified predictions, originally in Persian and translated into Urdu, surfaced first during the upheaval of 1857 (to encourage those who were fighting against the British forces) and again when political and economic situation deteriorated in Pakistan. The recent reemergence of these predictions shows, according to him, that all is not well in Pakistan and these verses have been used for ulterior motives in the past too. He alleges that the reemergence of these predictions might have been a work of Pakistan’s armed forces. His paper drew sharp reaction and criticism on websites and blogs.
Some 20 years ago, a booklet titled ‘Azeem paishingoiyaan’ (great predictions) containing Shah Ne’matullah’s predictions was published from Karachi, too, and this writer has a photocopy of that booklet. Even if the verses are genuine, the Urdu translation and the interpretations seem wishful. But attributing a renewed general interest in them to Pakistan’s armed forces is so far-fetched that one wonders how a veteran scholar like C.M. Naim can believe in it. Dr Arif has tried to trace the tradition of these forecasts, and the ones attributed to some other mystics, and then tried to figure out how authentic these poems are and whether there are sources other than Shah Sahib’s predictions about the great future of Pakistan that we all dream of.
She has first established the facts about the life of Shah Ne’matullah Vali (C.1329-1431) with historical sources and says that Shah Sahib was not only a well-known and revered Sufi saint but he founded a ‘silsila’ (an order of dervishes). He was a prolific writer and a poet, too. His divan was published from Tehran but more popular are his verses that contain predictions. She then quotes E.G. Browne, who confirms that Shah Sahib’s poems are “couched in the prophetic strain” and they “still exercise a certain influence”. Browne had visited Shah Ne’matullah’s mausoleum in Kirman and reproduced in his book the famous poem that consists of 50 couplets and contains predictions. Dr Arif also tells us that different versions of the poem containing slightly different text also exist. Prof Naim thinks some couplets were added later. Dr Arif has reproduced the entire poem from authentic sources and has given a gist of its meanings. But there are other poems too that have additional predictions. She then reveals that the authenticity of some of the poems may be questionable.
Dr Arif then narrates the visions and dreams of different Sufis, all of which point to a brilliant future for Pakistan. But the paper finishes with a message for her fellow Pakistanis: we must work hard and show a character that justifies the great Pakistani dream.
Now a few words about the magazine ‘Mabahis’ that carries the article: as it is edited by Dr Firaqi who is known for his meticulousness and a knack for perfection, one can well imagine the high standard that he has set from the very first issue.
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