The question of Pakistani Hindus

According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Hindus make about 1.60%[1] of all of Pakistan’s population. At the time of independence, there was a sizeable population of Hindus in the areas that became part of Pakistan but majority of them opted for India. However, still a lot of Hindus were living in the Eastern wing of the country but after the dismemberment of Pakistan, the province of Sindh became the largest province to house Hindu population; Hindus make about 6.51% of Sindh’s total population.[2]

In the near past, many Hindu families have migrated from Sindh to India. India is the natural destination for the Pakistani Hindus as they share religious, cultural and familial ties there. The majority of Pakistani Hindus have settled in the Indian states of Gujrat and Rajasthan; both these states share a border with the Pakistani province of Sindh too.

However, for the migrants things have not been all that great in India. As India is not a signatory of UN Refugee Convention. So, the migrants have to live in make shift camps without any electricity and water. Above that they are suspected for being Pakistani spies and the Indian agencies closely monitor their movement. Getting Indian citizenship is also not easy as it comprises of strict and lengthy procedure, the migrants have to bear a life that is, in short, miserable and difficult. Although the Indian government has taken steps to fast track the process of acquiring Indian citizenship but it is still far from producing the desired results.

The real questions here are why this is happening and what the state and citizenry of Pakistan should do about it?

Pakistan repeatedly reiterates that the Hindus are safe in Pakistan, they enjoy religious freedom and all this is mere Indian propaganda to malign Pakistan’s image and to divert world’s attention from the atrocities faced by the Indian minorities at the hands of Hindu extremists. However, all is not false propaganda or mere exaggeration. This situation is an outcome of many stimulants and the major ones are discussed below.

Firstly, extremism is on rise everywhere in the world, Pakistan in general and Sindh in specific are no exception. Secondly, Sindh has a very secular history but today it is not the reference point. The reference point is the bitter partition of 1947 which caused the unfortunate communal riots which took lives of many men, women and children from both the sides (i.e. Hindus & Muslims). Thirdly, in certain parts of interior Sindh, the Hindus do enjoy political and social power; their position makes them susceptible to this kind of defiance. Fourthly, the competition over the economic opportunities, there will be less competition once the Hindus will not be there to claim it. Fifthly, the cultural compatibility is another reason as the Hindus find more cultural affinity in India than in Pakistan. Sixthly, the maltreatment meted out to the Indian Muslims causes irritation, which is eventually vented out on the Pakistani Hindus.   

The frustration has been manifested in the shape of forced conversions, abduction for ransom of the Hindu traders and their families hate speech and the eventual migration of Hindus to India.

It is important to note that the government is not all ignorant of this situation and has shown some concern. Sindh provincial assembly did pass a bill namely “the protection of minorities’ bill” earlier this year. The bill sets an age for marriage and conversion and punishment for forced conversion but due to the pressure from the religious parties and due to some other political compulsions, the bill has been swept under the carpet in the name of “review”. It is imperative that the government should take a stand and that bill should be implemented in its letter and spirit. However, the government should not only stop at passing a bill but it should do more in this regard.

The Federal government should take actions to facilitate the return of willing Hindu migrants from India. Pakistan’s High Commission in India can act as a liaison in this regard. The government should take all necessary actions to rehabilitate them upon their return and take steps to ensure their security and well-being.

Special task forces should be established with members from both the Hindu community and the local civil authorities to address the grievances of Hindus at the grass root level and also to chalk out plans to improve the condition of the Pakistani Hindus.

Places situated in Pakistan that are sacred to Hinduism, should be preserved, renovated and open for carrying out religious activities. This will not only strengthen Pakistan’s Hindu connection but the national exchequer will also benefit from the religious tourism.

The buck stops at the government and they have to realize that they are responsible to their people irrespective of their creed and race. They are the ultimate power in the country. The law provides safeguards to our minorities and the government should make this their priority that these safeguards are rightfully provided to the minorities and it should also school the majority to respect the rights of the minorities. This is the only way through which they can realize Quaid’s vision of Pakistan.
( A version of this piece has been published by Express Tribune in their blog section on 25th August 2017)

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[1] Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, http://www.pbs.gov.pk/content/population-religion, approached on 01/08/2017

[2] ibid

Something for our daughters

It is a reality that women in Pakistan are far from being emancipated and are not treated at par with men. This bias is deeply embedded in our social structure but when a woman gets an opportunity to break free from these social shackles, at the same time she becomes responsible for other women too. It becomes her responsibility that with her character and actions becomes a role model for others. If she fails somehow, she fails the other too. Her failure closes door of opportunity for other too. This responsibility does not mean to bear with being harassed, to be undermined or being asked for sexual favors.

Our society too is embracing this change, gradually. But still a lot of distance has to be covered. The definition of modern woman does not fit in our society’s definition of woman. It still suspects the character of a working woman. We still nurture our pre-conceived notions.

At the same time it is important to remember that there is a social red line which has to be respected. Our society can never be and should never become like the one in the west. It should maintain its individuality. We should retain our social soul which is a mix of the old eastern values and our Islamic identity but at the same time we should remove all such social practices which have become redundant and act as an obstacle in our nation’s development and progress. In short, we should shun such social practices but not dopatta. The problem is that according to some, the social symbols which are attributed with our women are the tools and means through which women are oppressed. Similarly, there are sections in our society who think that wearing a pair of jeans make a female’s character lewd. Both are wrong in their assumptions as mentioned above, on the contrary, it is the social structure that has to be amended and the process of “social synthesis” should be supported. It is important that this process should an ongoing one. The example of Khadija Siddiqi’s case can be used here. She was being admonished for a relationship, a relationship in which she was not the lone stakeholder and most importantly the relationship was not the subject matter of that case. Judiciary of Punjab especially the chief justice should be praised for taking a personal interest in the case. Such precedents will give courage to other women too, who have to bear exploitation in the name of honor, respect, religion and society.

This brings me to Ayesha Gulalai and her shocking revelations. Something that makes these claims more shocking is the fact that they are aimed at Imran Khan, the PTI chief and a Prime Minister hopeful. Imran’s past life makes many to happily buy Ayesha’s claims. Her accusations range from allegations of financial corruption to sending of inappropriate messages by Mr. Khan.

I am no one to judge here. Frankly, I have more sympathies for Miss Ayesha than Mr. Khan. , Keeping in mind her tribal roots, her path to MNAship would not have been an easy one. The tribal belt, commonly known as FATA is traditionally seen as a regressive society. But her father not only supported her but also supported her younger sister, Maria Toor who plays squash and has also represented Pakistan at the international level, against all odds. Like the rest of Pakistan, FATA too is changing, this year; Zarmina Wazir became the first female from FATA to be allocated to the prestigious Pakistan Administrative Services not only that, she also topped among the candidates from FATA. Ayesha, if not was the change; she surely was and is the face of changing Pakistan in general and FATA in particular.

This brings me back to my earlier argument; this opportunity and responsibility make her responsible for others too. She claims that Mr. Khan sent her a lewd message for the first time in 2013, it would have been better, had she gone public with the accusations, right away and right then. Bringing those alleged messages into public notice after 4 years makes her case weak and her intentions suspicious.

I reiterate that I am not a judge but I seriously believe that these allegations should be investigated thoroughly and whosoever is found of any wrongdoing whether Mr. Khan (i.e. for inappropriate behavior and financial corruptions) or Miss Ayesha (i.e. for labeling false accusations), an example should be made out of them. So, nobody, in future, can use their position to exploit anyone else. There are other reasons too, which highlight why a stern action is imperative. It is important because we need to strengthen that confidence which has been achieved after so many sacrifices and hardships. It is important that nobody uses his or her gender to exploit other or use his or her gender as a shield or an excuse and it is also important because no one of us wants that door of opportunity to close for our daughters. After all, all of us want a society that treats our daughters well, as an equal and without any discrimination, a society which gives them an equal opportunity to grow. We all owe this to our daughters. 

Game of thrones, Season 7, Episode 2 & us

It is interesting to observe that how the second episode of the ongoing 7th season of Game of thrones is relevant to our prevailing political scenario.
First the weather of Dragonstone is pretty much like that of Islamabad, it is raining in both.
Varys address to Daenerys reminds one of the establishment and their ideology of loyalty.
Jon naming Sansa as her replacement while he is gone to Dragonstone, is ditto what Nawaz Sharif did after his disqualification, that is, he named his sibling as his replacement.
Qyburn showed Cersai a crossbow weapon to kill the dragons and we also learned that what article 62 and 63 can do.
Theon jumps-off the ship instead of defending Yara, is a bit like the Nisar-Nawaz saga.
The Supreme Court pretty much like Sam is attempting to cure a deadly, infectious disease though the treatment is hard and painful but the end result is expected to be good.
Missandei and Greyworm making love pretty much depicts our relationship with democracy. We and Greyworm, both cannot consummate the relationship.
That is all. Thank you!!

Madhoo!!

Madhoo, do you know why there is a lot of thunder when it rains in the night because the clouds protest on raining at night, they say in the nights the girls are asleep dreaming but in the day when they are awake, we soak them and make them to sing songs for their loved one, drenched, they embrace each droplet of rain in a way, of which a thirsty grain of dessert can never think of. 
Madhoo, you know these prairies or water bodies never get satisfy or fill, their thirst is infinite but these beautiful maidens gives us some purpose or a sense of accomplishment or a feel of finally achieving something.
Madhoo, you know these drops of rains are like the very cells that make up your being, so when it rains we give away our existence and soak them and make them to endure a pain that is not excruciating enough to kill them but to make them hard enough to wait. It is this purpose that makes us to collect our fallen cells again and rain once again to make them to sing and dance and miss them who they cannot meet for now.

Some words after the Lahore blast!!

What I am going to write here may deem to be insensitive to many or racist to some.So, the above lines are a warning to all of them to leave this post right here, right now.
A bomb blast has struck Lahore and the death toll has reached 22 already. But how much I think of this incident as brutal and barbaric, deep down, I have a feeling that is a mixture of content and satisfaction. To feel like this after such gruesome event is inhuman to say the least. I do not want to hide this feeling with a cosmetic condemnation. However, there is a reason behind this callousness.
Every time a blast hit a city, anywhere in Pakistan other than Punjab; unfortunately it happens more often. From certain sections, Punjab bashing starts. They say senseless stuff, which I do not want to copy here. May be it is not them but their emotions and grief talking but it hurts. So, every time any blast takes place somewhere in Punjab, I feel that we are no longer different, I feel that we are equally insecure and I feel that for them (the terrorists) we are no different. They hate us irrespective of our ethnic identity; there is no bias there.
However, the fact remains is, blood anywhere, of anyone innocent, shed is a crime against humanity. No reason can justify an act of terror.
So, if those morons do not see any difference, then why should we. Life of a Balochi, Sindhi, Pakhtoon or any other ethnic group is of equal importance and value. Discriminating it is like strengthening and abetting the extremist elements. These are hard times and only the realization of each other's pain and loss can give us the strength to bear all this and defeat our common enemy. May Allah protect and guide us all. Aa'meen

The imperfect and broken things

Why to perfect something that is innately imperfect? Why to say words that no one wants to listen? Why to finish a story whose characters do not deserve a closure? When the journeys is beautiful then why finish it? Why we all have to reach someplace? Hitler and Amelia never finished what they started. Stalin and Lincoln finished what they never started. A broken window still gives fresh air. An out of tune guitar still makes sound; a melody of its own. You still hold love for the girl who does not reply. NAFAK is still relevant and Madhubala is still beautiful. Perfection is not always alluring. Imperfection is not always ugly. People are people. Things are things. They are not meant to be perfect. They are not meant to be complete. To be or not to be, that is the question. That was, is and will be the question. 

To salute or not to salute

The Panama JIT is in town and it is making headlines for all the right and wrong reasons. By now almost all of the ruling Sharif clan has visited it. The latest and hopefully the last to make an appearance before the JIT is Mrs. Maryam Safdar, the daughter of the prime minister. Many call this as a launching of her political career. However, the news that subdued this news was of a salute, made to her by a lady police officer. The same lady police officer also accompanied her to the JIT meeting as all JIT members are male and seem to be unfit to question a woman alone but are fit to run an investigation of such national importance.

 The lady police officer saluted Mrs. Maryam Safdar when she came to appear before the JIT on Wednesday. The salute drew the ire of many. Like always what ensued was that the social media got divided into two groups; one condemning her and the other defending her for her action. My earlier reaction to the "salute" controversy was similar to that of many, with her being a CSP; I was expecting a much more dignified demeanor from her. However, since then I have done some thinking of my own and I think that she did the right thing. I have narrowed it down to five possible reasons. Before enumerating my reasons below to support my argument, I would like to clarify here that what you are going to read below is based on my personal rationalization of the incident. I believe that the lady officer must have her own reasons. So, below is more of a fly on the wall assessment of the episode in question here.

Firstly, my earlier reaction to the incident like many was based on my own dislike for Mrs. Maryam Safdar. Our irony here is that how much we long for power; we abhor the powerful if not equally than more. So, how much I detest Mrs. Safdar, it does not change the fact that she is the first daughter and heir apparent. Again, how much I call it to be rigged but Muslim League (N) enjoys public support and represents their mandate; good or bad, is a different debate altogether. In simpler words, like many my problem was not with the salute but was with the fact that to whom she saluted.

Secondly, keeping in mind how narcissist and egoistic our leaders are with no exceptions, unfortunately, a mere salute is good enough to soothe their enlarged egos and as the dialogue goes, “you do not salute to the person, you salute to the rank”. I remember a town Nazim from Faisalabad from Musharraf’s era, who use to move with his own private protocol and once when Governor Khalid Maqbool saw his protocol and was left amazed as his protocol was outnumbered by the protocol of the town Nazim. Our history is full of such instances.

Thirdly, in our culture getting saluted represents power more than respect and when a police officer salutes you; it has an even higher intrinsic value mainly because the police itself is a symbol of power. A salute from the police officer also reflects control and superiority.  

Fourthly, she is a witness to whatever happened in that room, between Mrs. Safdar and the JIT. Her saluting Mrs. Safdar, may be is her way of assuring her that she is worthy of being entrusted with such responsibility.

Fifthly, It is difficult to swim against the tide but then so is swimming with the sharks. I have great respect for what Nekokara and many like him did before but were they able to change the system? The answer is a big “no”. Our political elite, more or less is similar. They like the same things and share the same tantrums. Serving with or under them is not an easy task. But if you want to change the system, it is important that you become a part of it because from outside, this system cannot be changed, whenever it will change, it will change from within. Here by no mean I am favoring the status quo or trying to discourage the “few good men”. I put the example of the officers of the JIT here; they are doing their job honestly and diligently but all this is due to the free space provided to them by the Supreme Court, not every officer is that lucky. So, in such times it is easier to pull-off a Nekokara than staying, surviving and doing your bit to better the system. So, if a salute helps you to do it, then it is a meager price for a cause that is much bigger and greater.

Our system lacks accountability especially of the powerful. So, until we make our powerful accountable and that accountability should be across the board, we have to bear with such trivial things.
( A version of this piece has been published by Express Tribune in their blog section on 7th of July 2107 on 6:06 PM)