گلزار کی ایک نظم

چند دن قبل بھارت کے مشہور گیت کار، شاعر اور نظم نگار گلزار صاحب کا انٹرویو سننے کا موقع ملا۔ اتفاقاً، پچھلے ہفتے ان کی سالگرہ بھی تھی۔ اس وجہ سے اس انٹرویو کا مزاح دوبالا ہوگیا۔

گلزار صاحب نے بہت خوبصورتی کے ساتھ اپنی زندگی کے مختلف ادوار کے بارے میں بتایا۔ کس طرح ایک گاڑی پر پینٹ کرنے والا بھارت کے اول درجے کا شاعر بنا، یہ تو آپ ان ہی کی زبانی سنائیے۔

تقسیم ہند نے گلزار صاحب کی زندگی پر گہرا اثر چھوڑا ہے ۔ تقسیم ہند کے مظالم آج بھی ان کے خوابوں میں آتے ہیں اور ان کو اس ہی طرح 'ڈراتے' ہیں جیسے یہ حادثہ کل ہی ہوا ہو۔ بھارت میں جب بھی کوئی لسانی، فرقہ ورانہ، قومی، نسلی فساد ہوتا ہے، تو ان کو ڈر لگتا ہے جیسے تقسیم ہند کے مظالم ایک بار پھر دوہرائے جاسکتے ہیں۔ وہ اپنی نظم 'فسادات' میں لکھتے ہیں:

وہ تو کُل نو ہی برس کا تھا اسے کیوں چن کر

فرقہ ورانہ فسادات میں کل قتل کیا۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔؟

باقی میں اس انٹرویو کے بارے میں کچھ زیادہ نہیں لکھنا چاہتا۔ آپ خود اس انٹریو سے محظوظ ہوں:

انٹرویو کے آخر میں گلزار صاحب ایک خوبصورت نظم بھی سناتے ہیں:

اخبار کے تیسرے پنے پر

جب ہر روز دیکھتا ہوں

مرنے والوں کی تصویریں

کچھ دیر میں ڈھونڈتا رہتا ہوں

میری بھی تصویر ہے کیا؟

بے حس ہوا ہوں اب

احساس نہیں ہوتا کہ

میری سانس

آتی ہے،

جاتی ہے،

چلتی بھی ہے کہ نہیں۔

اخبار کے پہلے پنے پر

بس اعداد ہی گنتا ہوں

گنتی ہی دیکھتا ہوں

آج کے دن کتنے مرے

آج کا "اسکور" کیا ہے

بے حس ہوا ہوں اب
احساس نہیں ہوتا کہ
میری سانس
آتی ہے،
جاتی ہے،
چلتی بھی ہے کہ نہیں۔

امید ہے کہ آپ کو بھی یہ انٹرویو اتنا ہی پسند آئے گا، جتنا مجھے آیا۔

زبردستی کی عیدیں

چاند کا ایک حسین منظر۔ ذرائع:  home.hiwaay.net 

کل رات ٹی-وی پر چاند کی خبر سن کر بڑا عجیب سا لگا۔ خیر چاند تو نہ نکلا پر میری ہنسی ضرور نکل گئی۔ پاکستان بھر کا میڈیا رویت ہلال کمیٹی کے دفتر پر پہنچا ہوا تھا۔ بیس درجن سے زائد کیمرا پرسن ، دس درجن سے رپورٹرز، اور ایک درجن سے زائد ٹی-وی چینلز۔ لگ تو ایسا رہا تھا جیسے کائنات کا کوئی نیا راز فاش ہونے کو ہے، پر ایسا کچھ نہ ہوا۔ ایک عدد چاند تھا، اور کچھ بھی نہیں۔ کھودا پہاڑ اور نکلا چوہا، بلکہ چوہا بھی نہیں نکلا۔ 

بہر حال، مجھے اس پہاڑ اور چوہے کے کھیل سے زیادہ دلچسپی نہیں۔ میری دلچسپی تو اعلان کے بعد ہونے والی سماجی کیفیت سے ہے۔ میڈیا والے حضرات، مفتی منیب الرحمٰن کی جان چھوڑ کر عوام کے پاس پہنچ گئے۔ اور اس 'بریکنک نیوز' پر ان کا تجزیہ معلوم کرنے لگے۔ سوشل میڈیا پر بھی اس خبر کو بحث کا موضوع بنایا گیا۔ 

جتنی ٹرٹر پاکستان کے لوگوں نے 'چاند کے اہم مسئلے' پر کی، اگر اتنی ہی آواز چترال سے لے کر کراچی تک اور معصوم ہزارہ کے لوگوں کے قتل عام پر اٹھاتے تو شاید، عید کی 'رسم' کچھ اچھی بھی لگتی۔ یہ عید تو چودہ اگست جیسی ہے، وہ بھی بلا وجہ منایا جاتا ہے، یہ بھی بلا وجہ منائی جارہی ہے۔ 

اور اس چاند پر اتنا شور؟ کوئی صاحب فرما رہے ہیں کہ ماہر فلکیات کے سپرد کردو، کسی کا کہنا ہے کہ ایک نیا کلینڈر بنا دو، ایک اور جید رائے یہ ہے کہ عید پوری دنیا میں مکہ کہ حساب سے منانی چاہیے، جس طرح کرسمس پوری دنیا میں ایک دن بنتی ہے، عید بھی اس ہی طرح منانی چاہیے۔ 

مجھے محسوس ہوتا ہے کہ چاند پر مفتی منیب الرحمن سے زیادہ مسئلہ میڈیا کو ہے، جو زبردستی چھوٹے صوبوں پر ریاست کا جبر نافذ کرنے میں مدد دے رہا ہے۔ یہی ایک فسطائیت طرزحکومت ہے جو اقلیت کی آزادی کو قبول نہیں کرتا اور ان کا مزاق بناتا ہے۔ 

میرے خیال میں اگر چاند پنجاب میں دیکھا گیا ہوتا تو اتنا شور نہیں مچتا، لیکن کیونکہ یہ چاند 'غدار پٹھانوں' نے دیکھا ہے، اس لیے اس کا مزاق بنایا جارہا ہے۔ ان کو یہ بتایا جارہا کہ وہ چاند بھی نہیں دیکھ سکتے۔ چاند پر بھی ان کو پاکستان کا جبر قبول کرنا ہے۔ 

جن کو عید پنجاب کے ساتھ منانی ہے، وہ پنجاب کے ساتھ منائیں، پر اگر کوئی پنجاب کے ساتھ نہیں منانا چاہتا، تو پنجاب شاید پاکستان کا ٹھکے دار تو ہے، پر اسلام کا نہیں۔ 

مجھے جتنے پیغامات پڑھنے کو ملے اُن میں 'پٹھانوں' کا تمسخر بنایا گیا۔ سوال یہ کہ اگر ان کو چاند نظر آگیا ہے، تو ضروری ہے کہ ان پر ریاست (جس کا ۵۲٪ مالک پنجاب ہے) کی مرضی جبراً نافذ کی جائے؟ ان کو بھی اتنا ہی حق ہونا چاہیے، جتنا پاکستان کی دوسری قوموں کو ہے۔ ہر صوبے کو اپنی اپنی عید الگ منانی چاہیے، اگر ان کو چاند نظر آگیا ہے۔ ریاست کو حق نہیں کہ وہ جبر کے ذریعے اپنی مرضی کو نافذ کرے۔ 

میری طرف سے پشاور کے لوگوں کو دو بار مبارک باد۔ ایک تو رمضان کے اختتام کی اور دوسری، ریاستی جبر کے خلاف کھڑے ہونے کی۔

A letter to Mr. Jinnah

Mr. Jinnah playing billiards. Source:  m-a-jinnah.blogspot.com

Dear Sir,

There are two reasons why I'm writing this letter in English. Firstly, I'm fortunate enough to attend a school that taught me to write in English, and secondly because it's easier for you to comprehend English. (Though many are trying to make Arabic your mother tongue!) 

Perhaps, this letter might be considered contemptuous. I don't know and neither do I care. For me contempt means the killing of innocents, which die in dozens everyday in this country. Contempt is evident in the mass migration of Hindu minority to India. Contempt for me is the ever powerful feudal class that controls every institution of national decision making. Hence, I don't care whether this letter falls in the category of contempt or not.

I don't want to write a long elegy, characterising the everyday realities of the land of pure. Maybe, you know them better than me or let me say, these evil realities are now a part of our national psyche. We aren't the secular state you dreamt once, a state like Norway, where the capital was closed down for a week or so in order to pay homage to the innocent children who got killed in a firing spree by a fanatical racist. I guess we can't afford such homage; as such homage would require closing the country till eternity.

I want to tell you how your name is sold by Islamists and Generals alike in order to come in power. How your speeches were amended, how your pictures were censored, and how your ideology was sent to oblivion.

Mr. Jinnah, your own speech in your very own country, was about to be censored. The wisdom you spoke about in your 11th August 1947 speech was labelled as 'too much secularist', and considered a threat to the 'existence of Pakistan'. It was Dawn's editor, Mr. Altaf Hussain, who got your speech published as he threatened them that he'll come to you if an effort is made to censor it. Hitherto, I must say, Mr. Hussain should have visited you. He should have discussed with you about such anti-Pakistan elements. In this case you might have given a clearer elucidation of your ideology about the country.

Let me tell you how your personality has been changed from an English gentleman lawyer into a religious cleric. A daring woman of your country, Faranaz Isphani, made a comment regarding this 'ideological metamorphosis'. She said, "The contrived and Islamist Quaid of Pakistan’s current textbooks never existed." The Jinnah cap sticks to your personality as if you never wore anything other than a Sherwani and that conical cap. No one talks about your Muslim, Christian, Ahmedi, and Hindu friends who always remained your close advisors. Nobody talks about the liberal outlook you had for the modern state of Pakistan where "Muslims will cease being Muslims; Hindus will cease being Hindus, not religiously, but politically." 

Let me also tell you about another phenomenon which I bet will make you beam. The same old religious parties, Tahreef-e-Ahrar, Jammat-e-Islami, et cetera, are now classifying themselves as the saviours of Pakistan! They've also invented a new slogan, which they say dates back to pre-1947. It's something like this: Pakistan ka matlab kia? la illah il lallah. I'm just telling you their slogan, because if you meet them in the afterlife, do ask them that if Pakistan means la illah il lallah then why did they oppose Pakistan? To your surprise, these clerics have distorted history books by removing all references that might prove them to be against the existence of Pakistan. If you meet a Pakistani teenager in heaven and discuss the role of clerics, you'll be amazed when you hear him eulogizing the role of clerics in Pakistan.

Mr. Jinnah, your idea of peaceful co-existence with India has now become a myth. You said that the nature of foreign relations between our two neighbourly countries would be like the relationship between United States and Canada. Sir, I would sadly say, this is becoming impossible as time passes forward. India's insistence on making a nuclear bomb forced Pakistan to make a similar arsenal for herself. We wasted billions of rupees on this rubbish that everyone knows is never going to be used. Sub-continent is land of shrines and sufi; we aren't like those barbarians who killed thousands of Red-Indians in the worst possible way imaginable. As nuclear bomb haunted Pakistan in 1970s, today it's cross-border terrorism that haunts India. Mr. Jinnah, it was a sheer disappointment for every 'rational human' in your country when he or she heard that a Pakistani was involved in the Mumbai attacks. It was sheer disappointment for me when I came to know that a Pakistani was involved in the firing incident at the Indian parliament. Moreover, your reputation as the 'Hindu-Muslim peace ambassador' today seems as a myth. People paint your movement an anti-Hindu movement fought for elevating the religion of Islam. Our generation don't know they you were the greatest advocate of 'Hindu-Muslim Unity' right up till the Cabinet Mission Plan (1946), which failed due Nehru's stubbornness.

In the end, I must say Mr. Jinnah, Pakistan will one day become a modern state. Rational voices, although very few, can still be heard. People do speak out for their universal rights. The civil society is much more active. The middle-class will rise as progress is an inherent process of history. Democracy, equality, and justice will prevail in this land.

From,

A citizen of Jinnah's Pakistan.

جاہلوں سے دوری

دنیا کی سب سے بڑی بُرای شاید جہالت ہے۔ اسکا احساس مجھے کچھ دن پہلے ہوا جب میں چند بےوقفوں سے آغا وقار کے بارے میں بات کررہا تھا۔

کچھ ماہ قبل میں نے ڈیل کارنیگی کی شہرہ آفاق تصنیف "دوست کیسے بنائے جائیں اور لوگوں پر کس طرح حاوی ہوا جائے(How To Win Friends And Influence People) پڑھی تھی، میں نے سوچا کہ ان اصولوں کو اپنے کچھ جاننے والوں پر استعمال کرکہ دیکھا جائے کہ آیا یہ ہر جگہ قابل عمل ہیں یا صرف آمریکہ، یورپ اور ان جیسے ممالک میں ہی ان اصولوں کو اپنایا جاسکتا ہے۔

میں ٹائم ضائع کیے بغیر یہ لکھ دیتا ہوں کہ ڈیل کارنیگی کے چند اصول بے انتہا کرامت ہیں لیکن چند پر عمل کرنے کے لیے ضروری ہے کہ آپ کے سامنے ایک "منطقی انسان" کھڑا ہو۔ منطقی انسان وہ ہوتا ہے جو اسی لمحے بحث ختم کردے جس لمحے استدلال ختم ہوجائیں۔ وہ انسانوں کی طرح سامنے والے کی بات سمجھنے کی کوشش کرتا ہے اور جب بات سمجھ آجائے تو اس بات کو بھی اپنی فکر میں محفوظ کرلیتا ہے۔ ضروری نہیں کہ وہ مخالف رائے کو قبول کرلے، قبولیت کے عمل میں ہمیشہ کچھ وقت درکار ہوتا ہے، لیکن یہ ضرور ہے کہ وہ کبھی بھی اپنی رائے کو اپنے عقیدے یا اپنی انا کا مسئلہ نہیں بناتا۔ دوسری طرف ایک "غیر منطقی انسان" وہ ہوتا ہے جوکہ اپنی رائے کو صحیح کہلوانے کے لیے ہر علمیت کا انکار کرتا ہے، وہ عقلی دلائل، تاریخی واقعات اور سائنسی حقیقتوں ، سب کا انکار کردیتا ہے۔ اور اپنی جہالت کے جھوٹے طلسم کو ثابت کرنے لیے طرح طرح کی الٹی سیدھی باتیں کرتا ہے۔ ایسے لوگوں کے ساتھ کیا تعلق رکھا جائے؟ ایسے 'دوستوں' کے بارے میں کیا رائے رکھی جائے؟ یہ سوالات کسی اور مضمون کیلئے چھوڑ دیتا ہوں۔ آج کا موضوع ہے "حضرت آغا وقار عرف پانی والے بابا"۔

جیسا کہ میں نے شروعات میں لکھا ہے، گفتگو بے وقفوں کہ ساتھ تھی، لیکن افسوس اس بات پر ہے کہ اس کا اندازہ مجھے بہت وقت گزرنے کے بعد ہوا، جس کا اب کوئی فائدہ نہیں تھا۔

گفتگو کی شروعات اس طرح ہوئی کہ ٹی-وی پر اچانک سےآغا وقار اور ان کی ایجاد کی خبر دیکھنے کو ملی۔ اس پر افتخار صاحب (ان کا اصل نام یہ نہیں ہے) نے کہا، "یہ دیکھو! بہت جلد پاکستان میں ہر گاڑی پانی پر چلنے لگے گی، ہمارا قیمتی زرِ مبادلہ جو پیٹرول خریدنے میں ضائع ہوتا ہے، وہ دوسرے شعبوں میں لگ سکے گا۔ حکومت بھی اس موضوع میں انٹرسٹ (interest) لے رہی ہے۔ آج کی خبر ہے کہ راجہ پرویز اشرف بھی ۵۰ لاکھ روپے کی رقم پانی والی گاڑی کے منصوبے کیلئے مختص کررہے ہیں، سندھ حکومت بھی اس پروجیکٹ میں دلچسپی رکھتی ہے۔ انشاء اللہ پاکستان کی تقدیر بدلنے والی ہے۔"

یہ ان کی باتوں کا لبِ لباب ہے۔ سچی بات یہ ہے کہ مجھ سے یہ 'بکواس' بلکل نہیں سنی گئی۔ کئی بار ان کی بات کاٹنے کی 'بداخلاقی' سرزد ہوئی۔ لیکن مجھے اس 'بد اخلاقی' پر کوئی افسوس نہیں۔ ایسے لوگوں پر یہ ضرور ثابت کرنا چاہیے کہ وہ اپنی جہالت میں ابتری کے آخری درجہ پر پہنچ گئے ہیں۔ اگر ان کی عمر آپ سے زیادہ ہے، تو اس میں ان کا کوئی کمال نہیں، بات صرف اتنی ہے کہ خدا نے ان کو دنیا میں آپ سے پہلے بھیج دیا تھا۔ اس میں نہ کوئی فخر کی بات ہے اور نہ کوئی شرم کی بات ہے۔ فارسی کا مقولہ "خطا گرفتنِ بزرگاں خطا است" شاید انٹرنیٹ کے اس دور میں ہربزرگ کے لیے درست نہیں۔ میں تو اس مقولے میں اس طرح ترمیم کروں گا، "احتمالاً،خطا گرفتنِ بزرگاں خطا باشد"۔ (امکان ہے کہ بزرگوں کی خطا پکڑنا خطا ہو، یعنی ضروری نہیں ہے کہ وہ ہر بار صحیح ہوں۔)

خیر یہ باتیں ایک طرف، لیکن کیونکہ افتخار صاحب کا سائنس سے کچھ تعلق رہا ہے، اس لیے میں نے ان سے پوچھا، "لیکن یہ انجن تو تھرموڈائینمکس (thermodynamics) کے دوسرے اصول کے خلاف جارہا ہے، آپ آسمانوں پر قلعے کیوں تعمیر کررہے ہیں؟"

"کمیل، تمہارا مسئلہ یہ ہے کہ تم کو پاکستان میں کوئی اچھی چیز نظر نہیں آتی، ہر چیز پر تنقید۔ کیاتھرموڈائینمکس کے اصول کسی آسمانی صحیفے میں لکھے ہیں، کہ ان کی خلاف ورزی نہیں ہوسکتی۔ انسانوں کے بنائے ہوئے اصول ہیں، آج کچھ ہوں گے، کل کچھ اور ہوجائیں گے۔"

جہالت کی پہلی نظیر، بات سائنس کی ہورہی ہے، اور اچانک چھلانگ آسمانی صحیفے پر مار دی! اور پھر سائنس کے بنیادی اصولوں پر بغیر کسی دلیل کے شک! اور سب سے اہم بات یہ ہے کہ یہ انسانوں کے بنائے ہوئے اصول نہیں ہیں، بلکہ انسانوں کے دریافت کردہ اصول ہیں۔ یہ اصول اسی دن وجود میں آگئے تھے جس دن کائنات وجود میں آئی تھی۔

خیر آگے سنئیے، " کیا خصرت آدم کے زمانے میں کوئی سوچ سکتا تھا کہ ٹی-وی ایجاد ہوجائے گا۔ کیا آج سے سو سال پہلے کوئی ایٹم کی طاقت کا سوچ سکتا تھا۔ کیا کوئی کمپیوٹر کی ایجاد کا سوچ سکتا تھا۔ بلکل نہیں! یہ سب ناممکن انسانی کاوشوں سے ممکن بنے ہیں"

کمزور دلیل کی دوسری نظیر، بات سائنس کے اصولوں کی ہورہی ہے، اور افتخار صاحب نے چھلانک ایجادات پر لگا دی۔

"آپ جو چیزیں بتا رہے ہیں وہ فزکس کے اصولوں کی خلاف ورزی نہیں کرتی ہیں۔ کمپوٹر، ٹی-وی، اٹیم کی طاقت کی دریافت، سب کچھ فزکس کے اصولوں کے تحت ہی ہوا ہے، اصول کی مخالفت میں نہیں۔ آغا وقار کی ایجاد فزکس کے اصولوں کے خلاف ہے، یہ ایسا ہی ہے جیسے کوئی یہ کہے کہ میرا گھر ہوا میں اڑ رہا ہے، یہ دو جمع دو چھ ہوتا ہے۔"

"ہاں تو اگر ایسا ہے، تو میں کہوں گا کہ تھرموڈائینمکس کے اصول یا تو آپ نے غلط سمجھے ہیں یا اب ان میں ترمیم کی ضرورت ہے۔"

مجھے تو اس جملے پر بے انتہا ہنسی آئی۔ ہنسی چھپانے کی لیے میں بول پڑا،"چلیں میں نے تو غلط ہوں، آپ کی ڈاکٹر ہود بھائی اور ڈاکٹر عطا الرحمن کے بارے میں کیا رائے ہے؟"

"ان دونون کی میں بھی عزت کرتا ہوں لیکن ڈاکٹر ثمر مبارک مند اور ڈاکٹر قدیر خان نے اس ایجاد کی حمایت کی ہے"۔

جہالت کی تیسری نظیر۔ انھوں نے سائنس کو کسی تقلیدی سلسلے میں تبدیل کردیا ۔ آپ حضرتہود بھائی کی پیروی کریں اور میں حضرت قدیر خان کی کروں گا۔ اس پر میں کیا کہتا، افتخار صاحب کو سائنس کا تھوڑا بہت علم ضرور تھا، وہ کوئی گاوں میں نہیں ریتے تھے کہ ان کو یہی علم نہ ہو کے سائنس کیا ہوتی ہے۔ اس جملے پر مجھے ان کی ذہنی سطح کا اندازہ ہوگیا۔ میں چاہتا تھا جلد سے جلد بات ختم ہو، لیکن انھوں نے ایک نیا چٹکلا چھوڑ دیا جو کے ان تمام لطیفوں سے بڑا لطیفہ تھا۔

"اگر یہ ایجاد عام ہوجاتی ہے تو پوری دنیا میں پیٹرول کی کمپنیاں بند ہوجائیں گی، امریکہ کبھی بھی اس بات کی اجازت نہیں دے گا کہ تیل کے ذخیروں پر اس کی گرفت کمزور ہو۔ اگر یہ ایجاد عام ہوجاتی ہے تو، امریکہ جس تیل کو عراق سے چوری کررہا ہے، تو اس کا کیا ہوگا؟"

ڈیل کارنیگی نے بلکل صحیح لکھا ہے، اگر آپ کو کوئی سخت بات کہنی ہو تو پہلے سامنے والے کو یہ تائثر ضرور دو کہ وہ کبھی غلط نہیں ہوسکتا اور آپ کے غلط ہونے کا امکان ہمیشہ رہتا ہے۔

میں نے یہ جملے کہہ کر گفتگو ختم کی، "میں آپ کی رائے سے مکمل اتفاق کرتا ہوں۔ مجھے اپنی غلطی کا احساس ہوگیا ہے۔ واقعی اس کے پیچھے امریکا ہی ہے۔ لیکن ایک بات میں ضرور کہوں گا کہ آپ کی عمر ۴۰ سے اوپر ہوچکی ہے لیکن ذہنی سطح ابھی بھی بچپنے والی ہے۔"

A tale of Iftikhar Chaudhry, Imran Khan and Nawaz Shareef

Iftikhar Chaudhry has brought democracy into a cul-de-sac, through his unconstitutional persistence forcing the Prime Minister to write a letter to the Swiss authorities. Why is he silent on the Shaukat Khanum issue? I believe this silence isn't unintentional; rather, it's a simple manifestation of the balance of power in Pakistan.

(from left to right) Imran Khan, Iftikhar Chaudry, and Nawaaz Shareef

Mr. Khawaja's Asif allegations against Mr. Imran Khan are making a headline. The pro-PTI youth, especially in Punjab, has taken these allegations with unconcealed disgust. Caricatures have been made  in order to belittle Mr. Nawaz Shareef's personality. The PTI youth is also preoccupied with senseless sloganeering against Mr. Asif.

It seems as if Imran Khan will try to use these corruption allegations as a weapon against PML(N). Khawaja Asif has oft-repeatedly said that his allegations were not against Shukat Khanoom Hospital; he wanted to underscore Imran Khan's illegal use of donation funds abroad. On the other hand, Imran Khan with the support of Pakistani electronic media has totally distorted Khawaja's argument to gain political benefits.

With this entire story aside, there is another important aspect to this issue that isn't being questioned. This unquestioned aspect might help in understanding the power nexus between military, judiciary, and punjab's ruling party.

The prime question which an "unbiased" media should ask is, "Why isn't Mr. Iftikhar Chaudhry taking a Suo Motto action on such serious allegations?" We all know that he took a Suo Motto notice on two alcohol bottles. He took another one against PEMRA, as according to his view, fashion shows are unethical. He has brought democracy into a cul-de-sac, through his unconstitutional persistence forcing the Prime Minister to write a letter to the Swiss authorities. Why is he silent on this issue? This issue is on the media screen for the last eight days. I believe this silence isn't unintentional; rather, it's a simple manifestation of the balance of power in Pakistan.

If Mr. Chaudhry jumps into this 'Shaukat Khanum issue', he'll have to play a very delicate balancing. 

On the one hand is Imran Khan, he has a complete support of Pakistan Army and the Islamic right that is extremely active nowadays. Moreover, speaking against Imran Khan means to upset the Punjabi speaking PTI youth. The Chief Justice will never put his publicity on the line in order to carry on his "Justice Job". 

On the other hand is Nawaz Shareef. How can Mr. Chaudhry upset him?! He has never done this before. He bailed him in the hijacking issue, he never talks about Hudabiyya paper mills, he never questions Mr. Shareef alleged corruption of six billion rupees, the Mehran bank scandal has moved into oblivion. Iftikhar Chaudhry has never brought Mr. Shareef into his court. Furthermore, what history proves is that he decided a case that was put forward by Mr. Shareef against President Zardari just in a few hours. CJP never wants to upset the rulers of Punjab, as Punjab holds the power to control Pakistan.

In brief, Chaudhry Shaib is now in an imbroglio. He can neither go against Imran Khan nor against Nawaz Shareef. Following are the possibles option in his bag:

1) Take No Suo Motto — just remain quiet

This is the very strategy Iftikhar Chaudhry is following. The media isn't questioning him as he is the strongest man in the town. Yet, at the same time, his power rests on the very pillars against whom he should take a Suo Motto notice. 

Iftikhar Chaudhry will remain quiet unless someone files in a case. Whoever files this case will be putting Iftikhar Chaudhry into a very difficult situation. 

2) A case is filed — kill the weakest bird!

Let's assume someone else files a case. Now what? Iftikhar Chaudhry will try to solve the power equation in a way that no major power centre feels the pain. Hence, my prediction is neither Imran nor Nawaz will be called into the court. In the worst case scenario, it will be Khawaja Asif who'll have to face the court's anger.

3) Iftikhar Chaudhry does the unexpected

If Mr. Chaudhry decides against Mr. Khan or Nawaz Shareef — he'll never do this — it will be a beginning of an end for him. He will not be able to handle the public outcry. Large parts of Sindh aren't happy with him, as he goes on his anti-PPP marathon.

Sometimes back, Mazhar Abbas wrote a poem on Pakistan's judicial history. Here are a few proses from it:

Pity the judges, who not only gave a usurper the power to amend the constitution but also gave him power which he had not asked for. 

Pity the judges who never invoked Article 6 of the Constitution.

So let's see what Chaudry Shaib decides. 

Article published on Let Us Build Pakistan

Iftikhar Chaudhry: The Chief Justice of Injustice

Iftikhar Chaudhry has distorted the very concept of democracy by ousting a prime minister from his office. This is similar to what armed forces do when they bring in a coup.

Chief Justice of Pakistan: Iftikhar Chaudhry

If an intellectually weak person is given unrestricted power, he or she can wreak havoc of the whole system. If a criminal's crimes are forgotten, and an assumption is made that he'll never repeat his old crimes, such an assumption is naive. Furthermore, it's more naive to believe that a person, who came into power on army's and (Punjabi) establishment's payroll, will execute justice without prejudice.

Iftikhar Chaudhry in his three and a half year tenure has proved that he is incapable of understanding democracy, justice, and rule of law. 

He made a mockery of justice when he started taking Suo Motto notices on petty issue. Self-motivated legal actions were taken on issues like a woman secretly possessing alcohol and I.G traffic was called into the court because of traffic problems in Islamabad. He made a mockery of justice by addressing corruption allegation which were against PPP, while the Punjabi PML(N) was never questioned. The Chief Justice never took a Suo Motto on Shareef's six billion rupees corruption, he never asked about the "Qarz utaro Mulk Sawaro" money which was collected by PM Shareef during his second tenure. 

Iftikhar Chaudhry also sidelined the Mehran bank scandal because it was a shame for the Army and as well as PML(N). The case pertaining to his corrupt son is now hanging in NAB. Nobody dares to speak against him. The chief justice made a mockery of justice when they only took action against Wahida Shah, while the election commission was never asked about their irresponsibility. 

As far as democracy is concerned, The Chief Justice of Injustice has no knowledge as to what democracy is all about. I guess he is also one of those 'Jali degree wala judge' (judge with a false degree), having no knowledge regarding the constitutional hierarchy of power. Fortunately, it's never late to know the truth. Please learn something from your counterpart in India. Here is an apt advice from Justice Markandey Katju regarding the unconstitutional behaviour of the Supreme Court:

"......I therefore fail to understand how proceedings on corruption charges (which are clearly of a criminal nature) can be instituted or continued against the Pakistani President. 

Moreover, how can the court remove a Prime Minister? This is unheard of in a democracy. The Prime Minister holds office as long he has the confidence of Parliament, not the confidence of the Supreme Court. 

I regret to say that the Pakistani Supreme Court, particularly its Chief Justice, has been showing utter lack of restraint. This is not expected of superior courts. In fact the court and its Chief Justice have been playing to the galleries for long. It has clearly gone overboard and flouted all canons of constitutional jurisprudence."

Iftikhar Chaudhry has distorted the very concept of democracy by ousting a prime minister from his office. This is similar to what armed forces do when they bring in a coup. A democratically elected prime minister can only be removed through the parliament. The prime minister epitomizes the will of the people, this 'will' can only be nullified through the same office that bestows him this power.

Moreover, Iftikhar Chaudhry's recent decision of nullifying a law passed by the parliament is incomprehensible in any parliamentary democracy. Parliament has the power to call a male, a female and vice versa. Parliament defines the will of the people, it has the power to make laws and abrogate them.

If he wants to become the Ameer-ul-Momineen, who makes all decision by himself, he should leave his office and start a revolution. 

It should be noted that there is nothing such a "good laws" or "bad laws". It is the people's majority that gives the parliament the power to make new laws. When laws fulfil their purpose, they automatically go into oblivion. Iftikhar Chaudhry must understand that he's just an individual; he has no authority to nullify the consent of the majority. I'll suggest him to read an Idiot's guide to Democracy.

Rule of Law appears to be a factitious idea in our contemporary Supreme Court. The chief justice's son case is in NAB, while a true Pakistani like Hussain Haqqani is tagged as a traitor. Nawaz Shareef's corruption cases are sidelined, while Chaudhry tries to dysfunction PPP's government everyday. 

All in all, Iftikhar Chaudhry has lost all moral grounds to remain Pakistan's chief justice. The sooner he leaves the office, the better for the state.

Article published on Let Us Build Pakistan

Raja Raam Mohan Roa — A Lost Hero

While the state is busy in eulogizing Bin Qasim, Ghaznavis, Gohari, Lodhis, Khiljis, and Tuglughs, nobody talks about this honest intellectual who vehemently opposed idol worship and remained an honest servant of the Mughal court through out his life. Perhaps, in our part of the world, the sword of a solider is mightier than the pen of an [honest] intellectual.

Raja Raam Mohan Roa. Source: Wikipedia.org

Pakistan's history suffered the most during the military reign of Gen. Zia-ul-Haq. The education ministry was handed over to the Jammat-e-Islami, allowing them to tinker with the national curriculum on the behalf of the military ruler.

Tinkering with history is universal process. The BJP's — A fundamentalist Hindu party — government in India truncated the Mughal achievements from school books. These details were simply categorized as Nebensache, i.e. things which don't require much consideration. The secular character of India did suffer from such an act. The United States never talks about the brutal massacre the colonizers did in the Americas. Millions of Red Indians were killed, yet school textbooks don't underscore this horrendous event. The Chinese government tries to hide the details about the massacre they carried out against the peaceful protesters who were raising voice for democracy at the Tiananmen Square. In fact, in their effort to hide reality, they even changed the name of the city from Peking to Beijing. The Turks never talk about the brutal massacre they carried out against the ethnic Armenians living on Turkish lands. The Britishers never talk about there policy of forceful cultivation of Tea leaves in Africa. 

In brief, history — as Dr. Mubarak Ali says — is not truth, it is a perception that the highest echelons in power try to enforce on the general public. It is the duty of the honest intellectuals to fight against these perceptions and rewrite history from the point of view of a common person. Discrimination on the basis of religious, linguistic, and ethnic classes should be reduced, while the role of the middle class should be emphasised.

In Zia's Era, history was interpreted through the lenses of religious discrimination. One irreversible loss such interpretation does on the national psyche is to develop heroes not on the basis of their achievements, but rather, on the basis of their religion. Therefore, non-Muslim heroes gradually fade into the oblivion, never to return again at least in this part of the world. 

***

One such hero is Raja Raam Mohan Roa.

Raja Raam Mohen Roa was born on the 24th of May 1774 in the state of Bihar. His family had close relationships with the Mughal government for the last five generations.

Raja shaib was one of the greatest intellectuals of his times. He got his initial education in Persian and Arabic, as per the traditions of Mughal India. For higher education he went to Patna where he received education in relation to Quran, Islamic jurisprudence and Daniyat. He perfected himself in Aristotelian logic and read about the might discourse that took place between the Asharites and Mutazillas during the Abbasids caliphate. It was this educational background which made him write his first Persian book by the title of Tahafatul Mohadessen. He was just 16 years of age when he wrote it.

Raja shaib was also the editor of the first Persian newspaper in the sub-continent. It was called "Maar-ul-Akhbaar'. The purpose of the magazine was to bring the day to day affairs of the British Raj to the common folk who couldn't read English. In should be noted that the publisher of the first Persian newspaper was a Hindu. Similarly, the editor of the first Urdu newspaper, Jaam e Jahan Numa was Munshi Saada Suukh. Both these facts are lost due to brutal state intervention in writing down history.

Raam Mohan Roa vehemently opposed the British rule, but he foresaw that it was only through Western education that the Indian nation can acquire freedom from their colonial rulers. He rightly stated that western knowledge will allow human emancipation as "the Sanskrit literature was 2000 years old and speak nothing more than mundane realities". He tried to pursue the Britishers to setup English schools on the same pattern as that in England, in order to allow the common Indian to think as a confident individual. His prophesy was fulfilled when two young trained British lawyers — M.A. Jinnah and M.K. Gandhi — led a freedom struggle against the British. It was not through spiritualism or Mughal education that the people of India achieved freedom.

After retiring from the British job, he organized a movement named Bharhama Samaj. The movement vehemently opposed class discrimination, Idol worship, and worked for the upbringing of the societal values.

Raja Raam Mohan was a true enlightened of his days. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was highly inspired by the personality of this great man. He wrote in a letter:

"Raja Raam Mohan Roa is a very humble intellectual with conspicuous candour. He came to Delhi and the King bestowed the title of "Raja" onto him, and consequently he was send to London as the King's lawyer. I saw him many times at the King's court and the people of Delhi assumed that he has intuitive liking for the religion of Islam"

While the state is busy in eulogizing Bin Qasim, Ghaznavis, Gohari, Lodhis, Khiljis, and Tuglughs, nobody talks about this honest intellectual who vehemently opposed idol worship and remained an honest servant of the Mughal court through out his life. Perhaps, in our part of the world, the sword of a solider is mightier than the pen of an [honest] intellectual.

The following epitaph is inscribed on his cenotaph in Bristol, England:

"Beneath this stone rest the remains of Raja Rammohun Roy Bahadur, a conscientious and steadfast believer in the unity of Godhead, he consecrated his life with entire devotion to the worship of the Devine Spirit alone. To great natural talents, he united through mastery of many languages and distinguished himself as one of the greatest scholars of his day. His unwearied labour to promote the social, moral and physical condition of the people of India, his earnest endeavours to suppress idolatry and the rite of suttie and his constant zealous advocacy of whatever tended to advance the glory of God and the welfare of man live in the grateful remembrance of his countrymen."

Reference:
Information about Raja Raam Mohan Roa is taken from Sabt-e-Hasan's book Naveed-e-Fikr.

Article published on The Pakistani Spectator

Dr. Samar Mubarakmand: Who really is he?

When people like Dr. Samar Mubarakmand practise pseudo-science, it allows amateur to make comments that have nothing to do with science whatsoever.  

Dr. Samar Mubarakmand.
Source:  pakistankakhudahafiz.com 

Dr. Mubarakmand is a Pakistani nuclear scientist. He successfully led the team which test fired two nuclear missiles — code name Chaghi I and Chaghi II — in the province of Baluchistan. Hence, he is also one of those who consider themselves as the 'saviour of this country'.

Dr. Samaar holds a degree in Nuclear Physics from the University of Oxford. He does know much about about his nuclear stuff, but now this man is trying to become some sort of a super man who can do anything through a magic wand which Harry Potter gave him.

Dr. Samaar involved himself into projects that have nothing to do with his educational background or expertise. The two prominent projects that came to a halt because of his intervention are the Thar Coal Project in Sindh and Reco Diq copper mine in Baluchistan — hence his intervention fundamentally disrupted the economic benefits that the smaller provinces of Pakistan could have gained if Dr. Sammar hadn't hindered into them.

1. Thar Coal Project

Dr. Samar launched a coal gasification project in the Thar coal fields, stopping the Chinese company from further investment. Samar made factitious comments regarding the future of Thar Coal Project,

“Coal reserves can provide electricity to the country for more than 500 years”

This was nothing more than a myth. The Sindh government gave him millions of dollars, but in the end he produced electricity close to nothing. In a pilot project, Mubarak's team produced a mere 100 MW and blamed the planning commission for not releasing more funds! Does he think that he can go on wasting the nation's money like he wasted the nation's money on building nuclear missile? How much more will he waste?  What has nuclear physics to do with coal gasification? Has he ever studied the affects coal gas has on the environment? Is he a scientist or a pseudo-scientist who tries to solve every problem with the same bunch of tool? This is similar to quackery, which tries to solve problems related from marriage to social complexities arises in family through the same mantra.

Dr. Qadeer aptly said:

“Dr. Samar has nothing to do with mineral sciences as he is a Ph.D in High Voltage."

Dr. Samar's self-confidence ruined the Thar Coal project. His supporters  — most of them know nothing about nuclear physics or electricity generation  — accuse the government for creating hurdles in his ways.

I believe that he has wasted enough money in the Thar project. The Sindh government should now take the project from his hand and call international investors to invest in Sindh's coal.

2. Reko Diq Project

Dr. Samar also put his nose in the Reko Diq copper mine in Baluchistan. Similar to the Thar project, he again made a factitious comment on the copper reserves present here:

"A small part of Reko Diq gold and copper mines (EL-5) have deposits worth $270 billion and there are numerous other bigger deposits in the same belt which could give many more billions to the country"

Next, Samar the Great went to the Supreme Court of Pakistan and begged the court to throw out the American infidels who are trying to steal the resources of our land of pure. The Chief Justice — who probably knows nothing about copper mining — went on to give a decision in favour of Dr. Samar!

Hence an experienced mining company that did a deal with the government of Baluchistan was forced to leave. The deal came to a halt, with Baluchistan suffering the most just because of a single man who jumped into this issue from nowhere.

Interestingly, there was another man speaking against the US mining in Baluchistan. This man was Zaid Hamid! This man even made a crying face on a private Television channel to stop the mining process. The Nuclear scientist hearkened to his voice and went to the court. The rest is history.

The method which Dr. Samar proposed is pretty much interesting to share. In his speech in front of the judicial bench, he was recorded saying,

“This technology is similar to uranium mining. The digging process will also help excavate a number of precious minerals, including zirconium and cobalt.”

So Dr. Samar thinks that mining copper is similar to mining uranium! Just like our old quacker for whom the cure for cancer and headache is the same.  

Dr. A.Q. Khan rightly said,

"Recodec (sic) Project in Balochistan and Thar Coal Project in Sindh both are put on stake due to him [Dr. Samar Mubarak Mand]."

So what did Baluchistan and Pakistan gain from Dr. Samar's ingenious ideas? Pakistan gained now even a single penny. Furthermore, foreign investors are now scared in investing in Pakistan. All because of one man.

***

A degree from Oxford doesn't mean that the graduate can jump into anything he wants to do. 

A primary difference between science and pseudo-science is the existence of a scientific method. Scientists follow a strict methodology for arriving at a desired result. Hypotheses are vigorously tested; and in case of failures new hypotheses are constantly presented that complement nature.

On the other hand, there isn't any scientific method present in pseudo-science. Everything is ad hoc (i.e. works on Jugaar). Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it saves cost, while at other instants it can make the whole company bankrupt. 

Moreover, a pseudo-scientist believes more in his personal judgement compared to empirical realities. For example, it is an empirical fact that coal gas is extremely hazardous for the local environment. Sindh's agricultural lands will suffer the most if coal gasification is performed on large scales. Disregarding this fact, Dr. Mubarakmand went on with his gasification project based on this 'personal judgement' that agricultural lands are pretty much far away from Thar region. He maybe right, but he can also be wrong. He should had done a comprehensive environmental analysis before making such a bold claim.