A road show for peace

`Are you from India? Can I have your sign please?” was a question that those associated with the organisers often heard during the Aman ki Asha event at Park Towers, Karachi, last Sunday (Feb 28).

Asked why he wanted to meet Indians, one young man cradling a six-month old baby wrapped in pink, answered quietly, “”I want to ask them why they are being so hostile.”

Personal meetings rub the edge off hostility. As the poll conducted by the Jang Group and Times of India for Aman ki Asha in December 2009 underlines, the majority of people on both sides want peace. Being able to meet without the restrictions that currently mar travel between the two countries would help this process.

But unless the governments of India and Pakistan change their visa policies, such mingling and meeting will remain a dream. Even the Pakistan-India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy that has been providing a platform for such meetings since 1995, discussing all issues, including contentious ones like Kashmir, religious militancy and nuclear weapons, has been unable to hold its annual convention for the last few years.

People to people meetings gain immeasurable strength when backed by the power of the media. That is what Aman ki Asha has the potential to do, as an initiative of the two largest media groups in Pakistan and India.

Partnered by Park Towers and FM 107, the Aman ki Asha event in Karachi on Sunday was aimed at bringing the initiative to the public. Hopefully, more such events will take place in other parts of the city, and the country.
– aka

`Time to smash the stereotypes’

Indian journalist S. Balakrishnan was swamped by requests for interviews and autographs

Balakrishnan at The News office, Karachi

When S Balakrishnan, Times of India’s Chief of Bureau in Mumbai, finally got a visa for Pakistan, he was so excited that he forgot to do anything about the ‘special treatment’ that Indian and Pakistani authorities reserve for each other’s citizens. But even the run-around involved in the police registration process required of Indians and Pakistanis visiting each other’s countries within 24 hours of arrival and departure could not overshadow the warmth and hospitality he received.

Nor did the blow of having his Indian cell number going blank, instead of being on ‘roaming’, as soon as he landed in Pakistan. “We must be the only countries in the world who don’t allow cell phone roaming in each other’s territory,” he marvelled.

His mission: to break the stereotypes about Indians and Pakistanis in each other’s country. What better place to start than with Abdus Sattar Edhi, whom he came to interview. Other stories he is taking back – the work of the Citizens’ Foundation network and the Layton-Rahmatullah Trust Fund for the Blind. “All we hear about is the terrorism. But so many people are doing such wonderful things here, and I want to highlight them.”

Balaji, who initially wanted to name his daughter “Benazir” eventually compromised with the more secular, cross-cultural ‘Roshan’ (“a name shared by Hindus, Muslims and Parsis”), now 26 years old.

“It was something Roshan said back in 1988 or ’89. We used to get PTV in India. Benazir was making a campaign speech, and my daughter said, ‘Baba, she is speaking our language’. That got me thinking about this wall of ignorance and the stereotypes that must be pulverised.”

His first visit to Pakistan coincided with the event organised to commemorate Aman ki Asha. The only Indian at the venue, he ended up being a virtual celebrity, swamped by requests for interviews – and autographs.

Visitors thronged the galleries encircling the three floors of the building, overlooking the main lobby where the event was being held. Asked to address the crowd, the calm and collected Balaji did so smilingly, unruffled by the clamouring hordes and dozens of questions.

He spoke about the need to forget the past differences and move on to progress, given our commonalities – “ our language, culture, food, the sports we love, religions… My God, we even share the same gaalis!” Unfortunately, we also share “the dangerous combination of soft opposition and corrupt ruling elites”.

“When I landed at the Karachi Airport, I felt like asking the airline for a refund because I felt as if I was still in Mumbai,” he joked. “This is my first visit to Pakistan, but hopefully not the last. I love everything I have seen here. I have been studying Pakistani politics, current affairs, the social structure, and the development that has been going on here. I was very happy to see that my impressions about the Pakistani people were confirmed.”

Someone commented that some people were suspicious of ‘Aman ki Asha’ and termed it a hoax perpetrated by the two media partners.

“But why?” inquired Balakrishnan sounding faintly amused. “You see, the Jang Group and Times of India are both established media groups. We don’t stand to gain anything from this project. We are not making any money from Aman ki Asha. Our purpose is to encourage peace.”

“I think the young people of both countries can play a very important role,” he added. “People like Bal Thakeray – he is about 84 years old — are spent forces. The fact is that the young people don’t carry any past baggage. They are not prejudiced. They think alike, and can help promote peace.”

He underlines people-to-people contact as vital for peace. “Visas should be available on arrival, but it is vested interests and the governments who keep the people apart and prevent interaction between India and Pakistan.”

“When your artists visit our country, we revere them,” he said, talking about the special reverence for legends like Faiz Sahib, Mehdi Hasan and others who remain very popular among the Indian people.

“Aman ki Asha can help in removing misunderstandings, as media can play a very constructive role in shaping opinion. The Times of India carries positive stories about Pakistan daily. Together, we can work for peace between our countries,” he said.

Unfortunately, for much of the media, “page 3 has become page 1” – that is, petty crime stories which previous got scarce attention now make the headlines. “I mean, Abishek Bachan making kheer was news in Pakistan. That’s not news,” he added. “Then, the media nearly caused a war after the Mumbai attacks. See, it is so clear that the people want peace. It just shows what a disconnect there is between the media and people, the media is just very far removed from reality.”

An ajrak for Bala, presented by Amir Latif of the Karachi Press Club

Earlier, at an informal meeting at the Karachi Press Club, he was presented with a Sindhi Ajrak. “We are children of the same mother – the Indus Valley Civilisation,” he said.

About the Sindhi community in India, he said his neighbourhood was fifty percent Sindhi-speaking. “Their contribution is immense, to business and commerce, to education, building institutions like hospitals and colleges… it’s a very self-reliant and productive community.”

India’s gain is clearly Pakistan’s loss here, as most of those Sindhis happen to be Hindus who left their native land reluctantly and quietly after 1947.

– Lubna Khalid and Beena Sarwar

There are also new uploads in the ‘Writings’ section of the blog Dr Sarwar blog – including ‘Censoring the Quaid’, a piece Dr M. Sarwar wrote in 1991 for his fortnightly column ‘Karachi calling’ in The Frontier Post, Lahore. Particularly relevant given the Jaswant Singh and Jinnah controversy.

In its press release of August 21, 2009, the Pakistan Medical Association, Karachi strongly condemns yet another murder of Dr.Sajjad Arain in Hyderabad, killed on his way to work at Civil Hospital, Hyderabad. A similar incident had also occurred a couple of days before in Quetta when Dr.Iqbal Zaidi was killed by unidentified miscreants. “By now this easy phenomena of killing doctors has become a routine, and right to life of those who are providing soles to humanity irrespective of sex, colors, religion or beliefs, is sadly no more available to them in the country,” says PMA, demanding the immediate arrest of culprits. If stern action is not taken with in 24 hrs the doctors community will be forced to stage country wide protest by calling total shut down of health services in the country. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pakistanmedicalassociation

Below, my article in Indian Express, April 2002: http://www.indianexpress.com/storyOld.php?storyId=1097

Targeted doctors ask what about us as Gen fights US war against terror

Apr 19, 2002

Beena Sarwar

For some days now, Karachi has thankfully not woken up to the news of yet another medical doctor shot dead in cold blood. But as an editorial in The News (April 16) cautions, ‘The current let-up in the assassinations does not mean that the issue should be allowed to quietly die down, or overshadowed by the controversial referendum. The question of who is behind the killings and why still begs to be answered, and must be answered sooner rather than later.’

Over the last decade, almost 90 doctors, mostly Shi’ite, have been assassinated, causing widespread fear and insecurity, and leading to a veritable exodus not just of medical practitioners but also their relatives in other professions. Dr Tipu Sultan, Karachi President of the nation-wide Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), knows of at least 28 doctors who left Karachi in one week in March.

Obviously, whoever is behind these murders wants to make an impact: a doctor killed demands media attention, and creates far-reaching ripples, given each doctor’s contact with hundreds of patients and their families; their very public dealing makes them vulnerable.

Assassins turn up at a targeted doctor’s clinic, and ask for him by name to identify him, as in the case of Dr Rashid Mehdi, 39 on February 12. He was shot dead, leaving behind a young wife, also a doctor, a little son, and a five-day-old daughter.

The pattern includes armed motorcyclists intercepting a doctor’s car and shooting him at point blank, as in the case of Kidney Centre nephrologist Dr Alay Safdar Zaidi, killed on his way to work on March 4. Dr Zaidi had returned to Pakistan a year and a half ago, leaving a thriving practice in the States to come back and make a difference here.

His daughter, aged six, and son, only three, are now among the dozens of other children whose fathers were similarly assassinated, despite not being affiliated with any religious or political party or even holding aggressively Shia views.

In one instance, the assailants used a car to force a doctor’s car to a stop. Dr Jafar Naqvi of the philanthropically run Kidney Centre was saved by his driver’s reflexes.

Dr Naqvi, saved by taking refuge in a private house, is now virtually confined to his own house, with round-the-clock police protection.

Most victims are Shi’ite, but they include some Sunnis too, like Dr Fayyaz Karim, 44, shot on Feb 4 as he left a mosque after offering his prayers. His wife, Dr Farahnaz Karim, says bitterly that it’s commendable that the Government is helping Americans wipe out terrorism. ‘‘But what of the terrorists in our midst who are killing our own countrymen?’’

The killings have forced an organised response from doctors, with the PMA calling several strikes (including a six-hour country-wide hunger strike) during which doctors at hospitals and clinics across the country provide only emergency cover. ‘‘This is not the answer,’’ concedes Dr Asghar Mirza, editor of the PMA’s Urdu journal Nabs. ‘‘But how else do we express our rage and fear?’’

When the PMA met the Sindh Governor last month, police officials suggested a ban on motorcycle pillion riding, and arms training and protection to threatened doctors. ‘‘This is not the answer either,’’ says prominent psychiatrist Dr Haroon Ahmed. ‘‘They are trying to use us to push through their own agenda.’’ He argues, like others, that administrative steps alone are not the answer.

‘‘The Government must restore civil and political liberties so that alternative opinions are given space, and tolerance and respect promoted,’’ demanded the Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC) at a nation-wide protest on April 5 against violence in the name of religion. ‘‘This will likely provide a necessary challenge to extremism, as well as temper the urge for many frustrated elements to resort to reactionary violence.’’

Political parties in Karachi, including major players like the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), joined the protest on the invitation of the Joint Action Committee for Peace Karachi (JAC), an umbrella group for activist groups, and also a PPC member. A March 20 meeting agreed that ‘‘The killings of doctors, lawyers, judges and other sections of society are aimed at instigating fear and retaliation’’ and that the root cause of the problem must be addressed. This includes ‘‘the forces of reaction and regression’’, including the intelligence agencies, which have gained strength since Pakistan’s involvement in the Afghan war.

The point is reiterated by PPC: ‘‘It is time that the intelligence agencies start protecting citizens from extremist violence rather than harass citizens and activists for their political activities and agitation. The revamping and reorientation of the intelligences agencies is yet another promise that the Government has made and is failing to keep.’’

Meanwhile, ‘‘it is individuals and groups who are fighting for their basic rights that are being targeted by the state, often under the anti-terrorist legislation’’.

Gen Musharraf’s actions against religious extremists since 9/11 are criticised as tokenism. ‘‘Some have been arrested, but why have cases not been registered against them?’’ questions PPP Central Information Secretary Taj Haider. ‘‘Because the Pakistan army’s and the agencies’ role in the matter will be exposed. This permanent axis is dangerous for democracy in Pakistan.’’

Even the police privately acknowledge this axis. ‘‘These extremists have been very useful to the Government, which might need their services again,’’ says an official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He acknowledges that at least some elements of the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) still protect the militants they nurtured, trained and armed over the years.

It is significant that while the doctors’ killings are labeled as sectarian because those targeted mostly belong to a particular sect, there is no sectarianism or religious intolerance at the grassroots level.

‘‘The incidents of apparently religiously-motivated violence, like the attack on the Islamabad church or the murder of Daniel Pearl, are planned and executed by individual miscreants with no popular support or public sanction,’’ says The News editorial.

‘Except for one incident in Rahim Yar Khan (instigated by economic reasons), Hindus in Pakistan have not been attacked in retaliation for the carnage of Muslims in Gujarat, as opposed to 1992, when the razing of the Babri Masjid was countered by attacks on Hindu temples in Pakistan (then too, the nexus of vested interests like property developers and ‘‘religious’’ leaders had teamed up to reap the benefits).

Religious parties have never gained more than 3 per cent of the assembly seats in Pakistan, unlike in next door India, where a religious party has actually been voted in, with disastrous results for an avowedly secular polity.’

Former mayor of Karachi and MQM leader Farooq Sattar argues against calling these killings sectarian: ‘‘Let’s not play into the hands of vested interests by calling them that.’’

Dr Sattar urges the easing of regional tensions as a step towards resolving national problems. ‘‘Sixty per cent of India’s trade is with Islamic countries, as compared to only 5 per cent of Pakistan’s, the remaining 95 per cent of our trade is with Western countries.’’

‘‘These issues (violence in the name of religion) are not Pakistan’s alone, they also exist in India and Bangladesh, all of South Asia,’’ argues Sabihudin Ghausi, the outspoken President of the Karachi Press Club and a senior economic reporter.

‘‘We can’t remain isolated from the region, we have to have ties with India, with Bangladesh, and the other South Asian countries.’’

(Beena Sarwar is a senior journalist working with The News)

1. The writ of the government must prevail on the basis of moral authority premised on protection, health, education, livelihood and security of all persons equally
2. One constitution and one set of laws for all of Pakistan
3. Urgent de-weaponisation of society
4. No special accords that compromise the rights of any group of citizens of Pakistan

The event was held in an open tent blazing banners painted with freedom of expression. The heat seemed to be the issue in the beginning with all the whining about being melt down to bit’s sinking the background of ‘Hum dekhain gay’ the brilliant words of Faiz Sahab brought to life by Saira bano. I was pleased to see some men accompanying their wives while someone managed to add up a quirky comment ‘ We should worship these men no?’ . With muffled laughs the attention diverted as Mrs Nuzhat Kidvai took the stage. I must state that she is one hell of a soft spoken woman ,her opening and intros to the upcoming speakers lightened the rather tensed air.Here I would like to appreciate Kidvai Sahab who was there ,despite his recent cataract operation,eagerly participating in the event. We need more men like him *more power to you sir*

First to come was Nazish who talked about conventionalizing Feminism. Nazish summed up her address by pointing out the root of the menace. Helping us identify the roles of countries like Saudi Arabia and America during the influx of Afghan refugees in Zia’s time. Managing to make us think how horrors from the past come back to haunt us. Talibanaization being the fruits of our self created menace. The flogging incident was also discussed with focus heavily on incidents that have happened in the past. The address was summed up with an eye opener that the society indeed is in the favor of freedom for women. The outrage at the flogging video being the staunch evidence.

Next to come was Warda -A university student representing the youth and its problems. She spoke about the environment at educational institutes which are quite contrary to the common belief of the youth. The constant ‘harassment’ being faced by college/university students and the frequent sabotage of freedom of speech/expression /dressing. She also highlighted an incident which I believe is very common and yet not even counted as harassment’ . When while strolling down a bazaar or the university’s lobby a man would manage to quickly whisper ‘astaghfiruALLAH’ leaving you with mixed emotion of anger and disgust .

With that Farhat took the stage talking about her recent survey regarding the displaced people and the problems being faced by them. Farhat spoke about the frequent influx of refugees from the affected areas. She highlighted in particular Kohat which is also feared to have Taliban insurgency. Due to lack of time she couldn’t detail us on the survey. Although I believe her survey could be quite fruitful specially in the back dropped of the current situations in Swat.

Now was the time to be blown away and let the heat wave hit us from the phenomenal Sheema Kirmani. Her performance brought life and soul to the event. It cant be described in words. An art that spoke many languages identifying the woman behind all the ‘traditional name tags and roles’. A character who isn’t only a mother, daughter ,wife or sister but a woman. An identity beyond the traditional boundaries. Womanhood that cant be caged , a entity that sprouts liveliness and freedom of expression. Her powerful performance focused on the refusal of a woman to be deprived an identity of her own. An expression that kept us all mesmerized by the power of art and its diversity.

Arundhati roy stunned the adience by her mere presence. Her address can be seen here: Courtesy to Sabeen of the Peace niche:

Part 2

The event was covered live by Pro-Pakistan with special Thanks to Faisal Kapadia and Jamal Ashiquin for Rting the Coverage.

Unidentified militants forcibly entered in Christ Awami Church located in Rasool Shah Colony on New Year night. They told the congregants to stop worshiping in the church, and when they put up resistance, the militants desecrated Bibles, a cross on the wall, as well as hymn books, besides smashing windows and a door of the church.

Islamists also attacked a protestant church in Zia colony in Karachi. They broke church’s door and windows and also threw garbage into the church.

Local Christians told ANS that the attitude of the police officials of the local Boat Basin police station was callous and indifferent in the wake of attack on the Christ Awami Church.

Reacting to the apathetic attitude of the police the outraged Christians protested on Clifton Road and dispersed peacefully after the police high-ups assured them stern action against the culprits.

Police lodged a First Information Report on Jan. 2, a day after the occurrence.

ANS has discovered that most of Pakistani-based electronic media organizations sent reporters to check out the story of the attacks, but then did not run the story. Three Pakistani-based Urdu newspapers, including Ummat, Daily Express and Victoria, however did run a story.

Talking to ANS by phone, a former member of provincial assembly, Sindh, Michael Javaid, said that he visited churches that came under attack in Rasool Shah Colony and in Zia colony.

He expressed solidarity with Pastors of the churches including Pastor Robi and Pastor Munir Bhatti.

Asked why the churches were attacked, the former MP said it could be due to Muslim reaction over the Palestine-Israel conflict.

He criticized the police for not lodging a sterner blasphemy case against the culprits.

Christian residents of Karachi are planning to stage a protest demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club at 3 pm on Monday, January 5, 2009.

Report from the Christian Telegraph

The three leftist politicians and a union leader face possible death sentences – the maximum penalty – after being arrested in Karachi.

Protest rallies continue to spread

The charges came as unrest continued to stir in the country – and just hours after George Bush demanded Musharraf restore democracy.

The men were the first to be reported charged with treason Musharraf declared a state of emergency on Saturday and suspended Pakistan’s constitution.

Eight lawyers were also being sought in Karachi for allegedly distributing anti-Musharraf leaflets.

The four in custody were arrested on Monday after making speeches against Musharraf at the Karachi Press Club during a meeting of civil society groups.

They were interrogated by police before being brought to court and formally charged today, court officials revealed.

Earlier, the US President had phoned Musharraf to tell him to hold parliamentary elections and shed his army uniform.

Mr Bush, personally stepping into the political crisis for the first time, said he told Musharraf in a 20-minute conversation: ‘You can’t be the president and the head of the military at the same time.’

A Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement said Musharraf, a key U.S. ally in its war on terrorism, had insisted he wwas committed to full democracy and civilian rule in the country as he had promised to the people of Pakistan’.

Meanwhile, the opposition claimed hundreds of its supporters were detained overnight to head off a major protest against emergency rule.

Police arrested at least 800 supporters of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto across the eastern province of Punjab ahead of a rally she is planning in Rawalpindi on Friday.

But the government denied the arrests, saying no such crackdown had been ordered.

Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said: ‘According to my information, only four members from her party were detained last night when they defied a ban on rallies.’

Thousands of lawyers and opposition activists have been detained since the state of emergency was declared.

The government has also blacked out independent TV news networks.

The aim of the emergency declaration is to prevent political instability, protect economic growth, and maintain the campaign against extremism and terrorism, it said.