Archive for the ‘Personal/Social Development’ Category

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Topic: Followup: Supreme Court Takes Action on Honour Killing Case from Naseerabad

Guests: Hina Jillani, Dr. Fouzia Saeed, Fareeda Shaheed

Will the case of the 4 Baloch women killed in the name of honour be resolved? Will witnesses’ step forth and evidence be presented or will we continue suffocating under tribal feudalistic norms and traditions? How will former CJP Dogar’s suo moto notice be different than present CJP Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry’s self intiated action? As the Supreme Court demands relentless investigation into the incident will the local administration be able to hide the facts much longer? If the powerful and privileged top echelons of society continue to justify such practices in the name of tradition and custom, is there really any hope? I find it hard to hold onto optimism and hope in light of the fact that the very family accused of being involved in this case enjoys public offices today. However, the show must go on.

International Women’s Day 2009: celebrated in style and grandeur with an impressive panelist of 12 leading women from all walks of life. A special heartfelt prayer for all our sisters in F.A.T.A: the fate of whom are in the hands of misguided miscreants. Answers to questions such as, who is a woman of substance and what should be the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day etc. are sought by an enlightened audience of young women. 

Let us all come together on one platform and strive to become compassionate and strong women, who can not only hold their own but can in fact contribute towards ensuring a healthy, balanced and peaceful society. 

On-Air: Monday, January 26, 2009 {7PM, 3AM, 12PM (PST)}

We are sitting on the threshold of history being carved and futures altered. The word ‘conflict’ is synonymous with Pakistan’s current affairs today. All around us conflict of ideologies, beliefs and power seem to be escalating and the latest of such events is the proposal to the central government by the provincial government of NWFP to enforce Shariah Law in Malakand. A vaccum created in the 80s is finally being fulfilled and in its wake altering the futures of innocent children, helpless women, and a society which is desperate for peace at any cost. What does the amended Shariah Regulation contain? What options does the government of Pakistan realistically have? The same was discussed with an impressive panel of guests from all over Pakistan:

Islamabad Studios:

Ms. Tahira Abdullah (Human Rights Activist), Fakhr Kakakhel (Aj Tv Bureauchief NWFP)

Lahore Studios:

Ahmad Rashid (Analyst, Author of ‘Taliban’)

Peshawar Studios:

Mian Iftikhar Hussain (Information Minister NWFP)

We were joined on the line by Ameer Izat Khan (spokesperson Maulana Sufi Mohammad) and Gen. Athar Abbas (DG ISPR).

Many people today are unaware of the fact that Swat was one of the most liberal and secular states in South Asia. Mia Gul Aurengzeb, the last waali of Swat (1969) was an educated, liberal and peace loving man who ensured the state was one of the most developed places in the region - a phenomenal accomplishment considering the time. The end of the reign of waalis created a vaccum of legal system in what was to be known as Provincially Autonomous Tribal Areas. In the presence of escalating corruption and absence of speedy justice that the people were used to a movement was founded by Maulana Sufi Mohammad which came to be known as the Black Turban Movement (Kaali Pagri ki Tehreek) or more formally as Tehreek Nifaz Shariate Mohammadi. This was in the late 80s. Skipping history which includes TSNMs movement against the government (‘92), the formal impostion of Shariah Law in the region (‘94), Maulana Sufi Mohammad’s migration to Afghanistan (2001) and imprisonment upon return, his son in law Maulvi Fazlullah picking up from where his father in law left off (2006/7)- we find ourselves in 2009 where the movement has essentially split into two halves, one led by Maulvi Fazlullah and one by Maulana Sufi Mohammad - both of which demand the imposition of Shariah Law and Qazi Courts in the region but seem to have their own interpretation of what Shariah entails.  The dissolving of the Swat Peace Agreement made between the current provincial government and these anti-state elements was the first clue of the fact that Maulvi Fazlullah has a mind of his own which is not always in accordance with his father in law, however much Maulana Sufi Mohammad might claim otherwise. It is after this agreement that the world came to recognize Maulvi Fazlullah as part of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Maulana Sufi Mohammad as the leader of the original Tehreek Nifaz Shariate Mohammadi.

The demands of the Taliban to withdraw the army from the region, release their prisoners, enforce shariah and compensate with money for their victims and those of the government which include the Taliban surrendering all arms and letting education systems thrive, we see a deadlock of sorts. The militants are not stopping their operations, demanding the army to withdraw and their captured companions to be freed, whereas the government is keeping steadfast on its mandate of enforcing peace and harmony first and then withdrawing the army. Hard-on fighting and conflict continues where government buildings, schools, security institutions are being targeted, kidnappings and murders are rampant, government officials and dignitaries are summoned before the Taliban courts otherwise threatened to face dire consequences.

The provincial government seems to have found a solution, termed as the ‘last resort’ by many critics: it is asking the central government to allow for Shariah Regulation in Malakand. The regulation sent to the center includes the amendments made by Maulana Sufi Mohammad. If the same is carried out, he promises that he will convince his son in law to cease fire as the imposition of shariah is essentially the fulfillment of their mandate. What mandate though? They belong to two different movements altogether.

The interesting thing is, my interview with Maulvi Umer (spokesperson Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) brings to light the aspirations of the Taliban to impose Shariah all over Pakistan and to continue their ‘Jihad’ till the same is achieved. So one wonders what guarantee can Maulana Sufi Mohammad give the state that he will be successful in convincing Maulvi Fazlullah - for to be honest, there is not much incentive to be seen where him and his companions have already challenged the writ of the state, already have the power they need and are already handing out justice through their self-established Taliban courts. When I asked the same of Ameer Izzat Khan (spokesperson Maulana Sufi Mohammad) his calm reply was “time will tell”. 

TNSM has demanded only ‘Nizaam Adalat‘ be handed over to them… what about Nizaam Moishut, Syasut, Taleem, Sehat? Ameer Izzat Khan said the rest of the systems (economy, politics, education and health) could be controlled by the government of Pakistan. One wonders how the same is possible, if it is possible at all that is. Why are government schools being bombed today with the justification that they introduce unwanted western influence in society. Why are women being ostracized from public places such as shopping malls and restaurants?   Also, it is okay to use western arms and ammunitions but not western education? Just food for thought, because all this needs to be thought of and figured out, for no system works in islolation, especially not Islam which is in undoubtedly a complete code of life.

Since the establishment of their Peace Camps on 9^th October 2008, TNSM is giving the government 3 options: One, impose shairah regulation in Malakand and ensuring peace will their responsibility. Two, let the government ensure peace itself and Maulvi Sufi Mohammad and his companions will not interfere for the next 5 years as long as they are allowed to publicly preach to the masses. Three, the government should make a public announcement that it does not want to establish peace and harmony in the region.

To be honest, I did not understand any of these 3 options and requested for them to be explained again and again till finally realizing that only the first option makes sense! Ameer Izzat Khan was quick to add that if the government wanted TNSM could regulate and ensure peace all over the tribal areas, not just Malakand.

Which brings me to my next question: where will this stop? Today it is Malakand, tomorrow, day after, by next year- what are we looking at? Already the same elements have begun to emerge in places like Quetta where women are banned from eating out at restaurants.

Additionally, will not the impostion of Shariah in Malakand alone be enforcing a parallel judicial system in Pakistan? 

Journalists who have visited the area claim that the 40,000 or so army deployed is playing the role of spectators, silently witnessing the end of a civilization. No strategic operation is visible, and how will it be, when the civilian administration has flown altogether from the region - the army is after all operators not administrators. Everyday newspapers print headlines such as ‘mangora rid of militants’ whereas Mangora Bazaar is now openly referred to as ‘Khooni Chowk’ i.e. Intersection of Blood, a name secured in the wake of 2-4 dead bodies found dangling there every morning. Most of these claims come from Ather Abbas, DG ISPR, who was questioned about the same during the live transmission.

The Provincial Minister for Information was questioned whether any developmental packages were introduced in the area. Impostion of Shariah cannot rid the society of all the loss it has incurred, human and financial. Almost 15 lakh people have been displaced from an area which boasted of a liberal and secular social structure complete with the best educational institutions in Pakistan (Excelsior Missionary School, Sangota school for girl amongst the best known schools in the country), over 1800 high quality restaurants, a thriving tourist center owing to the regions rich cultural heritage, scenic landscape, music and art (Swat valley is a centre of the ancient Gandhara civilization). Who will account for the post traumatic stress disorders that the locals are experiencing, the psychological complications and the emotional trauma suffered by innocent children, helpless women and torn men?  

We have proven strong enough to bear religious and ethnic divides and still emerged as a nation. Is it sensible to fear for our future today? Will the impostion of Shariah in Malakand be the first step in a widening gyre which threatens to consume us all eventually? 

Every action has a reaction. In aftermath of the chaos resulting from the tango of an indecisive government and insatiable militants with many hidden agendas- we must remind ourselves: silence today will pierce through our souls in the coming days, ignorance today will snatch all chances of enlightenment tomorrow, and confusion will rob us of any hope of clarity in the future. We must equip ourselves with knowledge of what our country is going through and how in the process it is altering not only its own future but that of the entire world.

On-Air: Friday, January 30, 2009 {7PM, 3AM, 12PM (PST)}

I went to spend the day with the first successfully tested model of trained emergency service in Pakistan: Rescue 1122 of Punjab! Not only is Punjab the only province to have implemented an emergency service for proper management of emergencies such as fires, building collapses, road traffic accidents, explosions, hazardous material incidents and disasters,  it has effectively strengthened its limited capacity to deal with emergencies which have long been putting the lives and properties of citizens at risk in Pakistan.

One might assume that the system in place would be of random intervention in a haphazard manner, only reinforcing failures. Ah ha! The same was avoided by the Punjab Government through a pilot project launch in 2004 which proved successful beyond belief. Today Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) is established in all major cities of Punjab, including Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, D.G Khan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Rahim Yar Khan, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sargodha and Murree. The goal is to cover all districts of Punjab by the end of this year, inshAllah.

My time was spent observing and evaluating the system for its preparedness, response and prevention capacity. Given that trained emergency paramedics, ambulance, rescue and fire services were virtually non-existent in the past, I was pleasantly surprised by the efficiency, coordination and control that Rescue 1122 displayed. Their average 7 minute response time coupled with a highly skilled task force enables them to ensure their goal of developing safer communities - something which we all should aspire for. I visited their human resource training camp - which included intense mental and physical exercises, complete with theoretical and practical training to prepare the rescue workers for all possible situations.

I recommended they expand basic training to school and university students and urged all Pakistanis to consider a career in emergency relief services - think of how rewarding such a job would be.

The highlight of my day was taking a 100 Meter Fall - which left me both breathless and with a newfound respect for our rescue workers - Nai Rahain salutes these unsung heroes of our nation!