Refocus on the Tragedy of Peshawar School Attack by Sajjad Shaukat(JR101SS08)

Refocus on the Tragedy of Peshawar School Attack by Sajjad Shaukat(JR101SS08)

On December 16, 2014, in one of the bloodiest-ever terror attacks in Pakistan, six Taliban militants mercilessly killed at least 141 people, including 132 children and nine staff members of the Army Public School and College in Peshawar, They also burnt a lady teacher alive. After eight hours operation, Pak Army’s commandos cleared the school area, and six militants were killed.

On the same day, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the ghastly act at the Peshawar school.

The tragic loss of the lives of innocent children moved the entire world deeply. Every Pakistani said that shame on these terrorists who considered innocent children as their enemies, and martyred them through brutal tactics.

The then Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Raheel Sharif, including leaders of various political and religious parties strongly condemned the heinous attack at the Peshawar school. PTI Chief Imran Khan called off the December 18 (2014) countrywide shutdown, and also decided to cooperate with the government against terrorism.

However, after that inhuman gruesome tragedy, question arose as to what measures required to eliminate terrorism from the country.

In this context, the former Army Chief Gen. Raheel accompanied by DG ISI rushed to Kabul on December 17, 2014. Resources suggested that during his meeting with his Afghan counterpart, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the ISAF commander, he presented evidence of the Peshawar massacre’s linkage with TTP sanctuaries in Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nuristan. He also asked the extradition of the ex-TTP chief of Mullah Fazlluah, and handing over to Pakistan.

In fact, Afghanistan has become a hub of anti-Pakistan activities from where external intelligence agencies, especially Indian RAW are sending logistic support to Baloch separatist elements and TTP insurgents in Pakistan. In the past years, particularly TTP’s militants and its affiliated banned groups conducted many terror-activities in various regions of the country as part of the scheme to create chaotic situation in the country. RAW also used TTP terrorists in relation to the attack at the Peshawar School.

In that backdrop, there arose the need of immediate execution of outstanding cases of death penalty to terrorists. In this respect, ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif revoked the ban on capital punishment in terrorism cases. The nation also expected that politicians should show no politics on the blood of innocent children. For the purpose, leaders of all the top political parties including PTI Chief Imran Khan attended a meeting of the parliamentary parties convened by Prime Minister Sharif after the deadly attack at a school in Peshawar. Setting aside his differences, Imran Khan ended PTI’s 126-day sit-in at Islamabad to give a clear message that the whole nation stands united against terrorism. However, all the leaders unanimously decided to form a parliamentary committee to chalk out a “Plan of Action” in seven days which would be approved by the political and military leadership. In this connection, on January 2, 2015, besides the chiefs of almost all the political parties and military top officials agreed on a draft of legislative measures which paved the way for establishment of special military trial courts. It was unanimously agreed that the 20 points National Action Plan (NAP) enunciated in the All Parties Conference (APC) Resolution of December 24, 2014 was being acted upon—the bill as 22nd (Constitutional) Amendment was enforced soon after its approval from the parliament. Special military courts were established and the ruthless terrorists facing death penalty had been hanged.

In this regard, the role of the Armed Forces is appreciating in uprooting the terrorists from their so-called safe havens. But, inability and evident reluctance on the part of political leadership remained a major contributing factor affecting the implementation of NAP in its true spirit. In this respect, in January 2015, apex committees were formed to expedite the implementation of the NAP. 15 committees and sub-committees were set up; however, no plausible developments were witnessed. Ironically, the inability on the part of the then government was covered with mere verbal statements in relation to NAP implementation.

Unfortunately, during the regime of P.M. Nawaz Sharif, a full-scaled activation of National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) remained in limbo even after seven years of its creation. Lack of allocation of resources for NACTA in the annual budget of 2014-2015, non framing of service rules for the authority etc. made NACTA a real midsummer night dream. Interestingly, NACTA’s budget stands at Rs. 92 million a year of which Rs.63 million went into the salaries of the staff. What kind of an effective role will be registered by the authority and who may be blamed for such state of affairs also remained a question.

Focusing on Madrassa reforms, the previous government had to come out with an authentic and final figure about the number of Madrassas, existing in the country. Reforming their syllabus and controlling their finances seemed a wishful thinking due to non-implementation of the plan.

As regards the performance of judiciary, over the past five years, estimated 14,115 persons in terrorism-related cases were acquitted and 10,387 were granted bail, only about one and half hundred hanged.

Notably, people of Pakistan want the perpetrators to be punished and expect from their elected representatives to ensure that justice and judicial reforms are not delayed. Speedy trials in military courts ensured that justice is neither delayed nor denied. Country is going through extraordinary circumstances and extraordinary decisions are the need of the hour.

Military courts saw execution of some very hardcore terrorists that helped to a great extent to break their organizational network. Cases are disposed of in weeks and months without long delays by the military courts as compared to civil courts. Delays suits militants as our jails itself are considered safe havens for them. By virtue of being a security institution, and fighting war against terrorism itself, no other institution understands the convicts and charges against them better than Army does. Army is well trained to hold military courts and carryout trials as part of Pakistan Army Act-1952.

Previous governments brought some reforms in improving police; prosecution, protection of witnesses and certain judicial restructuring, however, certain major steps have not been taken like it could not strengthen the civil legal system and judicial process enough to deal with terrorism. Courts need to be fully protected to avert danger of repercussions from such perilous elements and organizations. Life of civil judicial persons/judges is undeniably in danger when dealing with extremists. Hence, the decisions of the judges are likely to be influenced, at times, in favour of accuse. Undoubtedly, military courts lessen the pressure and risk factor on the lives of civil judicial elements.

At a number of occasions, terrorists who were involved in serious crimes and convicted by military courts were acquitted by different civil courts. Setting them free means, those terrorists can easily flee. One needs to reckon the efforts with which such dangerous elements are grabbed and tried in military courts. Therefore, a constitutional amendment also requires in this regard.

Many military operation and war in history failed in the culminating stage or post-conflict phase due to the inability of the politico-economic tool to take over and establish the political writ of the state.

Since ill-gotten money provides oxygen to the terrorist networks and other mafias working against the interest of the state, it appears that the previous civilian leaders and lack political will to block the supply of illicit money to the terrorist networks, despite the fact that no government can defeat terrorism without plugging the illicit money to the terror networks. During the previous government, in all the provinces, there were strong politicians, government cronies who had become ‘untouchables’ for anti-graft drive. It became a challenge for the ex-prime minister to allow the state institutions to bring all corrupt to book whether they belong to the ruling party or to the opposition.

Some former federal ministries were taking steps in the right direction, but the pace was quite slow. Interior ministry’s prepared rules and regulations for International Non-governmental Organizations (INGOs), local NGOs, policy draft over arms licenses etc. remained non-implemented. Civil society had been raising concerns over the slow pace of implementation and narrow scope of the Plan’s progress.  Now, P.M Imran Khan’s government’s moves such as anti-corruption drive, registration of the NGOs etc. are good developments to eliminate terrorism from the country.

Lamentably, the extremist organizations, their sympathizers and supporters are still finding time and opportunities to mischievously target Law Enforcing Agencies and people of Pakistan. Ironically, after TTP, a newer and more formidable menace in shape of ISIS is raising its head in the region. Recent terror attacks by these outfits in various regions of Pakistan, especially in the Balochistan province might be cited as example.

In this connection, realizing the task to fully implement the NAP and to supplement the gains of the military operations Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad, the present government is taking steps. But, still some political entities are creating controversy about the NAP which is essential part of Pakistan’s war against terrorism, as it has co-relationship with the military operations Zarb-i-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad which have broken the backbone of the militants. In order to conceal their corruption, they are criticizing the NAP.

These hostile entities should know that corruption is the essence of terrorism. Therefore, people want that this menace must be eliminated from the country as part of overall war against terrorism.

Addressing the participants on the event of commemorating the Defence Day, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on September 6, 2017, “Pakistan has done enough in’ the war on terror and now it is time for the world to do more…Pakistan has made numerous sacrifices fighting terrorism but today the country is being accused of not doing enough to eradicate the menace.” On September 6, 2018, he ensured to root out extremism and terrorism once and for all.

Nevertheless, in order to dismantle the terror-financing networks, elimination of corruption is an important part of Pakistan’s National Action Plan, devised to counter extremism in the country following the Peshawar school massacre of children. Similarly, reforming the religious seminaries is also its key part.

Threat of hybrid war will continue to loom large on Pakistan’s horizon, if the key pillars of state cannot work in synchronized. Our fault lines of provincialism, sectarianism, ethnicity and gap between the haves and have-nots are real and only a unifying regimen and political dispensation accommodating all stakeholders can make us walk through this minefield of challenges.

As a matter of fact, operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is the unifying factor in this hybrid war and developing the contours of a politico-economic and legal dispensation are essential for the success of this operation.

All pillars of national power, the executive (civil-military), legislature, judiciary and the media, have to work in synchronized to achieve the ends of the policy of war against terror. Now, when the Pakistani civil-military leadership has been able to achieve consensus on operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, we cannot fritter away the fruits of our labor and the sacrifices, rendered by thousands of soldiers and almost a 70,000 civilians.

In these terms, military courts have been instrumental in helping the state in providing a legal backup to military operations, their efficacy is well established. Military courts are not something unique to Pakistan; all states use such legal framework in emergencies.

Nonetheless, tragic memory of the Peshawar School Attack will remain fresh in the minds of people, as mass murder of children is a manifestation of the most barbaric face of the Taliban insurgency led by TTP.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

My Name Is Hussain by TAUSEEF HUSSAIN (JR90NH01)

My Name Is Hussain by TAUSEEF HUSSAIN (JR90NH01

(The author was 13 when he was plucked out from class before 9/11 was announced in his school. And then, within months, he had to confront another crisis when his grandfather, ex-MP Ahsan Jafri, was one of the many who were brutally murdered in the 2002 Gujarat massacre of Muslims)

TAUSEEF HUSSAIN, 24 March 2010

I was sitting in my second class of the day; flipping through unfinished homework, chatting with friends, and slowly settling into a new school year. After 10 years in the United States – practically my entire life – this was my normalcy, if not quite the glamour I had predicted for my budding high school career.

It was much to my chagrin then, when that tranquil was broken by my name harshly piercing the silence as I was beckoned by the main office. Like any normal 13 year old, I could only cringe at the possible reasons for which I had been summoned. Little did I realize that within a few minutes the entire student body would be notified on that thus uneventful September 11, that one of the most heinous terrorist attacks in the nation’s history had been perpetrated just north of us in New York City.

It took me some time to fully appreciate the foresight the administrative staff had shown in plucking me from class before that fateful 9/11 announcement was made. It was a well-thought measure, to ensure that a child with an already much maligned surname did not have to bear any misdirected anger. All for a crime which was wholly unrelated to me, but would bring an unmerited condemnation upon myself, and nearly one-quarter of the world’s population.

Certainly, that was an impactful moment in my still-young life. A moment which began my early theological maturity, and likewise, my early religious detachment. It was beyond my grasp then, as it remains today, how in the name of religion, any faction could commit such a treacherous act. To my eyes, 9/11 was not only a targeted and sadistic assault against humanity, the United States, and the western world, but also a devastating slap in the face of the very religion those terrorists claimed to be championing the cause of.

At the time, I asked my school’s staff a question, out of naivety, as to why they felt it necessary to pull me out of class. The very idea behind their now-obvious answer resonated with me then, and still does. Why did they feel I might be chastised by my peers? I was among friends, I thought. And I was, but we were at an age where religion was being transformed into something more complicated than it had any right to be. It was then I began to realize that religion without a true acceptance of the values it preached, and without a true understanding of those ideals was an ineffectual concept, and more importantly, a dangerous reality.

As most children are taught by a world which views them as innocents, religion is a spiritual abstraction of culture, intangibly binding them to their fellow man and eliciting a divine morality from their actions. Children have no knowledge of the fundamental differences between themselves and their peers of other religions, and rightfully so, as there are and should be none. It is only as these children grow up in a tainted religious landscape, that they are introduced to the theological perversions of human interpretation. Any distortion is surely human, as none of the basic scriptures of the religions which I have encountered in my lifetime have such shameless bigotry or violence inherent in anything but the most adulterated possible translations.

My views were shaped, as most children’s are, by those of my parents and grandparents. Views shaped by those who knew they bore the responsibility of readying me for a world unfortunately defined by many challenges, including our very own, and tragically human, self imposed partitions. Partitions called race, religion, class, ideology, and the other labels humans have fashioned to stroke the native human, but certainly not humane, instinct which shuns that which is different. Curricula teach cooperation, religions preach acceptance, and yet despite the best efforts of the greater human conscience, these ideals remain but utopian fantasies in our all too partisan world.

It was not long after 9/11 that I had to confront another crisis, which might have occurred much farther from me, but hit much closer to home. It was the following February, when my grandfather, ex-MP Ahsan Jafri, was one of the many who were brutally murdered in the infamous 2002 Gujarat riots which were themselves the appalling aftermath of the equally inexcusable Godhra train burning incident. While the ensuing investigations into the incidents have been murky at best, what has always been crystal clear is the caricature of communal religious dogma which led to such a combustive situation.

The past violence and dormant tension which still exists in Gujarat is sadly but a microcosm of the religious experience worldwide, and indicative of a growing religious disparity in a world that is making fast progress towards becoming very connected in so many other ways. This is not to say that religious friction is a novel concept, as in fact, the religious groups have been at each other’s throats as far back as my elementary history books cared to document human interaction. It just would seem elemental for us now, in a day and age of such strides in communication, diplomatic advancement, and obligatory global interaction, to realize that coexistence, both internally and internationally, is no longer as simple as maintenance of peace, but is now an absolutely irrefutable requisite for any kind of national or cultural advancement.

It shames me, as it should all humane individuals, irrespective of religion or lack thereof, that there are those radicals who have found the audacity to terrorize those they know nothing about, in the name of those who they have forsaken. It frightens me that efforts to promote bigotry among the ignorant have been much more successful than the ability to spur the enlightened from their complacency. It pains me to see that so many of the progressive world’s youth are now rapidly abandoning religion, not because they spurn its myriad virtues, but because they feel the need to disconnect from its perceived refusal to place values and the human kindred spirit ahead of its reprobate desire to be an identifier of its followers.

Despite concerns of the present and fears for the future, there remains much reason for optimism. We can change our stance so that instead of defining our actions by our religion, we work to define our religion through our actions. A new perspective is needed, so that what becomes most salient is a human conscience, with our divine confidence being only a reaffirmation of the direction in which our moral compass is already pointing.

As Thomas Jefferson said:

“I never told my religion, nor scrutinized that of another. I never attempted to make a convert, nor wished to change another's creed. I have judged others' religions by their lives, for it is from our lives and not our words that our religions must be read.”

Harmony: POEMS BY ZEENAT IQBAL HAKIMJEE (JR89MH02)

 Harmony: POEMS BY ZEENAT IQBAL HAKIMJEE (JR89MH02)

PREFACE

            I was in perfect harmony with nature when I wrote these poems. Autumn a season with falling leaves and bare trees is considered by most as gloomy, but oddly enough it inspired me to put pen to paper to make this humble effort of writing these poems.

            This is my first attempt at writing poetry and probably leaves a lot to be desired but encouragement is what is required.

            I sincerely hope that you would enjoy reading these poems as I have writing them.

ZEENAT IQBAL HAKIMJEE

GARDEN OF EDEN

My spirit soars up to the sky,

As I on the lush green carpet lie.

Ecstasy envelopes my always

…melancholy heart,

As, sudden wind blown ripples,

In the pond start.

As the winter suns, warm rays,

Caress my being I do sway

Frolicking and frisking, from here to there,

Like a lamb, the desire, I wish to bear.

May you bloom forever, my Garden of Eden,

Make my thoughts soar upto, The Seventh Heaven.

NO MORE TEARS

As you leave for greener pastures,

Tears flown down the cheeks at your departure.

The migrating bird flutters its wings,

Over for it, is the season to sing.

The Bentley turns round the corner

Disappears from sight, now and forever.

I shall miss your nudge and touch,

For our friendship others could vouch.

But since the ‘Sea of Gold’ is at a distance,

Leave for it right now, this instance.

WHEATHER GENUINE CAUSE OF ANGER?

Enraged I stroll towards

The counter,

To involve myself in

A brutal encounter;

The salesman gave me rupees

Five less,

A gruesome mistake that

He should confess,

Was the well aware

Of it,

Or did the mistakingly

Di it,

Remains to be seen

Or is it

My frustration built in.

POSSESSION

I own you, your every movement is mine

To do as I please

Why did you do this why did you do that

Raise your voice, or your eyelid bat

Its our of the question I won’t let you out of my sight

You belong to me only to me, you are my birth right

Just the other day your momentary absence felt like multitude

Was it the toilet or were you astray,

I am suspicious, you I possess.

Do not leave me, I shall feel the betray,

Your look and smile elsewhere, your touch

Are all for me, me only,

From others, to be kept at bay

Do not ever make a start with darling, for another,

It will make the other want to come hither

I feel bold and beautiful in your presence

But am at a loss in your absence

I own, you, you I possess,

THE BANANA

So I am meant to be fed to the monkey,

Wail till you have an encounter with my peel,

Without the night, stars you shall see,

For still life I join hands with friend apple,

Different shapes of me decorate a cocktail

I lie on the table as the knife slices me open,

An incision in my centre, split into pieces,

My seed in you sprout a plant

The likes of which you have to see to believe,

They should call you sprout a plant

I make ‘shakes’ about the reference

What you treasure to eat,

Out of which you should not make mincemeat

LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES

While jogging I tripped over lace,

Next time tied my shoes with grace,

I sang out of tune at the dinner,

Practice, well almost made me a crooner,

I fell when somebody pulled the chair away

Brushed my right hand, to my Utter dismay,

It was my turn, I said

Tit for tat,

And hurt to my content,

The guilty brat,

In the run with,

Trail and error

I have grown to be

A lot wiser.

SACRIFICE

It seemed like my paradise was there to stay,

Everything I always wanted I possessed,

To hold to cherish till, I was dead

The envy of the crowd, I swayed to the rhythm

My heart heat and my breath hummed,

We were five in all, two boys and a girl,

The mild summer and a picnic by the beach

Snowflakes on the mountains not our of reach

On holiday or at work

Happiness and contentment always at my doorstep,

Suddenly fate started changing for worse,

The truth came home, not an act to rehearse,

He had to leave my side for greener pastures,

The children went along, all for one, one for all,

I was left all alone, to wipe my tears,

One my one they left me for a motionless floor,

I was all alone, all alone.

COMPANIONSHIP

Hold my hand, take me to he land,

Where name nor brand,

Will come in between true friends,

Shall go to their house,

Feeling like a louse,

Smiles, warmth, mirth and cheer,

Encompass me from all sides…

Take me away from my swing of mood,

Feel I well and good.

True friendship is hard to find,

With materialism in mind.

Wherever you are, come and touch me,

For mi am abound with sincerity,

A friend I receive…

To avoid the mire….

Always be there.

Give meaning to my blank stare.

ROMANCE

I love you, my dearest, my cherub,

The sunset and sunrise are for me a spectacle & to behold

Because of your warmth I do not feel the cold

Of the cloudy, dark winter nights,

Logs to burn I need not, nor do indeed the light.

Tomorrow is always a day to look forward to.

In your company life is a bundle of joy.

A tear rolls down my cheek, and shines and sparkles

It beautifies my skin and gives it a certain glow

In your adulation it had to flow.

I captured to kitten through your eyes,

And whispered a lullaby by your sound

Togetherness should last and last.

I am in love, I am in love.

GUILT COMPLEX

Enclosed in a shell like a tortoise,

Keeping away from the lively movements & noise,

My own I fail to recognize,

Do not shake hands with me please

I am no more, no more at ease,

I suffer from a guilt complex,

Was I the one to destroy a friendship

Or lose my temper in a relationship.

The other day I threw some litter on the road,

Turned a deaf ear to the call for prayer,

I suffer from a guilt complex

I am amazed at my faults.

Have I them or have I not?

Is it just the state of my mind

Or has somebody without cause have me to remind

Of a non-existent situation,

Will I ever surface, 1 suffer from a Guilt Complex.

TILL DEATH DO US IN

Last night I woke up from a dream,

To realise, that it was not what it seemed,

My companion for my relaxed hours,

Was wet through and through...

No I had not done it...

It was the thunderstorm that possessed it:

I totalled the time,

That flew past the chime,

That rung from my alarm,

To raise me with charm

Out indeed I shall pay no heed

The mattress and I look alike

Bulging from the sides-out, vital statistics 40,40,40

ENCOUNTER

On my travels such was my plight,

Did Gulliver or Passepartout with all their might,

Slip in a puddle in broad daylight

Were they bait, to such a trait,

In their Sunday best waiting for a suitor

Who would pronounce romance truer

The mishap with the hair

That turned bald and bare...

Thinking of the worlds miseries...

Had there been no fisheries

No salmon and no trout

To bring about a prick in the mouth;

With the writing to bleed

Promising a bond in a deed.

HEAVEN IS AT HER FEET

From the moment a child opens its eyes.

To the world and its ties:

She nurtures it like a steadfast rock,

Right from pant to frock.

“And I shall guide you,

On the path that I walked on,

Before you came along.

In sickness and in health,

In poverty and in wealth,

Whenever I needed company,

You gave the note to the harmony.

Sit tight little one...”

INNOCENCE

As the child looked with his eyes wide open,

I thought, on innocence I would write a poem;

Unaware of the sins committed by society.

Oblivious of death and calamity:

Playing with a toy gun in the hand,

As if the real one has not harmed the land;

Exist, does a lie, denied,

The solemn truth will always preside;

Early in the morning shall I arise...

To greet with a surprise;

The coin planted in my garden

Shall hurst into a tree?

With the money, chocolates I shall buy

And build a house, Hansel Gretel style

RESORT TO QUILT

The dark cold winter night,

Bring a shudder and a chill to the might

The star at a distance so high.

Part oblivious, because of the cloud in the sky,

The severe, pouring December rain,

From which even the umbrella covered, refrain.

I love to stay indoors,

And protect myself from the downpour.

I snuggle up warm and cozy in my eider-down quilt,

Watching television, sipping coffee,

Plunged on my bed, with my pillow at a slight tilt

LIFE IS SACRED

In the Garden, the blooming rose.

Tucked in the vase, in a pose.

The sweet fragrance, spread in the air,

Lending grace to an otherwise, room bizarre.

The rich red velvet of the petals.

The crowning glory of the green sepals.

The beauty of this natural piece,

Has at last now, withered and died;

Reminds one all the time,

Life should be lived to the brim,

In case this virtue is denied.

MY WEAKNESS IS MY STRENGTH

If there can be appeal

In the scar on that face,

I will take my weakness

With a lot of grace,

If every tumble gives you a chance

To rise erect with a new stance,

When the going gets tough

The tough get going

Yesterday, I fell to-

Get up again and start moving.

In the classroom the young boy

From his neighbour snatched the toy.

The truck rammed into the car

With all its might,

Killed the occupants and threw

Them out a sight,

The sky roared with thunder

Scared stiff as they went down under.

My weakness shall he my strength,

May I never misuse it

Even for one moment.

The meek shall inherit the earth.

CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD

Walking about in torn and tattered clothes, Looking messy with a running nose.

Crippled, unable to walk properly,

The arrogant man, looks at him disdainfully.

The other day the car almost ran her down,

As she leaped forward, begging For an aim,

Hand outstretched, unable to see,

In the sun, wearing dark glasses,

Makes him look shady.

For a cheap rate, They are bought,

Are they, Children of a Lesser God?

ALL THAT GLITTERS IS GOLD

The morning sun shines through the window,

Making the face beam and glow.

I suddenly feel the urge, to rise and shine.

My feelings take a turn, towards

The lofty and divine,

As I escape the barricade of my bed,

The wasted, whiled hours I now dread.

The sun has injected into me a Potion,

Which makes me want to drive into motion.

The golden globe warms the earth,

Returns the gaiety and the mirth.

BEYOND THE GRASP

Take your outstretched hand,

See dreams of the promised land.

Butterflies in different colours.

Dive and leap and soar,

Honey and nectar on the doorstep,

Would one find such a place on the map.

Where no misery, no bitterness, no sorrow

Looking forward always to a better morrow.

This is what Utopia is all about,

Neither begged, borrowed nor bought

DEATH UNKNOWN

After death the era seems

Bleak and dreary,

Woven around it an aura of mystery.

Will I have to repent for my sins,

Or will I be classed divine.

All questions answered at the

mercy of time-

Will I be in Gods domain.

Or will me be, Satan slain,

If I knew distinctly I would

Have an upper hand.

God rules supremely over the

Law of the land.

I am afraid of the outcome of death

Will it or will it not be as I suggest

LIFES UPS AND DOWNS

As the mountaineer up the mountain ascends,

Traversing the path that he will have to descend.

At the sight, an ordinary man

Would have shuddered.

Up hills and pitfalls, All a part of life.

Whether it is easy going or only strife.

Sometimes an obstacle comes in the way,

Sometimes it is smooth going all the way,

Lifes ups and downs add to its totality,

Lending to it an air of immortality.

LIVE AND LET LIVE

You took her out to the

Cosy restaurant for dinner,

I was vociferous in-my appeal,

For you as sinner.

Social taboos should never erect

A wall between us,

Otherwise our relationship

Will take a turn for the disastrous,

My catty instincts

Were aroused by your-

Blast of voice

If only I could have told myself

Never mind, it’s his choice.

The norm of the day is

Follow a strict diet

A pound here or there will not

A tremendous impact

Make on the weight

Live and let live,

Take and learn to give.

BUZZ OFF TELEPHONE

Be hold and me apprise

Of the current inflation and rise

In atta prices and the general

And of course dowries too

Acquaint you I shall with the

So called water and loo

Escapism with my telephone

From the hullabaloo

Hi, Hullo, how do you do?

Hadn't we just met

Before an hour or two

Serves me right

If it was hate at first sight,

Out a sight, sorry upright, my telephone

Bill read

Not in units, tens but in hundreds

INNOCENCE

Huddled close by, yet far from the fire blazing.

Watching the cinders creating in the light, the night,

Hush, hush in subdued tones they sat whispering,

The vegetation surrounding them swaying, to and fro in the door,

The draft humming and wheezing through the cracks,

In the corner, the phone as silent as a graveyard,

The settee and settlers comfortable in its warn embrace,

Victorian paintings in the background, depicting grace,

The image of romance portrayed,

Tring, tring, the bell of the telephone sounds,

The wife speaks to her husband’s company,

Suspicions aroused, seething with rage and jealously,

She bangs the phone and envisages the courts,

Breaking the bond of trust that friendship is all about,

Between man and woman so clean and so pure,

Yet so distant and aloof to the short sighted.

TO EACH HIS OWN

May I have enough tolerance,

Not to take offence;

At whatever character trait

The other may portray:

If he does not possess....

....A sense of humour

Or enjoys spreading

Every once in a while....

A rumour.

Enjoys coming late,

Or does not felicitate.

Why does that foul my mood?

When I sometimes am up to no good.

Do I not see reason,

In the coming season;

What harm can

A living, loving soul,

Do to my whole?

If God has pronounced

The Day of Judgement,

To account for every one's temperament,

Who am I to be displeased,

When somehodv does that or this.

CONFESSIONS OF A TERRORIST

Possessed by the devil,

I strode out to do evil.

With enmity written large on my face,

Somebody has to be dad in deaths embrace.

Just yesterday a child became an orphan,

And a couple were worried by the ransoms burden.

The fetters of depression behold the city,

Where everyday criminals like me enter captivity.

Karachi, Karachi of yore

Shall hot surface will not surface

Whilst I trigger my double barrel bore.

JOY AND SORROW

The begum dashes by in -

- Her flashing car,

To meet a companion at -

- A destination afar.

At a meeting point

In a parlour,

Five boys voraciously

In a corner ice Cream devour,

The silk saris and golden bangles

Glittering in the light,

The high heels and the leather purses

Presenting a sight;

The beggar in his torn

and tattered assemblage,

Spreads out his palm

And asks for patronage.

MOMENTS OF BLISS

The mild rays filtering

Through the tree;

The winter sun beaming

In glee,

The lush green grass

Beneath me,

Forming a carpet softly;

The birds chirping in the trees,

The insects frolicking from here to there

The morning dew drops thinning in the warm air;

An apple in my hand

I keep the doctor away;

What more can one ask for

I to myself say.

I FELT CHEATED

She was single and lonely,

All of her belonged to me;

At the corner of the building

Looking like a bride,

I spotted her needing

Help at her side

Chivalrously I opted

To do the needful,

She seemed thoroughly pleased

And blissful:

Then suddenly a car stopped by her,

With door flung open.

A man sat inside.

With wide open arms which did her beckon.

Alas; To my dismay, i was left alone,

Near me no more now, but an illusion.

WHAT’S COOKING

la Ra Rum go the prancing, dancing,

Flames of the stove,

Amused by this scenario, is the meat

Being cooked above.

The groin softens to the warmth of the fire,

With the cabbage and potato.

It forms an empire.

The unveiling of the platter,

Reveals, fit for a king, matter.

Copied from television this recipe

Is a treat, When near and dear ones,

Altogether do meet.

COURTSHIP BETWEEN

THE CAT AND THE CROW

My backyard is livened up

By the cat and the crow.

From a distance they for each other

A liking show.

Caw Caw, Meow Meow they hark & howl.

A din enough, to disturb the neighbouring fowl

Both of them perched on the dustbin.

Turn by turn.

Waiting for a morsel, from the kitchen to return.

Up goes the left over meat, in the air,

What ensues would ashame 'The battle for the chair

BE PUSHY, FRIEND. WHEN REQUIRED

In the line of bill payers at the bank,

As the fairer sex,

If sick don't just be blank

"Ladies first", "excuse me, "before you please"

For deals with unpaid bills,

Ask for goods back, threat if you will,

Repeat the request for a job.

You may make it from the mob,

Instead of standing, share the seat on the bus

Isn1t it much better than making a fuss,

Whatever you do during tug-o-war, do not push the rope

Or you'll be the laughing stock amidst cries of,

"What a dope",

Sometimes an obstacle comes in the way,

Sometimes it is smooth going all the way,

Life’s ups and downs add to its totality,

Lending to it an air of immortality.