A stormy night!

The darker shadow of that night seemed to be more in the presence of load shedding. It was Sunday quiet and tasteless dinner time.

I entered with a shopper full of spicy barbecue for meal to change the menu. Rest of the family members including my ma but apart from my pa had started to quench their hunger without me as usual, so I had to join them.

My Pa seemed to be feeling pain in his heart and it was not new for all. Because it usually was. Since he was heart patient I did not bother to ask him to join me in that spicy meal of meat. But just in a cold tone I said to him to have it with me knowing his reply in refusal in advance. My pa seemed to be in a kind of domestic tensions maybe but he was in heartache certainly.

He came again in the room where the meal was being eaten. "After dinner please recite the Holy Qur'an's verses and blow me for my pain." Said my pa.
And in return I said, "Surely" and few more words important to be said that time but not to be written this time.

None of us knew that was going to be a stormy night for our entire family. My  fingers in rice, morsel in hand, while gulping down the last morsel I saw my pa falling down on the floor. I could see my bravest father weakly lying on the bed and having pen killer pill right beneath his tongue.

I hurriedly left the spicy rice on the plate and rushed towards him, put my right hand with some grains of rice on his chest and began to recite the particular prayers in Arabic. But maybe it was end of my life's first chapter under the shadow of my father's umbrella in the sun's shafts.

He picked my hand and put it on his heart and I could not easily count his fastest heart beat ever I had felt before.

It was his painful voice which made me run for arranging auto in spite of knowing that my pa would be alright when I came with auto.

But the whole scenario was changed, he was just out of his breaths, I with my younger and elder brothers got him with the help of our one of the neighbours in to the rickshaw. Horrible tragedy ever I have seen in my life!

On the way we got him shifted into an ambulance thinking that now my pa would easily be taken to the hospital alive and safe. Optimism was at its peak because I had never seen such a tragic turn of fate.

Despite my humble number of implores of reexamining my pa's cold body doctor said "Sorry" to me.

The world stopped there. It was stuffy, nothing was looking good but my father's tired body of ceaseless efforts for earning bread and butter for his family and offspring till his last breath. I could see him free from the plights of life and his belonging ones. I could see his body as relaxed as not any responsibilities were left on his shoulders.


My eyes can't help shedding tears whenever his last words whisper in my ear. It was first time in my life that I promised a person to do something. "I am junior Iqbal Abbu, don't you worry. I will fulfil your remaining responsibilities." I said. And he closed his eyes  in the ambulance but not forever because the doomsday is much awaited by me to embrace him with the victory and in the gladness of accomplishments of his responsibilities that he had secretly expected from me. But by welcoming of the day of judgement his sight in my every other dream will keep consoling me.

May Allah Almighty shower his forgiveness, blessings, heaven's air upon you my father, and keep you in peaceful rest. Ameen

Love, Affection:

What happens when it happens?

Why the breath is out of order! Why it is so stuffy! Why I feel alone in mass! Why I am not alone in isolation! Why I stop walking! Why I stop talking while talking! These are not the questions to me from me. These are actually the expressions to express it when it happens. If you feel it too, take deep breath and let yourself know it happens but don't you let it make place in your heart because if it does then you will no more be you. You will surely be beyond you. 

I am sure this has not been your habit to stop while talking, to smile without any reason and purpose, to laugh at your foolish thoughts. So if you feel it now, it is the right time to avert yourself otherwise you will be happier than you ever were but there will not be any guarantee for your future.

If your breathes, heartbeats, walks, talks, gestures and eyes are totally opposing your aim so what to do? No answer I have but one indeed, just wait for the right time and let it confront the destiny of yours with prayers for your best. And eventually the destiny wins.

Time and tide wait for none. So time will let these feelings and emotions go, and then you will no longer be chained by love affection. Maybe you will be writing the same as I am now. Life I have seen more than friendship, citizenship, relationship or any other ship. So it ought not to be on love ship. Take it serious not funny. It is lovely if it has no do or die feelings for any particular one. Why do we spoil our lives?

Love can just touch you one time but I guess this is just a saying. Because I am witness that I have observed my pals falling into it several times after every failure in it because maybe they believe,

“Failure is the steps towards success." 

And

 “Every fall has rise, certainly.”

Let this one thing be said categorically, "Stay away from it to do away with the wrong way that leads you further from your destination.

There are two ways: your way or love way. If you choose second way, so do remember there is U turn to be back but after many furlongs. I wish you get both the ways which is not likely possible for every individual. One thing helps me come out of worries is to get your way first, then go on a long drive of love on your own way and by your own way.

Thumbs up!

Blind Followers!

The nation comprises of more than 65% youth possessing power of faith, unity, devotion, sacrifice and respect, is facing the disease of blind following. The nation, the youth exactly it is Pakistan's nation described here. The words of mine and the ink of pen are not enough to describe how this great nation has been suffering from this disease "blind following". Even though we don't know, we are following. We are following the so-called well influenced people, the leaders, political and sectarian parties whether we know them and aware of them enough or not. We are actually stuck in a groove. We are trapped by ourselves in the mud and fog of blind following. Complacency is at the peak in us. We follow friends, who they follow, what they follow, we do the same shame!

We follow the society of ours despite the fact that we are totally unaware of the several society's useless customs. We regard them as they are the only bread and butter to quench our soul's thirst. If we do not follow the society or our companions, we do follow our forefathers and ancestors blindly whether they were not doing well or they were blindly doing. Whoever they supported, the party they cast their votes for, we now do the same damn!

In spite of knowing who we supported and cast our votes and helped in the victory in elections, they instead of solving our issues and developing us,  just make their palaces, offshore companies, Swiss bank accounts after being elected again and again by us.

Therefore we (the nation) have been in the ditch of poverty, illiteracy, lack of medical facilities, corruption, terrorism, ethical and sectarian discrimination as well as the most dreadful the darkness of "blind following" since we became independent-so-called independent.

We have to know why it all as been happening. It is all due to electing wrong, disloyal and unpatriotic ones. We always elect the same and they always are proved to be shame!

We as a nation collectively are out of gumption moreover we have no more revolutionary thoughts. We are not reluctant to come out of our homes for attending the public meetings, rallies and sit-ins of our so-called leaders, pseudo-patriots. We elect and support them whereupon we curse them and abuse them when we see the ignorance and disloyalty from them. Why do we not come out of our homes, our comfort zones to ask our rights and let them know their obligations? How often do we get together against corruption? Some of us are going northern way, and some southern way! We are not united on one platform. And this is the big trump card for our rulers to use us according to their needs. We are unconsciously being used and minced by them. When did we last collectively protested against unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, ignorance and inflation? Just try to remember! When did we last hold protest against nepotism and favoritism? Are we not asleep then? Are we not blind followers? Our vehicles' steering are in their hands and they are making us ride where they want. We are being driven. And this is astonishing point that we do not realize even.

We have been divided on the agenda of "divide and rule".

This is the time that we as a nation in all the provinces along with FATA, Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and all tribal and rural areas across Pakistan need to be one and united nation without sectarian, ethical and provincial discrimination. And we have to ponder over our complacency and blind following to get rid of them.

This dilemma ought to be pondered over lest it get late. We need to take U turn to swerve ourselves on the right path otherwise there is another deeper ditch ahead in the shape of slavery if we keep going blindly on the route of blind followers.  We have to seek for our bright future and we cannot afford darkness anymore.

Stop electing the tested and failed candidates. Elect the new ones-the better ones. Elect on the basis of their performances, their services and loyalty.

The key is still in our hand, the ball is still in our coat. This is the time to study and observe what the mess and hell they have been committing after being elected by us. We have to use our savvy intellectually and do accordingly as our observations, studies and facts and figures suggest.

We had better choose the ones having seen their deeds not their names, ancestors, castes and faces-double faces!

I think this is the time to rise as a united and wise nation. Because if we again fall in the same drain of blind following, survival will be as difficult as to find a needle in a haystack.

What has been happening in Sindh, in Karachi, in other cities of sindh, Balochistan, interior Punjab, in KPK and all over Pakistan? Nothing apart from increasing problems. Although the rulers have been the same for decades.

Ponder over it, and use your thumbs for betterment of Pakitanis.

Bribe and Cop, two pals

Just the other night I was stopped by a cop nearby Abdullah College (Karachi) and asked my driving license although cops have no authority to ask these stuffs. They are there to just snap checking or papers, that's it!
Unexpectedly I was stopped and soon after that cop asked my driving license! I was astonished instead of being checked and was asked my papers, my license was asked. So surprising! This was just like that police man was trying to trap me. 

Being a responsible  Pakistani it was my moral obligation to respond him politely and humbly as he was our soldier. I replied him I did not have license but I did have other legal papers and CNIC. He smiled and said In this case I had to be challaned of Rs.125.

I was about to say something in clearance but stopped by him straightaway. He paved the paths before me saying, 

"You have two options:get challaned or pay some rupees to us separately and go." 

As anticipated! Therefore I was not surprised but I could not tolerate my laughter.

He was in damn need asking pennies as the needy people-victims of drought. But soon he realized I would not give him a single penny. I replied him, 

"It is not fair to pay or take bribe and it is a great dilemma of our society."

He lashed out it was not their work but they had to do because of survival under their vulturous superintendents and  bosses and under the umbrella of this corrupt system. He added,  

"There is a little difference between beggars and us; they request for money and if people do not respond them, so they leave quietly. And we demand  for money (bribe) using our power and uniform, and if one does not pay so he has to suffer terribly."

While talking to me he proved to be a very frank  pal of mine. He said with great misery that there was a huge difference between Punjab police and Sindh police's salaries, there a cop was paid Rs.35000 monthly salary unlike Rs.24000 in Karachi and Sindh. He said with embarrassment it was not their  work to beg 30 or 40 rupees to the bikers and auto-walas but they had to do it because of their bosses and fulfilling their requirements . But one thing is transparently clear that a laborer who earns Rs. 15000 monthly also lives his life without begging so how he could not! 

He tried to justify their this dishonest deed saying, 

"There are two advantages for you to paying bribe: one you just have to pay a little amount which is 20% or 30% of the actual challan charges and the second is you do not have to waste your time having been challaned. You just pay some pennies and get rid of both of these troubles."

Moreover he added that they were not given maintenance of their vehicles nor  were they compensated  fuel or patrolling costs. That is why they had to stand in the main squares or roundabouts to beg money for their expenditures.

He again mentioned that they stood for especially the bikers and auto-walas and do begging. It was awfully shameful for me when a soldier uttered the word "begging" for their asking money as bribe. How embarrassing that moment was. Is it not a big question mark upon the modesty of so-called higher authorities?

He knew that he was wrong and whereupon he confessed it too but he seemed to be bound by his boss and the bribe culture or maybe he became addicted of bribe. Because lust of bribe was obvious there.

I just replied him smiling, 

"This is not good nor justifiable at all. How will we root out corruption from our country if our police department which has the power and authority to implement the law, is briber?"

He tried to defend himself and expressed his compulsions that this bribe system and corruption can be eradicated only if the process starts from superintendents and higher posts. He said,

"We are just soldiers and juniors; we have to do as Romans do by hook or by crook."

But for the answer of this question, " Can bribe be defended or justified anyhow? he was speechless so was I on the answer of this question, "Can eradication of bribe system be begun from higher posts?. 

It was almost 15 to 20 minutes gossip so finally he said adieu but I felt like embracing  him on his all confessions with big heart. And at last I accelerated my bike watching out the same soldier stopping another biker. I just thought how he restarted making money again. Was his gossip with me only saying? It seemed to me the bribe and cop are pals that cannot leave each other! I kept thinking...

Pseudo-Kings on our mother land

It was about twelve midnight, middle class biker was over the bridge coming from job, all of a sudden a car possessing  government number plate giving emergency horn appeared behind. The biker slowly took a aside indicating with indicators and thinking that there would be ambulance or police mobile because of their specific horn. But it was not like he thought. The boy in the car seemed a son of a well influenced person: MNA, MPA, from military or any well designated government position, yelled on the biker with a very harsh and abusive word complaining that why biker had not taken a side rapidly.

He abused that bike rider and tried to mess up with him because he knew that bikers had no references and resources to defend, so it proved to be a piece of cake to abuse the biker and went ahead.

I watched out all happening and I heard an old man say,

"Don't mess with him, he seems the son of a well-to-do and influenced person maybe".

I thought to ask that abuser but he had rushed. He was about early twenties but just like a rebellious and oblivious of the mankind. And he appeared to be a pseudo king on the land.

I just kept standing at the signal and thinking how people in our beloved country are divided into different classes: lower, middle, upper and elite classes. Why mankind and humanity seems to be vanished and unfamiliar in our surroundings. The unruly wealthy youngsters look down upon the responsible and mature middle class ones. Ignorance, injustice and influence of power are at the peak now.

The elders of the family keep no eyes upon their younger ones’ deeds and activities; where they are going, sitting, hanging out and what they are doing. Oblivion is spread everywhere here.

The matter of fact but shame is their elders justify their offspring’s' evil deeds and they say in justification,

"Let them live their lives, this is their age to enjoy. Whatever we could not do in our lives, they should do on account of us."

Let it be asked if this is their time to do whatever they desire to or keen on, can the scuffles, quarrels, arrogance and moreover abuses be defended anyhow? The answer is obviously "no". And if it is asked to them can they tolerate the same deprivations and injustice from their surroundings? Yet again the answer is straightforward "no".

This blog is for those who are consciously or unconsciously hurting, bullying, mistreating and manhandling the less powerful or less class people than them as they think.

Think of it for a while having kept your eyes closed the answer will be their plights who are innocent ones like you but not bloody vultures.

Treat, handle, deal and consider every piece of every class equally. Accept the mistakes and try to get over your cruel attitude and get rid of your arrogance because final destination is only 2.5 yard grave. Because every pseudo kings will also be buried in the same size of dug land.

If we have a glimpse at our society, we see there are several similar incidents happen and the less powerful people unwillingly keep quiet knowing that they will have to face the music if they voice loud against the tyranny of the society and its pseudo kings.

This tyranny takes birth on the lap of these well influenced, powerful and wealthy people whose world is not like other ones'. But fact is final destination is not even a little different to anyone's.

If They Did Not Exist, How Would Our Lives Be?

Life seems so much more convenient because of their existence, presence and availability. Were they not there, how much would we have to suffer and how we would have survived?

Imagine for a second, if you had to have your shoes mended and there was no cobbler; You would definitely be forced to buy a new pair of shoes. Picture this if there were no puncture shop and you would have to buy a new car tire tube every now and then. Your expenditures would be sky rocket and perhaps meeting ends would be difficult. If domestic helps such as sweepers and maids were not there then how would we enjoy eating out, shopping or watching dramas like couch potatoes? Of course  we would be doing all the house chores ourselves.

If there were no greengrocers, dry cleaners or the beloved chai-wala’s how different would our lives be? I think we would not be the Kings and Queens that we consider ourselves. At least we would have to seek for these services from dawn to dusk. But despite of all these comforts we have little regard for those who belong to these so called blue collared professions. We as a society collectively do not value their contributions and rather than showing our gratitude we often mistreat them.

Most of us never try to empathize with them nor do we ever put ourselves in their shoes. Many of us consider them beneath us but the fact of the matter is they are far more better than us. At least they do not consider themselves holier than us. They deserve our utmost respect because they are not judgmental. While they may not be considered rich monetarily  but they are generous at heart.

Our lives seem convenient because of their sweat and blood.

Our thoughts are touching the sky. While we are living in our own cocoon, in the hangover of our pride, ego or status or so-called high professions we have become oblivious to the existence of these gems.

Have some self-reflection, look around your surroundings, many people are busy helping us working very hard to give us the comfort which is a privilege not our right.The purpose of this blog is not only to help us be emphatic to their plight but also to highlight their importance.

So just ponder over it, if they did not exist how lives of ours would be?

By Hafiz Abdul Mannan

http://bolojawan.com/if-they-did-not-exist-how-lives-would-be-just-imagine/

The Journey Of A Flabbergasted New Talent In Mass Media

"In near future print media will keep growing but eventually due to the dominance of electronic and digital media, it will be extinct, because the current generation is not interested in reading a lot, so how it could be expected from next generation to read the newspapers."

Here the truth comes by an honest, courageous and fearless journalist- Basma Siddiqui

The journey of a journalist is the journey towards the destination that has no boundaries. A journalist’s soul is not a common soul; he or she thinks from everyone’s point of view. He or she observes closely both sides of the picture. A journalist lets the people know the occurrences transparently. He or she never welcomes the fear at all. Yeah! Fearlessly he or she endeavors to publish or broadcast the realities, facts and actual happenings. Thousands of journalists are performing their duties honestly and sincerely throughout the world in different media; print, electronic and digital media. Among these remarkable journalists a very talented, energetic, tremendous, rising star, passionate and brave journalist Basma Siddiqui making her mark.

Siddiqui has been performing as sub-editor for a renowned newspaper Express Tribune for four years. She started her journalism career from this newspaper in 2012 when she was graduation student in University of Karachi.  After completion her A levels she joined University of Karachi for four-year graduation program then after she proceeded for master’s degree in strategic sciences.

Journalism had not been her plan “A”, she wanted to be a lawyer but after she had tasted the challenges and fascinations of journalism, she decided to take herself into the depth of the ocean of this occupation.

She was born on 21st July 1990 in Dubai. She with her family shifted in Karachi in 2001 due to some domestic issues. She lives with her father and her alone sister. When she was school student, she had to face the demise of her beloved mother. Such a big tragedy and agony could not make her give up to stepping up towards her vision for becoming a well-known journalist.

She has no brother, but her father and her late mother never realized the absence of the son because of her daring, bold, brave and courageous daughter "Siddqui". She grew up in the family where none of in her family or in her relatives is journalist besides her. So why has she chosen this profession?

The reason she told, 

“Journalism is much more different than any other profession because of its challenges, tasks, seeking the truth and honesty of purpose. And it is indeed a profession with full of influences.”

She added,

“Doctors save the lives so do the journalists making the people aware of the affairs of society.”

Siddiqui has found journalism as multi-tasking; at a time a journalist has to see all the aspects of news before its publishing. Working as journalist has been splendid experience for her therefore she has become committed with it and now she wants to leave her marks in reporting field.

As she said,

“Reporting is essential component of being journalist.”

When Siddiqui's routine is observed, so it can categorically be said that how a journalist works hard. She does not have normal holidays. She is busy in her leisure time too. 

While answering one of the questions she said that in Pakistan journalism is free but not the journalists. They are bound to the some extent by the media organizations or sometimes they have to hoard the news or information at the behest of the authorities. But to an extent journalists are free too.

About the recruitment system of the journalism she said that merit is preference. If one is skillful, qualified and talented so no matter he has references or resources or not, he is appointed. But the reference also matters to take foot in to a door of every media organization. But only if one is competent, he or she can survive and evolve in this field otherwise the media organization gives him or her sack.

About the salary package of new and fresh journalists she says that in initial era journalists did not use to be paid enough salaries but now they are not only satisfied but also happy and conveniently fulfilling their livelihoods.

A journalist has to sacrifice his or her social life due to the burden and rush of work as well as long working hours. And according to Siddiqui a journalist should become as strong professional as he or she does not get affected by any sad or shocking news, he or she should become used to it.

She made the most of her University life. She said laughing:

"We all friends enjoyed our university lives. We bunked the classes, celebrated the parties, festivals and in short we made the most of that era. We really miss it."

She really loves to read because she believes that being journalist she has to be aware of the world's globalization.

She thinks that the best aspect of journalism is when their small efforts are praised and applauded by the public, media organizations and coworkers. It is a kind of feeling of achievement that makes you feel proud of your profession. And the worst point according to her is when they are restricted or bound by the authorities because of their policy, tilts or bias of media organizations. And this trend exists in every profession so does it in Journalism.

Siddiqui is at the place where she is stepping forward towards her success but still she thinks that she has not achieved anything yet despite she is the sub-editor of a very famous and renowned newspaper. 

She said,

    

"If I thought that I am something or I have achieved something, I would slow down myself and it would stop my journey. That is why I never think I have achieved something. I am still very far away from the destination where I ever desire to be."

Siddiqui's life gives the lesson to every growing journalist and every growing professional that perseverance, steadfast, patience, hard work, faith and honesty lead you wherever you intend to. So keep going on your way and here comes your destiny.

                                                                       Interviewed and written by Hafiz Abdul Mannan