The Price of being a Pakistani in India: The ISI Officer Who Never Was

By :  Nilim Dutta

 

Sayeed Fasihullah Hussainy at the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Guwahati

It was the morning of 29 April 2013. It was my 86th day of detention at the Guwahati Central Jail and I was lying in my bed as usual in the Ward 3 of the Jail Hospital, both legs encased in a plaster cast. I was lost in thought of someone whom I wished all the happiness in life but couldn’t reach across to say so across the gulf that existed between us. It was her birthday.

I was interrupted in my thoughts by the sight of a thin and wiry bearded man with a piercing gaze who I could see through the iron-barred window that opened out to the corridor. The Ward 3 of the Jail Hospital was a large barrack-like room about 20ft wide and 40 ft long on the 1st floor, with the entrance from the corridor somewhat to the middle of the room. My bed was the first one on the left the moment anyone entered the Ward. Anyone who would come had to pass my bed. The thin man wearing a green round-necked Tee and pajamas was engrossed in an animated conversation with Utpal Nath, a convict serving life imprisonment who was also the head nursing orderly who looked after running the hospital. Both of them then entered the Ward, followed by a small entourage, passed my bed, turned right, and proceeded to the extreme end of the room, still lost in conversation. I could understand from what I overheard, and from the gestures, that the man with the neatly trimmed salt-n-pepper beard was moving into the ward and occupying the last bed on the side away from the corridor. Satisfied on seeing that arrangements had already been made, he turned around and was about to leave the Ward.

Just as he reached my bed, I said to him, “Good morning,” and extended my hand. For a moment he was taken aback and stared at me intently. Then, his eyes lit up in a sign of recognition and he broke into a large grin. Grabbing my extended hand and energetically shaking it, he cried out, “How the hell have you landed up here? And what has happened to your legs?” Then he said again, “Wait, I think it is again a long story. Let me first shift in and then, we will exchange stories.” Turning to another handsome tribal gentleman who had accompanied him, he said, “I know this guy. We had met a long time ago.” He then introduced the tribal gentleman to me, who was Moirangthem Joy Singh, the Organisational Secretary of United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the oldest and perhaps the most powerful Meitei insurgent group of Manipur.

I had just met Sayed Fasihullah Hussainy again, after more than 10 years. He had forgotten my name, but he clearly remembered me. And I was as surprised to see him again as he was to see me.

The ISI Party

It was more than a decade ago when I had my first brush with the ‘state’ in a spate of malafide prosecution and spent time in detention in the Guwahati Central Jail (I have either honourably acquitted by trial court or the cases were quashed) when it was in its earlier location at Machkhowa. I was intrigued to find a group of prisoners, a blind man with a partially disabled hand among them, who were referred to as the ‘ISI Party’ and whom most prisoners were reluctant to mingle with. The ‘ISI’ tag, in India, could ostracize people accused as such even in prisons, I soon learnt. My curiosity, however, got the better of me and I did strike up conversations with a few of them off and on in the prison yard. They were already in detention for more than 2 years at that point of time.

The blind man with a partially disabled hand, whom they called, ‘Qari Sahab’ was perhaps in his 30s then, and claimed to hail from Muzzafar Nagar in UP and lamented that he was in jail charged as a dreaded leader and chief organizer of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen in India, a charge he vehemently denied while talking to me. He also claimed that his disability was a result of torture in police custody. To me it appeared rather strange that a harmless looking handicapped man could be such a dreaded terrorist but I heard from other prisoners that they were indeed caught with a huge cache of arms and RDX. I realized that they were the ones who had created a stir in the media when were arrested with ISI Officers by the Assam Police in Guwahati in 1999.

‘Qari Sahab’ was always assisted around by a handsome younger man they called Mussaffa. He claimed to be from UP too but others in the jail said he was a Pakistani whose real name was Javed.

Another from their group was a bespectacled mousy little Kashmiri man with a beard called Akram Bhai who claimed to hail from Sopore. Akram Bhai too was allegedly a dreaded Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, a charge he too vehemently denied to me.

A more jovial fellow was a stout dark bearded man in his late 20s or early 30s who they called Billal Mian. I learnt that he hailed from Bangladesh and had been made co-accused in the case even though he was arrested from his father-in-law’s house in West Bengal about a year later than Qari and his ‘ISI Party’. He was the most forthright among them and admitted to facilitating illegal border crossing between India and Bangladesh for a ‘fee’. He told me that among other cases he stood accused of facilitating border crossing of some of those who were involved in the hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight IC 814 from Kathmandu to Kandahar in December 1999. On being asked whether he really did so, he would ask as to how would he know? After all it was an illicit racket and he never asked, those whom he helped to cross what their business was, he claimed.

Then there was the bearded man in his 30s whom everyone referred to as ‘the Pakistani’. I learnt that they called him Fasihullah. He was allegedly the serving ‘major’ of the dreaded ISI, as told to me by other prisoners, who had infiltrated into Assam to carry out major acts of terrorism. Always neatly dressed in kurta and pajamas, he used to be rather aloof, although he always responded politely whenever I used to strike up a conversation with him. He also had a wry sense of humour and the only one among them who spoke English fluently. Fasihullah hailed from the city of Karachi.

A statement tabled in the Assam Legislative Assembly on 6 April 2000 regarding ISI Activities in Assam portrays a frighteningly sinister picture of the ones I have just named above. Here is a link to the same:

Statement Laid on The Table of The House of Assam Legislative AssemblyUnder Item No. 12 Dated 6.4.2000 Regarding ISI Activities in Assam

The Spy Who Never Was?

Sayed Fasihullah Hussaiy was lodged in Block 3 of the Guwahati Central Jail when we inadvertently came across each other on 29 April 2013.

As one enters the Guwahati Central Jail premise, the first building on the right is Block 1 (all blocks are double storied RCC type), a part of which houses the women’s prison and the other part the prison hospital where I was lodged in Ward 3 on the first floor. There are 10 Blocks in all in the approximately 25 acres prison, the blocks laid out almost linearly from West to East.

All prisoners who are in detention in national security, militancy or terrorism related charges are lodged in Block 3. Hence be it Fasihullah, NDFB Chairman Ranjan Daimary or the Maoist leaders and cadres, all occupied Block 3. There is, however, a group of under-trial prisoners (UTPs as they are referred to) who weren’t militants or terrorists but were contractors who had nexus with the notorious Dimasa militant group Dima Halam Daoga or DHD (Jewel Garlosa) faction and were actively involved in extortion and siphoning off of thousands of crores of government development funds in the North Cachar Hills district of Assam. Accused Nos. (12), (13), (14) in the Chargesheet of NIA Case No. RC-01/2009/NIA-DLI and Accused Nos. (2), (13), (14), (15). They are among the accused who continues to live in luxury, with other under-trial prisoners as orderlies, and every creature comfort possible to be obtained by bribing prison officials. They are the ones mockingly referred to as the ‘Hazar Kouti Gang’ (The thousand crore Gang) in obvious reference to the NC Hills Scam being worth at least Rs. 1000 crores as claimed in the media. This case of siphoning off huge government funds to fund terrorist activities was the first case that the newly formed National Investigation Agency took up in 2009. These are also the people Fasihullah shared the barrack with in Block 3. These were also the people with whom Fasihullah developed a friction with due to their repeated attempt to buy influence throwing around money. This was one of the reasons, Fasihullah told me, why he requested the prison authorities to move him out of Block 3.

What brought matters to a head was the lethal attack on Sarabjit Singh in the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore on 26 April 2013. As Sarabjit struggled for his life, the MHA alerted all prisons across India where any Pakistani prisoner was lodged, to take precautionary measures regarding their safety from other inmates. That is why, on 29 April 2013, Fasihullah was shifted into the Ward 3 of the Guwahati Central Jail Hospital. With his arrival, the Ward became a high security barrack with restricted access. Having spent 14 years in several prisons across Assam, Fasihullah had earned the friendship and affection of many, from prison inmates to jail officials. But no risks could be taken to allow a retaliatory to precipitate, even though that appeared slim as far as Fasihullah was concerned. But when news filtered in of the attack on the Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Ranjay in the Kot Balwal Jail in Jammu, security in Ward 3 where Fasihullah and I were lodged went up a few notch further. There was a constant stream of officials to ‘check’ on the arrangements made. With our mutual stream of visitors to our ward further trimmed down, Fasiullah and I had almost the whole day to chat, debate, exchange our stories. And over the next few weeks, I came to learn of the ISI Official who never was and how he had to fight consecutive legal battles in Indian courts to prove his innocence. Fortunately, the courts never disappointed him, refusing to be swayed by the bias and wild allegations that most of the media resorted to whenever reporting on him or his cases. I devoured Fasihullah’s case papers and copies of his judgments that he generously lent me to read. And I struggled to understand the plight suffered by many like him, caught in the enmity of two nations conjoined at birth. I shall now recount his intriguing story, and epic enforced exile from home through the cases brought against him, chronologically, and what is on record in the judgments that have acquitted him of all charges except entering India illegally without valid documents.

Panbazar Case No. 321/99 under Sections 121/121(A)/122/153(A) of IPC, read with Section 14 of Foreigners Act 1946, read with Sections 10/13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967.

Sayed Fasihullah Hussainy and his co-accused persons, were first arrested on 7 August 1999 in Guwahati in the Panbazar Case No. 321/99 corresponding to GR Case No. 3403/99 under Sections 121/121 (A)/122/153-A of IPC, read with Section 14 of Foreigners Act 1946, read with Sections 10/13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967.

This is what the police said in the chargesheet, quoted here from court records.

“….on 7.8.99 the then DSP Panbazar Division Mr. D. Deka (Debendra Deka) lodged an FIR at the Panbazar PS alleging that he engaged some police personnel for conducting discreet enquiry as well as for keeping an eye on a group of four persons (whose identities have subsequently being noted below) who were seen moving around in the city in a suspicious manner during the last few days.

The names of these persons are:

1. Md. Fasihullah Hussainy (I have corrected the spelling here) @ Hamid Mahmood @ Khalid Mahmood.

2. Md. Javed Wakar @ Md. Musaffa @ Md. Mehraj @ Abdul Rehman Danish.

3. Moulana Hafiz Md. Akram Mallick @ Musaffa Gyasin @ Atabulla @ Bhaijan.

4. Qari Salim Ahmed @ Abdul Aziz @ Sadat.

They were seen making telephone calls to certain persons located in different parts of the country and abroad. Their activities were kept under watch for some time and after he was confirmed about their suspicious activities, they were arrested on 7.8.99. During their questioning, it has come to light that these persons have been deputed to Assam and other parts of India by the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) for carrying out large-scale disturbances in Assam and other parts of the country.

Two persons namely Fasihullah and Javed Wakar are Pakistani citizens and are understood to be officers of the ISI. They do not possess any passport or valid travel documents and have entered India illegally.

Moulana Hazif Md. Akram hails from Kupwara district of Jammu & Kashmir and is an explosive expert of the militant outfit called Harkat-ul-Mujaideen.

Qari Salim is one of the most dreaded leader of the outfit and the chief organizer of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen in India.

These persons have also in illegal possession of foreign currency (USD 3892 and Bangladeshi Taka 492)

As already admitted by them, the above persons have been deputed to Assam for getting in touch with certain members of the local unit of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) and United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) for carrying out disturbances in the state. They have also stated before the police that the Chief Amir of HuM and officers of the ISI have entered into a conspiracy with the arrested accused persons for causing sabotage activities in public places and vital installations. For this purpose, a large consignment of arms, RDX and other deadly explosives have been dispatched to Assam. These four persons have also been tasked by the ISI to carry out a series of explosions on the Manali-Leh Highway in Jammu & Kashmir to cut off military supplies and thus waging war against the country.

During preliminary interrogation of the arrested persons it appears that a very dangerous scheme has been drawn up by the Pakistani ISI and the fundamentalist terrorist groups of that country, to create massive disturbances in the state, in collusion with certain militant groups of Assam. They are also understood to have hatched a conspiracy to incite communal disturbances in the state by inciting misunderstanding and hatred among the innocent and law abiding Muslim citizen of the state against the non-Muslim population.”

The case went on trial as the Sessions Case No. 248 (K)/2002 in the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge (FTC) No. 4, Kamrup, with the following charges against Fasihullah and his co-accused:

1. USD and Bangladeshi currency were recovered from accused Fasihullah, Javed Wakar, Qari Salim and Maulana Hafiz and they possessed the same without any valid documents.

2. The accused persons made conspiracy for causing sabotage activities in public places and vital installations and for this purpose a large consignment of arms, RDX and other deadly explosives have been dispatched to Assam and they have also been tasked by the ISI to carry out a series of explosions on the Manali-Leh Highway in Jammu & Kashmir to cut off military supplies and thus waging war against the country.

3. The accused persons made a conspiracy to create communal disturbance between Muslims and non-Muslims of Assam.

4. The accused persons have been deputed by the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) for carrying out disturbances in Assam and other parts of the country.

5. Accused Abdul Mukit Choudhury, Hazi Billaluddin and Bilal Miyan have common intention for commission of these above mentioned offences and accused Abdul Mukit Choudhury and hazi Billaluddin jelped accused Qari Salim to go to Bangladesh in the year 1997.

6. Accused Billal Miyan is a Bangladeshi national and he entered India without any valid documents.

7. Accused Fasihullah and javed Wakhar are Pakistani nationals and they entered India without valid documents.

The prosecution summoned 14 witnesses, and a horde of exhibits to prove their case. As the trial proceeded and these witnesses were cross-examined, charges brought about by the state began to unravel. I, hereby, selectively quote what the trial court had to say about the charges from a 26 page judgment it gave on 12 June 2008, the verdict pronounced by Smti. C.R. Goswami, Additional Sessions Judge (FTC) No. 4, Kamrup, at Guwahati.

“38. Regarding allegation Nos. (1), (2), (3) and (4) that the accused persons made conspiracy for causing sabotage activities in public places and for that purpose a large consignment of arms, RDX and other deadly explosives have been dispatched to Assam and they have also been tasked by the ISI to carry out a series of explosions on the Manali-Leh Highway in Jammu & Kashmir to cut off military supplies and thus waging war against the country and made conspiracy to create communal disturbance between Muslims and non-Muslims, the I/O (Investigating Officer who happened to be DSP Debendra Deka) has stated that after interrogation of the accused persons he came to know that the accused persons were members of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen is an organization under ISI and their aim is to get freedom to Kashmir. Accused Salim is the ‘Amir’ of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and he made entry of Indians in Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and thereafter they were sent to Pakistan through the Bangladesh border and trained under ISI. Thereafter they were returned to India and engaged them in illegal activities. On 14.8.99, accused Salim admitted before him that he kept some explosive substances in the house of Abdul Jabbar of village Rajsahi of Bangladesh. As per direction of the Superintendent of Police, Salim called Abdul Zabbar in telephone from Special Branch Head Quarter. Salim asked Abdul Zabber to send those explosive substances to India. Accordingly, he directed the police in Siliguri to apprehend the person along with the explosive substances. Police of Siliguri seized the articles but failed to apprehend the accused. Then on permission of the court, he seized samples of explosive substances from Bhaktinagar PS. In his cross-examination he admitted that ‘Amir’ is an Urdu word and he did not know the actual meaning of it. He did not record the statement of accused Salim u/s 164 CrPC. Previously there was no record in their police station alleging that he carried explosive devices to India from Pakistan by the Indian making them the members of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. He admitted that he had not made any General Diary Entry (GDE) regarding taking of accused Qari Salim to Special Branch HQ. To show Abdul Zabbar of Bangladesh is the owner of telephoneNo. 0721 760562 and to show that the telephone No. 561484 is of IGP, Special Branch, he has not collected any material. He has admitted that he did not inform the Government of India or Border Security regarding entry of explosive substances to India from Bangladesh. He informed D.K. Kundu, DSP (CID) Siliguri by telephone. But regarding this telephonic message, he has not made any GDE and he has not mentioned the telephone No. in the record. He has further admitted that in Exhibit-6 it is not mentioned that the articles were seized on the basis of his information. In Exhibit-6, it is mentioned that the seized articles were unclaimed articles. He has admitted that he seized the articles from SI D.N. Barman at Bhaktinagar PS. He does not know wherefrom Bhaktinagar police seized those articles. Relating to seizure of those articles, no police station case was registered. Bhaktinagar PS GDE No. 508 was made and in that GDE these accused persons were not shown as accused. He has further admitted that the seized articles were not examined by any expert. He has also admitted that he had not obtained any permission from any court to keep the seized articles in the malkhana and those seized articles were not seen in the court.

39. In support of seizure of Bhaktinagar PS, prosecution has examined Prosecution Witness (PW) No. 5 Sri Sukumal Choudhury, PW 10 Sri Satish Ch. Kundu and PW 13 Sri Sadhan Kr. Bhowmik.

PW 5 has stated that on 19.2.2000 he along with DSP Panbazar Divison Sri Debendra Chandra Deka went to Bhaktinagar PS. Sri Deka seized some sample of explosive substances from ASI Sri B.N. Barman. Sri Deka also seized some certified copies of documents from Inspector Sri M.C. Gope, which is Exhibit-7.

PW 10 has stated that on 19.2.2000 he was working as SI of police at Bhaktinagar PS. On that day I/O of this case seized samples of some material from ASI Sri B.N. Barman which were kept in malkhana in connection with Bhaktinagar PS GDE No. 508 dated 15.9.99. In his cross-examination he stated that he cannot say whether those materials were RDX or not. He has no knowledge about RDX. Those materials were not sent to an expert. He could not say on what condition those were kept in the malkhana.

PW 13 has stated that on 18.2.2000 he was posted at Islampur V.V. under CID, West Bengal. On that day I/O of this case Sri. Deka seized some documents from their office. In cross-examination he has stated that the seized articles were lying at Bhaktinagar PS as unclaimed. He has no knowledge regarding those unclaimed articles.

40. From evidence of PW 5, PW 10, PW 13 and PW 14, it cannot be connected that the materials which were kept at Bhaktinagar PS in connection with Bhaktinagar PS GDE No. 508 are explosive substances, that those were sent by Abdul Zabber of Bangladesh as per direction of accused Qari Salim, and that the accused persons have any relation with those articles.

41. Regarding the other allegations such as the accused persons are members of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, the accused persons sent some youths to Pakistan for training, the accused persons made conspiracy for waging war against India and to create communal disturbances between Muslims and non-Muslims of Assam, the accused persons are deputed by ISI etc, no of the prosecution witnesses have made a single whisper supporting the statement of the I/O.”

To cut a long story short, the prosecution failed to prove every single charge against the accused except illegal entry of two foreign nationals, Fasihullah and Billal Mian into India without valid documents, that too, because both the accused accepted those charges upfront.

On 12 June 2008, almost 9 years after being arrested, Sayed Fasihullah Hussainy was convicted under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act 1946 and sentenced to undergo 5 yrs of rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs. 1000.00 only. On the day of the judgment, Fasihullah had long served out his sentence as it was to be set of against his detention as an under-trial under Section 428 CrPC.

He was, like the other accused in the case, acquitted from the other charges and to be set at liberty.

But this wasn’t the only case against Fasihullah where judgment was pronounced that day.

Special Operations Unit (SOU) Case No. 01/99 under Sections 120(B)/121/121 (A)/122/124/153(A)/34 of IPC.

Sayed Fasihullah Hussainy was also made an accused (along with Javed Wakar, Maulana Hafiz Akram and Qari Salim) in the SOU Case No. 01/99 corresponding to GR Case No. 3719/99 under Sections 120(B)/121/121 (A)/122/124/153(A)/34 of IPC.

The case, as claimed in the chargesheet arose as a result of arrest of some accused in connection with the Dudhnoi PS case No. 67/99 and Fasihullah was shown-arrested in the case registered in the Special Operations Unit PS of the Assam Police.

The charges were almost identical to those of the Panbazar PS Case which I have extensively dwelt on above. The case went on trial as the Sessions case No. 222(K)/04 in the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge (FTC) No. 4, Kamrup and 19 prosecution witnesses were examined during the trial.

On 12 June 2008, Smti. C.R. Goswami, Additional Sessions Judge (FTC) No. 4, Kamrup pronounced her judgment along with that of the above case. I quote below the most relevant portions of the 25 page judgment.

“30. …..Except the I/O none of the prosecution witnesses have ever stated that the accused persons are the members of any unlawful organization and they are making any conspiracy against the Government of India or they have done any act to create hatred amongst the Muslim and non-Muslim population of the state.

…..Though in the FIR it is stated that the Muslim youths were sent to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh or other countries for arms and explosive training, but the prosecution has failed to adduce either the documentary evidence or any oral evidence to show that any of the accused or any other persons was sent to any other country for any training.

…..Further, in this case, accused Fasihullah, Qari Salim, Maulana Hafiz Akram and Javed Wakar were shown-arrested. But for the same offences they were already arrested in connection with the Panbazar PS Case No. 321/99 and they were tried in the said case. For the same offence a person cannot be prosecuted twice. Further, none of the seized materials of this case are produced by the prosecution before the court.

33. In view of the above discussion, I hold that the prosecution has failed to prove any of the allegations leveled against the accused persons beyond all reasonable doubt.

34. Hence, the accused persons are acquitted and set at liberty.”

Interestingly, accused Javad Wakar, who was claimed to be a Pakistani in Panbazar Case No. 321/99 was claimed to be an Indian in this one.

In Guwahati, there was another case in which Fasihullah was made an accused in and shown-arrested. This was the Paltanbazar PS Case No. 284/99 corresponding to GR Case No. 3361/99 under Sections 121(A)/123/147/148/307/353 IPC, read with Section 25(1)A/27 of the Arms Act, read with Sections 10/13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1968. This case, however, never went to trial and was inexplicably closed vide FR No. 398/2000 and the same was accepted by the Chief Jusdicial Magistrate, Kamrup.

But this wasn’t all. Fasihullah and Javed Wakar were also made co-accused and shown-arrested in the Dudhnoi PS Case No. 67/99 in the district of Goalpara Assam.

Dudhnoi PS case No 67/99 under Sections 120(B)/121/121(A)/122/153A of IPC.

Sayed Fasihullah Hussainy (along with Javed Wakar and another accused), was made co-accused and shown-arrested, in the Dudhnoi PS Case No. 67/99 corresponding to GR Case No. 503/99 under Sections 120(B)/121/121(A)/122/153(A) of IPC allegedly on the confession of an accused, Muslim Uddin, arrested in the Dhubri PS Case No. 208/99.

The charges against them were almost identical to those in the cases registered against them in Guwahati, of waging war against India, conspiring to create communal unrest etc.

This case went on trial as the Sessions case No. 72/2006 in the Court of the Sessions Judge, Goalpara. In all, 18 prosecution witnesses were examined during the trial. Delivering a 29 page judgment on 12 August 2010, Shri M.K. Bhattacharjee, District Sessions Judge, Goalpara was scathing in his criticism of the prosecution. I reproduce below, select portions of that judgment.

“25. On consideration of the testimony of aforesaid 17 numbers of witnesses, as disussed above, I did not find even an iota of material under any of the charges under which the present three accused were facing trial. Witness after witness came and deposed pleading their complete ignorance about any kind of occurrence or activity of the accused. It was indeed difficult for me to comprehend as to why the aforesaid persons were cited as witnesses and through them, what the prosecution actually wanted to prove. The charges leveled against the accused are of extreme serious nature, like criminal conspiracy to wage war against the state and attempt to wage war against the state. If the investigating agency, or for that matter the prosecution, seriously believed the charges to be true, they ought to have collected at least some evidence worth the name.”

“31. It was clear from the testimony of the I/O that the search and seizure was made in the house of accused Muslim Ali on 25.08.99, on the basis of input received from Special Branch. The documents seized (Material Exhibit 61 & 62) admittedly contained some names, phone numbers and writings. But there was absolutely nothing on record to indicate that follow up action was taken or for that matter any investigation was done to find out the persons named in Material Exhibit 61. The seizure appeared to be made as a ritual…..”

“33…….For the sake of convenience let me reproduce the following part of the cross examination of the I/O (PW 18): I did not make any personal effort to collect the antecedents of the accused. I did not make any enquiry to find out the antecedents of accused Fasihullah. I have no explanation as to why I had not tried to find out the antecedents of accused Fasihullah. I did not know that there was a case against accused Fasihullah that there was a case against accused Fasihullah for violation of Passport Act and Rules. I did not make any effort to find out whether accused Fasihullah is a member of Harkat-ul-Ansar. I have never made any communication with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.”

“37……There appeared absolutely no evidence in this case that accused Fasihullah Hussainy was moving from one place to another with any other accused of this case, far less to speak of recovery of any arms and ammunition etc either from his custody or from the custody of any other accused. There was absolutely no proof of any overt act being committed by any of the accused who are facing trial.”

“42. In view of the above, I am constrained to hold that the prosecution has miserably failed to prove any case under Sections 120(B), 121, 121(A), 122 and 153(A) of IPC against the accused facing trial, far less to speak of proving the case beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly, accused Md. Abdul Baten Khan, Fasihullah Hussainy and Javed Wakar @ Md. Musaffa are acquitted and set at liberty. Accused in custody shall be released if not wanted in any other case.

As there were no more cases pending against Sayed Fasihullah Hussainy, an order for his release and deportation through appropriate authority was issued along with the judgment acquitting him of all charges.

Rather than complying with the order, the Government of Assam invoked the National Security Act the same day and vide Detention Order No. GC. 25/2010/2 to prevent Fasihullah from being released and deported.

Thereafter, Fasihullah was again made co-accused in two more cases, Goalpara PS Case No. 511/10 and Latasil PS Case No. 134/10, both registered on 30.07.2010 and shown-arrested in both.

The Goalpara PS case No. 511/10 was registered on the basis of a FIR dated 30.07.2010 received from Sri. Bibal Ch Das Bedi O/C E/12 CRPF Goalpara informing the SHO, Goalpara PS that 5 CRPF personnel were killed and 40 were severely injured when an IED blast badly damaged their bus (Registration No. AS 01 Y 2408) while returning from the Rangagarh Firing Range. The incident was reported to have occurred near Nirmala Hospital at Bhalukduba, Salbari at about 7:50 am.

The Latasil PS Case No. 134/10 was registered on the basis of a FIR lodged by Deputy Commandant, Border Security Force at Guwahati that hardcore NDFB cadres of the Ranjan Daimary faction had entered Guwahati with the intention of carrying out attacks in the city on the eve of Independence Day celebrations. In an operation carried out on the basis of this, the Central Publicity Secretary of the NDFB (Ranjan) was apprehended along with 2 women cadres.

Thus, if the Assam Police is to be believed, Sayeed Fasihullah Hussainy, who was in jail since 1999 had somehow not only exploded an IED killing 5 and injuring 40 CRPF personnel in Goalpara, but also had somehow planned with the NDFB to carry our strikes in Guwahati, all sitting in jail.

The intention was obvious, to prolong Fasihullah’s detention even further with ludicrous charges. He, however, moved the Honourable Guwahati High Court to have both these charges against him quashed.

Meanwhile, the Government of Assam, had appealed in the Honourable Gauhati High Court against Fasihullah’s acquittal in the Sessions Case No. 222(K)/2002 and Sessions Case No. 248(K)/2004.

It was while awaiting verdict in these from the Gauhati High Court that fate made us cross each other’s paths again.

In the 20 days Fasihullah and I spent together in the Ward 3 of the Guwahati Central Jail Hospital, we not only debated or swapped stories, but also shared every meal. The best years of his youth have been spent fighting charges, that invites death sentences as punishment. The least I could do when he turned 44 on 7 May, 2013 was to have a special treat prepared for him.

I told him many times that if he had come to harm my nation, I would have had him vigorously prosecuted, but at the same time, I would have accorded him every dignity and right the Constitution and our laws had accorded him. And, if anyone intended harming him there in our Ward in retaliation to the attack on Sarabjit, he would find me barring the way of any such attackers in everyway I could, even having to fight physically with my shattered legs. Having spent 14 years in several jails in Assam, Fasihullah could now speak Assamese beautifully, with a lilting accent. And in this period, he has also earned the respect and affection of many.

On the evening of 17 May 2013, news arrived that my release orders have come. As I was about to leave, both of ours eyes grew moist. We held each other in a tight hug, and Fasihullah, in a chocked voice whispered to me, “Go in peace my friend. Go and find your tigress. I will come some day to see your house full of children. Allah aap ko salamat rakkhe.” I couldn’t speak. There was a lump in my throat that wouldn’t just go away. I left moist eyed, vowing to myself that I will do everything in my means to see that this man gets home to Karachi. After all, 14 years is a long time away from home, away from his loved ones.

As I reached the Jail Office to conclude the formalities of my release, being carried on a stretcher, I learnt that the Guwahati High Court had, that afternoon, quashed both the new cases against Fasihullah and rejected both the appeals against acquittal that the Government of Assam had filed, upholding the verdict of the trial court. The orders had not yet reached the jail authorities, but the news had certainly arrived. I was elated.

Today, it is one month to the day that all the cases against Sayeed Fasihullah Hussainy stands disposed, pronounced not guilty of any of the charges of being an ISI Officer, a member of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, a member of Harkat-ul-Ansar or of waging war against India. Yet, he is still waiting to be sent back home to Karachi.

When I bid him farewell, I came away with a vow to relentlessly fight for a world where his unborn children and mine could live in peace, without the shadow of mutual suspicion and enmity destroying their futures. This is the first step towards that effort.

About Nilim Dutta  is currently the Executive Director, Research & Operations at the Strategic Research & Analysis Organisation.He is also the founder Director of the initiative, India Weekend Festival that is scheduled to unfold in 2012.This article is a cross post from his blog  Chanakya’s Neeti : 
http://chanakyasneeti.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/the-price-of-being-a-pakistani-in-india-the-isi-officer-who-never-was/
    Dutta was arrested under charges of being a RAW agent & thrown in jail where he met Syed Faisiullah. The charges were false & Nilim Dutta was set free in a few weeks. But not before, a few fractured bones.

 

Energy Crisis: Immediate Attention Needed!

By Yasmeen Ali

In Pakistan, depending on your place of residing, there is no electricity from six to twenty hours a day. Whereas it has hit hard the lives of the common man, making it impossible to function on a day to day basis, it has also brought down production in industrial sectors drastically, costing contracts and jobs of millions across the country.

If we look at the issue- two reasons emerge. First the demand is far greater than the supply. Pakistan is just not producing enough of it to go around. Second, the government is failing in paying dues to power generation companies thus giving rise to the phenomenon of “circular debt.” This is basically piling up of government dues outstanding to the power supplying units thereby disabling them from covering their overheads and producing /importing power. Once this debt is paid off, the IPP’s can pay off their petroleum import expenses and start producing at optimum levels. The IPP’s at current are responsible to provide electricity to half of our country. As the Govt. did not pay their debt so now they are charging or demanding higher per unit prices from the consumers. This hike in electricity prices is affecting not only our local industries and homes but is also affecting our exports of manufacturing goods. The govt. must intervene and pay out the circular debt. Or provide subsidy on electricity.

Most of the systems here run on either Gas or Coal i-e they are thermal systems. Both Gas and Coal are considered as scarce and expensive commodities for electricity producers. We lack high quality lower end grids that are used to carry electricity from power houses to the ultimate consumers via grid stations. The infrastructure is old and deteriorated. The system is unable to sustain extreme weather conditions hence most of the grids shut down at extreme temperature or either completely stops working. WAPDA is facing huge line losses due to electricity theft or illegal usage of electricity.

Then also, we face the very real problem of foreign investor being shy to invest big bucks in Pakistan owing to the socio-political-corrupt system.

There will be no honeymoon period for the Nawaz Sharif Government. The test of his government will be to provide immediate relief to the people. Nawaz Sharif needs to put together some sharp plans to address this pressing issue. Short term ones must be married to long term goals.

Some short term steps to address the situation are: Line Losses & reasons must be look into & steps taken to correct the same, Incoming government MUST look into discrimination of electricity distribution. Why is Punjab (more particularly) and in particular Lahore, Faisalabad & some other cities facing power outrages for 16  hours a day? Whereas this is reportedly not happening to this degree in other provinces. Upgrade Grid Stations, govt. must convert inefficient gas plants to efficient ones in order to conserve electric energy. In areas where over 80% of bills are being paid must not suffer power outrages as sharply as in areas where they are not. This will not only encourage timely payment of bills but will also be seen as being in the spirit of fairness.

Long term solution requires focused attention. Pakistan cannot sustain flawed judgment in taking of a final decision in this regard. It is exorbitantly expense neigh impossible to convert present energy giving units into one with different source of energy production. It will require virtual revamping of the entire existing set ups. However, Govt should look into the possibility of setting up Energy Units with LNG. I am told this is cheaper in terms of setting up & operational costs. LNG is cheap (comparatively).Very cheap. Qatar is the biggest producer/exporter for LNG. Qatar can export gas in liquefied form anywhere in the world and focus on the places where the state earns the most income for the gas. The idea at first was to ship LNG by boat to the US, which was supposed to help meet the demand of hungry Americans, but the continuously low natural gas prices in the US mean that it is more profitable for Qatar to supply its gas elsewhere, e.g. the United Kingdom, India, Japan and other countries in south-eastern Asia and Europe. Demand for Qatar’s liquid gas increased immediately in Japan after the earthquake on March 18 – supplying gas over such a distance through a system of pipelines would be practically impossible, especially when there is more than just dry land between the two locations. In addition to these distant places, some neighbors of Qatar have also shown an interest in buying gas from the country, especially Bahrain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Four of the six GCC countries – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates – are importers of natural gas and only two are exporters – Qatar and Oman. As the gas exports of Oman are ca 10% of the gas exports of Qatar, there is no doubt that Qatar is the most influential supplier of natural gas in the region. There is no reason to fear that Qatar will run out of gas any time soon. The country has the third-largest natural gas deposits after Iran and Russia – Qatar owns 14% of the total gas reserves of the world. Qatar has enough gas for more than 200 years at current production quantities.

The incursion of foreign investment will depend on a conducive atmosphere directly linked to political & social stability of the country. Corruption must be checked to encourage it-with incentives.

Nawaz Sharif will be well advised to review and down size the massive increase of Rs 5.82 per unit price of electricity by the caretaker government. This step is being termed as facilitation for incoming dispensation. In a situation where due to unavailability of gas & electricity the business community is struggling to do business, common man struggling to manage expenses, the step is seen in direction of lowering Nawaz Sharif government popularity even before being sworn to office!

The writer is a lawyer & Author of a Media Book .Her twitter handle is @yasmeen_9

 

 

A unique letter to Altaf Bhai

A message from the nation making the rounds on the Internet, in response to the televised message received from a Friend last night. You must read this post and pass on! 

“Dear Altaf Bhai, This is in reference to your threats today. I hope you don’t take any of this seriously, just like we never take any of what you say too seriously either. First of all, no matter what your drug/alcohol induced stupor makes you believe, you are not God. You are insignificant just like an insect, with your face plastered across every inch of the city’s streets. Sadly, Mortein doesn’t make a product that kills you. Secondly, this is not YOUR city. This is OUR city.  Who are you to suggest that Karachi should be separated from Pakistan? The last time we allowed a Britisher to demarcate our country, it was in 1947 after which we asked your red-passport brothers and sisters to get off our land and out of our lives. Thirdly, politics is politics. Terrorism is terrorism. Call it what it is. You are not a political leader. You are a terrorist running a terrorist organization. You give death threats on public television, you give ultimatums to innocent civilians exercising their rights of a peaceful protest, and then you say you’re a political leader. I don’t know what you’re on these days sir, but I suggest you get yourself checked. I think you’re having an identity crisis. Fourthly, I don’t know which city you say you and your band of terrorists represent but it surely isn’t Karachi. As for the people you say you fight for – the Mohajirs, the Urdu speaking men and women who lost everything when they migrated to this great land – not even one of them in his/her right mind would identify with you. I am a Mohajir and my family migrated from India. For years we’ve been told that to protect ourselves, we must support you and your band of terrorists. Today, it ends. Lastly and most importantly – we all know you suffer from Alzheimer’s, you delusional lunatic. But this isn’t the 80s anymore when you put guns in the hands of young men and introduced militancy in your politics telling them that they needed to protect themselves from some sort of ethnic cleansing. Pakistan has moved on. And the only reason why you and your party maintain your stance on this ethnic divide is because without it, you have nothing to compete on. We aren’t as divided as your politics suggest – we united in 1947 and it’s people like you who have been working to divide us since then. As I said earlier, check the color of your passport. It all makes sense now, you pseudo colonialist scum. Love, Na Maloom Khatoon

Evolving our own Democracy

By Naveed Tajammal

For democracy to succeed in Pakistan, we have to evolve our own form of democracy. That cannot be achieved by an imitation of the Westminster type of democracy. It must suit the social life and the national spirit of the Pakistani people. It must fit into its national structure. Otherwise, as has been seen during the last 60 years or so, it has brought more harm than good for the country. To create and make a Constitution one has to study the psychology and sociology of a nation.

Our people are still in a slumber. The question arises can ‘sleeping’ people understand the value of freedom? People will wake up only when they are aware of their own aims and goals. So far, we have been led by a band of dynastic rulers. The present form of democracy, as being run in our country, is along the lines of the English system. Such democracy has always been supported by the crown. The strength of the British crown has been the navy and the land forces, the air force came later. The queen-empress or the king-emperor heads the forces. The aura added stability to this type of democracy.

In our part of the world, on the other hand, the leaders for quite some time till now are progenies of the former collaborators, whom the British had made into nawabs, tumandars, and chiefs. They may not be in the front but the people’s power from the rural areas is still with them. The then world power in which the sun never set, the rule of the union jack had created a new set of rulers for us after the fall of what is now called Sindh, Punjab, NWFP and the Northern Areas.

Men who had provided ‘services’ to the crown were awarded titles and positions in our society that still linger on in one form or the other. The British had created them in wake of their forward policies but the British had left our land 60 years ago. Do we need them now? Why do we still adhere to them? Why no government of the past has touched them. This is a major factor. Men like Iskandar Mirza boasted of their links with Mir Jaffar of Bengal. None challenged him. What our nation desperately needs is an in-take of fresh blood in our political system.

The condition of graduation as the minimum standard of education did put an end to the practice of illiterate people becoming MNAs and MPAs. They ensured their presence by throwing in their new breed of graduates. The only difference is that they now speak English in American accent. This, in a way, shows the state of our political bankruptcy. The elders still play the thana-katchehry politics. It is also a fact that those in power are bullied by those in the opposition, whose main target is to attain power by fair or foul means regardless of the harm they do to the national interest or cause. Sometimes the opposition succeeds in turning the tables on the rulers in power and the role is merely reversed when the opposition comes to power.

Mudslinging continues and the benefit is reaped while the sun shines. They bask in its glory. Therefore, an insight in any level of leadership is a must. It is the duty of the state to be able to ensure that. Hardly any political party can claim a vote bank, except for the religious parties. But that is a different story. Our blood hounds sniff the air, the political air, before they join the fray. They maintain the legacy of their past masters to ensure that disharmony and a state of uncertainty should always prevail. Changing the bandwagons is a matter of a whim. Today we have the PPP, yesterday it was PML (Q). Before that, it was the ever-loyal PML (N). So, where is the vote bank?

Remember, here the object is not a national cause. Here the true chameleon has to recoup his election costs, and the payment he made to the party funds for getting a ticket. Unfortunately, our writers make such a fuss of the leadership that they fail to see what the same lot has done in the past, maybe under the shadow of a different bandwagon. The solution is a one-time ticket awarded for a five-year term. The same holds good for the prime minister too. Let him prove his worth. If Sher Shah, with his resources available to him, could do what he did in five years, then the already developed infrastructure should be no hurdle for the new prime minister. He should come empty-handed and go empty-handed. After all, he wants to serve the country. I am sure even that despite all these constraints we, a population of 160 million, can locate a good person who takes our nation forward as one nation.

We have been an egalitarian society in the past in our salt range and above. The system still exists. Feudalism was imposed on us. Even in the Mughal administrative set up, the job of mansabdar, jagirdar or faujdar and other officials was never given to a person because of his credentials of ancestry. One had to achieve it through hard work. Each man did his best till he lasted. It was a matter of intellect. A mansabdar was fined he would fail in his job. In our lands, the concept of the rule of five elders in our villages had existed from the dawn of our times. It still does in the rural areas.

The same councils still decide the most complex matters. The town committees can handle the urban side. Barring the new settlers, the bulk of our city population is and still retains strong rural contacts. The thana-katchehry culture must end. It is a redundant practice. State officials must provide service at the door of the litigant. The writ of the state should ensure that. The original Gazette notification of 2000 was a good step forward in the local bodies elections if its clauses had been implemented. The law had then stated that no one with any political affiliation was allowed to contest. He had to be a tax payer. If such laws are implemented in true sense, this can be a giant leap forward.

The ‘old’ politician will die his own death. No seat becomes a family seat. Politics is not a profession. Each person aspiring to be a worker for his people takes his time out. In a nutshell, this is what a revolution is all about. The five-year clause is the force that will ensure that the political process moves forward and the peoples’ will prevails. With the present population of 160 million and a projected 300 million in three decades, it is about time we took the first step in the right direction by getting rid of the dynastic rulers.

The writer has a 28-year experience in investigating the identity of the Indus-person in a historical context.

The Tenth Crusade

A Pakpotpourri Exclusive

By: Naveed Tajammal

Archeeologists have discovered a cave underneath the Saint Georgeous Church in Jordan which they claim dates back to the time of Christ

 

The earliest set up of the Christian Church was similar to the Jewish synagogues but with a Council of ordained Presbytes,’ [ a Greek word meaning a old man ].Till the Apostolic age lasted,1st century AD Jerusalem remained the main Church Headquarters.Thereafter we see a shift,in shape of Episcopal See’s or Patriarchs. However by 4th Century Bishops had taken over & assigned themselves provinces of the Roman Empire.So emerges the Pentarchy from the Greek,word ”pente’ meaning number 5,and ‘archy’ ‘the rule.This was confirmed officially.By Emperor Justinian [527-565 AD ],So emerge the Five centers,Jerusalem,Alexandria,Antioch,Constantinople,and Rome.The formal recognition came by the Quinisext Council in 692 AD,as by then the Muslims had taken over, Alexandria,Antioch and Jerusalem,And Constantinople remained the last Eastern Episcoplal See,beside Rome. However the Patriachs of the three lived at Constantinople and so continued the See’s.The term Pope’ which is Greek,papas’,Being based in Rome always tried to impose his will on others.However the Eastern Church having Juresalem on its panel where Jesus had lived and died,negated the papal monarchy.In the early period the Pope of Rome,had been subordinate to The Byzantine Emperor in Constantinople and had been appointed by the wish of the emperor through his civil governor in Italy.The problems arose in the break after the two ”Iconoclasm’ disputes,[726-787 AD] and [814-842 AD].This cause of dispute arose as the Eastern part followed the old covenant based on the Ten Commandments by virtue of which,it was forbidden making and worshiping of  images,The western church challenged this on the grounds that the old covenant had ceased to exist by the time of Jesus so they could make images of Jesus,the virgin Mary,and Theotokos [saints],By the 6th century AD,in Christianity the hierarchy of intercession had emerged,reverting back,as Eastern Church claimed to old Paganism,This hierarchy constituted the Trinity at its pinnacle,Christ,Virgin Mary Theokotos and last stood the believer.So in order to seek and obtain a Divine favor believers would pray to Theotokos,[saint] so that through his intercession,the prayer may pass to Christ and onward to God.So had started the old pagan rites of pilgrimages to places sanctified by religion or graves,of the dead saints,so grew as well the needs for Relics’ and images made of wood or stone.The importance to relics grew more after the discovery of the True Cross by Helena the mother of Emperor Constantine l as She had gone to the Holy Places in 326-328 AD.Later claimed through a Dream of a miracle in locating the hiding place of the True Cross,The myth of the True Cross emerges later in a book [1260 AD],written by one Jacopo de Voragine,who was the Bishop of Genoa,in his book ‘The Golden Legend’. Should one study the Theological anthropology of the Christian faith divided by two main churches, it is amazing,We find sadly,that the original elements of Christianity as propounded by Jesus and communicated to his disciples grew later into a new religion,subjected to the influences of Roman Civilization,Greek Philosophy and the Eastern Theosophy.And so emerges a supernatural aura of Jesus.By the 5th Century BC,the Buddhist preaching had even spread to west,The Greek conquests and the Roman in the East had brought with it the intoxicating influence of its subtle religious ideas,it was termed by West as ‘Gnostism’ which had a massive impact in dissolving the Old Religions,under its touch.Even in the Art and Literature of the period in West we find its prevalence.During the Age of Augustus and his successors it gradually,insensibly undermined the beauteous sensuous mythology of Greece and the harder sterner religion of Rome,and substituted for them a Religion in which,If fear was the prevailing emotion, worshipers still felt that there was more spirituality and  greater claims to universality than their old Religion could give,and within Christianity grew the schisms with passage of Time beside the in-growth of Gnosticism and later Mysticism.The western church as per the stance of the Eastern.Fell in the Great Apostasy,as it had inducted in itself the Greco-Roman mysteries,which it was felt,were needed to attract the Pagans,to become nominal Christians The Catholic Church,took measures to amalgamate,the christian & pagan festivals as well the Eastern Theosophy [Gnosticism].Which created the theory of Original guilt,the pessimistic, aspect of humankind plight,and so the Catholic church,started preaching the Doctrine of Original Sin,which is a item missing in the Eastern church,Even in the western churches three main branches the concept of, original sin, is hotly contested, Lutheran,Catholic & Orthodox,whereas the eastern church stands apart from the three churches mentioned,and rejects any notion of the inherited original guilt,that being,all humans share the guilt of Adams Sin. St.Augustine rejects the ritual of baptizing the infant,as his logic being,infants need Not be baptized since they have Not committed any sin so far ! The next sore issue has been of Imago Dei [ image of God] and the Free-Will,The imago Dei has been discussed earlier,in the Iconoclast Struggle between the both churches.on the free will aspect ,Luther contented,”After the fall of Adam, free will is a mere expression,whenever it acts in character,it commits a mortal sin’,and so continues the debate,over the interpretations. A debate over the nature of Jesus, too, surfaced,though earlier the Church,had’ determined,that’ Christ was the Son of God,yet what his exact nature was,remained open to debates. Arainism,is attributted to Arius [250-336 AD], a christian presbyter [elder priest],and his contention on this issue,that,was Jesus a son of God ? Arius stated,such had Not been the case at the start,but he was created by the church to be a son of God.As historically the concept of Trinity emerges inbetween 325,360 & 431 AD after the coucils of Nicea,Constaniople & Ephesus. However Islam considers,Jesus a Prophet,but Not Divine,Islam teaches Obsolute Indivisibilty of a supremely sovereign and Transcendent Allah,and Doctrine of Trinity is Blasphemous. The person to whom the Catholic church is indebted for the Grand Concept of fully developing the Doctrine of Trinity was St.Basil [330-379 AD ] of Cappadocia [central Anatolia,Turkey,The Old Persian region of 'Katpatuka' the Land of Horses].The stance of Non-Trinitarians,has been that the Doctrine of Trinity is a prime example of a borrowing from indo-european,persian and egyptian pagan sources.They further stress upon a fact that after the death,of the Apostles,the simple idea of God was lost & the doctrine of Trinity,took its place,due,to the weakness of the church,in accommodating the Pagan Ideas.Now a brief look on the concept of old three [Trinity] in older Religions,to further elucidate the point,Egyptian had,Horus,Isis and osims,The Celtic,Teutatis,Taranis and Egus,Persian,had Mithra ,split in three,The Vedic,had,Mitra,Indra and Varuna,Prussian,had, Perkunos,Patrimpas and Pikuolis,Norse.had ,Odin,Vili and Ve.,Arab had,al-lat,al-uzza and manat,Greek,had,Zeus,Athena and Apollo,The Roman had,Jupiter,Juno and Minerva,Taoism ,has the three,Fu,Lu and Shou,Mahayana Budhism,has the three,Sakamuni,Avalokitesvara,and Ksitigraba;Puranic hinduism had the three,Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva,All this should suffice to ‘substantiate’ my argument. The papal Monarchy has always striven to gain control over the whole of Christianity by various ruses,The crusades being a prime example,If you study the instigators behind the nine previous and the Tenth in offing,you will find the Popes coaxing the Christianity to serve their ulterior motives under the banner of a crusade.As was seen on the start of the First crusade,which was done on a assurance by Pope Urban ll,to his ‘Flock’,That all Christians who take up arms for the Holy Cause would get Absolution of their past Sin’s, and all who died would get immediate entry into the Heaven”. [Council of Clermont 1095 AD]. The actual motive,was,to take over the heart land of the old  Episcole See of Juresalem,Before coming to the last paragraph of this discourse,I would like to enlighten the reader of the mindset of the Catholic Clergy by remarks,as given by Bishop of Winchester on hearing the appeal,for help by an envoy of Al-mut; after the irruption of Mongols.His words had been ,”Let these Dogs devour each other and be utterly wiped out and then,we shall see,founded on their ruins,the Universal Catholic Church,and then shall truly be one,shepherd and one flock”.[vol.lll,p-6,A History Of Persian Literature,by Edward G.Brown,Cambridge university Press.1920 ]. In the prelude to the Tenth Crusade under progress,we see once again the papal monarchy busy on its mission,by the letter addressed to Christodoulo,The Archbishop of Athens,written in 2001 AD,”It is tragic that the assailants who set to secure free access for Christians to the Holy Lands turned against their brothers in faith…..’. This has been regarded as an apology though much belated, to the Eastern Church the old enemy,of the Vatican,for the terrible slaughter perpetrated by the Warriors of the 4th Crusade,when they attacked Constantinople[instead of Muslims] to wrest the center of Eastern Church,and end,the controversy  once for all.So Trinity may rule supreme.

Quotidian Existence In Pakistan:People are living their lives!

A beautiful piece by Saad. Pakistan is not about death,bombs,rouge activities.It is about enthusiastic people, love of living,culture and getting on with life-no matter what the problems. Few countries can equal the resilience of Pakistani people.

EDITOR

By: Saad Khan

Meeting a friend prior to my departure to Pakistan last December, I was left with a final message as we shook hands and parted ways: “Come back safely.”  This was said with genuine concern rather than as a simple parting farewell, as if by merely setting foot in Pakistan I was brazenly putting myself in harm’s way. An Iranian colleague made a similar assessment of Pakistan, sympathetically comparing his country to mine.  “The situation’s messed up,” he said.  “For both countries.”

“It’s not quite the same situation,” I tried to explain diplomatically.

He didn’t seem to understand.

It isn’t quite the same situation, but I understood the perspective. Pakistani life seems bleak, dangerous and cruel, the ultimate rogue state amongst rogue states.  Like many expatriate Pakistanis who have spent most of their lives abroad, I always take a defensive posture when acquaintances and friends ask if “everything is ok over there”, as if the entire country is on the verge of collapsing in on itself like a condemned building.

This past visit was the sixth one to Pakistan since 9/11, and one of innumerable other trips to the country since I was born.  Since 2001, the state of affairs in the country has been dynamic if not chaotic: domestic terrorism has increased, military rule has come and gone, food prices have augmented exponentially, and floods and earthquakes have foisted more misery on the country.  Yet my Pakistani experience—one I have experienced since infancy—has always been a prosaic one: The Pakistan of middle-class traditionalism, weddings, obligatory family visits and shopping trips.

This quotidian existence was in my mind on my last trip to the country, where much of my time was spent performing similar unremarkable activities.  One afternoon in Lahore, the day after arriving in the city, I accompanied my father to the Anarkali bazaar to buy a dress for my niece. The bazaar is well-known in Lahore, supposedly named after a slave-girl said to be buried near there, herself executed by immurement by a Mughal emperor for her supposed seduction of the heir apparent to the throne. The legend seems to embody some of the social injustices faced now in Pakistan: class conflict, immutable patriarchy, violence as a tool too easily wielded by the elites against the weak.

We passed through alleyways full of jewelry stalls, dyers, and darzis (tailors). My father spotted a long, pink skirt in a stall full of hundreds of clothes for children of all ages.  The dukhanwallah (shopkeeper) and he engaged in the usual mercantile game, where the former extolled the virtues of the fabric and the stitching, while the latter picked at flaws to lower the bargaining price.  The dukhanwallah agreed to sell for 1300 rupees; the price spontaneously rose to 1400 rupees moments before my father paid him.  This prompted another fierce discussion between vendor and client.  Possibly amused by his audacity, my father acquiesced and paid the higher price.

It was an episode that was banal and ordinary, and all the more inspiring for it. I was struck by the enthusiastic and wily performance the shopkeeper engaged in, all for the sake of a presumably much needed sale. If thedukhanwallah represented a typical citizen, the average Pakistani was hardly a benighted creature suffering under miserable circumstances. This said more for me about Pakistan than gloomy, Western media punditry ever did: A suffering country, but one where pluck and a survivor mentality govern everyday life.

A part of me didn’t quite believe this observation.  I was, perhaps, too inundated with the worst-case-scenarios of Pakistani life from both foreign and Pakistan media to believe in something so simplistic.  Conversations with relatives about the current state of the country revealed little. I asked them frankly about their perceptions of the country solely revolving around geopolitics, the 2010 floods, life after Osama, perceptions of security, and so forth.  Almost universally, I got the impression that the question itself was irrelevant: Yes, problems are there, but the country has bounced back (to a degree) from the floods, and safety is not something of more concern than it has been for years.

People were living their lives.  Perhaps things weren’t that bad.

Those moments, with family and the shopkeeper, were those I wish my more doubtful foreign acquaintances could have partaken in.  They would be moments when they realized that Pakistan is much more than a Talibanized source of world chaos, a perpetual land of corruption and self-inflicted violence. Undeniably, the violence, environmental damage, religious strife, and female disempowerment affecting the country is all too real. Yet, although Pakistan may not thrive the way it should, like the dukhanwallah it survives and lives on its own terms.

Meeting a friend prior to my departure to Pakistan last December, I was left with a final message as we shook hands and parted ways: “Come back safely.”  This was said with genuine concern rather than as a simple parting farewell, as if by merely setting foot in Pakistan I was brazenly putting myself in harm’s way. An Iranian colleague made a similar assessment of Pakistan, sympathetically comparing his country to mine.  “The situation’s messed up,” he said.  “For both countries.”

“It’s not quite the same situation,” I tried to explain diplomatically.

He didn’t seem to understand.

It isn’t unite the same situation, but I understood the perspective. Pakistani life seems bleak, dangerous and cruel, the ultimate rogue state amongst rogue states.  Like many expatriate Pakistanis who have spent most of their lives abroad, I always take a defensive posture when acquaintances and friends ask if “everything is ok over there”, as if the entire country is on the verge of collapsing in on itself like a condemned building.

This past visit was the sixth one to Pakistan since 9/11, and one of innumerable other trips to the country since I was born.  Since 2001, the state of affairs in the country has been dynamic if not chaotic: domestic terrorism has increased, military rule has come and gone, food prices have augmented exponentially, and floods and earthquakes have foisted more misery on the country.  Yet my Pakistani experience—one I have experienced since infancy—has always been a prosaic one: The Pakistan of middle-class traditionalism, weddings, obligatory family visits and shopping trips.

This quotidian existence was in my mind on my last trip to the country, where much of my time was spent performing similar unremarkable activities.  One afternoon in Lahore, the day after arriving in the city, I accompanied my father to the Anarkali bazaar to buy a dress for my niece. The bazaar is well-known in Lahore, supposedly named after a slave-girl said to be buried near there, herself executed by immurement by a Mughal emperor for her supposed seduction of the heir apparent to the throne. The legend seems to embody some of the social injustices faced now in Pakistan: class conflict, immutable patriarchy, violence as a tool too easily wielded by the elites against the weak.

We passed through alleyways full of jewelry stalls, dyers, and darzis (tailors). My father spotted a long, pink skirt in a stall full of hundreds of clothes for children of all ages.  The dukhanwallah (shopkeeper) and he engaged in the usual mercantile game, where the former extolled the virtues of the fabric and the stitching, while the latter picked at flaws to lower the bargaining price.  The dukhanwallah agreed to sell for 1300 rupees; the price spontaneously rose to 1400 rupees moments before my father paid him.  This prompted another fierce discussion between vendor and client.  Possibly amused by his audacity, my father acquiesced and paid the higher price.

It was an episode that was banal and ordinary, and all the more inspiring for it. I was struck by the enthusiastic and wily performance the shopkeeper engaged in, all for the sake of a presumably much needed sale. If the dukhanwallah represented a typical citizen, the average Pakistani was hardly a benighted creature suffering under miserable circumstances. This said more for me about Pakistan than gloomy, Western media punditry ever did: A suffering country, but one where pluck and a survivor mentality govern everyday life.

A part of me didn’t quite believe this observation.  I was, perhaps, too inundated with the worst-case-scenarios of Pakistani life from both foreign and Pakistan media to believe in something so simplistic.  Conversations with relatives about the current state of the country revealed little. I asked them frankly about their perceptions of the country solely revolving around geopolitics, the 2010 floods, life after Osama, perceptions of security, and so forth.  Almost universally, I got the impression that the question itself was irrelevant: Yes, problems are there, but the country has bounced back (to a degree) from the floods, and safety is not something of more concern than it has been for years.

People were living their lives.  Perhaps things weren’t that bad.

Those moments, with family and the shopkeeper, were those I wish my more doubtful foreign acquaintances could have partaken in.  They would be moments when they realized that Pakistan is much more than a Talibanized source of world chaos, a perpetual land of corruption and self-inflicted violence. Undeniably, the violence, environmental damage, religious strife, and female dis- empowerment affecting the country is all too real. Yet, although Pakistan may not thrive the way it should, like the dukhanwallah it survives and lives on its own terms.

Saad Khan is an upcoming writer. This is his first Article carried by this SITE. It is a cross post.

NOTA : Option to Reject All in Ballot Paper

A Pakpotpourri Exclusive

By: Yasmeen Ali

Election Commission of Pakistan announced that an empty box will be now on the ballot paper-stating: ‘None of the above’  thereby rejecting all contesting candidates in a constituency. The news has taken political and media circles by storm. Most within these circles have opposed it, whereas the common educated man has hailed the decision. The Headmistress of a leading school wrote to me thus, “Brilliant idea.. gives the voter greater autonomy.. much needed autonomy actually.”

Advantages and disadvantages of this must be carefully evaluated before lauding or rejecting the idea. Those who oppose have declared it as a step against democracy. Is it? If the voter is allowed the chance of rejecting all-it offers him a broader base than to choose between the Devil and the Black Sea. In a number of cases, one hears people refraining from voting particularly in the urban areas because they do not want to vote for the same electable who have bought in change for the better. Urban areas are marked by low resident interaction, an absence of the ‘baithak’ (general commuting place for residents) culture. This is not only true of upscale areas but also lower-middle income neighborhoods.

However, biradari(clan)system holds sway still in voter decision, particularly in the rural area. They also fill the gap that is left by ideological absence of political parties. In this scenario the right of voters to reject any and every candidate offers an interesting option. An interesting question poses itself with the option. Let us assume 32% of total voters turn out for voting in a given constituency and more than 50% vote for ‘None of the above.’ This leaves 15% of votes behind to be then distributed between 4 or so candidates. Let us again assume that the candidate with the most votes manages to garner 7% votes- others bagging less. The question that comes to mind is: is the candidate with 7% of total votes cast in his favor legally and morally the winner of the contest?

What should the ECP do in this case?

If NOTA merely mean to state the number of people not willing to vote any contesting candidate in power on the ballot paper, they might as well not turn up to cast the votes. What weightage do the votes cast for NOTA signify if at all?

Logical follow-up to this scenario should be to call for a by-election with fresh candidates in the above given scenario. This will make contestants more answerable to the people they represent. This will make them more answerable in terms of broken promises to people they represent. It will also make them more answerable to the people in cases where rampant corruption committed, if any. In the final analysis let the people decide whom to vote for. That is the essence of democracy. This should also mean they cannot be appointed as advisors and chairpersons of organizations.

According to the July 14, 2008 edition of the “Times of India,” the caretaker Bangladeshi regime five years ago had also proposed that an election to a constituency should be cancelled if “no votes” somehow amounted to 50 per cent or more of the total votes cast—consequently leading to a by-election(The News 26^th Feb 2013).

This decision by ECP has come at a time when according to a survey of the British Council titled Next Generation Goes to The Ballot Box, showed that only one in five young adults expect their economic situation to improve over the next year. An overwhelming 96 percent of those surveyed said the country was heading in the wrong direction and almost a third said they would prefer military rule to democracy. Just 29 percent chose democracy as the best system for Pakistan, with 40 percent favoring sharia, saying it was the best for giving rights and freedom and promoting tolerance. We must nurture democracy with fresh water not just be lip service and implement it in its truest spirit.

Pakistan is not the first country to introduce NOTA. Various countries and territories like Bangladesh, the American state of Nevada, Greece and Columbia etc have incorporated the ‘No Vote” or “None of the above” option on their ballot papers. Canada and Spain etc do not specifically have this provision on their ballot papers, but they do allow their citizens the right to decline to vote or to leave the ballot papers blank in dissent. Former Soviet Union had this provision in 1991 and after its break-up; Russia had kept on giving this privilege to its voters till 2006.

Why so much hue and cries on a step that is in the very spirit of democracy and all that is democratic?

The writer is a lawyer and University Professor. She can be reached at Twitter ID @yasmeen_9

 

The Pakistan Political Palette

This is a Pkpotpourri Exclusive

By: Yasmeen Ali

The Pakistan Political Palette is dotted with multi hues. Parties that have been there, seen it, done all, the wannabes waiting for their turn, individuals who have returned from yonder wanting to grab a part of the action. You name it, Pakistan has it. The trailer promises an action packed thriller. Grab your bag of pop corns everyone!

First there are the traditional arch rivals: PPP and PML-N. The five years of PPP governance have been marred by increase in terrorism, inflation, energy crisis. There are charges of widespread corruption. Whereas it is true that PPP could have improved upon its governance, it is also true that after the 18^th Amendment- a number of issues laid at the federation door were the responsibility of the provincial governments. PML-N and MQM cannot today, legitimately claim to oppose PPP after having governed their respective provinces/areas for the term. They were as much a part of the overall government as was PPP. Faraz Khan posting in Express Tribune Blogs published 11^th Feb. 2013 shares that according to the Punjab government, 30 billion rupees were spent on the Lahore Metro Bus Service. Overall the entire allocated money for Punjab infrastructure development is Rs63 billion which means that 50% or half of the development budget of Punjab was spent in Lahore. This excludes the cost of the underpasses and overhead bridges built in Lahore. Compared to this Rs 16.5 billion was allocated to the Health sector and Rs25 billion development budget for education in Punjab for the current year. From this 25 billion a total of Rs5 billion was spent on giving away laptops.

The province’s annual average growth rate of 2.5% between 2007 and 2011 lagged far behind the 3.4% for the rest of Pakistan, according to the Lahore-based Institute of Public Policy (IPP).No smaller energy generation plants were set up although Punjab is badly hit by power cuts, destroying businesses and disrupting normal life.

Under MQM’s tutelage, Karachi burned for five years. It continues burning today. Karachi is the hub of multiethnic people. The demographic makeup of the city has changed over the past few years, leading many to believe that the ongoing violence is a turf war being fought between MQM & ANP. Former Interior Minister Rehman Malik places target killed people in past five years at 1.363(Published 7 Sept 2012: Express Tribune). By any common sense standards this is a highly under estimated account. It will be pertinent to note here that Karachi was under MQM Mayor-ship from 2005 till 2010. Delimitation of constituencies is seen as a negative by MQM – which will be at a defensive position and might lose some constituencies, though it will remain the majority party of the Karachi.  MQM is already in court against the delimitations in Karachi.

Bringing in the new colors of the Political Palette is the PTI. The supporters of PTI are enthusiastic about the chances of their party in the forthcoming elections. Some over exuberant even claim a clean sweep. Brig. Farooq Hameed Khan® in an article published in a local newspaper states, “While October 30 kindled the candle of hope for Pakistan’s future, March 23 lighted the flame of a ‘Naya Pakistan’. On both occasions, Imran Khan displayed vision of a statesman and a national leader.” PTI has made an electoral alliance with Jamait-e-Islami-a step that makes sense since PTI lacks rural grounding and is restricted to urban areas only. It may stand to gain by this alliance. However, others point towards lack of any policies by PTI to bring about the much touted ‘Naya Pakistan.’ They also claim PTI lacks a well-knit team of people to achieve the claim. Induction of fall-outs of other parties, now close to the PTI Chief has not helped. That PTI will erode the vote bank of PML-N in Punjab owing to the latter’s bad governance is a foregone conclusion. To what degree they are able to harness their support and convert it into votes remains to be seen.

An unexpected entrant in the arena was Tahir-ul-Qadri, He claimed to “get rid of electoral dictatorship.” He raised questions about the integrity of the candidates in light of Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution. Mr Qadri insisted that before elections are held, a system must be put in place to probe the integrity of candidates. Since his party will not be contesting the forthcoming elections, some believe, his entry in the foray was aimed to build pressure in order to wean out the candidates who have failed to come up to the standards constitutionally laid down and flagrantly violated.

The side-dish is the re-entry of Former President General Pervez Musharraf. Columnist Cyril Almeida said Musharraf the politician today evokes the memory of Imran Khan from a decade ago: a high-wattage name, lots of media coverage, and absolutely no impact on the electorate. This may or may not turn out to be true in light of the welcome received by him on his return to Pakistan. Notwithstanding the challenges, both legal and otherwise, his party will manage to cull some seats, if they contest.  Musharraf had declared the rally by Tahir-ul-Qadri a success saying in unequivocal terms, ““I have supported them from the beginning.”

The three vote-cinching parties offer different goodies to the people. PML-N with its glossy manifesto, making wild promises- especially in relation to countering energy crisis-solutions suggested neither workable nor practical. PPP mainly banks on the Bhutto legacy and the fact that being the only national party, it has access to the Pakistani People. There are many populist promises thrown in, that work. MQM, talks about everything under the sun from education, poverty alleviation & empowerment, health, urban development and so on. One may pose the question, as to why these were not acted upon in these five years- maybe a query for another day!

Then there are the motley of smaller regional parties, smaller religious parties, the independents…all wanting a piece of the pie!

The million dollar question is: which way will the camel sit? And no, the Army is not taking over. The facts are different:  that the ‘electable’ will carry weight, electoral alliances will be cobbled together between the smaller/newer parties with one aim: to oppose PPP. Will their joint seats succeed in forming the government? Who will head that alliance? PTI Chief? Will PTI lose on table failing to carry other winners with it? Or, will PPP succeed in proving itself to be the only nationalist party it states in its manifesto? With whom will PML-N and MQM throw in their lot? One would not undermine PPP’s negotiation abilities.

One thing is clear. It will be a hung parliament with more cooks joining in to make the broth.

The writer is Author of, “A Comparative Analysis of Media & Media Laws in Pakistan.” She is a University Professor & may be reached at Twitter ID: @yasmeen_9

Katju’s dreary mirror

By Shamshad Ahmad 

How he is wrong on some fronts and yet right on some others

Justice Markandey Katju, a former judge of the Indian Supreme Court who also served as Chief Justice of three high courts and who is currently chairman of India’s statutory media regulatory body, the Press Council of India, has lately been in the news for his outspoken ‘words of wisdom’ on almost everything from the state of media to the failures of governments in India. Recently, at a seminar in New Delhi, he shocked his own people by telling them that at least 90 percent of them were “idiots”. On the same occasion, Katju also took a freaky shot on Pakistan by distorting our history as a nation and questioning the very creation of Pakistan.

He called Pakistan a “fake” country which according to him was created artificially by the Britishers through their “bogus Two-Nation Theory”. Katju also predicted that “in the next 15-20 years India and Pakistan would reunite”. If this outlandish statement had come from a traditional fanatic Indian mindset, one could just ignore it. But coming from a retired judge of India’s superior judiciary with distinguished lineage and family history, who was known for his non-communal moderate outlook, this was nothing but a barefaced assault on Pakistan’s raison d’être. Obviously, it was for the Indians to take him to task for calling them “idiots” but for us in Pakistan, it surely was our challenge to prove him wrong and repudiate his aberrant ‘reunification’ theory.

Since Katju made his statement in his capacity as Chairman, Press Council of India, one expected our media to at least show some sensitivity to his remarks about Pakistan. In particular, those newspapers which have traditionally claimed ‘nationalist’ credentials should have editorially demolished Katju’s ‘reunification’ illusions by challenging him on what he thought of our nationhood and about our country’s future. This never happened. I could not resist responding to Katju’s slur and wrote an article giving a dispassionate account of history to establish why Hindus and Muslims in the subcontinent, having lived together for centuries, remained poles apart eventually becoming two separate states in 1947.

Despite Jinnah’s efforts for Hindu-Muslim unity, the beginning of the 20th century saw a line being drawn, making it impossible for Hindus and Muslims to live together in India. What brought the simmering Muslim nationalism in the open was the character of the Congress rule in the Muslim minority provinces during 1937-39. The Congress policies in these provinces hurt Muslim susceptibilities leaving them with no doubt that in the Congress scheme of things, they could live only on sufferance of Hindus and as “second class” citizens. They were convinced that it was impossible to live in an undivided India after freedom from colonial rule because their interests would be completely suppressed.

In response to my article published in a major ultra-conservative newspaper, Katju sent me an e-mail message requesting for the e-mail address of that newspaper saying he wanted to respond to my article through a ‘rejoinder’. While sending him the requested e-mail address, I warned him that I was not sure if any newspaper in Pakistan, much less this particular one, will print anything questioning the very raison d’être of Pakistan. I was wrong. The esteemed paper published not only Katju’s bizarre “truth about Pakistan” devoting to it more than half of its op-ed page but also the text of my e-mail message that Katju had unethically and illegally shared with it in blatant breach of the privacy of the mail exchanged between two individuals. It was violation of the Code of Ethics followed by both the Press Councils of India and Pakistan.

In his article, Katju said that “Pakistan was doomed from its very inception”. According to him, “Created artificially by the British through their wicked policy of divide and rule and the bogus two-nation theory, Pakistan is bound to reunify with India.” He also distorted some of the historical facts. All said and done, Justice Katju’s article finding prominent space in a major Pakistani newspaper known for its ultra-conservative outlook and ideological ‘guardianship’ shocked the people of Pakistan. They couldn’t believe it. Even the Indians were surprised at this turn of the tide in Pakistan. The Indian Express (Pakistan all-praise for Markandey Katju, March 7) viewed this event worthy of special attention disclosing how the Pakistani “newspaper that had traditionally taken an anti-India stance surprisingly agreed to publish Katju’s article”.

According to The Indian Express, this decision came only because his daughter considered Katju’s article print worthy. She was quoted to have said: “I expected spirited feedback on it and haven’t been disappointed. My father knew I was publishing it and agreed. I’d be delighted to publish Katju again.” That sounded generous. One noted a dramatic change of direction in this paper’s known policy. Apparently, no one realised that there is one full clause in PCP’s Code of Ethics that forbids printing, publishing or disseminating any material, which may bring into contempt Pakistan or its people or tends to undermine its sovereignty or integrity as an independent country. It appeared to mark the end of an era. But the ‘Katju story’ did not end there.

My own read on the ‘feedback’ was disappointingly different. Pakistani readers paid no serious attention to Katju’s article. They just ignored it as yet another volley of a dogmatic if not rabid school of thought from across the border that never accepted Pakistan’s creation. From the Indian side, many knowledgeable comments were posted, mostly dismissive of Katju’s ‘reunification’ theory. One was, however, shocked at the unworthy and graceless language that some of the comments from across the border used for Pakistan and its founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. They crossed all limits of civility. It was by no means a ‘spirited’ feedback. It was just filth and vulgarity. No newspaper in the world would allow abuse of its space for such trash. I am sure even Justice Katju must have been ashamed of the profanity heaped on our Quaid.

Katju presented his aberrant ‘reunification’ theory without being disrespectful to anyone. That is perhaps the spirit of his ‘satyam bruyat’. Jinnah is one of those rare leaders who received some of the greatest tributes paid to any one in modern times, some of them even from those who held a diametrically opposed viewpoint. Katju’s own illustrious grandfather, Dr Kailash Nath Katju, one of India’s leading lawyers who participated in the country’s freedom movement, then serving as Governor of West Bengal, also paid glowing tribute to our Quaid describing him as “an outstanding figure of this century not only in India, but in the whole world”.

Our Quaid did not live long to personally steer Pakistan to be what he thought would be “one of the greatest nations of the world”. No doubt, we have had a chequered history after independence. But it has been a failure of governance, not of the nationhood. A Hindu fanatic has every reason to challenge Pakistan’s nationhood. But if a man of Katju’s non-communal outlook is drawing negative conclusions on our future, there is cause for us to look at ourselves to find what after all is wrong with us. No matter what Katju’s motives are, he has indeed shown us a mirror.

What if Katju’s mirror shows us a hazy picture? We see a mutilated and disjointed nation debilitating itself physically as well as spiritually. We also see a country looted and plundered by its own rulers, and left with no dignity and sovereign independence. We are not even ashamed of what we are doing to ourselves. Isn’t it time for us to change and behave like a nation? Isn’t it also time, our increasingly family concentrated media owned its national responsibility and played its role in defending Pakistan’s independent statehood?

The writer is former foreign secretary, Pakistan.

The Article was Forwarded to Blog Moderator for publishing.

Sufism Genesis

By: Naveed Tajammal

THIS IS A PAKPOTPOURRI EXCLUSIVE

If wisdom is the practical application of knowledge acquired through research,in pursuit of truth,through the right of free inquiry,to promote and help the happiness or well being of humans;’than the life proposed by this order,negates it,as it is a ritual based way of life,leading to the whirling dervish,and it seems out of place,because the life to lead as given in our code,negates this type of life,all humans must face the life,inclusive of,all’ its good times or the Bad,one cannot lead the eventual life of a hermit,as envisaged in this code,confined to,isolation/seclusion,the harsh realities cannot be avoided,in life,you must earn a living,and,living off,the alms,is hardly a worthy life,even though one may claim he is doing some,thing,holy ? In the true sense this is a classic case of escapism,or the, rah’ e’ farar.

Had,Pherecydes’ the true teacher of ‘Pythagoras [The first Grand Master of 'Illuminati ],been fair to his knowledge,which he had acquired,from the sacred books of Phoenicians and the Egyptians,which was based on the evolution of thought, through the ages,upon,the observations’ seen from a keen hawk eye,to promote and help the happiness or well being of the mankind.These, were various ‘Phenomena’ which commonly are seen,before a, Storm or an earth quake,or such like other Calamities,which the humans face from time to time,and which the ‘Ignorant termed’ super natural’,and so men basked in the glory on the work of the others[ by predictions] .And so ‘Pherecydes’,likewise capitalized,when armed recently with this knowledge,he predicted,about a ship in full sail,at a distance approaching its harbor,so Pherecydes,predicted,that it would never come into the Haven [a sheltered anchorage] and it happened accordingly,for a sudden storm,arose and sunk the vessel,on yet another ococcasion, after drinking water from a well,he predicted an Earth Quake,which happened three days aftewards’ hence’ the Lament’,that this happens,when the knowledge is used,as seen above for ‘Imposture’.

The aim of this short article is Not to hurt the inner feelings of those who follow the rites,and rationale of Sufism,but to enlighten them in many ways,Besides that, of late’ the western powers are hell bent upon,to ensure that this order is implemented upon us,all in the name of our well being,if that be a rationale.

But what baffles one the most is that,this too,exists,in their own religion under the term of ‘Mysticism’,and also amongst the Jews under ‘En Suf’,The doctrine under which come the ‘Kabballistic rituals,and its hidden numbers.And the Question,why do they”,Want’ to impose,what is good,for us,and our Salvation,and Not’,the same on their own’ as well ?

As the readers are Classified in three main classes;

Firstly,Those who believe everything they read or are influenced by the Demagogues.

Secondly,Those who No’ longer believe in anything and Nor pay any heed to the Rantings of a Demagogue.

Thirdly,Those who critically, examine,What they Read’ or Hear’ and form their own Judgments.

This Article is for the Perusal of the Third Class.

Sufism tells of a God,perfectly distinct,from that,in the Book,who can only be Pleased,with the outward,”Rites’,as given or Tabulated in Various Sufic Orders.The meaning of a ‘Rite’, may point either to the acquisition,of knowledge [power], or to the realization of the Self,The old ”Philosophers” spoke, of two aims of existence,’Enjoyment or Renunciation [or giving up the worldly life].Leading to the ultimate,”Salvation’.And so,the ‘rite’ would depend upon,the ‘Will’,of the performer’,in other words the ‘rite’ is the mean for evoking the ‘will’,which in its turn,starts the awakening,Here perception of potency, of a real-idea,an objective element is

needed to ‘Effectuate’,the idea-force and herein lies the Origin,of Rituals & Mystic,practice.

However the ‘Rationalists,new or old’,,have always looked askance,’in the ritualistic exccess,found in the various Sufic-Orders.

The very word mystic’ is based upon,the word Mystery’,or Mysteries,a name given to certain Ceremonies,in the old Greek religion taken from remote times,which were esteemed,peculiarly ”Sacred’,and might Not’ be freely spoken about,[Delphic Oracles / Amphictyonic Council].In reality this was and remains a Closed subject,on account of the absolute silence maintained and guarded terms in which the few references to it are ‘Couched /Oblique references as given’.

Without entering, further into related subjects like,Occultism,Magic,Alchemy,Astrology,Theo-sophy or the Esoteric Philosophy.We see,that,Sufism,is regarded by most as an reaction to the Arab Islam by those to its North,But,infact it is nothing but a revival of the ancient habits,rituals of the people of North,as well the middle Iranians,of,their,old’ thoughts and ways,The later Persian Poetry as it evolved from the previous Pahalvi of the Sassanids,is like of that in North,full of an ardent natural, ‘Pantheism’,in which comes the ‘Mystic’ apprehensions,of Unity and Divinity, of all things,and so the Verses of Hafiz’ and Saadi’,devoted to Wine and Women’,and even the most ‘Licentious’ of the Verses,have been given a mystical interpretations,The delights of Love’,are made to stand for the raptures of Union,with the Divine,and the Tavern,for them’ Symbolizes,the house of Worship.And the intoxication’,is the bewilderment’ of sense’,before the surpassing Vision.

As to the Etymology of the term,If it has No relationship to the ‘En Suf’,earlier mentioned,of the Jews,the other being,the ‘Suffa’ or the terrace people,over which early muslims slept,in the Mosque built by the Prophet,or the ‘Ikhwanu’s Safa’,the brethren of purity’,or the ‘Ahlu’s-suffa [the people of the bench] or the Arabic word ‘Sufa,’ denoting ‘purity’ or the ‘woollen raiment [suf].

The names of the early sufi’s were ,Ibrahim Adham, of Balkh,which remained a center of Zorastrian,and later Buddhist religion,Fuzail,’was a native,of Merv,another old center of Buddhist,Manichaeism,and Nestorians.Ahmad son of,Khazruvaih,who hailed from Balkh,Abu Sadiq [d.812 AD],was a contempary of Ibrahim Adham,and Hatam Asam too was from Balkh,[d.871 AD].The famous Bayyazid [d.874 AD, of Bistam, [part of old Zorastatrain heart land]‘,He,was amongst the earliest of the Sufi writers,his,best work was, Doctrine of Fana’,[Passing away of Consciousness in Mystical Union],A few’, of his well quoted ,quotes being,”Beneath my Cloak there is Nothing but,God”.I am the Cup bearer,the Wine and the Wine-drinker’.I went from God to God’,till i heard from within, ‘O Thou I’.

Now we come,to, another famed Sufi,”Junyad’,according to Jami [poet],he was the ‘Sayyidu’t-Ta’ifa’,,”The Chief of the Community”.Junayd ,too,spoke in the same gusto,as ‘Bayyazid Bistami’,”For Thirty years”, said ,Junayd,”God spoke with mankind by the Tongue of Junayd,though ,Junayd,was No longer there,and the Men’ knew it, Not”.

In the Crux,according to the,Masters,of Sufic orders,”The Supreme’,degree of the Doctrine of Divine Unity,is the Denial of the Divine Unity”.The most celebrated of this class remains,but,the name of ”Hussain Mansur ”al-Hallaj’,about whom Fariduddin Attar”,would say,His [hallaj] Only fault being,’That he divulged the,”seceret”,as eventually, hallaj’ boasted the words,”An ul Haq”,[ I am the Truth ],meaning he claimed Divinity,or being a divine being’.And about,this famed man,of’ the old Sufi’,the less said, the better,as of the few’ of’ his many accomplishments of knowledge,He” was a ”Sunni amongst the Sunni’,a Shi’i to the Shi’a,and a Mutazili’ to the Mutazilites [Free Thinkers ],Medicine,Alchemy,and Conjuring were a few of his many other Occomplishments,as well, being a Traveller and ofcourse,a Seeker of Knowledge,So in 922 AD,the Man,met his Fate’,keeping in view  his past track record,the state,”Condemned him a death,,”Scourging,Amputation,Decapitation,and eventual burning ”Cremation’.Even than,keeping in view his most prized accomplishment the Gift of a Tongue which had cost him his Life,The Captain of the Guard ‘[Sahibu's-Shutra ],one Mohammad Abdus Samad’,was specially cautioned’,Not to give Heed’,to anything Hallaj’ said”.

The followers of Hallaj’,claim’,the period of his Captivity’ from his first Arrest till his day of Execution’,to be ”Eight years Seven months and Eight days,and so interpret the same in their own Mystic Numbers,and the related Oracles”.

The writer has 30 years of historical research experience.