Re: Hasan Nisar and nude beaches in Pakistan

This is in response to the Express Tribune blog article titled "Hasan Nisar and nude beaches in Pakistan".

The article initiated off in line with an avid observation however, there was no connection of the arguments provided later on in the article to the original point. It was as though the writer was blaming the social norms in the country for the lack of availability of nude beaches. At one end, there was the discussion of whether a woman should be allowed out of the house and at the other the hypocrisy of the Pakistani nation to resort to using proxies was cited. The article in totality was neither balanced nor did it succeed it connecting the dots starting with Hasan Nisar's original observation. 

Not doubting the intention of the writer nor the analytical baggage, however there should have been a clearer connection in the arguments and could have established a better connection between the original observation of Hasan Nisar's comment on nude beaches and the societal allowances prevalent today. The talk about frustration and survival instincts were particularly good in connecting with the societal barricades in place but there was little relevance to the final conclusion of using proxies instead of having nude beaches. Also, there were some flaws in the argument where "freedom for all genders" was brought into the discussion. It should be remembered that "freedom" and "equality" and "equity" are all separate things and that if one were to judge all things against the same rubric, then it would not be feasible for anyone to co-exist.

In the least the statement, "We need to make the world a better place to live in and freedom for all genders is necessary for that." failed to link the thought to the topic of nude beaches. Danish, you ought to do better next time!

A people of blood

As bizarre accounts of man's brutality come pouring in, so does it bring the grief with it that one feels for the loss of innocent lives. On paper Gilgit is embossed in curfew but few know that extremist factions of Islam...paganism...have begun the free massacre of Shia Muslims at their own will and desire despite army curfews.

Having read through what one eye witness had to say, I could not imagine what had gotten into/out the minds of the killers who have by now tried a number of brutal ways to exterminate whom they have so proudly pronounced as 'kaafirs (infidels)'. Declaring themselves as champions of Islam, they are doing in the 21st century what is definitely against both the teachings of Islam and human dignity. To kill a human without justified cause is a grave sin in Islam and that too on a religious belief or ideology is sheer idiocy and hypocrisy.

Though the account could not be verified independently, upon researching through contacts, I came to know of atrocities so brutal being committed by non-state actors that I am tearful at the moment and do not wish to elaborate them here (like our media fondly loves to).

Nothing can be as painful and grieving as what Imam Hussain (A.S.) and His companions suffered on 10th Muharram 61 AH and afterwards and throughout history, various dynasties have done their best to kill the followers of the Prophet's (S.A.W.W.) own kin. But what is happening in Gilgit and Skardu is a big slap on a nation that claims to be fighting against terror.

I request each one of you who reads this to continue spreading it because the media has turned a cold shoulder to this minority of Pakistan that has suffered at the hands of various rulers throughout the last 1400 years.  Sitting on our cozy sofas on speedy machines thousands of miles away from the scene of gross injustice does not relieve us of our responsibility to do whatever we can to condemn the grave injustice. Because if it this does not wrench our hearts, then God knows what will.

Religious Fanaticism

This article highlights the plight of minorities in Pakistan: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/03/05/city/karachi/rinkle-chose-or-forced-to-be-faryal/

Economic, political, ethnic or social - a minority is a minority and vulnerable to the injustices that human extremes can think of. The case of Rinkle is very humiliating to the flag of Islam. There is no law, decree, stipulation, ayat (verse) in the Holy Quran that calls for the action that the influential baba ordered his disciples to undertake. Pretty sad that these people on the outside are associated with Islam because in reality they have nothing to do with Islam and Islam has got nothing to do with them. Though the report, the original story and the circumstances are all debatable, the incident in itself is not surprising. Rural villages in Sindh and Punjab and for that matter anywhere in the world have instances where people tend to engage in fanaticism when it comes to petty issues. Such cases often do not see the light of the day and in some cases, the media is only exploiting the victims to get themselves a story. Not passing judgments here but just have a feeling that as long as there is illiteracy on the outskirts of our population, such incidents will continue to give a negative to Pakistan and Islam.