To Be Continued.......

Neither a victory nor a defeat- High Court in India gives verdict in the Ayodhya issue

The verdict on the Ayodhya dispute is out. But what can you say about a verdict that leaves no winner and no loser, and that too on an issue that has claimed thousands of lives and is as old as independent India itself.

Modern day India has nothing to do with Hindu extremists- these are voices your hear from across the border as the decision dividing the of the site of 16 century Babri mosque between Hindus , Muslims and a Sikh sect in the ratio of 1/3rd each was flashed upon tv screens . Among them is renowned journalist Kuldip Nayar. He denies that urban Indians are affected by this verdict in any way or even that they care at all.
But we know for a fact that an appeal asking for the verdict to be delayed until the controversial Commonwealth games got over was rejected by the Supreme Court in India and also Bollywood movie Anjaana Anjaani ‘s release was delayed so as not to coincide with this ruling. Also, Indians working in the MNCs have been receiving and forwarding text messages to brace up for the aftermath of whatever the court announces.

Probably this is one of the many reasons why the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has played it safe. Status quo for the next three months and everyone in India pretty sure of appeals going to be filed against the decision, the responsibility now lies with the Supreme court to give a decision that would prevent violence from erupting in the biggest secular power in the world where around 60% of communal skirmishes took place post 1992, when the mosque was demolished.

The test of India’s secular soul continues and so does of the political acumen of Congress. The result is still to come out. Till that time, Muslims and others need to live under security, for the saffron extremists could strike any time and that is what neutral forces in India fear the most.

Heli Tale

Diary Khan brings for you an account of the Chinook sortie made last month from Multan airbase to Rojhan. Photo courtesy: Farrukh Asif

A neighboourhood that once was.

I am watching Foriegn Minister Qureshi speak at the UN in New York, telling the world that 20% of Pakistan's land mass is under water. No doubt the devastation is huge.Had it not been for the sortie made by Pakistan Army helicopters, no one would have been able to reach an area as far as Rojhan that has been further deserted because of road access cut off. That is why I see many journalists mostly foriegn , gather at ISPR Multan early morning.

The Chinook rose to a significant height, and all that we see below us on the ground is just water . Water, that has submerged almost all farmland of South Punjab. As I wonder if this land will ever be cultivable again, Viladi from Swedish radio, sitting across me shakes his head, signalling to me that he is scared of what he sees-water and only water with tree tops popping out throughout our sortie that lasts an hour .

Viladi has covered major natural disasters like the Haiti Earthquake and Tsunami in Indonesia. There is no comparison with Pakistan floods, he tells me when we land at Rojhan . Port au Prince was just one city that was destroyed.It was easier to help there also becuase the entire world had extended whole hearted help.He is in shock at what he sees in Pakistan. Relief and reconstruction would be very difficult according to him , given the way affected areas lie all across Pakistan.

Viladi ( left) on theChinook, worried about what he has seen below

In the evening as I give my report on Express 24/7 ,I get a chance to speak with Wajid Shamsul Hassan, Pakistan's high commissioner to UK. He is not only happy with the response of international community but also does not think much of criticism on the government for leaving a vacum in rescue and relief.I remind him of the helplessness of the flood victims and that time was short to act.I am not sure if he understood completely .

Your breadbasket under water

1500,the figure of death toll is in no way reflective of the destruction that the flood water has brought with it. The stagnant water
has taken all the germs from the ground that will make it the breeding ground for death via disease.

Pakistanis and Donors and foriegn governments, need to realise that more lives can be saved ,but only if we act now with all heart and soul .

Multan Mellow

I have fallen in love with Pakistan once again. Anyone heading from Lahore towards Multan across the lush agricultural heartland would . Bollywood tunes sung by popular Pakistani artists being played in the bus remind me of the great talent this country possesses in every field. So, you cannot but agree with the Prime Minister that manpower is the biggest asset of the country.

This manpower however is crying at the moment . The mighty Indus has brought nothing but destruction for them this year . Monsoon rains that are usually received over a span of a month or so came down in just about a week. Result? 1 in every 10 Pakistani is affected directly or indirectly by the floods.

I have reached Multan which is going to be my base as I will move forward towards flood stricken districts of South Punjab to see how my countrymen are coping with the disaster. They are very much on their own. Their country now suffers from an 'Image Defecit', that is keeping international community to extend a wholehearted hand. Culprits being the government for misappropraiting previous aid. Some blame terrorism.

But I am sure , the relient nation that Pakistan is, it will come out of this test successful. Meanwhile I shall try my best to keep you posted.

Not so Great Expectations!

When will life return to normal? Terrorism and now floods.

The best thing about the interaction I had over the last weekend with ladies and gentlemen from quite a few nationalities was that they had all gathered to discuss ideas in the light of different researches they had been part of or had come across some related work.

Over waffles, Norwegian cheese and iced tea, Dr.Robert Nichols, Professor of History at Stockton College, New Jersey USA, spoke about Swat and Models of the renowned Norwegian anthropologist Professor Fredrik Barth.

Professor Nichols does agree with the point of view that many have been impressing upon here at home as well. Moving forward in Swat according to him is only possible when the governments in the region are considered legitimate by the very people they are supposed to rule.

With images of women flogged by Taliban and reports of militants having reached as close as Buner,he feels that the way people of Pakistan asked for a full fledged military operation in Swat was unique in the history of the country.

Because, they say that opportunity never perches twice it is really important that the authorities in Pakistan realise that the time is ripe to answer big question on everyone’s lips not by mere words but real action.

It is not going to help letting people continue to see the damage all around them in the form of destroyed schools and infrastructure, simply meant to disrupt their normal way of life. When would people in Swat be actually able to see a hearing taking place in the court? Laws on paper are of no use if their implementation is no where to be seen.

The professor went on to highlight another feature of society here in the country. Youth of the country has expectations from their government. When they get a modern education, which many of them do manage to acquire, they need a future ahead of them, the first step to which could be a job. Modern societies are required to provide their own future with that opportunity.

So, I left the newly rebuilt Islamabad Marriott with a belief that with the right kind of support from the international community, both financial and moral (by reposing trust in Pakistan) logical conclusions to all the operations that were begun with an aspiration of peace and prosperity can be achieved. We must act now.

Till Death Do Us Apart

Helicopters hovering over the crash site. Helis arrived very late to aid rescuers on the ground

What can you say about a couple who dies in a plane crash just after 5 days of making a promise to each other of living side by side for the rest of their lives. Do you have any words to describe the terrorising agony of a man who could not get on the same plane as his wife and two kids and instead reached their destination before them only to find they would never be able to join him again-neither in Islamabad nor anywhere else in this world.

Bad weather or pilot error -but the picturesque Margallah Hills did become the sight of the deadliest plane crash in Pakistan's Aviation history when Air Blue flight ED202 slammed into the hills that overlook Islamabad.This is the first airplane of any private carrier in Pakistan's history.

Bad weather plus difficult terrain- Rescue work was a huge challenge

Federal Interior Minister has confirmed there are no survivors . All 152 embraced death. A day of mourning tomorrow will register formally the pain , shock and disbelief of not only the families of those who died but also the entire nation.

Everyone eagerly awaits the results of the initial investigation into the cause of the tragedy in the light of last converstaion recorded between the pilot and the control tower. This according to the DG CAA would take atleast 10 days. Till ,the big question arises if the air line that holds responsibility for making the decision to fly, should've allowed the Air Bus A321 to take off from Karachi for Islamabad which was as it is normally during monsoon, in the grip of mist and low clouds. Gripping scenes

Probably the fate of the 152 on board flew them to their death but important lessons would be learnt regarding controlling air traffic and making crucial decisions that could save or take precious lives.

Time will heal these wounds

Lahori Rains

With no deadline for downpours to halt in Lahore, here is a look at what the people are going through....... Bread and butter at stake!

Bathing with no effort at all

The Guy in yellow is a true saviour

Who's my master?

Honeymooners!

Crossing the Ravi?

Your drink on ice?

Get disciplined

Go Get It!

This trophy is actually made of solid gold! Presenting Moving Images segment on the Morning Show.

Photo courtesy Qasim Javed

In addition to the relatively cleaner air and quiet roads of Lahore, interviewing one guest every morning on The Morning Show on Express 24/7 is included in my routine these days.

It takes a minute or so before the guests that appear on the programme have warmed up enough to talk in the chilly studios of the show. Take for example Prof Sajad Razaq-a mind power expert and neurolinguist.

Because I have a friend who is into mind sciences a great deal so I did have a background on the issue. But frankly, the mind sciences funda is quite common sensical! It simply revolves around using one’s brain to the maximum and in the workshops that Prof Sajad and some others like him conduct around the country; they tell you techniques to master that. I mean, you don’t need the IQ of Madonna to practice mind sciences!!

Actually at the heart of all of these techniques is faith. Having faith and confidence in ones own self is the key to self actualization. Overcoming the fear of failure is what helps us achieve our goals. Set realistic targets and then break up the way leading to your goal into small steps. But to start with you must have a goal.

And while you are at it, do not think that you wouldn’t fail because as JK Rowling said in her commencement speech at Harvard

“Some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.”

But remember new life is created by new thoughts. Just keep it positive- after all its all in the head.

Let me practice one mind empowering technique of counting backwards from 50. You can do it, too!!