Edhi, One of Pakistan's greatest Humanitarians passes away

Once there was a legend, who consumed his life for humanity. He set new standards of selflessness and charity. His services for humanity has surpassed all the bounds. This man was a Pakistani who was admired and revered by all and sundry. But alas, as of 8th July 2016 at the ripe, old age of 88; this soul is no more among us but he will live in our hearts forever. He is a true role model for humanity.

Even leading up to his untimely demise, he wanted to help and thus, donated his organs. Though, only his cornea could be used as the rest of his organs weren't healthy. I hope whoever receives his cornea not only gets his sight but also his vision for the world. His now, famous quote, 'No religion is higher than humanity" can not be any more relevant in these times with rampant extremist attacks, ultra-nationalistic xenophobia on the rise among other things. 

How Smartphones Have Changed the way We Interact With Each Other

 Smartphones have changed the way people communicate a lot. This has lead to increase in the way people interact socially. Smartphones have a large number of applications that one can access. The applications increase the number of things one can do using their smartphones. A smartphone has several advantages as it is lighter and easier to carry around. Smartphones have operating systems that can run most programs found in a computer. This means that applications can be created to help one carry out different tasks. The applications may be developed by third parties thus do not necessarily rely on the manufacturer of the smartphone to determine what the smartphone can do. This helps in upgrading the functions of the smartphones after one downloads the applications. The applications have variety of uses for instance chatting which is aided by WhatsApp messenger. Other applications include games which keeps one busy when they are idle or bored thus engaging their minds.

One can use their smartphones to watch a movie or television. This is made possible by cable television networks providing the applications needed to watch television or using YouTube. One can even watch a movie while on the bus either to school or work. A smartphone has several multimedia features that stores music and eBooks. One can download eBooks and music to read or listen to them later. Most people with smartphones find that they use them mostly due to multimedia features. The portability of the multimedia platform has made smartphones more popular.

One can use the smartphone to download documents or create new documents. This is made possible by using applications that are present in the smartphone. The documents can be used later or presented in business meetings from the smartphone to a projector. One can also email and download documents using the smartphone from the Internet.

PTA at it Again (Banning Progressive Facebook Pages)

Ahh PTA, when will you ever learn? First Youtube, then Twitter and even SMS packages because its 'immoral'. And now banning progressive and Liberal pages preaching for a more tolerant and hate-free Pakistan such as Roshni, Taliban are Zaliman (oppressors), Bhangvi and Laal. Ironically pages and websites linked with extremists groups are free and accessible for everybody calling for open-hatred and persecution of minority groups and anti-state action.

I would have written more but since I have my exams I think this excerpt below will describe my thoughts just fine.

In 5th June, 2014 Pakistan Telecommunication Authority connived with Facebook to ban nearly all Pakistani progressive, secular and liberal pages campaigning for a Pakistan with human rights, social justice, equality and no terrorism. 

The irony is that anti state, Taliban pages operate with impunity while the voices of moderation and sanity are silenced by the state organ responsible for regulating telecommunication.  

Pakistan is a country haunted by a troubled past and its involvement in Afghan Soviet war tattered the social fabric, society was deeply radicalized religiously and space for progressive discourse shrank over the years until broadband internet penetration began to see a stellar rise in Pakistan under General Pervaiz Musharraf's reign. The introduction of broadband internet provided some space for the progressive and moderate forces

This development also blessed the embattled progressive Pakistanis with an unparalleled opportunity to channel their narrative to a much larger audience and that too without the fear of persecution in a society where being aligned with liberal thought alone merits ones life to be taken away. This was because the web offered a certain degree of anonymity. 

The social media, particularly Facebook effectively started giving a new picture of things earlier obscured because a variety of factors including state censorship. This increasing spread of awareness potentially has the ability to contribute to a change in the Status Quo with a better aware policy.

Wanna-be's but never Will-be's: The Pakistani Diaspora

Credits: Mirsub Ali Fazlani. Yes, I know I wrote Diaspora wrong. Silly me.

This is a Guest Post by Feriha Jazeb.

Life is full of endless twists & twirls but how you whether through them defines who you really are.

Enough has already been penned and reported on the issue, but we just don’t seem to come out of this eloquence.It seems baffling at first, the substance that GENERALLY, we trend to think that dwelling in another domicile, being international, is appealing all the time, but yes, ethics cannot be confined to an entire race, culture or civilization (States are not Planets Of Hats). Those who are sweating to adhere with Brits (This is the good idea), you will feasibly fail instead of whatever preparations you try, but you can do a fairly good job if you are entirely focused.

Let's turn on steam at Pakistani people living abroad,who had implanted themselves as British citizens, would never dump their British nationalities. Although by their tone, language, convention and customs, they are Pakistanis but by passport they are British nationals. They are modernized and adapting to western society. They have compensated their cultural tradition, heritage and identity for a western custom (Black on the outside, white on the inside i.e; coconut). They remain un-uttered about their national pedigree, just to avoid useless trouble. After every effort they made to hook up with Brits they are still not accepted and are sabotaged by western society. They in fact are marginalized. For British society they are “too black” or “too Asian and back home (i.e.,Pakistan) they are anticipated as “too white” or “too western\"(chocolate coated westerners). As we look further into this behavior, we realize that they do have genuine reasons. Pakistani Diaspora being slurred in their workplaces; our students being slammed and contra-distinguished against in the developed world, Pakistani passport raises eyebrows at airports. I can personally uphold for the straight stuff that anyone who is not a local or a gora, is subject to serious injustice, and Pakistanis too are pierced in a meticulous manner.

Edward Snowden: Whistleblower

An example of a decent human being.

This is a guest post by Tristan Ryan.

Before I begin, I’d like to apologize for my sub-par writing 
skills. Although I’m not the worst out there, I don’t do this often, and what you get might be more of a rant or something very rough (perhaps both!) than anything. On top of that, I have my nephew in the same room as me playing with my dogs. I love him to death, but god, he can be distracting.

Anyways, if you’ve been keeping up with current events recently, you might know about all sorts of things happening in America and across the globe, from that verdict in the Trayvon Martin case that let another child murderer get away to Edward Snowden and his noble work to put information and power into the hands of the people. Today, instead of racial tensions emerging from the Trayvon Martin case, I’ll be focusing on our good ol’ pal, Edward.

I’ll give a quick summary for those who haven’t been keeping up with current events recently or just haven’t learned about this yet. Edward Snowden was an intelligence contractor and system admin for the NSA (National Security Agency) who exposed the USA and UK’s spy programs, called PRISM (US) and Tempora (UK) that were (and still are) violating the privacy of not only their citizens, but citizens of other people from other countries. When he leaked this data, a cocktail of people got pissed for a cocktail of reasons. The people and other governments got pissed for being spied on and having their privacy violated, and the governments that were spying got pissed for having their privacy violated (because they honestly seem to care about privacy).

Stuck in a rut: Pakistan's Political Scene

This is a guest post by Usama Guddar. (hey, I came up with the title).

With Raja Pervaiz Ashraf getting the premiership, I decided not to worry about Pakistan anymore. I was determined to move from here as soon as I find an opportunity. However, today again I feel like I should post something. It's all about the "selection" 2013. (Yeah you heard that right! Not election, I said selection)

Starting from the fiascoes of the PPP government to Nawaz Sharif's so called opposition party, to Pervaiz Illahi's becoming the deputy premier (that was an invention, btw) to Imran Khan fever among all the kiddos of the country, I have a lot to say. Lets not talk about PPP or Nawaz Sharif and confine ourselves to Imran Khan today. Allow me to talk about the "Jinnah" of this gumrah-kun nation.

Imran Khan rose up with such a momentum that we all thought he will clean sweep this time. Those music concerts, t-shirts posing IK as the revolutionist of the century and the heated speeches of him (not to mention those memes) are still up on my mind. To tell you how much our people got obsessed by him, those idiots started comparing him with Jinnah. I got this text from someone counting the similarities between the two. Jinnah was in the Hall of fame of his university and so do Imran. Jinnah did this and Imran also did the same. Guess they wanted Imran's photo on the currency notes instead of Jinnah's. Isn't it too much?

The Sarabjit Conundrum: India-Pak tensions rise again

This Amateur artwork is presented by yours truly, Mirsub. Microsoft Paint, you have saved me once again.

Note: As admin, I've seen this whole drama unfold on Twitter and in the media and it's simply ludicrous. Strayed from the Punjab? Yeah, O.K.
-Mirsub

Guest blog by Fatima Sajjad. She writes for the Tribune.

I am not a blogger or writer and never have I tried my hand at it but the Pakistan India topics are always an interesting choice to begin with! Moreover the Sarabjit Case and the false potrayal of him as 'just a farmer' has forced me to let it out.

I am not an anti-Indian but the way they have reacted to this situation and similar ones has changed my view of them. Lets start with what their very well know and learned people had to say about Pakistan, Javed Akhtar called Pakistan a 'petty establishment' after the death of Sarabjit and others termed Pakistan as an insensitive nation. I ask them,if Pakistan is a petty establishment why did they release several other prisoners convicted of terrorist activites,examples can include Gopaal Daas and Surjeet Singh who were recently pardoned and sent back home safe and sound! If Pakistan is a petty estabilishment why did our soldiers send the little Indian girl,that too with new clothes,candies etc,back to India with full safety! Also,is not India a petty estabilishment too as after the Sarabjit Incident one Pakistani prisoner was attacked by his inmates in Jammu and just by the way he has been struggling for a living as well why is this not telecasted?

Karachi. Here we go again.

Karachi is up to it's same old antics again. Another week, another bombing; the residents here have become used to this. So used to it that we tend to forget that these are not mere stats and figures but people. With lives. 

Some of us rush to social media sites expressing our 'grief' and school-going kids go contemplate whether tomorrow shall be a holiday or not. Let's not forget the good ole' media sensationalizing this by playing un-authorized dramatic soundtracks from movies showing or showing mother clutching their dead sons to their chest.

But as-always the residents of Karachi shall stay strong. Now I've lived in Karachi for almost half my life, if it's one thing it has. It's hope.

The Chronicles of an Insomniac Pakistani Teenager

Another day, another sleepless night. These are ramblings of every insomniac. Speaking of Insomnia, I'm writing a book with the same title as this post.

I always found it funny when it's 11 p.m, I can barely in myself to keep myself awake but by the time it's 2 a.m I'm jumping all 

I am so frickin' high right now.

over the place like some bunny rabbit whose high on cocaine.

Usually I'm raiding the fridge in my (usually fruitless) quest of a midnight snack or I'm walking around aimlessly with earphones plugged in wondering what I should do. As an avid gamer, I spend my nights wrapped in blanket playing video games till the crack of dawn (which by then, I'll sleep). Though, there's only so much COD you can play and currently I've pretty much finished most my single player campaigns. 

 

Messiah's, Assassinations and What-not!?

Hey there guys, sorry for not posting again after some time. Blogging been taking a bit of a back-seat for me lately. Started making music again (After almost year, due to school).

Anyways, back to topic. The past few weeks for Pakistan have been volatile to say the least. Another MQM official shot dead in Karachi, and Tahir Ul Qadri; a Pakistani-Canadian Sufi Scholar turned Politician/Messiah is taking the centre stage. 

His call for a "million-man march" in favour of reforms and against corruption has propelled cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri to the status as the champion of Pakistan's middle class. Although the protest in Islamabad will achieve little, it casts a spotlight on the population's growing displeasure and it's dwindling faith in Pakistan's mainstream political parties. His liberal views, his open condemnation of terrorism does have my support; though not sure on his motivation for suddenly returning to Pakistan. If he is what he says he is, then he might just turn things around or be another let-down.

Cause and Effect: Social Marketing and its Impact on Society

Facebook is the world's most commonly used social networking site, boasting over one billion regular users. Twitter is becoming increasingly popular as well. These networking sites are by far different than the primitive MySpace and Friendster that used to be popular among teenagers and young adults in the early 2000s. Today we'll discuss how these new and improved social networking sites can actually have drastic impact on our society.

The Arab Spring

In the spring of 2011, many countries in the Middle East had dramatic revolutions and government changes. The citizens in these countries came together in mass numbers and demanded changes. Facebook and other social networking sites played a role in the organization of these gatherings by spreading the word to as many people as possible. Unfortunately, when the governments discovered what they were doing, they took away access to Facebook or to the Internet altogether.

The Beauty of Hypocrisy

Guest post by Ibraheem  Nadeem. He Blogs.

"History never remembers the good"

This quote is as immortal as the people it is talking about. Adolf Hitler, Osama Bin Laden, Jack the Ripper. You shudder to think of these men. How could they have possibly lived with themselves? Such unspeakable acts, too macabre to even speak of in casual settings. But alas, we know more about them than we do about Ghandi or Quid-E-Azam or even the man who uttered this very quote! Remembering small facts about them are onerous  tasks that we eventually get frustrated with and give up on. Now I dare you to think of the scandalous ones, the ones that are gossiped about. Those select few who are worthy enough of your judgemental 'tuts'.

Marie Antoinette, Marilyn Monroe... and Veena Malik?
You may think these women are recalitrant rebels but you only think so because they do not conform to your idea of acceptable. And what is acceptable? To cover yourself entirely in a black cloak while going out of the house?  No no, we're much too evolved to still have that thinking. How about letting your daughters leave the house in tights and sleeveless shirts? Well then be prepared for the honorary speech about how we're still not that far gone in our conservative society. 

What's ironic is that Marilyn Monroe was at the height of her career almost sixty two years ago doing exactly what Veena Malik is doing now. Marilyn Monroe was crowned as the worlds biggest sex icon and still holds that title. She was renowned for her flirting, her notorious break downs and marriages and not to mention the nude photos. Marilyn Monroe knew no bounds and yet no one judged her. She did whatever she did with grace and elegance. She retained a jocular attitude towards life that entranced everyone. Thought a lot of people often justified her actions with, "She had a troubled past and that's bound to haunt her" it was more to justify why they empathise with her rather than why she did the provocative things she did. 

They pitied her a lot of the time and she either hated it or thrived off it. Even now her quotes are infamous for the pain they held. But I am not here to justify her gyrating ways or her troubles. I'm here to ask a question.

Why is she any different to Veena Malik? Their careers are built on the same sex symbol title, they both did the same things to achieve it. But then why is it that she was accepted sixty two years ago when people are believed to have been more narrow minded, than Veena Malik is now in our so called evolved society?

One word. EXAMS.

One word. Exams. The one thing everyone with strict asian  parents fear the most. As each day brings me closer to it, the more the frustration seems to mount. Time to make a status about 'de-activating' your facebook account (but never actually doing that)  how you need to study more. I need to get at very 'least' a B+ and according to my parents, anything less than is a fail. And I have another word for you...SLEEP DEPREVATION.  Just what I need.

Some Eid-Ul-Adha (Bakra Eid) Memes!

First of all...Eid Mubarak!

Before I start of, here's a little introduction to those not familiar with Islam.

Eid al-Adha , also called Feast of the Sacrifice, the Major Festival, the Greater Eid and Bakr Eid, is an important 3-day religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to honor the willingness of the prophet ʾIbrāhīm (Abraham) to sacrifice his young firstborn son Ismā'īl (Ishmael) a as an act of submission to God, and his son's acceptance of the sacrifice before God intervened to provide Abraham with a ram to sacrifice instead.

To my long-time readers sorry for not making a post in a while. To make it up to you...here's some Eid memes:

Enjoy!

Because Bakra Eid is so metal

Pakistan Coming to It's Senses: Rimsha Bailed!

Rimsha Masih,  the Pakistani Christian girl accused of blasphemy for allegedly defacing the Qu' ran has been released on bail.

Even the most veracious supporters of the blasphemy law have come out in support of the 11-year-old girl allegedly suffering from Down’s Syndrome.

Khalid Jadoon Chishti, the Muslim Cleric who fabricated evidence against Rimsha in order to get the christian community in his area to leave (a claim which he denies) to leave has been arrested and himself accused of blasphemy.

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are based on British colonial laws dating from 1860 and were amended in the 1980s to add life imprisonment and the death penalty by then dictator General Ziaul Haq. 

Prominent figures like Salman Taseer (the former governor of Punjab) and Shahbaz Bhatti (the Federal Minister for Minorities) have been assassinated for their opposition to the blasphemy laws.

Good thing to see Pakistan coming back to it's senses, I can finally sleep at night knowing that there's still a glimmer of hope of this Country.

A View From Both Sides : India and Pakistan

Note. this is a guest post by an Indian Blogger who wishes to remain anonymous. He is new to blogging so I helped him out and added some of my points here and there.

I have a theory, that if if I were really drunk, and wake up in Karachi somehow, I won't  know I'm not in India; the vegetation is similar, the people are brown, the cars are same online the adverts/brands will be different and to an extent, the language.

Sadly, the stereotype is that Pakistani= terrorists. Not in all communities, but thats just how it is. It's sad, but true. Especially since kasab and all that.

Take the cities of Karachi and Mumbai for example. Before partition, Karachi and Mumbai were known as twin cities. Karachi faces political violence with the PPP and MQM at each others throats and Sindhi vs. Urdu speaking (Muhajirs) communal conflict. Now I see why.all the above is true for Mumbai, just replace Sindhi with Maharashtrain and replace Muhajirs with Bihari. You have sea view road, we have marine drive.

We're like two pieces of the same jigsaw puzzle.

Mitt Romney is Retarded

Microsoft Paint maybe basic but it sure does the trick.

I've seen many stupid presidential candidates in my time (Herman Cain can be a good example) but so far, Mitt Romney take take's the cake for being the most retarded one. 
 
Now, I'm not an expert in US Politics but Mitt Romneys's economic plan isn't exactly reassuring; benefiting the rich rather than the poor.

Though, today I'll be talking more about his foreign policy. During his trip to Israel he makes the following statement:

*Clears throat*

"As you come here and you see the GDP per capita, for instance, in Israel which is about $21,000 dollars, and compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority, which is more like $10,000 per capita, you notice such a dramatically stark difference in economic vitality. And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things.”

Or in other words. Jewish culture is superior than Palestinian culture that's why the occupied territories have a lesser GPD than Israel and NOT because of Israel’s restrictions on trade and strict border blockade (which is responsible for crippling the Palestinian economy). 

What's Wrong With Being Brown?

I think we're all aware of India's (and Pakistan's) obsession with being fair. Want proof ? 

Let this video do the talking:

And believe me, I've seen even more pompous crap like 
this. Ever seen something soo retarded that you stand there looking all awe-struck? Not sure about you but me, plenty. I mean..what's wrong with being brown? 

In Other News: Veena Malik to host an Ramadan TV Show

She couldn't get any more controversial, could she? After the recent nude cover shot for FHM India (or top-less as she would call it). She decides to get all Religious and decides to host a Ramzan show on Hero TV called "Astaghfaar"

Now I know what your thinking " *face palm* Paagal Aurat (Crazy woman)".  But then again, this is VEENA MALIK we are talking about here, she's no stranger to firing mufti's up. 

The Curse Of A South Asian Couch Potato

 
 Note. This is a Guest Post by Adeena Siddiqui. She Blogs and tweets.
 
I gave no interest in Pakistani shows whatsoever and in this post I’m going to tell you just that. Thank you Mirsub for giving me a chance to tell all of you the error of our television industry.

So first off, let’s talk about the horror that is the morning show phenomenon. *dhang dhang dhaaaang*

Not far are the days when somebody just smashes their heads in the TV because of Nida Yasir’s ‘wedding week’ or Shaista Wahidi’s take on Supernatural. I mean, morning shows are about waking up and enjoying a cup of coffee  with your viewers and talking about current affairs and have interesting guests around. I’m sorry but I don’t remember the last time I saw that happen.