Emad's Blog (Under Renovation)

2009-05-25T20:26:00.000+06:00

Hosted A Massive House Party! Pictures Soon.

The (non-)P.C. Post

2009-05-23T21:42:00.000+06:00

London is diverse. The harmony of various cultures operate together is intriguing. I wouldn't say it's assimilation per se - rather it's more of a comfortable truce of mutual respect. While you do get your pockets of racism here and there, it's seldom something that becomes an impediment in every day life.

In that spirit then, here are a few juicy insights from my new home:

Brown people are generally the most racist of the lot.
Romanians are the new Indians. They're everywhere. There is no escape.
Contrary to my prior beliefs, women do cut your hair better. You can't discuss politics on the chair though.
British girls - generally not very hot.. generally not very aware of that fact.
British guys can actually be fun. Except when they drink. They drink a lot.
British-born Pakistanis. Steer clear of them. 'nuff said.
Indians here all have affected accents. All of them.
The only thing worse than 'Cheers!' and 'mate!' is 'Cheers, mate!'
Where are all the Chinese people?
People admit to liking pop music.
More people know the color of the outfit Paris Hilton wore to the club last night, than the name of their neighbour.
The classiness of a club is inversely proportional to the number of Aussies present.
Turkish people are nicer in Turkey than in London.

There. I think I've p****d off most people I know.

Lovin' the diversity.

(fun fact: I accidently posted that on the mail nomadlife page by mistake! EEK!)

The Universe And I

2009-05-22T00:14:00.003+06:00

I recently engaged in a rather insightful exercise with a small subset of my real close friends. These guys are part of an elite (!) group of people that I would imagine know me quite well.

Q. Where do you see me in 10 yrs?

After brushing aside the initial feelings that it might be a joke, they were all kind enough to indulge - Here's a subset:

"I see you back in Pakistan making a different to that society..."

"I think u will have your own business..something different..but not a non-profit..."

"You will be working as a VP in some multinational evil corporation..."

"I see you working in some high flying organization in dubai..having a place with a flamingo pink sports car..."

"You've built ur own company with a coupla other crazy dudes involved in lotsa different initiatives..."

"So i see you all cool and professional in the corporate world doing cool stuff, supporting lots of cool organizations.. giving motivational speeches..."

"i see you heading up a kick ass company that makes wicked money but is also helping to build capacity in pakistan so ur not making soap and plastic shit..."

"working for your own company in Pakistan, being involved in some good international projects together with your friends from all overthe world.. projects meant to bring peace..."

"I see you in south africa selling coal..."

Save for my last friend (lol!), everyone has similar thoughts about what my future holds. There's a variety if 'impact' elements, but everyone seems rather united in seeing it done through a particular path..

The shock really starts to kick in on the personal side of things -

"I think you'll have a girlfriend so you're not necessarily married. And she's not Pakistani..."

"you would be married to a rather desi girl with one kid (AAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! =p)"

"happily married to a girl with "model" like features who your ami jee will select ! and ull be a content man..."

"freshly married :)"

"I would put my guess (on you being married) at somewhere around 30-31. i think u will make a decent husband but you will make an awesome father."

"with a f****** hot wife :)"

"you'll marry at 31 to a girl whose half pathani and half iranian...will have 2 kids...boy and a girl..."

Marriage? Kids? Really, guys?

The entire exercise has me rather confused. The confidence my friends have in me is rather fear-inducing. However, my future appears to hold no real surprises. Nothing unpredictable. Certainly, nothing outside-the-box.

Answers to that question open up counterless others.

Why Blog Now..

2009-03-04T00:14:00.003+05:00

I haven't written in many months. Was looking to reinvent this space in light of a very new and different life I'm leading. Many good things are happening in that life..

I'm drowned in indescribable hate at this moment for coming back and writing about all the things that I wished to never have to discuss.

Today was especially dark.. too close, too personal. I live less than 10 minutes away from the location at which the incident took place: Liberty square - the heart of modern Lahore, a place seldom affected by the chaos that you read about in the papers every day in relation to Pakistan.

There's also a deep sense of embarrassment stemming from the fact that those that were targeted were the one's that came to play cricket in a country everyone else had refused to do so. Cricket is the lifeline of a Pakistani. We don't have a Bollywood or a crazy happening night life, but Cricket is what we live for, every day. Every child in Pakistan grows up dreaming of becoming Imran Khan, and that single moment captured on camera when he lifted the crystal World Cup trophy is by far the most inspiration moment in the country's 62 years of history.

And the events of today have effectively signed the death certificate for the only thing that is a source of passion and hope to a Pakistani.

Further shame and fury stems from the aftermath. As always, everyone, led by the media has begun the process of blaming India, American Drones, India, Tamil Tigers, Taleban, India, Nawaz Sharif and India, the government, ISI, the army, the chimpanzees, the colour blue, and India. Why is the press calling it 'Our Mumbai'? It's not. It's my Lahore - and I'm having a pretty damn rough time dealing with this!

Can we not for once stop absolving ourselves in this convenient manner. We need to be spending every living moment kicking our own behinds for our complacency and apathy. Take some responsibility! And for God's sake, stop asking God for help! Take SOME responsibility!

End Of An Era - Initial Reactions

2008-08-18T17:43:00.011+06:00

As someone that has spent their teen years watching a Pakistan under Musharraf, this is the only era of Pakistan that I know from experience. All else that I know of my country comes from either a reading of history or speaking with those older than me.

While today appears to reflect in some manner the series of events that led to a similar resignation of Ayub Khan almost 40 years ago, for me this experience was very new, and it leaves me with many thoughts, emotions and concerns.

This post is no attempt to sum up the last 9 years, to analyze his successes or failures - political, economic or social, or a glorification of the Musharraf era or otherwise. It is a mere exercise in thinking aloud and reflecting on recent history and the future of this country.

Musharraf resigning - with English translation

Sitting at the student lounge at LUMS, I saw the small crowd erupt in an applause the moment the words (I translate), ".. in light of this, I am resigning from my post", were spoken by the now former President Musharraf.

Almost 9 years ago, I had rejoiced in a similar manner seeing him oust Nawaz Sharif in a military-led coup. For years after that, I was a vehement supporter of the man and his policies, calling him a benevolent leader. I did buy into his charisma and the straightforward manner of his expression. I did appreciate the skill and confidence with which he carried the flag of the country internationally. I liked the easing relationship with India and I appreciated the moderate views he brought with him to office. My single bone to pick with him (big bone, that!) was the fact that he was an unelected military person, and for that, I opposed him in principle, while I did speak about voting for him, should he contest a direct national election.

However, over the past year, I was the same person who had to switch sides due to Musharraf's actions on the judiciary and the state of emergency. I marched along the civil society, chanting 'Time to Go, Musharraf!', and I wore a black armband to register my silent protest, wherever I went and I protested the loss of civil liberties that are at the foundation of the social development of any nation.

The country is bigger than one man, be it ANY man.

So what does the future hold?

He's probably going to remain in Pakistan. I don't see Musharraf being prosecuted as he has probably bargained his immunity in return for a resigning and preventing a lengthy and intense impeachment process. But it is now that the political focus will shift to the differences between the coalition parties PPP and PML-N. There will be massive horse-trading for the decision of who will succeed Musharraf and there is bound to be friction on other issues such as the restoration of the judiciary, the state of the economy, the War on Terror and so on..

In any case, I am terribly concerned to the point of fear for the upheaval that lies ahead. I dread a Pakistan ruled by Zardari. Just like every other Pakistani, I truly do. But that may in fact be the price we have to pay to move ahead in the hope for democracy and the institutional development that is bound to come after this period of strife. Let me reiterate: It is GOOD to see the end of an era led by an unelected man. It is GOOD to see the remnants of military rule disappear for now. Musharraf, for all his true intentions, was the embodiment of both. It is GOOD to see hope return.

Coming back into my classy little financial sector office, I reflect on the events of today while staring blankly at the stock market's graph for today. I guess popular sentiment wins the day.

The Karachi Stock Exchange - 100 Index for today

There IS this one thing, though. I do hope to one day sit with Mr Musharraf and really talk about what was it that drove him through his term and what specifically was the thought process behind the events that took place in his last year. I hope to someday understand.

Primal Instincts

2008-08-16T15:59:00.002+06:00

Today's been one of those days you get up in the morning, and with a smile on your face you try to exude positive energy for the day. And then.. the universe begins to conspire against you. To test your resolve towards that positive energy. And you fail!

You go to get your car thats lying with the workshop. It's not fixed.

Fight or Flight?

Flight. You ask the guy to make a temporary fix so you can use it for a few hours.

You're driving to your next stop when standing at a traffic signal, a motorbike zooms by, hitting your sideview mirror. It's intact. You look at the biker who doesn't appear the least bit apologetic.

Fight or Flight?

Flight. You smile and let it go. You still wanna save this day.

You begin the pursuit of a 'Passport protector' - a ridiculous, pointless, mindnumbing, expensive, time consuming process that a Pakistani has to engage in when they are planning to start work internationally. Long story short, this was your 4th visit to that office and you had finally gotten all the documents and their exact number of photocopies and the bank receipts to submit your application. They tell you that your passport shall be returned to you in a few hours and that you had to sit for a compulsory 'Living outside Pakistan' briefing.. Sigh..

So you go for the briefing which is a gruelling two hours of bullshit, about how you must be a responsible Pakistani, respect the law, pray 5 times, live in the religiously 'correct' manner (that was how the speaker described not sleepin around so you don't contract AIDS! Funny that this guy was still so uncomfortable with talking about it given he does the EVERY day for the last 15 years. Oh well!). You thank your lucky stars for being tech savvy and begin chatting randomly on Gtalk on your cell phone via eBuddy. Then there is a voice coming from an untidy, extremely corrupt looking official, 'Come get your passports now!'. The expected hoard of people begin throwing fists at each other in an effort to get ahead. You decide that you're better than this and you will wait for the nonsense to be over before you get yours. Funnily, yours is the first name thats called so you have to make your way through the mess of living breathing flesh that is between you and the window where your passport is being held hostage. You finally make it there, getting jabbed and pummeled by a few people on the way and stand there waiting for instructions. The grumby dimwit on the window tells you to stop wasting everyone's time, and you're like 'Woah?', still waiting for him to peacefully hand over your documents. He gives you a dirty look grabs your passport and throws it at your face.

Fight or Flight?

Flight. Swearing under your breath you take your green booklet and walk off.

Next stop's a photo studio. You want to print your some pictures of close friends to take with you. You go in and hand over your flash disk. The guy, who looks like he had been having domestic issues looks at you and says, 'No'. 'No?', you ask. 'No!', he reiterates.

Fight or Flight?

Flight. You take your flash disk back and walk back to your car.

Driving carefully, you look for a parking space in a congested market. You find one. You smile. You're patiently waiting for the exiting vehicle to peacefully be able to leave so you can replace yours in that space. Waiting. Waiting. BANG! You look at your rear view mirror and you see some random striker has decided to hit your car. You get out, still trying to keep your composure to expect the damage. You look at the person in the car and it's a gray haired old man with a family. You smile and you say, 'Please be careful, Sir. You could hurt someone.' You've been brought up to respect gray haired dudes as a general rule. Of course, it doesn't work vice versa. He starts screaming at you for having stopped like that. You continue to be polite and tell him to walk away without incident even though its his fault. He curses at you loudly.

Fight or Flight? Fight! You blow your lid. Within a matter of moments you transform from the cool headed, sweet talking, respectful young man, to a street style, pissed off, flustered, growling, visibily furious person. You are ready to bash his head into the pavement for swearing at you when you were being so polite and when it was his fault. His family hold him back as he makes a symbolic attempt to come out of the car and lock horns with you. You're ready! His eyes give him away. He isn't. You let him walk away.

You park at your prized spot, and go into the departmental store to pick up a new perfume. The guy at the counter is no eager beaver. You ask him if he has the brand you want. You can see it behind him on the shelf. He looks around, and says he doesn't. You point it out. He says, 'No'. 'No?', you ask? 'No!', he reiterates.

Fight or Flight?

Flight. You're done dealing with these morons. You'll come back another day.

On your way home of course, a car decides to come outta nowhere head-on on the wrong side of the road. You swirl outta it's way just in time and it clips your side view mirror. It shatters into a million pieces, as glass flies directly towards your face. Thanks to your sunglasses, you can still see as you type this post.

You're now going to go hide under a quilt and wait for this day to pass without further event. Good luck to you!

Truly Tragic

2008-08-16T00:57:00.002+06:00

My Nokia N70 decided a couple of days ago to stop notifying me when I would get new messages or missed calls. You have NO idea how annoying that can be.

96 hours of software updates and reading every forum out there, all I could find was that there were others with the same problem and no known fixes existed! Sigh.. After trial and error, I figured the only way to fix this was to delete ALL my text messages. Now I feel like a year of my history has been erased - 2800+ msgs..

This sucks more than anything that has ever sucked before!

Theory Time

2008-08-08T00:26:00.002+06:00

Chain of events that might be possible in the next few weeks:

1. Musharraf's impeachment begins
2. Musharraf restores judges, NRO potentially gets thrown out
3. Impeachment fails
4. Musharraf used the constitutional clause to dissolve parliament (saying I gave them a chance but they ruined the country)
5. Musharraf resigns taking a moral high ground making (4) look selfless
6. Caretaker government formed. Military plays a role in constituting it.
7. Caretaker government files a petition with the Supreme Court to not have re-elections in 90 days since the political atmosphere does not allow for elections.
8. Caretaker government spends 1-3 years in office, being run behind the curtains by the military.
9. Stability returns
10. Possible chance of assassination attempts on Nawaz/Shahbaz or Nawaz getting back in power as he has a clear victory in this chapter

Word has it that Benazir's son, Bilawal, who is co-Chairman of the PPP has refused to sign a power of attorney to Zardari saying, 'Mama said no!'. Her daughter recently tried to commit suicide and the kids are all against him. Breakup of the PPP is a potential outcome.

Of course certain things such as the Taleban situation, relations with India, etc. still remain in the open..

This I-day, I pray for my country..!

Round 1 - FIGHT!

2008-08-06T17:22:00.002+06:00

The politics in Pakistan are about to take a real interesting turn. The PPP and PML-N, leading parties of the coalition have reached a consensus on impeaching Musharraf. Reports just coming in that Musharraf, in an act of self-defense, has signed the order for restoration of the judges of the Sindh High Court.

Now, the controvesial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), that protects Zardari, Kingpin from the PPP, is under direct threat due to judges being back. Musharraf is making a point saying, you mess with me, I KEEEEL you!

"God makes dinosaur. God kills dinosaur. God make man. Man makes dinosaur. Dinosaur kills man." (Jurassic Park)

What be happen now!

World Peace Starts At Home

2008-08-02T16:16:00.004+06:00

Over the last couple of days, a lot of things have spun out of proportion in Pakistani foreign relations. The latest episode is where the heat is on the ISI for playing a malicious role. It's really all a big mess. I am pretty pro intelligence reform but the nature of these organizations whether they are called ISI, CIA, Mossad, RAW, KGB and so on will always remain rather shady.

There's a lot of negative news coming out of Pakistan and I felt a great sense of grief while writing this article for Voices. I certainly hope more than anything else, I am able to one day write about success and prosperity, the way I have had to write about despair and failure.

In 12 days, this country turns 61 yrs old. Perhaps, now.. A little less conversation, a little more action required for Pakistan. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Hell Structure Task Force - 1st Meeting's Minutes

2008-07-26T15:03:00.005+06:00

Given the suggestion of an awesome friend, I figured, I'd post my own little list of people I would like to structure hell for:

Types of People who will have special, customized place in hell for them

Aunties in South Asia that insist on asking young people when they will get married
People who continue to tell me how awesome Dark Knight is, knowing fully well I do not have access to it
Drivers that choose to constantly drive with high beams on
Visa Officers
Incompetent people at work that give each other continuous and needless credit and praise
Editors that make 'little changes' to my written pieces without consent

(It's still Friday in some part of the world when I post this, I hope! And I know they're not five. Deal with it.)

Apt!

2008-06-22T13:54:00.002+06:00

- Friday, The 13th -

2008-06-13T23:13:00.005+06:00

Sticking to the theme then..

Five Incessant Fears I Live With

Apathy - I no longer want to make a difference/change the world
All my closest friends would be married and the peer pressure builds while I continue to blindly pursue 'the perfect one' for me
Balding/Deteriorating Eyesight Combo
Alzheimer's.. My memories are too precious to me
Waking up in a coffin having been buried alive - bad case of claustrophobia

A bit morbid, that last one.. sorry!

PVWOOOF!

2008-06-13T15:37:00.003+06:00

..That is the sound of my mind blowing up, having completely lost all ability to comprehend the current situation!

A little background:

So I am currently working for a premier investment company in Pakistan. We're part owned by a elite financial institution in Dubai and are responsible for having bagged some of the biggest deals in the country - the group has managed over 50% of all privatization in the country!

My Lahore office is in a posh location and the office building was originally supposed to be a five start hotel built on a traditional theme but that didn't work out for them. So I enjoy the luxury of a high security shiny office, complete with glass walls and wooden flooring.

The office building is a unique architectural marvel in Lahore

A part of the operations over here has to do with brokerage - the trading of shares on the stock exchange. So during market hours, the place is buzzing with investors and brokers. And to facilitate it all, they have a trading floor with nice comfy couches and a large projector screen that displays market trends and an LCD next to it playing business news.

Here's a scene from a lazy friday afternoon, post market closure:

The comfy couches and the projector screen are a winning formula for creation of a theater! There's an Indian movie playing and I am trying my best to not burst out into an amusing laughter. Of course like any responsible person, I instead have decided to shoot this secret vid! :) Footage starts from my cabin and then continues in the form of a virtual tour - sorry about the shaky footage and lack of commentary, but it was supposed to be discretely done! haha.

TGIF, people!

Center of the World

2008-06-06T17:52:00.003+06:00

I figured I would just say it before you did! On a Friday evening, when you're publishing 3 posts at the same time, surely something IS outta control! haha!

Anyway, I felt the need to jot down a few thoughts on some recent stuff that I have been following in the political arena -

The Democratic Party's Nomination for the American Presidency Saga
The nonsensical political carom game in Pakistan where citizens are getting thrashed by political players with an ultimate aim of cornering them to succumb

I'll save discussion on the latter for another day, but the series of events following Obama's nomination have been quite thought provoking. Yes, the man can talk - for that alone, I'm a big fan. It isn't always easy to cut past the rhetoric and to decipher the content of his speeches in an accurate manner. Those that were watching are likely to agree that his presumptive nomination speech was remarkably moving indeed.

The very next morning, he gave a speech to AIPAC - the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The timing was impeccable and his conduct predictable. Many people in this part of the world were angered by his approach to the Middle East crisis, especially in relation to a continued commitment to supply arms to Israel, to do 'everything' possible.. 'everything!' to purge the threat from Iran, and for calling Jerusalem the capital of Israel.

On closer inspection, though, certain key elements in the content of his speech become evident. While clearly he was giving in to the 'Special Interests' he so vehemently stood against throughout his campaign (yes, Mr Barack Hussein Obama, that was always gonna be a toughie!), he didn't quite say things that were essentially highlighted by the media as well as by anti-Israel/pro-Palestine people. If anything, the central message of his speech, to me, was focus on the fact that 'pro-Palestine' is not synonymous to 'anti-Israel'. We need to realize how deeply entrenched the roots of American Jews are in defining American foreign policy and anyone that expected him to have turned away from them is quite the fool.

Regardless, his central message was that of peaceful resolution through diplomacy, a separate state for Palestine and Israel, and an undivided Jerusalem.. There were certainly plenty of snippets that fired up the crowd, but filtering those away, relative to all other candidates in this race, he probably has the most mature stance on this issue.

It is this maturity and depth of thought as well as boldness to say it and sharpness to say it as well, that I respect about him. He's there to win an election, and he is doing what he needs to, while still preserving the values that he stands for. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for his campaign, the media and analysts will hail this as a pro-Zionism stance, but hey!

In the end, I reckon he will not even be as active a player of foreign policy as some might think - at least in his first time (assuming he gets elected and then stands for reelection), I see him pursuing a more isolationist policy as regards world affairs. I'm no guru, but I do hope that when he speaks of healing that nation and repairing this world, he has the resolve to stand by his belief!

.. And they return!

2008-06-06T17:22:00.003+06:00

Friday 5ives and back with a vengeance!

Five Frustrating Arguments to have in Pakistan

Karachi or Lahore?
What time would you be back home tonight, son?
Is Musharraf's exit from the presidency good for the stock market?
Is America 'ready' to elect a black man or a woman?
A 'No' is a 'No', but what is an 'Oh' ?

Wall Street Fighters

2008-06-05T17:11:00.002+06:00

Over the last few weeks, I was taking a break from status quo and decided to explore opportunities on the Wall Street of Pakistan - The I.I. Chundrigar Road in Karachi (above).

Being in Karachi is always a great experience, but it was especially awesome this time around simply because I really needed the break and I got it without feeling too guilty about it either. Working for a financial sector company, I was putting in some tough hours but there was ALWAYS something to look forward to every evening - from a theatre style arrangement for the Champions League final to concerts by emerging rock bands, this trip was buzzing with activity. (of course some of the more 'fun' parties are inappropriate for public consumption and are hence omitted for the purpose of this public domain! haha!)

One of the most sought after events in Karachi for me is a trip to the beach. I grew up next to the sea in Dubai and sinking my toes in the warm wet sand holds a very special place for me. Unfortunately, when you're in Karachi, going to the beach is not a simple affair.. Unless you want to go to the dangerously polluted beach at Seaview - many of us theorize that very soon that location will become the breeding ground for new lifeforms! A trip to the beach thus involves traveling for 1.5 hours to the more elite huts at French beach. Free from dead turtles and polythene bags, it's where the action is at.

Same City? Polluted seaside (above) and French Beach (below)

Also got a chance to rekindle my network as I met some of the more influential people I know from my association with them during the AIESEC term. I was pleasantly surprised by their willingness to meet me and spend long hours talking about life, the economy, personal and professional career shaping, and everything! Super awesome experience.

Now I'm back in Lahore at least for a few weeks, trying to create some headway in this market, at least for the next few weeks. Let's see!

Friday 5ives!

2008-05-09T19:56:00.003+05:00

Thanks to a darling friend, I ran across this mindless distraction called 5ives.com. Inspired by it's sheer simplicity and pointlessness, I am gonna try to put together a weekly blog called Friday 5ives myself! In due course, notwithstanding my recent lack of commitment to writing, this column should serve as a decent combination of random musing and insightful confession. Probably more random musing though!

Here goes then - Let us begin with a rather pertinent local issue:

Five Ways to Spend Time in a Blackout

Curse the government, the power company, OPEC, and the neighbors with the noisy generators (In that order)
Play with the pet parrot that you've neglected all day
Set a record score on Sudoku for Mobiles
Fantasize about a future without a national energy crisis and then laugh at how ridiculous you sound
Appreciate the intricate design of the universe while staring at the stars followed by looking at the airplace taking off in a distance inadvertantly spurting out: 'Lucky B******s!'

Moviegoing As A Spectator Sport!

2008-05-04T20:33:00.004+05:00

Watching a movie at the cinemas in Lahore is quite an experience on it's own. Regardless of the movie being played, there is a pulse of social energy and excitement to be witnessed and that's always fascinated me.

Growing up in a slightly different part of the world, hitting the movies, or going to theater was always very private and personal. Sure people were sitting closely and sharing the same experience, but they chose to absorb it quietly, with srare occasional bursts of laughter at best. In fact, the more 'rebellious' amongst us were those that would whisper or snicker too loudly or in an untimely fashion while everyone else was silent.

When I pulled into the premier of Iron-man last night (which by the way is a must-watch!) at one of the nicer cinemas on the posh side of town, I was expecting to religiously get my pop corn and coke (Coke is unhealthy. If it wasn't such an important, albeit cliched ritual, I wouldn't touch that liquid of death!) and finding my way to the seat for 2 hours of mind-numbing, testosterone-charged visual entertainment.

The involvement of the audience was immediately evident as they gasped, giggled, and carried on with social agendas as if they were at a buzzing college party! Believe it or not, these bunch of passionate movie-goers would whistle, cheers and applaud every good scene in the film. They even found humor in the electrical fluctuation that made the screen go blank for a few minutes. At the end of those 2 hours, people got up and gave the movie a standing ovation! haha! Needless to say, I was taken aback by this enthusiastic show of appreciation. It was almost as if they audience half expected the actors on screen to come up from behind the curtains and take a bow!

Going to the movies in Lahore is passionate business. But it's not quite as sacred and private as in many other places out there. It's certainly not the ideal place to take your date hoping for some dark-corner fun! But it does remain a popular place for young people to socialize and have a great time.

I'm rather intrigued and I think I might just dare to go to the 'other' side of town to watch a local movie with a very different crowd profile. I hear it's quite a unique and remarkable activity to undertake! ..Perhaps, next time!

Unbelievable..

2008-04-23T01:47:00.002+05:00

Nothing can compare to the shocking event that took place today.

A friend of a close friend, who was a year my junior at college, committed suicide at the LUMS dorms. The entire college is in shock due to this tragedy, which no one, not even his close friends had foreseen. LUMS is a very small community of a few hundred students where everyone knows everyone else and walking onto the college campus today, I was surrounded by sorrow and gloominess. The bubble that is created by the manicured lawns and the red brick walls and a parallel elite social environment was burst in an extremely shocking manner.

No one knows why this happened and perhaps no one will ever find out. But it doesn't matter now since a precious life has been lost. My heart and prayers go out to his family and close friends. May they have the courage to stay strong through this.

At the same time, as an Alumnus, I sincerely hope that the university takes this event very seriously.

RheX

2008-03-20T19:48:00.002+05:00

Ever played Musical Chairs..? well it's sorta the same idea but with rhetoric. Actually, Ping Pong maybe a more apt example! I present to you:

Rhetorical Exchange
Saga I
(Nothing to do with AIESEC Exchange mind you! :) )

The idea is to activate randomness in a creative and somewhat intellectually stimulating framework. Union of different perspectives and writing styles, it's another fun invention by the Master!

Shoot me a line if you're interested in joining a future round. The more the diversity, the merrier the outcome.

Island of Peace

2008-03-11T15:46:00.002+05:00

A bunch of large explosions occurred in my city today. The first at the Federal Investigation Agency's building and the other in an upscale residential area as an ad agency.

Lahore, being the cultural capital of the country, had till a few weeks ago remained free of such violence. It's a city full of life, art and history. Today the people here are in shock. But they are out there protesting in anger as opposed to being scared.

After the London Bombing, Tony Blair had said that even if you put a security guard at every corner of the city, you would still be unable to prevent such horrific acts. The problem is too deep rooted. Regardless, the intelligentsia is clearly failing to provide any insight. And I will spare you the psychoanalysis of those demented individuals that are engaged in this. I think the media is doing a good enough job doing this. I'll also spare the analysis of all the different theories about the people behind this and their motives.

All I'm going to say is that I am uncontrollably furious. There isn't a single thing in the world that can justify this. No religious or political cause.. no incentive.. no paradigm can POSSIBLY justify this. I am truly appalled. Carried a black flag against the tyranny of the government a few months ago.. Don't know what to do this time around..

Abyss and The Swamp

2008-03-11T01:16:00.004+05:00

Two rather disturbing events being covered by the media really have me bugged.

Firstly, if any of you have been following up on recent India-Pakistan relations, you might know that things have been improving somewhat. In fact a bit over a week ago, an alleged spy who had been held captive for 30+ years in Pakistan on a death penalty was pardoned by Musharraf. Amidst a frenzy of media coverage in both countries, Kashmir Singh walked across the border celebrating and relieved, his family not believing their good fortunes. He then gave an interview talking about his service to the country and that he was, for all intents and purposes, in fact a spy.

The news that has been in the headlines today all over the country talks of a Pakistani prisoner coming back from India. Except the mood was slightly different owing to the fact that instead of walking across on his feet, he was in a casket. His family was mourning and crying and rest assured the cameras were there to cover every bit of it. Apparently, he died due to extensive torture inflicted on him in an Indian prison. According to his family, he had gone to watch a cricket match between India and Pakistan on a cricket visa as part of the peace-building measures between the embassies (The Irony!). He had lost his passport there and was arrested and detained and that was the last of him.

Now the man could have been a spy, who knows. I'm sure that once in a while there are similar stories that spark ill feeling for Pakistan on the other side, but this sort of thing really doesn't help. Exactly a decade ago, we were at each others throats and testing nukes to show our fighting ability. Since then, it has been 10 years of diplomacy, exchange of people, culture, arts and sports and increasing trade. Now, such incidents things do not help!

My closest school friend is an Indian. I've been to the country myself several times. I worked for an organization that was started as a result of an Indian peace initiative. I consider myself fairly well educated about issues around the two countries as well as a big fan of the people there. Yet, I know that most people are not that way.. Most have never met an Indian and their only interaction comes from a history of bitterness, and Bollywood! It kills me to see my grandmother, who was a migrant from Amritsar, talk about how nothing ever changes and how 'they' hate 'us'. None of this helps. (Adding to the irony, this news came in the same bulletin that was covering an AIESEC Pak conference!)

Anyway, the other piece of news is more 'local' in nature. So, we're still not sure who's going to be Prime Minister of Pakistan.. But most recent developments are not looking too great. A very respected leader of PPP, Amin Faheem, had been seen as the best candidate. The man has a clean and credible political record, he'd managed and held the party together while Benazir was in self-exile for the largest part of the last two decades. He was her right hand man and was even with her as she was taking her dying breaths.

Unfortunately, he is being undermined by Zardari (current co-chairman of PPP and Benny's husband, aka 'Mr 10 Percent' due to his massive corruption in the Benazir Era) since election results came out. Now it's looking like Zardari himself might be gearing up for top spot or at the very least finding a subservient PM that can let Zardari be the kingpin. To the surprise of none, his corruption cases have been withdrawn since his party won! Our resident moron, Mr Nawaz Sharif is also dreaming big imagining that Zardari as PM would result in goodbye Mushoo and he could be made President. Fool!

It's quite sad if things turn continue to tread this path. To be honest, I'm pretty sure PPP wouldn't have gotten even half the votes it did if people knew that Zardari was going to potentially be PM. Mannn, this sucks!

I just wish things would start moving in the positive direction and that idiot that hit my stationary car from behind and fled from the scene while I watched helplessly will one day become a better person!

... A Wonderful World?

2008-03-07T01:01:00.002+05:00

I look around myself..

Human rights are at a 40 year low in Gaza as Israel continues to blow up a Palestinian household for every rocket fires across the border.. The US, the guardian of the free world politely asks Israel to show restraint..

Latin America is facing it's worst political crisis in years..

Racism is still an issue in South Africa 14 years after the Apartheid.. Kenya is in the midst of ethnic violence..

World Food Prices are rising and will continue to do so for at least 2 years.. Food crops are being substituted by Biofuel Crops..

World Energy Costs soar.. Oil Companies showcase record prices..

There's no cure for AIDS, but the wonder drug Viagra has record sales..

The world's richest man is now worth 62 Billion American Dollars.. The top ten richest people now includes 4 Indians.. But India remains a country with widespread inequality and poverty..

The US is alarmed by the 18% increase in Defense Budget by China.. The US is spending billions on a missile defense system..

Nuclear bombs.. Roadside bombs.. Suicide bombs..

Climate Change.. Culling.. Extinction..

Rising Crime Rates.. Prisons exhausting their capacity..

Fear of Governance.. Governance of Fear..

Religious Extremists.. Secular Extremists..

Intolerance, Censorship.. Death, Destruction.. Blatant Misery..

Your War.. My War.. War on.. War for..

Every day I get up to see this world changing.. But every day it just keeps getting worse..

They say things get worse before they get better.. I dread thinking how much worse..

Can We.., Really?

Yes We Can!

2008-02-29T00:29:00.000+05:00

'Yes We Can Heal This Nation.. Yes We Can Repair This World.. Yes We Can..'

If he doesn't win in the U.S., I will have him as chairperson of PPP any day!