Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Martial law

News Item: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) will support any act against ‘corrupt politicians’ and former generals by ‘patriotic Pakistani army generals’, including martial law, MQM chief Altaf Hussain said on Sunday.





Saturday, August 14, 2010

Floods in Pakistan

Rains starting from the mid of July have perhaps halted briefly, but floods waters show no sign of receding. People from times of Swat operation (from where i not only filed several radio reports but also assisted in relief efforts) knocked again with donations. Initially i thought areas in southern sindh would be in desperate need of such relief, but now almost all parts of Balochistan, Punjab and NWFP are signaling red.

Government, foreign & local organizations along with many welfare and untrained enthusiasts have moved into massive rescue and relief operation. There is no central command and control.

First it was donors and now my radio station, which has handed me a responsibility to provide media coverage and job to study the relief operations. I am flying to several destinations starting from Monday 16th August.

From shopping malls to schools, mosques, offices and along road sides, every where you see is a call to donate. For the moment i have some guardianship of several donors but from my experience in Swat i know, this is nothing compared to the need.

Ramadan is already here. A cleric has issued Fatwa saying, that those effected with floods and suffering from famine, need not to keep a Fast and they may complete their numbers in later months.

I am pledging donors to contact me on my phone number. I am leaving Karachi.
00923322627235
Pray for Pakistan and all the humanity at large.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Criminal Festivities

It was only 20 minutes into my show, that Owais from the news desk, rushed inside the onair studios and said; "a minister is assassinated". Before walking out, he said "law and order situation would worsen".

Throughout the remaining 1 hour and 40 minutes... I personally did all i could to not broadcast the panicking reports which we were receiving from our reporters from several localities of the city.

I concluded the show, encouraging citizens to stay on the look out for the miscreants, and eventually report the authorities. Buses were set ablaze, few people were shot dead and almost all areas reported aerial firing. Its been only three hours finishing the show and now streets are completely deserted. I am stuck at the radio with 8 more individuals.

When Benazir died, i reached home after somewhat 48 hours. I am sure this ain't an ex prime minister, but still; the reaction from the law enforcement agencies is hopeless. They never have a security plan to take things in control. Interior minister won't miss an opportunity speaking to the media, while not a single question would be raised for his ability to operate national institutions responsible for public safety.

Probably any one bearing a pistol is out on the street looting, criminals would settle scores with rivals. Robberies and kidnappings from tonight would never be reported in police stations.

Fear fed citizens and "panic" injecting media along with incompetent law enforcement agencies are vital ingredients which easily allow political murders turn into a criminal festivity.

As i am typing this blog, Rashid just entered the studios. Rashid played lead role in a recent pakistani movie "Ramchand Pakistani". He walked here from a nearby friend's place. He is reporting aerial firing, sounds of crackers, no traffic and zero street lights. Mr.Ramchand Pakistani can't risk going to his house, so now we are 9 + 1 for the night :)