Yeah, first we discussed “oh did you see how the two dacoits got beaten to death in Sialkot?” But later it turned to “OH MY GOD!! Did you see how they killed two brothers blaming them to be robbers?”
Yeah, we are always in a hurry. We have this annoying habit of passing on what we hear from others without even thinking if that is true or not. Some ‘gora’ reporter set up our players, made a news report and wow we believed all of it without even thinking for once about the people who play for Pakistan, for you and for me! Oh wait, but we saw the videos, didn’t we? I have never seen this in any Hollywood or even Bollywood movie how they temper photos and videos. I know that the video never showed any player taking the money by hand, but I will still blame them. Oh yes, I saw the jacket! The jacket in which first the cash was put in and later the ‘gora’ gave it to Asif. I could not think may be the gora went to Asif and said that he was a fan and want to give the jacket as a present and later the reporter videoed the guy inside a car, putting in the cash. I have no idea what editing a video means!
No, Aamir took the cash and then bowled out 4 English batsmen for 0 in the third test. Yes he took the money for not performing and that is worst performance of all time. Oh, I have never seen fast bowlers placing no-balls. Never happens. Check the records! And I have no idea what Photoshop is used for?
I am just a dumb Pakistani who doesn’t know the difference between a trick and magic. I am a dumb Pakistani who will judge from some media report what the truth is. I have stopped thinking. I am a pessimist. And I will keep on doing what I do best!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
What became of the International Aid??
Since Sunday (August 22nd), we have been forced to focus on the Sialkot societal error and murders and the flood updates only. Every channel is discussing Altaf Hussain’s controversial statement recently. But no one is talking about the monetary aid that came in a few days back and was directed to the government.
Let me comment on the Sialkot coverage. Why is it being blown up into such a complex matter? Those who committed the crime can be seen in the two footages – that we will discuss later – and can be at once arrested for interrogation at least if not for punishment. We have seen media talking about how it is our society’s fault that those two brothers died. Let me bring to your attention the fact that a mob does not expect a person being beaten to death in front of so many witnesses. They stand there, watch the episode and then when those beating the victim get tired or slow down a bit, this very mob then talks and get things settled between the two parties. This very mob takes the wounded to the hospital. But as clearly seen in the Sialkot incident, the group thrashing and pounding the victims were not pausing at all. As seen in the footage, a man even broke his stick while torturing the elder brother. He stopped for a few seconds, and started beating him again with his broken weapon.
Lately in Faisalabad, a mob did almost the same to a couple of dacoits. No matter how enraged the mob was, it did not kill the thieves. They lay fainted when the police reached to the site. Now this was a normal mob and people with anger. Common men don’t go on beating people to death.
Let’s talk about the footages now. It’s quite normal for someone among a mob to record a video of what’s happening. That is okay. But the other footage was not a cell phone recording. It was not recorded by any journalist as well. Who is that camera-mystery-man? Do you want to believe that a trained videographer just happened to be there? Well, I leave it to you guys to decide.
Anyways, since then, no one seems to be concerned about the distribution and management of monetary foreign aid that was given to the government. The flood is not over people. Over countrymen need help and we should not forget that for even a day. The media who did such a good job till now, should not divert its attention for even a bit, whatsoever. I am not saying what media did was wrong, but there are other issues that are important and need to be addressed as well.
Let me comment on the Sialkot coverage. Why is it being blown up into such a complex matter? Those who committed the crime can be seen in the two footages – that we will discuss later – and can be at once arrested for interrogation at least if not for punishment. We have seen media talking about how it is our society’s fault that those two brothers died. Let me bring to your attention the fact that a mob does not expect a person being beaten to death in front of so many witnesses. They stand there, watch the episode and then when those beating the victim get tired or slow down a bit, this very mob then talks and get things settled between the two parties. This very mob takes the wounded to the hospital. But as clearly seen in the Sialkot incident, the group thrashing and pounding the victims were not pausing at all. As seen in the footage, a man even broke his stick while torturing the elder brother. He stopped for a few seconds, and started beating him again with his broken weapon.
Lately in Faisalabad, a mob did almost the same to a couple of dacoits. No matter how enraged the mob was, it did not kill the thieves. They lay fainted when the police reached to the site. Now this was a normal mob and people with anger. Common men don’t go on beating people to death.
Let’s talk about the footages now. It’s quite normal for someone among a mob to record a video of what’s happening. That is okay. But the other footage was not a cell phone recording. It was not recorded by any journalist as well. Who is that camera-mystery-man? Do you want to believe that a trained videographer just happened to be there? Well, I leave it to you guys to decide.
Anyways, since then, no one seems to be concerned about the distribution and management of monetary foreign aid that was given to the government. The flood is not over people. Over countrymen need help and we should not forget that for even a day. The media who did such a good job till now, should not divert its attention for even a bit, whatsoever. I am not saying what media did was wrong, but there are other issues that are important and need to be addressed as well.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Is it fair to blame society for the Sialkot tragedy?
I don't think so. I can not forget how people reacted when the news of “two dacoits beaten to death” broke; everyone really appreciated the courage of the people who did so. Most of the people wondered at the bravery of the lot who actually murdered the two. No one – that is a lay man, a harmless citizen, you and I - does that. Of course, we want vengeance right after we are looted at a gun point but how many of the commoners do that? Then, try beating down anyone in front of the police. Men in uniform will jump in to stop you unless they already know you as someone backed by someone more authoritative then the police itself. Let’s face it. Street crimes are the reason why people would want to react. Those who do, die as a result. Hardly, a few survive.
Apart from all this, courage of torturing a robber, would you imagine yourself beating a robber to death? Or may be set him on fire? I know, if I get a chance, I might want to beat the hell out of a dacoit but I know I can torture someone to a limit. No matter how big the robbery is, a common man, who has no political or let’s say ‘ghunda’ support can do that. A person is used to doing or at least watching such tortures.
As far as the public watching the men being beaten down are concerned. Please consider these first and then blame them.
1. As I mentioned above, we all have urge to revenge the criminals. So, when a group of enraged people with batons and powerful blows in the protection of policemen are beating someone, will you try to stop what you see? Most of us would not because even if you try to jump in, the policemen will stop you. Then, honestly speaking when a group so brutal, is itself quite capable of keeping you away.
2. Why a mob of spectators? Usually, when you know that you can not talk to the infuriated party, you normally stop and wait for it to get over with everything. No one expects that the guilty will die at the spot! People stay, in normal conditions, to take the wounded either to the police or to the hospital.
Before putting the blame on to common people, we should also consider the things we see on our televisions. Fine, there is a video of the whole incident. A man of heart must have recorded the whole thing. But is it suitable to play it again and again every day? People get immune, they get used to such things. Children get used to these things. They think it is very normal, brutal and a bad thing but very normal in the streets. First time I watched it over the television, I could not bear it for more than a couple of seconds. Then, every time it played, I kept watching it more, bit by bit and it took me three days to watch the complete footage. While a seven year old watched the whole thing, the very first time it played. Yeah, go ahead; blame her next time when something such happens and she is standing amongst the crowd.
A common man can not fight another common man when one has a weapon and police and the other has neither. He will and can retaliate but only when it is real personal!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Pakistan Army's relief work and Political dominance
It is shocking to see how the world can manipulate anything and everything in Pakistan. After the floods that brought not only million tons of merciless waters but with it homelessness, hunger, death and disease, we see foreign media worried about Pakistan Army doing the relief work. Soon after the floods began to catch international attention, BBC released an article entitled “Criticism of Zardari in Pakistan hides a political game”. The article talked about how the President of Pakistan – who he was shopping luxurious residence outside in Europe and not with his people when they needed material and emotional support – is being criticized by Pakistani media. The article tried to argue that the country’s Army took the opportunity and played well by immediately starting the relief work. The readers were supposed to indulge their thoughts into a controversy theory. An article published in Time Magazine entitled “In deep waters” having a highlight that floods are the moment some hard-line Islamists were waiting for, could not help but talked about media’s portrayal of President Zardari, the civilian government in general and the Pakistan Army in the almost half of the write up. It quoted Farzana Shaikh saying that when the civilian governments fail, people tend to “fall back, sit around themselves…” and rely on the armed forces. Also, friends of Pakistan Army in the media helped by showing that the army has risen to the challenge. Later, the author quotes Talat Masood, retired Lieut. General commenting that “(army’s enhanced standing) will mean that it will occupy more political space and strengthen its dominance over political institutions.”
As for the Pakistani civilians falling back and waiting for the Army is concerned, FYI there were groups of civilians who rushed to the flood hit areas within a couple of weeks with the goods they could collect. Obviously, the lack of dry land in those areas and inflation in the country did not allow as much people to reach and help as we saw in 2005 earthquakes. I wonder who else media would show when there is Pakistani Army at large doing the relief work. Friends in media or not, ask the citizens that managed to go the flood hit zones, they found the army doing the major work. The credibility of the government is so, that most of the NGOs and private groups collecting donations for the victims went straight to the army relief camps instead of those held by the government in order to make sure that the stuff and money goes to the deserving. Why are people talking about political gains in midst of a tragedy? Instead of appreciating those who are helping, how could someone think of it as a friendship between an institution and media of the country? Oh yeah, it may be that Army (like some mad scientist) had planed this rescue during the (unexpected) natural disaster (as apart of a preplanned scheme) knowingly that there will be minor help from the government side (to rule the world?). It seems that even if Pakistani Army comes to the rescue, it will not get credit for saving the day but actually be seen as waiting for cashing in the opportunity with a well thought over scheme.
Beyond the Mountains
The country governed by Taliban and then torn by a decade of war was nothing but mountains vs. men. Communication was a big issue but only a few years back. Afghanistan is now emerging as a huge telecommunications market, as the people have started to realize the importance of technology. It was not long ago that even the Afghan Taliban - when ruled - used to travel all the way to Pakistan, just to express their thoughts, plans and strategies to the world. Obviously, that had to happen after they destroyed all the sources of telecommunication in the country.
According to recent figures, over 80 percent of the total population now holds a subscription to one or more landline and/or cell phone connections. In 2006 around 300,000 people had subscribed with the internet providers, which then was a huge number of users. But within just four years, the numbers have bulged to a 1,000,000 users.
These ballooning figures do not only illustrate the number of users but the massive and promising telecommunication market Afghanistan is turning out to be. Current telecommunication service providers for landlines and cell phones in the country are Etisalat Afghanistan, Areeba, MTN Group of Companies, Wasel Telecom, Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC) and Telecom Development Company Afghanistan Ltd. under the name Roshan.
Apart from the internet and the cell phones, there are about 25 television channels currently running in Afghanistan. Most of them operate directly from the country itself while some like AATV, ATN, Noor TV and Payam-e-Afghanistan TV operate from countries like U.S.A., Germany and UAE. There is less competition in the Radio industry as there are only five FM stations, 21 AM stations, and one shortwave station which broadcast in Pashto, Dari, and English languages.
In the telecommunication scene, phones and internet sectors are the bigger players as compared to the television and radio industries. The telephone and internet market is swelling up with time as a number of international firms have jumped in to exploit the developing market. The future of this sector will not only bring opportunities to the country fellows but also tighten up the competition providing the dwellers of one of the poorest countries in the world, with a whole lot more facilities.
Exploring the phone and internet market is a good idea but for the foreign investments to land in the country, sectors like data processing, basic business-processing operations information and communication technology (ICT), data transfer, process control and the call-centers can be huge opportunities. The country has not even started looking into these sectors seriously. And the first one in each of these sectors will take the biggest slice out of this pie.
Besides these issues, Afghanistan has a lot of promises for present and future entrepreneurs. The telecom business is not only bringing in the positive element into the lives of Afghan people socially but with the expansion of communication, may it be on phone or online, many businesses will avail this convenience. The economically stable country looks forward to achieve new heights in telecommunication industry and will prove beneficial for investors around the world as well.
NOTE: This article was published in South Asia Magazine
August edition.
According to recent figures, over 80 percent of the total population now holds a subscription to one or more landline and/or cell phone connections. In 2006 around 300,000 people had subscribed with the internet providers, which then was a huge number of users. But within just four years, the numbers have bulged to a 1,000,000 users.
These ballooning figures do not only illustrate the number of users but the massive and promising telecommunication market Afghanistan is turning out to be. Current telecommunication service providers for landlines and cell phones in the country are Etisalat Afghanistan, Areeba, MTN Group of Companies, Wasel Telecom, Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC) and Telecom Development Company Afghanistan Ltd. under the name Roshan.
Apart from the internet and the cell phones, there are about 25 television channels currently running in Afghanistan. Most of them operate directly from the country itself while some like AATV, ATN, Noor TV and Payam-e-Afghanistan TV operate from countries like U.S.A., Germany and UAE. There is less competition in the Radio industry as there are only five FM stations, 21 AM stations, and one shortwave station which broadcast in Pashto, Dari, and English languages.
In the telecommunication scene, phones and internet sectors are the bigger players as compared to the television and radio industries. The telephone and internet market is swelling up with time as a number of international firms have jumped in to exploit the developing market. The future of this sector will not only bring opportunities to the country fellows but also tighten up the competition providing the dwellers of one of the poorest countries in the world, with a whole lot more facilities.
Exploring the phone and internet market is a good idea but for the foreign investments to land in the country, sectors like data processing, basic business-processing operations information and communication technology (ICT), data transfer, process control and the call-centers can be huge opportunities. The country has not even started looking into these sectors seriously. And the first one in each of these sectors will take the biggest slice out of this pie.
Besides these issues, Afghanistan has a lot of promises for present and future entrepreneurs. The telecom business is not only bringing in the positive element into the lives of Afghan people socially but with the expansion of communication, may it be on phone or online, many businesses will avail this convenience. The economically stable country looks forward to achieve new heights in telecommunication industry and will prove beneficial for investors around the world as well.
NOTE: This article was published in South Asia Magazine
August edition.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)