FarQuest Fariha's Quest: Finding an answer to the question "Why can’t Utopia be a reality?" Wish to add some colors of Utopia to this world because I dare to dream and strive to turn my dreams into reality!

So, Mr. Richard Lee Armitage wanted to bomb us back to Stone Age and here we are in the Stone Age. No electricity, no water, no communication link (cells and land line phones both have gone dead) for the past 36 hours and counting. I’m not going to point fingers on the poor state governance and corrupt bureaucratic system because I know it’s us people who are responsible for the entire situation. In a population of 170 million approx, if 20 million people are corrupt, why can’t the rest 150 million fight back?? Majority rather joins them in looting this country and making it worst day by day. Probably because we strongly believe in “Behti ganga main kyoon na hum bhi haath dho lain” …and I’m no mood to translate it, apologies but u can always Google for translation

PS: Despite all this i still love my country Pakistan. Pakistan Zindabad!

Haider Ali- a 23 year old Pakistani athlete has made the nation proud by winning a Silver medal in 2008 Summer Paralympics held at Beijing in China. Hats off to this guy who suffers from Cerebral Palsy but has brought back a Silver medal creating history because Pakistan never had won in International Paralympic Games before.

You can read more about Haider Ali in this wiki article that I just created (and ‘am hoping it doesn’t get deleted ) here.

Or you can also read about him on other blogs like:

In the Line of Fire

Teeth Maestro(Haider’s pic has also been taken from here)

Ronin

I carried a few hours futile search for the video/image that showed Musharraf smoking a cigarette and firing a pistol. The video flashed through the TV channels when he sacked Nawaz Sharif out in 1999 and I got reminded of it when I saw the following image in the newspapers today

 Women have got equal rights today …No? Mushy must be feeling proud about "Enlightened Moderation" now.

 I always praised the government for introducing the National Internship Program.

But there is always another side of the picture. Let me share an email with you from one of the internees who’s working under this program

" Salam to all..

 I am XXX having job under national internship program. Me and my rest of fellows are waiting for our salaries since 4 months…. I belong to a poor family.  If any one can approach to higher authorities of nip,, plzz plzz help me and all alike me in getting our salaries…

 what sould i do .. Tell me.. where sould i go ….  i am very anxious…

  hamara kya kasur hai akhir,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,!!!!!!!!!

I have just copied and pasted this email without changing even a single word(as you could see from the grammatical mistakes etc.) except the sender’s name to avoid getting him/her into any further trouble.

Please KESC, WAPDA and all other giants who are responsible for blessing us with this luxury called ‘electricty’; accept warmest thanks from the common Pakistani people especially karachites for making their life beautiful. They work all day like dogs and get back home to see darkness welcoming them and making them realize that their future is similarly dark!

If anyone is interested to know the story behind this cartoon, read ‘Your Plans for Black Summer’

Image Credit: Jang 27th Feb Edition

I remember my english teacher in 9th grade "Ma’am Ajmal Noorani" saying "Our people are great sermonizers" and by that she meant that we talk a lot but do very little. I had fully agreed with her at that time and still agree with her. Some of my close friends must have heard me quoting this at different times and today I have felt a need to quote it again.

Lately I have been hearing some cynics pointing fingers on Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s personality. I’m not a die-hard PPP supporter (in fact currently I’m supporting none) but still recognize the sacrifice that Bhutto family has given to glow the lights of democracy in Pakistan; and to raise the living standard of the poor and the deprived.

For all those who have issues with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari being made the Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party or who otherwise have issues with the Bhutto family playing an active role in the current political scene in Pakistan, I just have got one question:

"If you are a patriot from your heart and soul, are you ready to put the life of your father, brothers, yourself and for that matter your entire familt at stake; for the betterment of this country?"

If I ask this question to myself, an honest answer would be "No", because I simply do not have the courage to shoulder the coffins of my dearest ones, one after another. If your answer is the same then people like us have no right to give a judgement about those who actually have the courage to bring about a difference about no matter what it takes to bring it. We should rather support them or least let them do their job.

However, if being an Oxford/Harvard graduate with an option to live in London/Paris/Geneva, you are actually daring enough to stay and serve your country..your people, then you should definitely come in the forefront and prove yourself out. Now what it takes to come in the forefront may also be price you need to pay for it so be ready to pay it

"……Bhutto……. said her father’s parting words before his execution were, "You can walk away. You’re young. You can go to live in London or Paris or Geneva"

She told Sheehy she responded, "No, I have to keep up this mission of yours, of democracy."………." Full Article here

In the end, I would say whether you are an activist or one of those who prefer to stay in their own cocoon, if you are against innocent killings and want to know who the real culprits are then sign the on-line petition for UN investigation into the assassination of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto here