Ever wondered, if Pakistan is the only state in this world, where politicians use one agenda for winning votes. Completely ignore that issue, when they form the government and start spending on something totally irrelevant, unneeded? When the problem gets out of control, they find temporary alternates to curb the urgency?
We saw it happen during General Pervaiz Musharraf's rule. When his government failed to bring down petroleum prices, LPG was used as an alternate to diesel and petrol for fuel consumption of vehicles. For some time, it was viewed as new booming business. Palatial, custom built gas stations emerged everywhere. It was not long after that the nation witnessed long queues at those gas stations. Waiting hours and hours to be filled. Shortage of gas, resulted in gas load shedding for the domestic users, which our country never experienced before. Problem severed so much that those majestic gas stations ended up in ruins and still remain a sight to look at and lament over pathetic planning.
Now, the current government of Mr. Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, is using the same trick. They failed to overcome electricity load shedding during their entire tenure. Now near completion of it, in the year 2017, they are reminded of their promises. Something that they vouched for - the end of electricity load shedding. Unfortunately, all that they have done is drama, in the name of projects like Quaid-e-Azam solar plant. All the tall claims of immediate provision of electricity turned out to be untrue. Load shedding continued, while the rulers, were engaged in proving themselves to be the descendants of Sher Shah Suri. Their obsession with road construction and transportation, specially the metro projects remained deplorable. The more, their opposition reminded them of problem of electricity, more forcefully they tried to divert attention to their own favourite projects like Orange train, yellow cabs, etc.
Ultimately, in the last year of their government, they were left with no option but to come up with some temporary relief, which will help them acquire votes in next elections. And apparently, it is in form of Bhikki power plant. Following the footsteps of General Musharraf, this govt has decided to use LPG, to get them out of this electricity shortage trouble. Completely negating the fact that, the nation suffered terrible gas load shedding, eight hours or more during entire winter. It was not until mid April that it stopped and by the end of same month, they have started using it for the purpose of electricity production. What will happen in winters? No gas, no electricity? It is said that the gas used for this project is imported, if it is so cheap, why domestic users have to face the shortage?
According to some reports issued in 2014, Pakistan's gas reserves will end after 20 years (2 years passed. 18 years left). With dependence on projects like Bhikki power plant for electricity, hope almost 10 more years will be reduced. So, within next 5 years, there will be no gas in our country, alongwith electricity. But who cares?
India has full control of our water supplies. Our neighbouring enemy does not have to wage an all out war on us, it can control our destiny, through water. Unleashes its flood water, saving itself, causing havoc in our country. They are building more dams, saving more water, depriving us of more. Think tanks have been warning of soon to occur water scarcity, which may result in land degradation, if new water reservoirs are not constructed.
It is indeed Almighty Allah's kindness that our country gets some good rainfall, but lack of planning and storage facilities result in regular flooding. Pakistan has remained a spectacle for the world because of this recurring disaster, yet it could not make PMLN leaders think that water was being wasted, unused. Not only that it can be saved but also used for generating electricity. Fertility of our lands, provision of drinking water and electricity shortage, there is just one solution to everything and it is building new, bigger and better dams.
This government has wasted five years of this nation, without planing for the future. Totally denied the most crucial issue of the construction of dams. By hook or crook, they may succeed in overcoming electricity loadshedding for winning next elections but consequences of their pathetic planning may push this country to even more troubled state. A government which fails to build the dams is enemy of our future generations.
PMLN government has failed miserably in solving the problems of a common Pakistani and remained busy in self gratification. They wasted Pakistan's tax payer's money on self promotion, putting their pictures and posters around the country. Do not forget their selfish acts. Do not trust their future promises, before you vote for next elections.
During childhood, we often heard our elders, discussing with each other that children should be kept away from watching movies because the violence shown and complicated stories could leave a bad impact on their minds for the rest of their lives.
Today, when I see so much of violence and terrorism in the world, I do wonder if those predictions were correct. There are many captivating movies, which were brought to the silver screen as riveting ideas but lead to disastrous happenings around the world.
And it is not just terrorism or violence, even scientific ideas of cloning, space travel etc, were introduced in either some novels and then pursued as movies.
Contemplating over it, I was reminded of some of the English movies, seen years ago. ( I say English because British movies are included, not just Hollywood).
For example: Arnold Schwarzenegger's, 'True Lies'. A fascinating movie which came out in 1994.
Through that, for the first time, the modern world witnessed emergence of a new profligate in Hollywood movies, announcing 'Crimson Jihad'. Harbinger of a divorce to Russians as former favourite miscreants, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, replaced by Muslims.
The historic tragedy of 9/11 reminded many people of the scene from this movie, in which Arnold Schwarzenegger gets on an aircraft and strikes it in the building in order to destroy it. The plot and characters of 9/11 seemed familiar to many, who had seen this movie. It was just that the destruction was caused by the bad guys, instead of the hero of any movie.
In my opinion, whoever the perpetrators were of the incident, must have grasped the idea of this massive destruction from the movie 'True Lies'. I find myself ignorant of any reference, if a similarity was drawn of the events in media or press. As a Tsunami of stories followed that mammoth tragedy. When I try to look back at it, fact and fiction, all gets mixed up.
Another movie, which I have never been able to forget was ' Conspiracy theory'. An American thriller about Jerry Fletcher (Mel Gibson), a conspiracy-theory obsessed New York City taxi driver, who continually expounds his ideas to different passengers whom he carries around to different places.
The most intriguing part of the story for me was, how Jerry was capable of brining different news articles and ideas together, giving birth to something totally irrelevant, which later proved to be true.
It is something which I personally relate to as well since childhood. Though, I consider it more of psychological analysis, reason being capable of doing so, than product of a conspiring mind. As the movie discloses by the end that Jerry was actually technically trained by CIA for that (but there is no such twist in my real life story). Yet still, I do bring different stories together, which prove to be true in an alarming way.
'Tomorrow never dies' (1997) a British spy film, 18th in the James Bond series, and the second to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional 007 agent. The story of the movie revolved around a series of destructions caused by a power-mad media mogul who intends to initiate World War III.
In this story, 'a media baron, Elliot Carver, head of the Carver Media Group Network (CMGN), begins his plans to use an encoder to provoke war between China and the United Kingdom, which would replace the Chinese government with one more supportive to Carver's plans of exclusive broadcast rights.''
Does this ring a bell already? Have you been able to draw a parallel, where I am trying to lead you?
Yes! My reference is to Geo TV. If nothing else, the lust for power and the appetite for playing with the governments are similar and quite evident.
And what I found even more exciting. We all know, Geo Television was established in May 2002 and a little bit of research about terrorism in Pakistan, revealed to me that the current wave of terrorist activities prevailing in our country started in 2003.
Now, I am not accusing this TV channel but is not strange that 9/11 incident occurred and triggered its consequences in 2001. But nothing directly effected Pakistan, till the breaking news culture introduced by this channel hit this country.
Going back to above mentioned Bond movie. The spy hero, 007 is sent to investigate Carver, after Carver Media releases news with critical details, of some events, hours before they become known to rest of the world. And towards the end of the movie, the confession comes from the media-mogul himself that, his plans were behind all the terrorist activities going around. Therefore, the most detailed breaking news appeared, only on his channels and network.
This also reminds me of the innumerable claims by this Geo TV that they were first to break the news stories. Its selected anchors, representatives, found at the most important events in contemporary history. All this reminds me of the ambitions of the media mogul in 'tomorrow never dies'. And if nothing else, at least the inspiration of the movie, definitely worked behind this channel.
East or West, from the times unknown, for some unknown reasons, women have been perceived as weaker sex. This concept provided the opposite sex a chance to manipulate them, more than conserving their securities.
Shirley Chisholm, the first female of African origin to become a member of American congress, once said: ''The emotional, sexual and psychological stereotyping of females, begins when the doctor says, it's a girl''.
Imagine, the cultures and civilizations, which followed the heartless, practice of female infanticide. It is not a thing of the past, but something still prevalent. Where, technology is providing humans, better chances to live; there are few parts of the world, where it is helping people to violate female child's right of even breathing in the air, in shape of fetocide.
According to a report by 'Rupee news'; Indians kill ten million girls right after birth.
What other rights, must have been granted to females of such countries, where they are denied the right to arrive in this world. The ancient custom of 'satti', where the widow of the deceased was forcibly placed on the burning pyre of her dead husband and was burnt alive, is still encouraged as a religious obligation.
Histories of the third world countries, including Pakistan are replete with stories of violence against women. Although, Pakistan is a Muslim country, follower of Islam; a religion which openly declared 'infanticide', a punishable crime and granted women, equal rights and respect, 1500 years ago. But the tragic thing is; the piece of sub-continent, now called Pakistan, was once a part of Hindu civilization. Therefore, many traditions of Hinduism have seeped into this land, along with brutal rituals of tribal ways of life.
These cultural influences, mixed with lack of education, extreme poverty, social frustrations and taboos give birth to situations, which contribute towards violence against women.
The unfortunate fact about Pakistan is; women are generally victimised by their own loved ones. Husbands, fathers, brothers, lovers, or in some cases, their own children. Who find ways to physically abuse, torture or torment them, by beating, burning, throwing acid and sometimes by honour killing. Women also have to suffer, sexual harassment at work and in society, along with domestic violence.
It is again unfortunate, that our country has brought out, legendary victims of violence, like Mukhtaran maaee, Malala yusufzai, etc. The pride of our country, the first female prime minister of the Muslim world, Benazir Bhutto, was killed in act of violence and hatred. The First Oscar award, our country received was due to a documentary, highlighting the abuse of throwing acid at women.
Generally, when such issues are being brought out into light in our country. Many of our patriotic Pakistanis, start speaking against the people, who draw the attention of the world towards such problems. At such a time, we need to understand, if we are not stopping this violence from spreading, it means, we are among its perpetrators too.
We are fortunate, our media projects such issues and is extremely helpful in making people aware of their rights. Then, why are we afraid of the exposure? Simply search at Google about violence against women and you will be surprised by the results. The ratio of violence against women is much more higher in the Western countries than in Pakistan. If they are brave enough to accept and acknowledge it, why should we act as cowards and eschew the reality.
It requires a change of the mindset. We have to make women, more aware of their rights as human beings. We need to make men aware of their rights too. If they remain oblivious of these, how are they going to respect women around them. This can only be done, by educating the masses. Spreading, moral, social and religious knowledge. Our entire country is in want of a psychological therapy in this regard, along with proper provision of work possibilities for men and women alike.
We cannot deny the fact that violence against women exists in our society. All this is happening around us. Better, accept the facts and make an effort to eradicate all this. Stop violence against women, if you see it happening around you. Many nations have passed laws against gender violation. As educated, responsible sensitive citizens, we must ensure, the laws which our country has against gender violation are implemented.
Accept that all the women in your lives are gifts of God, cherish their presence, love and respect them. Allow them to make their choices in life. Value them. Treat your girl child, equally well as your boys, if not better. Do not think, they are frail, rather make sure they become your strength.
And as Mathew Prior said, ''Be to her virtue, very kind. Be to her faults, a little blind'.
