Adil Najam
The news is finally in. As expected, the Lahore High Court has lifted the ban it had earlier imposed on the social networking site, Facebook.
So, what is the lesson in all of this? Who gained what in this entire episode? And who lost what?
The essentials of the news, as reported in The Express Tribune, are as follows:
The Lahore High Court (LHC) lifted the ban on social networking website Facebook on Monday. During today’s proceedings, the court demanded gaurantees that such content will not be accessible to users in Pakistan. The court observed that the act would be treated as contempt of court if it is repeated again. Meanwhile, deputy attorney general and PTA representative assured the court it would not happen again.
The court also outlined the government’s responsibility in such cases. The Lahore High Court banned Facebook on May 19 for hosting a blasphemous drawing contest and asked PTA to submit a written reply. Menwhile, the next hearing was adjourned till June 15. The popular social networking website was banned by the Lahore High Court after a controversy over it hosting blasphemous caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Muslims across the world were offended by a Facebook page which declared May 20 a day to caricature Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Despite a growing surge of protests by Muslims, Facebook had opted not to remove the page. The court had temporarily banned the social networking site Facebook till May 31 across the country. It had issued the order after an Islamic forum of lawyers sought ban on access to the popular social networking site for holding a contest of drawing caricatures on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The ban was a stupid idea and made us all look even more stupid than we actually are! Glad at least this stupidity is now over. Although other stupidity thrives
Who dignified and adored My Kaaba with worship and prayers?
Who embraced My Qur’an with its light in their hearts?
Who struck lightning while battling Romans and Persians?
Who knelt and bowed in humility when the Azaan echoed?
No doubt, they were your ancestors, butwhat are you?
With hands spread out for charity, like beggars are you.
Divided into sects and separated as clans,
Are these the traits you boast of to glorify time’s span?
O, Of course you are Syeds, Mirzas and Afghans too!
But O ye proud ones, tell Me, are you Muslims too?
EPITAPH
….If you are loyal to Muhammad My Messenger, than I am all yours,
What is this world in value, even Destiny is yours.”
(Tranlations of verses taken from Allama Iqbal’s “Jawab-e-Shikwa) — Translated by Muhammad Naveed Ahmed.
Eidee: What’s your stance about banning every youtube link which hurts your President Zardari and PPP?
O MY BELOVED, I NEED YOUR PRAYERS (POEM)
I am loved
By the most beautiful of women
Ever created by God Almighty
In the years since I was born.
I love her too
With the same incalculable intensity
So much so
That my heart, mind and soul
In fact, every breath that I take
Owe I to her and her majestic love.
I shall not name her
Till the right time comes…
Yet even with so much love
Overflowing with boundless energy
From my being
I am unable to control my angst
At watching people killing other people
In the name of religion and faith.
I cannot come to terms with the fact
When the newspapers around the world reported
How an old wealthy piece of filth called man
Forcibly married a very young girl
A girl who was old enough to be his daughter.
And not content with his sexually hideous acts
That hedgehog of a man
Molested her and killed her
More barbarically than Chengiz Khan would have done.
My lady love tells me with utmost tenderness
To pay not heed to such incidents
And quietly do my duty in helping mankind.
But my spirit revolts deep inside
When I see injustice being done
Wherever and whenever it may be.
And a “Samson” inside me awakes
To annihilate the rot and scum of earth
Singlehandedly as it does appear
But with the angels of Almighty Allah
Helping me in my cleansing act.
I am loved and I am lucky
But to help those who do need me
Is a fire that runs in my blood
And I care not for what might happen
To me as I demolish the demon.
O my lady love pray for me
That I remain invincible
Like I have always been
So that the evil mischief mongers
Be uprooted from here completely.
O my love shouldn’t I be angry
Should I not be hurt or grieved
When some demonic assholes take out their pens
And draw cartoons of God’s beloved Prophet*?
Tell me O my love if you can
How can I all this mischief stand
Without doing nothing against such evils?
I love you and know fully well
That you love me even more
But my fairest lady it is not fair
To ridicule or make fun of my religion
Like being done by the freaks of Satan.
I challenge each and every one of them
To face me in dialogue, debate or battle
And show them a taste of God’s firm mettle
Breathed in me by his angels and fairies
O my beloved I must destroy God’s enemies.
I am not afraid of speech or reasoning
Nor am I a coward in fighting
You know me well so keep on praying
That I with God’s help prove their ending.
Like Samson destroyed the idol Dagon
And Ali, Prophet Muhammad’s cousin
Brought down the gates of Gaza on foes
Even I too may live up to my vows.
© Muhammad Naveed Ahmed
I find the picture you have used both funny and sad.
THESE are our leaders. Has any one of them ever even used a computer?