Adil Najam

Today is the 4th of July. Independence Day in USA.

Since about half of the readers of ATP live in the USA (I assume most are Pakistani-Americans), I thought it was appropriate to put in something to deal with the 4th-of-July theme, but in a Pakistani context.
US-Pakistan relations stand today at a critical juncture and are at a defining moment (see Hussain Haqqani’s commentary on this). ATP has written about this ‘falling out of love’ between USA and Pakistan and we plan to do so again soon.

Meanwhile, however, I have for you this really interesting photograph–the back of a traditionally painted Pakistani truck that was painted and displayed first at the 2002 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Picture originally uploaded by guy_incognito on Flickr.com.

P.S. By the way, this picture will be featured on the cover of my forthcoming book, September 2006, on Pakistanis in America… more on that later, also.

P.P.S. Just wanted to add that the 4th of July is also my son’s birthday. This is not a personal blog, but the reason I thought this was worth a mention is that that his name is MUSA… yes, M-USA… neither the ‘USA’ in his name nor the 4th of July birthday were planned, but I find the coincidence rather amusing!

By Adnan Siddiqi

Thank you, KESC [Karachi Elecctric Supply Corporation]!

Thanks to massive loadshedding, not only has life come to a near standstill for many in Karachi, but several people have been forced to make public parks their ‘bedrooms.’ The picture above is from the Urdu newspaper Jang and shows a mass sleepover in the park as the peak summer loadshedding has literally driven people out of their homes.

The picture below is from the English newspaper Dawn, and is an equally compelling depiction of how this loadshedding is impacting people’s life.

Many of you will be aware of ‘Candlelight Dinner’ but here is what ‘Candlelight Cooking’ looks like. One has to respect and honor the work of this woman. Here is my salute to the thousands of women and workers who have gone on with their lives and daily work despite the oppressive heat, no electricity, and lack of any options. They deserve not only our sympathy, but our respect; and our efforts to resolve this crisis… and to do it soon

Adnan Siddiqi calls himself a ‘pseudo geek’ and lives in Karachi. (See more at Adnan Siddiqi’s blog).

Adil Najam

The situation in Karachi remains bad. Violence over power-shortages continues as do killing of cops. This city deserves better. This is the violence bred out of abject neglect and lack of resources. The situation needs to be tackled and tackled quickly before it gets (even more) out of hand. Reportedly, the President has sought a report “from Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi and Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad on loadshedding and deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi on Wednesday night and directed them to resolve the issue at the earliest.”

Asking for a report is good, but not enough. Action is needed and needed immediately.

I try to follow the news on Karachi, but I also follow the discussion on the Karachi Metroblog. It can give you a more authentic feel for what is happening. Indeed, one of my everyday reading staple are the ‘Metroblogs’ from Pakistan–Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad; makes me feel like I am at least a little in touch with what is happening on the ground.

The type of ‘authentic smells and feels’ of Pakistan that keep me going back there include this post in Karachi Metroblog, by blogger Xill-e-Ilahi whose own blog–Samandar-e-Bemaina: Abbasnam–is always full of insightful discussion.

Xill-e-Ilahi reports of a discussion he had with rickshaw driver Raees Shah on what needs to be done to resolve Karachi’s problems.

raees shah is 43, illiterate and drives his rickshaw from ten in the moring to midnight. he displays a political acumen, or siyasi shaoor as he would like to put it, beyond what i could ever have imagined. he has a formula for karachi. its simple yet sophisticated, possible yet impractical. this is his way of getting things to work

The 5-point political manifesto presented by Raees Shah, as reported by Xill-e-Ilahi, is intriguing; to say the least. So, let me quote it verbatim:

1. take the strategic institutions in your own hands. this he says is easy. if all of karachi were to stop paying their utility bills for just one month, the utility companies would pack up and leave. the people can then enter the abandoned offices and take control.
2. take over civil defense. slightly harder. but he feels that the “mob” effect will be able to achieve this. poora mohalla thanay key samnay khara ho jaye, tullay khud shehar chhor key bhaag jaaein gay he gets a bit vague at this point but i think he said that the running of the police stations should be handed over to the principal of the ilaqay ka kaalij (college).
3. ban all political parties. no meetings. no rallies. no speeches. no campaigning. sirf qaum ka paisa lutatay hain @@##$%!!
4. keep the maulvi in the mosque and madrassa. he’s very clear on this point. pehlay khud ko sahi kerein, phir shariat nafiz kernay ki baat karein. he feels that the people of this city aren’t yet ready for iran jaisa inquilab. koi rehbar abhi is qabil nahi hai ke hamein us tarah se aagay le jaye.
5. make education free and mandatory. everybody should study. everybody should study free.

All of you who keep wondering what ordinary Pakistanis think; this is it. Authentic and from the heart.

Keep an eye out for Raees; Xill-e-Ilahi has already announced that he would vote for him!