Luck is in the air !

Well done boys! an outstanding performance by the team today. It doesn't matter whether they win or not but I enjoyed every moment watching them play. I am a cricket maniac and when it comes to Pakistan there is no chance that I miss even a ball. Glued to my chair, watch every ball till the very end no matter what!

The match started off well with good shots. Openers of Pakistan team had good body language came in with an aggressive mode. They attacked on Sri Lankan bowlers from the start and did their job well. Bit of luck was also flying with Muhammad Hafeez as he got dropped once at the beginning and the vantage was taken.  Loose balls were beautifully and skillfully put away to boundaries while Imran Farhat also silenced the critics today. Questions about his selection in the team were answered today and he proved with his bat he is worth a selection.

After a challenging total of 150 in 30 overs was put up by the openers things began to get amiss for the Pakistani team. An unfortunate run out of Misbah-ul-Haq happened where he was trying to participate in a running game with Malinga. I have been abortive in understanding the mind set of this man. Sometimes, he thinks he is playing a test match in a one-day and at times he wake up in the ending overs putting up good show adding valuable runs. And today, my goodness! He was in a competition with SL Malinga. Back in my mind comparing both physiques I thought Misbah could have won that race for his wicket if only he would have cared to run a bit earlier when Malinga was leaping toward the ball. Well, unfortunately Misbah today was not your day to play the test match.

Umar Akmal also got unlucky today; the man in form got bowled by a beautiful Yorker. Nice show was eventually put up by Razzaq and Afridi as they both played their natural game and losing their wickets in the fasshion was not a surprise at all. Afridi got out similarly what he is notorious around. He looked dangerous though but only sensible cricket can lead the batsman till the end LALA!.

Younis Khan, Pakistani wall I would say! Kept it nice and cool played a sensible innings. He tried different things today while facing Malinga but that couldn’t save him from getting run out by Prasanna. Even though the fielder took his time reaching the ball yet the luck was not in favour of Younis Khan this time. He played well though.

Sohail Tanvir was probably lost somewhere today. He is capable of batting but it took time for him to ground his feet in the pitch today. He played some childish shots earlier on but managed to achieve double figures however.

Umar Gul tried his best to put the ball out of the ground but he need to understand that he has to hit the ball first to fly it out of the ground. Well, hope so he put a good show with the ball today.

The graph of runs went up high but unfortunately didn’t end on a higher note. Having said that it is a challengeable total Pakistan has put on and in a good position to win the game. They have a potential bowling start. Let’s hope and pray they restrict Sri Lanka and win the game!

Mosquitoes in a plane

After almost a year I happened to visit Islamabad to attend a media workshop on Hazard Awareness and Disaster Reporting organsied by an NGO in a local hotel.  Although it was a one day visit yet I was very excited about it. Everything was packed and ready and my flight was at 7:00 in the morning and I was traveling by a private airline.

Eventually I am cool about my flight timings and not like to rush for everything yet I reached the airport one hour before departure and the credit goes to MY DAD!! I went through all the procedures and got hold of my ticket then hurling into the waiting area. After an hour without any announcement we marched through the gate and into the airplane. All the passengers were ensconced and everything was fine till then.

 All of a sudden I began to notice mosquitoes flying inside the plane. Oye!!  My day plans were over shadowed by the buzzing of those mosquitoes that were lurching over our heads and seats. I kept wondering how come an international airline didn’t have any arrangements for those mosquitoes at the same time when we hear a death almost every day. With such an alarming situation of dengue in the country and a grave threat to the lives of people we were still traveling with mosquitoes in our plane. Only in my wildest dreams!  I first thought to complain the flight attendant but then I stopped and wonder it will create an unnecessary panic amongst other passengers. So I sat quietly and thought to complain while leaving the aircraft.

The journey was good but not very peaceful as there were so many mothers traveling with their infants. The crying of children continued all the way to Islamabad. At last, I heard the bell that brought joy to my heart and an announcement was made by the pilot (Mr. Hasan) that we will be landing shortly. PHEW!! WE reached safely and I was at ease. The thought of air blue crash was running all way in my mind and I was a bit scared too.  But then luckily I survive the day and left the airport for my purpose of coming Islamabad.

Finally I reached my destination and attended a worthy workshop which taught me so many things regarding disaster. We were briefed about the techniques of reporting we should be careful about while reporting for any disaster.  It was a warm day and I was pleasantly invited by my friend and his 6 year old son who made my day and made me forgot about the mosquitoes ….

Dragging in the army - Published in Daily Times 26 August 2011

Visit to interior Sindh ... breathed life into people.... who had lost all hope..coming soon

outcomes of racism and terrorism......

Everyday when I come to office my first task is to monitor news print and electronic both. From the past few months I am hesitating in doing so, as I would always knew what would be there to read or to hear from our Media. Yes, I would know everyday so and so number of people have got victimised to sectarian violence so many have died and so many have been kidnapped burnt or worst comes worst got exploded in a suicide blast. Every now and then I keep on wondering what have happened to my country, it was never used to be like this? who are those people muslims non muslims or what? are they not humans? dont they carry a heart? dont they have feelings? dont they fear from the day of judgment? Do they ever think what they are doing will leave such a negative impact on the coming generations. Dont they realise what future they are providing to the generation that is coming. The outcomes of such happenings can never leave a positive impact on anyone's mind.
the outcomes of such incidents will obliterate peace happiness economy and faith in people. It already have impacted on so many people lives that those who were dependent on daily basis earnings are crying their hearts out. They are the most who are suffering from this plague. Their children are the most who are suffering. Those innocent creature what is their fault what bad have they done to any one? One day all those behind these doings will be punished.those external powers behind these murdering or should I say brutal murdering will be questioned one day. they will be brought to justice may be not in this world but definitely in the world after life. 

Fighting for women’s rights: 21-year-old winner aspires to become a lawyer in G-B

Saeeda Mir, who came first at the International Book Writing Competition-USA in June, dreams of becoming a lawyer to fight for women’s rights in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).

She completed against 1,900 people of all ages, as there was no age restriction, and stood first.

“My accomplishment has made me and my family proud and I hope the President of Pakistan acknowledges my achievement and gives me the pride of performance award to encourage me,” the 21-year-old Mir from Sultanabad, an underdeveloped area of Gilgit, told The Express Tribune.

For her achievement, she was awarded Rs500,000 by the Prime Minister, but the G-B government is yet to take notice of her achievements. She believes the government should encourage youngsters to work hard and take initiative.

“G-B students are very talented, they only need exposure and the resources to explore their hidden skills,” she said.

She added there are very few educational facilities in G-B, and there is no separate women’s university.

She believes her plans of following a career in law are in line with the deplorable conditions she considers women to be in.

She says they are facing numerous challenges, “These women are yet to get justice as far as their rights are concerned and for that they need women judges, lawyers and women right leaders to boost their morale.”

She has received a six year scholarship at People’s Law College in Hawaii, Los Angeles.

She plans to pursue a degree in International Law and aspires to become a Judge in Gilgit after completing her studies. She is currently pursuing her BA in Margalla College and completed F.Sc from Army Public School in Gilgit.

Mir describes herself as an ardent reader and said she writes on different topics to sharpen her writing skills.

She is the eldest of the three daughters and two sons of Mir Baz Khan, a businessman. Baz, who shifted to Islamabad for his children’s education, said that he always encourages his daughter to take part in extra-curricular activities alongside her studies.

He wants his daughter to become a lawyer and serve the women in G-B.

Originally published in the Express Tribune August 08, 2011

My visit to Punjab...

Though my visit was not a planned one neither I wanted to visit Punjab like this. The reason was the sad demise of my beloved uncle who passed away on Monday (11 July 2011) and this sad news was delivered soon to our doorstep. He was living with his wife and children in Uch Shareef, a remote village few kilometers before from Bhawalpur. I was not scheduled to go but my mother and my uncles but insisted me to come as my mother could not travel without me. 

That day at office went in a haste. It was Monday evening when I went directly to the bus station which is in sorab goth. I was told to reach there by 16:30 as the bus was likely to leave by 17:00. I rushed to reach the venue. To my ease, when I saw the bus and my relatives standing by the bus. The male members were standing outside while the females were already boarded. I greeted everybody and looked for my mother and sat beside her after spotting her in the fifth row. I could see the smug on her face the moment she saw me.  I was not carrying anything as she had already taken my clothes in her bag. It was 17:00 and the bus was about to move. All my relatives and other passengers were in the bus except our driver. One of the passengers called that lousy guy and argued to start the bus as the time given had already passed. After a few minutes he obliged to started moving. 

After traveling a short distance he stopped the bus at the bus adda where all the other buses were standing. For once, we all thought that this might be a checkup before leaving but surprisingly the driver sat besides with a table with his conductor and a few men accompanied him. At first we could not understand what was going on but then a passenger shouted from behind and appealed the bus driver to start the bus and leave. The bus driver was least bothered to reply. One of my relative stepped down and asked him what was going on?

When he came back he told us that the bus will not move unless all the seats are booked. I told to myself in my heart and wonder what shit we were into now. Traveling from a local bus was not a good idea at all. And the worst was that we had to stand there for 1 hour unless the bus got filled up and ready to move. While standing there, local vendors kept coming in and would smitten the passengers to buy their stupid products. Well finally the bus got filled and was ready to move and I thank God for giving me patience and making the bus to move.

The driver drove the bus roughly all the way and we all kept wondering whether we will reach alive or not. A few stops in between at the designated stops while other stops were made unnecessarily in between wherever our driver's own wish whether it would be in a jungle or a city. I kept controlling my cool and not to burst out on the driver as my family was traveling with me and I did not wanted to take any risk. The journey went in awake and sleep for intervals as I could not sleep properly. We reached the place next morning around 06:00 and loaded off our stuff and bags from the bus.

Our cousin was there to receive us and we went on a motor bike rikshaw to his place. On the way I could see women in the fields plucking something and I thought how remote this village could be. Soon after we reached the place we could hear the crying of our relatives (my late uncle's family).  After the last didar (final view of face) we decided to take him to the grave yard. After offering his namaz janaza (funeral prayers) in a field nearby we took him to the grave yard. There is only one grave yard in that village for our community and that is situated in the shrine of Peer Hassan Kabeerdin. After burying him we went to his house where his family had arranged everything. After eating the lunch we all decided to leave for Karachi in the evening. 

While sitting at their home I got a chance to talk to my cousin. She told me that she is now studying in Bhawalpur University. She said there was no good school, college or university around where they could get intellectual education and so she decided to study in Bhawalpur University. And so did her sister who wants to become a nurse in the future. 

I could understand their agony as the education system was worse in that village. I told them they had made a right decision and was happy to see them taking good education. I appreciated their efforts and wished them good luck. After taking a brief nap we all decided to leave. 

So that’s how my visit to Punjab came to an end when we returned to Karachi. I have not written much about my visit. There were more things to write about. However the time does not allow me to write much as I get very little time for my blog. I hope someday when I am fluent in writing I would rather write much interesting things and visits until then keep enjoying reading.