Malala - From Hope to Pride

Malala - From Hope to Pride

October 10, 2014: I am really happy today. I know the majority of people in Pakistan are also happy because Malala Yousufzai, the champion of girls' education has won the coveted Nobel Peace Prize 2014 along with an Indian child rights activist Shri Kailash Satyarthi. 

But it is also a fact that many in Pakistan are not happy at all because they always find a conspiracy if the West supports any good cause or a person. At the time when Taliban terrorists attacked Malala in Mangora KPK in 2012 when she along with other girl students was returning in the school van, many such people in Pakistan thought it was not Taliban terrorists but CIA or RAW agents who attacked her, even though Taliban spokesperson had accepted the responsibility and also resolved to attack her again. Two other girls were also injured due to the firing. These same people then raised objections that why Malala is receiving such huge international attention when two other girls were also injured in the attack. Although those two girls also received medical treatment the main target of the attack was Malala, whom the Taliban thought was a threat to their nefarious designs. Taliban central leader Adnan Rashid even wrote a letter to Malala after her speech at the United Nations and advised her to take admission to an Islamic Madressah. He clarified that the Taliban were not against education, but this type of Western education. “Taliban believed that you were intentionally writing against them and running a smearing campaign to malign their efforts to establish an Islamic system in Swat. Your writings were provocative,” he stated in the letter. 

Sometimes I feel sad that our people in Pakistan have become so saddest and narrow-minded that they always find some sort of conspiracy in every good thing that happens to some anti-Taliban elements. I still did not expect such stupidity from the educated masses, who are even sad on the occasion that a Pakistani daughter had received such a big laurel.

This is an unusual occasion in our lives at the turn of history as overall there is overwhelming happiness across the country. But social media websites, Twitter and FaceBook, are also full of such shits against Malala, which is really amazing and unfortunate. 

Even some so-called broadminded people write anti-Malala comments and apologetic posts, that I sometimes beat my head. An old friend of mine who happens to be a journalist with a PhD in Mass Communication from a foreign university wrote a comment on one of my posts: "systematically disgracing Pakistan as a country where girls are not allowed to get an education; so why the majority of medical graduates are girls... CIA zindabad. NGObaaz paindabaad!"

This was just a personal example. Here is another example: There is a group on Face Book called "Pakistani Freethinkers" which is run by a group of unknown moderators, one of them is Mr Ghulam Rasool. He congratulates Pakistanis on Malala's winning Nobel with a big "But" and raises questions about why Maulana Edhi was not given this award. 

I write this blog not to criticise anyone because it is an occasion of celebrations and I am really happy and rejoice.

Two years back Taliban terrorists attacked Malala in her hometown Mangora in Swat because she had waged a peaceful 'crusade' for girls' education and her crusade against Taliban's attacks on schools especially girls' schools had raised many eyebrows in Pakistan. Taliban were angry because a frail girl was speaking against them and their bombing of schools in the media and the world was listening to her attentively. She not only challenged the Taliban's anti-education activities in Swat valley but during their control and terror's reign in the valley she wrote a student's diary with a pen name Gulmakai for BBC Urdu noting the impressions of a school child on the fearful situation in the valley. After the Army operation in Swat and Malakand in 2008, Malala revealed the fact that she was actually Gulmakai, since then her family started receiving threats from the Taliban. 

The Government of Pakistan recognised her services when an international children's advocacy group KindsRights Foundation nominated her for the International Children's Peace Prize, for her courageous writings. Although she did not receive that international award, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani decorated her with National Youth Peace Prize in 2012. 

It was actually a turning point in Malala's life. She became a celebrity as the media started paying attention to her. Many channels did packages on her life and activities and a few TV channels invited her to their morning programmes. She also came to Karachi along with her father Ziaur Rehman in early 2012 to attend a morning show by a leading TV channel. They stayed in PILER's hostel at Gulshan-e-Maymar for a couple of days. We had many interactions with Malala and her father Ziaur Rehman and a formal meeting was also arranged on January 4, 2012, with the PILER staff in which she read out a page of her diary. (Watch the video:) 

Again they visited Karachi when the Sindh provincial government announced a cash award of Rs. 500,000 and named a government school at Burns Road after Malala's name. During that visit, she had inaugurated the nameplate of that school. We again held many interactions with her and her father. A function was also organised in her honour at PILER. This time about 100 children of the flood affectees' school at the nearby Labour Square Camp attended and listened to her speech. She gave an impressive talk to the children. I am convinced that her father is the main force behind her grooming and above all her successes.

Unfortunately, she was seriously injured in October 2012 in a terrorist attack by the Taliban in Mangora, Swat. It was really a very depressing moment for many of us. I wrote a blog on 10th October 2012 "Malala: An icon of courage and hope" and interestingly exactly two years after that (on 10 October 2014) I am writing another blog on her winning the Nobel Peace Prize 2014. 

Today things have changed in Pakistan. Now Taliban are on the run as they are facing the worst kind of situation in Pakistan because Pakistan Army has launched operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan, their stronghold. Hundreds of Taliban terrorists have reportedly been killed and the key terrorists and leaders have either left Pakistan and are hiding in Afghanistan or they are living in other tribal areas in disguising. But still, the threat of terrorism exists in Pakistan as suicide bombing and other terrorist activities are happening in different parts of the country. 

Malala should not return to Pakistan at least for the period she completes her education. She has still many threats and the conditions in Pakistan are not favourable for her. A section of the society is not happy as they are mostly Taliban apologists. Swat valley is still not so free from terrorists and safe, even though Army has restored peace and tourism in the valley has resumed.

It is pity that two Pakistani have received Nobel Peace Prize and both were unable to return to their countries. Dr. Abdus Salam received Nobel Price in Physics in 1979, but because he was Qadiani and in 1977 Pakistan's parliament declared Qadianis as "Non-Muslims." Now Malala has received, but she has a life threat from the Taliban. 

In the end, I again wish Malala big success in all her endeavours for improving education in developing countries including Pakistan.

Danboro Village, Umerkot district in Thar desert of Sindh

Danboro Village 

A model village in Sindh's desert (in Umerkot district) with all facilities, but scant usage

There is a village in Umerkot in Thar desert (on the way between Umerkot and Khokhrapar), which has almost every basic civic facility including safe drinking water (through RO plant) besides water supply through pipes, a basic health unit (BHU) with a good and new building, a primary school, a middle school, electricity, a community centre and a metalled road. I have never seen all such facilities in a small village like this, but it is true that Village Danboro has all. This is a real model village. All the people belong to the Samo family and Muslims.

The newly constructed beautiful building of Basic Health Unit.

 

See the political influence of this development scheme
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But the secrete behind all such developments in a remote village in the desert is very interesting. This is the village of once a driver and now a manager of Addi Faryal Talpur, sister of President Asif Ali Zardari. This is also a pride for the villagers that Hamid Samo is the servant of the highly influential family of the country.

Picture shows the once driver with Mrs. Faryal Talpur.

The pictures are placed at the house of Humid Samo.

All "chamatkar" development has happened thanks to the personal efforts of the influential person of the village, but such a powerful person is also unable to bring doctors at the BHU and teachers in the schools, thanks to poor governance of PPP for the last five years. The BHU's building was inaugurated early this year, but it has still not started functioning properly. Separate residences are provided for the doctor adjacent to the medical centre, but no doctor bothers to live in them, leave alone come on a daily basis to provide medical facilities to these people. Medicines and other medical equipment including oxygen gas cylinders are lying unattended in the hospital's vacant rooms, and even basic furniture is still not provided. Villagers told a doctor sometimes comes for a few hours in the BHU, whereas the unit is run by paramedical staff. There are nine member of staff in the BHU.

What is the use of an Oxygen cylinder in such a situation in a room in BHU

Medicines are lying here and there in such a pathetic condition.

Residential quarters are provided for doctors, but they are not willing to live here.

Similar is the situation in the two schools. Villagers told, there is only one teacher in the primary school and three teachers are coming to the middle school for teaching to the students of the village. You can imagine the standard of education in such a situation.

Primary school

Middle school

Interestingly there is a Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant in the village along with a diesel-operated generator to provide safe drinking water to the people, but it is not functioning these days. The villagers are provided water through the water supply pipeline.

RO Plant

There are two separate community centres in this village, one of them has been recently constructed, thanks to the driver of the most influential person in Sindh. You can see the use of the new community centre in the picture below. Interestingly the Community Centre is located adjacent to the residence of Hamid Samo, which can only be used as an Otaq. An older community centre was already there in the village, but of no use.

Outside view of the Community Centre, the blue building is the residence of Hamid Samo.

   

This can be one use of a community centre in a village.

This is also a community centre building in the village.

 The villagers are very proud of having a son, who is the servant of the king's family. The house of that person is really an oasis in the desert. Many village youths are employed as government servants, of course, because of their influential personalities.

A residence with an air conditioner and geyser, which the city people also do not have. 

I was very happy but amazed to see such a model village, where besides all basic civic facilities one can see a beautiful valley-like view if one stands at the gate of the newly constructed BHU in the village. The canopy-typed huts of the village with a metalled road give a panorama look at the village. God bless this small village and its dwellers.

A panoramic view

Villagers told a Lahore-based organisation is constructing a mosque for the villagers, who all are Muslims.

Cattle are an inevitable part of rural life..

Simultaneously, this village is a classical example and an eye opener for all of us that how development is prioritise in our province, where those who have some links with the political families can easily get access to the development, whereas a huge majority of the population is deprived of even some basic facilities like safe drinking water, sewerage and primary healthcare etc.

View all pictures of the village: https://picasaweb.google.com/108561377360783501595/Danburo_Umerkot_Aug62013?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Malala: An icon of courage and hope

Malala: An icon of courage and hope

October 10: Since yesterday I am angry, full of hatred against the Taliban and the Pakistani establishment, of course, depressed with a sense of helplessness since I heard the news about the terrorist attack on Malala Yousufzai, the courageous daughter of Swat, who used her pen to expose the atrocities of Taliban during their control in the valley. She along with other girl students of her father’s school was shot at in Mangora by terrorists when they were going to their school. Taliban have accepted responsibility for the attack. These evil agents of darkness and enemies of humanity as well as girls' education, the Taliban have tried to silence one frail girl but with a bold voice. Their nefarious designs seem successful with this attack as the girl has received serious wounds. All this is happening in Swat with state support and patronage. Despite the presence of the Army in the valley with barricades on every nook and corner, the terrorists escaped safely without any trace. Everyone is condemning, even the apologist political leaders like Munawar Hassan of Jamat Islami, Maulana Fazl Rehman of JUI and Imran Khan of Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf who always supported the Taliban. These pro-Taliban politicians have never uttered a word to condemn their terrorism but this time social media pressure forces them to condemn this ugly act of terrorism.  

Everyone is sad. I have a special intimacy with her because I closely remained in her company on two occasions early this year in Karachi. When Malala came to Karachi to attend a morning show on a TV channel after she received the award from the Prime Minister following her nomination for an international award, she and her father stayed in our office’s hostel. Although they were guests of the TV channel, she and her father had accepted our hospitality to stay in our hostel. During their stay, we arranged a special get-together with her on January 4, 2012, in the office. Many of our colleagues did not know much about her, but some including me knew that she had written diaries for BBC Urdu during the reign of terrorism unleashed by the Taliban in the entire Swat Valley. She got fame suddenly through the media when an international children's advocacy group KidsRights Foundation nominated her for the International Children's Peace Prize, making her the first Pakistani girl nominated for the award for her courageous writings. At our request, she read out a page of the published diary on the occasion. We asked a lot of questions about her life, the situation in Swat during and after the Taliban and of course about her school, which is being run by her father for the girls and she was still a student there. After the function, each one of us wanted to have pictures with her.

Again she came the next month when the Sindh government announced a cash award for her and named a government school in Karachi after her name. She was in Karachi to unveil the plaque of her school, which is located at Burns Road. This time our Executive Director Karamat Ali asked us to arrange a talk on Malala for the kids of the flood-affected families, who are living in the Labour Square complex near our office.

It was Sunday, February 5, 2012, when about 100 students and their teachers gathered at PILER Centre to listen to Malala. Those flood-affected children, most of them studying in the primary school of the labour square camp, were informed about Malala’s achievement and her courage. But when she gave a motivating speech to the students, many of them might have not understood the Urdu language, but everyone was clapping when she finished her very impressive talk. The 14-year Malala advised the students to acquire education at all costs irrespective of any difficult times. She also asked them to be courageous to ask for their rights. She suggested the students to have a dream for a better life. “This dream should be alive all the time in your head and you should struggle for the fulfilment of that dream.” She asked the downtrodden students to respect their elders and teachers, help others and inculcate good moral habits in them to be good citizens. Malala said she was happy to learn that such a large number of children from flood-affected areas of Sindh are getting a proper education in such difficult conditions. She announced giving Rs. 10,000 to the school.

Later, the children asked questions from Malala, which she answered in a very simple but poised way. During her talk, I was wondering why she was such a confident girl who had witnessed terror and murders in her area, but despite all the atrocities she was very clear in her views and thoughts and her desire for peace was so profound that she has become a messenger for the peace. In all her boldness there was certainly a lot of contribution from her father Ziaur Rehman Yousufzai who remained steadfast behind her. He is the advocate of girls' education in Swat valley, which was the main target of terrorism by the Taliban who had destroyed almost all the state schools in the valley.

I cannot forget the way she was speaking with confidence about peace and her ambition to join politics after completing her education. When one asked if she was afraid of the Taliban, she said as a child she was certainly afraid of them, but she knew they were enemies of humankind and girls' education. They had bombarded the schools and they were threatening those who were sending their girls to schools. She wanted to work for the workers of Swat and she expressed her desire to start an NGO for the rights of women.  

I know it is very difficult to produce girls like Malala with such rare qualities. She is a hope for the nation, which is passing through a difficult time. I salute her and her father Ziaur Rehman, who gave her such confidence and clarity of her purpose and also encouraged her to become a good citizen. I don’t have more words for the little angel and I pray to Almighty Allah to give her life so the spark of hope can become a full-fledged light.

Last Day of Consultation on Bonded Labour

Labour Rights Advocates Call to declare 2010 as ‘The Year of Eradication of Bonded Labour’ KARACHI, April 10, 2010: Peasant workers, civil society activists, scholars, and farmers' rights advocates demanded the government on Saturday to declare 2010 as ‘The Year of Eradication of Bonded Labour’, and implement all the existing laws including the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1992 and the ILO Conventions related to the abolition of bonded labour and slavery. Speaking on the last day of the two-day Consultation on ‘Linkages between Land Rights, Food Security and Bondage’ organized by the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) at the PILER Centre, Karachi, civil society activists pointed out that under the Article-3 of the Constitution of Pakistan, it is the state’s responsibility to bring all kinds of exploitation to an end. They stressed that bonded labour is a “severe kind of exploitation.” They urged the Supreme Court (SC) to take notice of this grave violation of human rights and review the existing laws, including the Tenancy Act. “The Parliament should strike down all laws that are in conflict with the Constitution of Pakistan.” The second day of the two-day Consultation on ‘Linkages between Land Rights, Food Security and Bondage’ saw participation from a large number of human rights activists, labour rights representatives, academicians and civil society leaders. Executive Director PILER, Karamat Ali, Senior Economist Aly Ercelan, Civil Society Activist Adam Malik, Sindh Rural Partners Organisation Chairperson Zahida Detho, Lawyer Munaza Hashmi and Advocate Faisal Siddiqi chaired and participated in the panel discussions that covered different aspects of the issue of bonded labour and land rights. Speakers at the Consultation observed that the government is providing official land in both urban and rural areas to deserving people under various schemes such as the Goth Abad Scheme etc. However, most people in rural Sindh have not taken advantage of such schemes. “Insecurity of residence is the main cause of bonded labour in Sindh.” The Speakers demand that all the people, living on the lands for decades should be given the legal entitlements to that piece of land “to ensure their right to shelter and security.” The participants also condemned the government‘s proposed scheme for corporate farming under which the country’s agricultural land is planned to be provided to foreign firms with all the facilities for farming. Human rights and labour rights activists demanded that the land should be given to local landless peasants instead, particularly those who are freed from bonded labour through court orders. “Individuals who are freed from bonded labour usually are left with no source of income and livelihood options. It is important to ensure their access to land to facilitate their rehabilitation, and allow them an opportunity to stand on their own feet.” They urged the government to include the provision for the right to unionization in all sectors of the economy, especially the agricultural sector. “It is a practice world-over that all sectors of the labour force, barring the armed forces and the police service, are given the right to unionization. Successive Industrial Relations Acts have prevented a large segment of the country’s labour force, especially the agricultural sector and the informal sector from their due right to form unions and fight for their rights. The upcoming Industrial Relations Act should undo this provision and enable the labour force to access their rights without discrimination.” Sharing their experiences on the occasion, labour lawyers said that most of the bonded workers are released under the Habeas Corpus laws instead of the specific and relevant Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1992. Advocate Munaza Hashmi from Multan pointed out that senior lawyers and judges might be unaware of the existence of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1992. She said that there are no flaws in the existing laws, but gaps in implementation are keeping a large part of the labour from accessing their rights. Senior lawyer Faisal Siddiqui said that he would soon file a petition in the Sindh High Court for the implementation of the Bonded Labour laws and the formation of District Vigilance Committees in those districts where the bonded labour issue is serious. A civil society activist from Hyderabad, Zulfiqar Shah said that more than 60 per cent of people in the Province of Sindh do not have their own residence. “Most of the peasants are living on the land of big landlords for decades. These landlords frequently use force to push labour to vacate their premises. Due to the absence of ownership rights, these workers are uprooted and rendered homeless.” Dr Christopher from Okara said that the peasants’ movement in Punjab has turned successful as the provincial government has agreed to provide land rights to all peasants of the Province. He said that the farmers have struggled for their land rights since 2000 and currently they are getting the entire crop from their agricultural production, which is an important success. Participants at the Consultation decided to lobby for declaring the year 2010 as ‘The Year of Eradication of Bonded Labour’. They pledged to work together to launch a formal movement to push for land reforms, abolishment of bonded labour and labour rights, and bring these issues to the agenda of the policymakers, the political forces and the legislators. “Democracy must be seen to be delivering on the basic rights of the people, and on bridging social divisions and disparities for it to earn people’s trust and support as a successful system for Pakistan.”