Highlights of the October 2009 issue
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Deathly
Pattern
By Muhammad Badar Alam
Since the outbreak of the Gojra violence, there have been at least five incidents which did or could have led to further tensions between Christians and Muslims
On a recent Wednesday in mid-September, tension intensified in Gojra once
again in the wake of the death of a Muslim young man, Mohammad Asif. He
succumbed to injuries he had received during the August 1 violence in the
town as Muslims attacked the local Christian community. On September 23,
some mosques in Gojra made repeated announcements urging local Muslims to
attend his funeral in big numbers. The announcers also called Asif a martyr
who laid down his life protesting the desecration of the Quran. Despite such
incitement, the funeral proved to be a rather peaceful event, even though
the level of tension remains high in the town.
The incident, however, highlighted once again how the actual or even the
reported desecration of the holy Quran can potentially be used as a rallying
cry for instigating violence against non-Muslims, in this case the Christian
community. In what the Christian activists describe as a pattern, there have
been at least five incidents in Punjab after the violence in Gojra and in
each case tensions between the Muslims and the Christians were sparked off
by the reported desecration of the Quran. At least one of these incidents
became violent, culminating in the death of a Christian boy in judicial
custody.
Voice of Pakistan
Tabulation, Analysis and Text By
Shayan Rajani
In conversations with a miscellaneous selection of people, the Herald makes an
effort to explore how Pakistanis perceive the United States. Exploring their
views of the superpower in some detail, in a bid to understand not only what
they think but also the reasons for it, the results on the following pages will
break some stereotypes and yet reinforce others. While several Pakistanis admire
America for its freedoms and privilege, anger abounds at perceived hypocrisies
and its air of global ownership. A great deal of good has been identified in
American society to aspire to — democracy; a social meritocracy; tolerance of
different religions, ethnicities and lifestyles; opportunities for a good
education and for a livelihood that are denied to many in Pakistan. Yes, in the
quotes reproduced here, time and again will be found the pragmatic Pakistani who
sees the failings of his own government, who is aware of his country’s place in
the global arena and realises how much it depends on the United States. However,
there are also those who cry out to be left alone by the superpower. Still, it
can safely be said that American interference elicits mixed opinions, with
cooperation in terms of aid and education welcomed. Meddling that is not
welcomed, however, includes drone attacks and the reported advent of Blackwater
personnel.
— Anne Patterson, US Ambassador to Pakistan
By Umer Farooq and Madiha Sattar
Q. It is generally believed that Pakistani public opinion is
intensely anti-American. Polls confirm this view. Do you agree?
A. Polls have confirmed that public opinion is anti-American. But
sometimes if you scratch the surface there is also enormous interest in the
United States. We loom enormously large in the Pakistani consciousness. I
was shocked by that when I arrived here and I think it is wildly out of
proportion to our influence here. But yes, Pakistani public opinion is
certainly very anti-American.
Spotlight: Bright Lights, Big city
By Maleeha Hamid Siddiqui and Nadia Jajja
Young women from small towns who have moved to Pakistan’s metropolises to work
for regional TV channels are facing a range of hurdles as they live and work
alone in big cities
It is a hot Islamabad afternoon but the bright orange interior of Rohi TV, a
two-year-old Seraiki channel, provides cool shelter from the scorching
temperature. Beyond the small foyer, the building is alive with quiet
activity. Some employees are standing in the corridor chatting away while a
few girls wait outside the make-up room for their turn.
It is evident from their attire that the capri pants trend has not reached
the staff of Rohi TV. Modestly attired in shalwars and full-sleeved kameezes,
none of the girls have opted for the short pants that till recently, ruled
the runways and the fashionable streets and drawing rooms of Karachi, Lahore
and even Islamabad. Here the women tend to wrap themselves carefully in
dupattas; some have even covered their heads.
By Irfan Husain
Would you shell out 300 dollars for a pound of beef? That’s how much Kobe
beef costs in Japan. But if you really want to try some of this superlative
meat, you’ll be relieved to know that it’s a bit cheaper in London: a pack
of two steaks weighing 350 grams will set you back 56 pounds. Only it can’t
be called Kobe beef in London and is sold as Wagyu. The difference is that
only Wagyu cattle raised in Kobe can be named after the Japanese region.
In case you are wondering why anybody would fork out this kind of money for
beef, here’s one foodie’s description of the taste and texture of Wagyu
steak: “Awesome. Beef foie gras. Smooth, velvety, incomparably sweet with a
subtle tang of savour that lingers on the palate like a rare perfume.”
Interview: “I am not
ashamed of being a Pakistani, but I am no longer proud of being one”
By Zaman Khan
Renowned UK-based novelist Abdullah Hussein, the author of Udaas Naslein –
arguably the first novel in Urdu – turned 78 this year on August 14. In
spite of his advancing years, he still lives independently, and more so than
most people, managing his homes in Britain and Pakistan by himself. Along
with this, he writes and is one of the few, if not the only Pakistani writer
to publish fiction in both Urdu and English. He is probably also the only
writer who has consistently turned down state awards, offered by successive
governments since 1984. Despite being notoriously publicity shy, he spoke to
the Herald recently, providing an insight into what makes him tick.
Q. Are you currently working on a new novel?
A. I have just finished writing a novel in English about Afghanistan,
which is with my agent in London. I have now started the second part of my
last Urdu novel Nadaar Log.
Books: Present Myths and
Past Events
By Dr Tariq Rahman
Jaswant Singh’s account of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Partition of British
India is selling like hot cakes. This is hardly surprising; once the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) decided to show this party stalwart the door
for writing the book – which blames Partition on the Indian National
Congress and not on Jinnah – Singh’s account garnered extensive airtime,
provoked multiple press statements and inspired a barrage of columns,
letters to the editor and even editorials. The Pakistani media and its
commentators are jubilant that the Jinnah they have always praised is now
being called Quaid-i-Azam (Great Leader) by an Indian politician.
But Singh, despite all the excitement surrounding his book, does not present
anything new. In 1985 Ayesha Jalal had argued in The Sole Spokesman that the
demand for Pakistan was a bargaining chip in an effort to obtain a better
deal from the Congress for Muslims in an independent but united India. Ajeet
Javed recently presented similar arguments. In addition, almost every
serious historian – Indian, Pakistani or British – has argued that Jinnah
was a secular politician and an advocate of Muslim-Hindu unity who abandoned
this ideal only because of the circumstances he found himself in.