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Of pirs, goats and kaali daal: Pakistani leaders and their superstitious ways
Pakistanis are a superstitious lot. It is easier for us to blame our own mistakes, lack of vision or just poor risk perception on evil eyes, bad omens or anything else that suits our fancy. The important thing to remember is, it is never we, who are at fault. And why would we ever be at fault? Superstitions trumps logic any day!
It is our good fortune that it is not just the average citizen that hold such beliefs, even our politicians and heads of state believe in bad omens, evil eyes and jinxes. I mean, since they are leading our great and glorious nation on a path of progress and prosperity, they would know better right?
Asif Ali Zardari – Former president
Our former president, who has the distinct honour of having his party’s democratically elected government complete its full term, the first in our history, weathered every storm by sacrificing a goat every day. Every day of the year, for years.
If goats had the same rights that some humans do in this country, they would be out on the streets everyday protesting against the genocide. Good thing most people and goats don’t have rights.
One wonders if the goat sacrifice is still the norm behind the fortress-like walls of Bilawal House, but only God and American spy satellites would know.
It would be an injustice if we do not mention Pir Ejaz, the pir who enabled our former president to access the paltry sum of $60 million in his Swiss bank account.
The pir gave up all worldly pleasures and meditated in Medina for a year, for the sake of el presidente’s money. The level of dedication is admirable.
At the end of the year long meditation, the former president was able to cash his cheque at his Swiss bank branch.
The pir also claims that no harm can come to Asif Zardari, due to his otherworldly efforts.
The pir had also advised the then president to live near the seashore, in order to ward of ‘evil spirits dangling over his head’. It is highly likely that Zardari’s presence so near to the coast saved us from Cyclone Nilofer.
Nawaz Sharif – Incumbent prime minister
Our incumbent prime minister is no stranger when it comes to superstitions and pirs. They have guided him well, so well in fact that he got kicked out of office twice; let’s hope third time is a charm.
The pir in Sharif’s life was the celebrated Dewana Baba of Dhanaka Sharif in Mansehra District. Sharif would race to his hilltop abode every time an election was near, in order to get his blessings. It is matter of debate how the blessings worked out, as Sharif is yet to complete a full term in office.
Nawaz’s visit to the pir was surely a blessing for the pir’s fellow villagers, as their village was electrified during Sharif’s second term. Pirs surely work in mysterious ways. The pir died in 2008, one wonders if there is a new pir in Nawaz’s life.
Benazir Bhutto – Former prime minister
Elected twice democratically, and dismissed just as many times undemocratically, former prime minister of Pakistan and wife to Asif Zardari, had her own pir to guide and assist her. No need for advisers or ministers to advice on functions of the state, the pir knows all.
Benazir was lucky to have inherited Dewana Baba after she assumed office following Nawaz’s dismissal. His dismissal should have been a red flag, but Benazir continued to visit the 'famed' pir, and sought his blessings whenever the need arose.
It is reported that she had the road leading to the pir’s abode paved, and eventually constructed a helipad for easier and quicker access, beating Nawaz to his favourite pir.
Another famous incident is of Benazir’s first trip to the White House after getting married. She was accompanied by an individual, part of her very ‘small’ entourage, who baffled the culturally savvy American Secret Service as well as the Pakistanis.
The Americans, just like the Pakistanis on the trip, were unable to determine who the individual in question was. Many say, including a very prominent journalist of Pakistan, that the man was a pir who was accompanying the first couple of Pakistan.
So there you have it plebs, our pirs have been to the White House.
Imran Khan – Kaptaan
If social media and certain reports are to be believed, Khan rubbed kaali daal all over himself to ward off a curse. Another distinct possibility is that Khan was experimenting with a new method to cleanse his skin. All those trips to Sindh’s dusty interior areas to gather votes wreak havoc on one’s skin.
There were also media reports about certain amulets being found. In a perfect world, amulets would win elections and stop those unsavory opposition party leaders from rigging elections, but fortunately, the world is not a perfect place.
Comments (43) Closed
"but fortunately, the world is not a perfect place." lol
Hilarious! Can't believe we can be so ignorant despite being so educated
humans have landed on mars and yey we see such superstitions
... and what about the millions who blindly trust and follow them... speaks volumes of our society's gradual decadence...
same in my country.
Most of the leaders quoted never had a reasonable religious education so their beliefs are divided & distorted. In the absence of a good religious education, superstitions overtake rationale thinking
@Abdulla Hussain The cause isn't a lack of religious education; its the lack of scientific education.
It was really funny. Especially about Nawaz being kicked out twice and IK 's worries about rigging.
In subcontinent superstition is not new. Eye blinking, walking in front black cat & breaking glass are few examples. Superstitious mind is incapable of guiding himself, wonder if it can guide others
The author, as most people appearing in media do, has not analysed Imran Khan in detail. Imran's current and past BABAs have played a key role in decisions like Dharna. Reham Khan is the victim of his latest Baba.
Khan dont believe in supersticions
no wrong, if believe in
This shows that they have roots in India !
@Pakistani Khan do and do it like anything even from his cricketing career, dont you remember when Javed Miandad him on stage at karachi rally ??? Miandad conveyed him message from Pir :D
“If a black cat crosses your path, it signifies that the animal is going somewhere.” ― Groucho Marx
you dint mention the pir of pirs , Altaf Hussain !
Man's mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain.end of the day how i wish our people are going to learn the principles of democracy, the dictates of truth and the teachings of science. Superstition must go....
The world has not changed much. England and Europe had its wizards and witches, the sub-continent has its magicians and holy men, the Hindus have a series of holy men and women. In times of old life was so simple. Pay a magician. Now its pay a politician. Simple.
@JP For Muslims proper religious education plays a vital role.
@JP , so true, Rationality that God gave us is for use and not depending upon super-powers and super-humans(mortals like all others). World needs science and spirituality (not religion).
A black goat every day..............$60, in Swiss banks and yet we called him President! It is us that need a pir for each.
With pirs "protecting" our talented leaders, you can sleep soundly .We the people should all hire some pir or the other to see us through our law and order , economic and other woes. Not forgetting the polio , with pirs does one need damned polio shots for the kids?
This is our democratic system adopted by our ancestors from non Islamic countries which do not allow an honest, religious and God fearing man to lead the nation. This is democracy which put govern-ship in hands of such superstitious people.
All these things related to superstition are very un-Islamic. Yet of all people our leaders are carrying them out. Really.
In a culture and mindset devoid of rational thinking, superstitions, pirs and fear of the unknown are very normal practices. Fundamental paradigms of Pakistan's culture and mindset are unprecedented servitude to ego, dogma and emotionalism.
@Abdulla Hussain
"Most of the leaders quoted never had a reasonable religious education so their beliefs are divided & distorted."
So, is the set up at Raiwind a waste of time and space?
It was a fun reading for me, but yes on a serious side all what people are doing is lack of faith on God Almighty who save human without any pir. While we are blaming lack of education and scientific knowledge. We must not forget that like Benezir, many women and men are there with a very good educational background. Hunger of success, power and money, lack of confidence on own abilities and many other things adds to these superstitious attitude.
Daal is borrowed in urdu from persian which means 'half piece'. 'Kaali Daal' is incorrect as it doesn't come in 'half piece' it should be called 'Sabit Massor'.
If you are in touch with 'Kaptaan' let him know , may be this is the reason 'kaptaan' is not winning.
Superstitions are the breads of the weak-headed and pirs are their butter. It is amazing how educated and well to do fall for their hoaxes.
What a joke, trying to run a country or your lives based on the blessings from Baba or Pirs, and living a life in "SUPERSTITIONS". Instead in believing in God - we are reaching to all these Babas, and Pirs, are they above God ????
The enemies that threaten man more than anything are: Incompetence, ignorance and superstition
Exportable commodities to Mauritius
Ah a very well written article. Loved the ending. The question comes to mind that they all claim to be Muslims and they simply lack knowledge that Islam does not believes in superstition. Well more reasons not vote for them. "but fortunately, the world is not a perfect place." Amusing indeed..
As a seasoned politicians, they will not leave any stone overturned!
Fortunately none of these politicians is known as an intellectual giant. We have a sub-standard lot to deal with. Quaid and perhaps Z.A Bhutto were the last two brilliant people after that it is total darkness.
Fear will make you do these silly things. Imagine these politicians have everything they will ever need, many times over, but they still have fear. If they had a clean conscience, they would have no fear and no superstitions.
@Junaid Shamim And Massors are not black it is Urad manh sabat.
Did he really sacrifice a goat everyday?
Perhaps you are too young to remember pir saheb Dewal Sharif and Maulana Kausar Niazi.
Oxford/Harvard graduate, happens to be the PM of a country around 160M population and indulged in such doings? YES, education can't change everything :(
But for Zardari, others are not harming anyone? what's the problem (of course, bar them from using tax payer money). Every one has their own way of dealing with stress and anxiety.
Proof of our ancestry.
Historyt is full of such stories where powerful seeked devine help from mystical advisors such was Czar Nicholas II of Russia. Rasputin played that role. Rasputin is best known for his role as a mystical adviser in the court of Czar Nicholas II of Russia,because of his alleged healing abilities and for his prophetic powers.Born to a Siberian peasant family around 1869,Rasputin received little schooling and probably never learned to read or write. He supposedly cured the sickly young child of Czar who was suffering from haemophlia,a blood disorder. Shortly before his death, he wrote to Nicholas to predict that if he were killed by government officials, the entire imperial family would be killed by the Russian people. His prophecy came true 15 months later,when the czar, his wife and all of their children were murdered by assassins amidst the Russian Revolution. How true was Rasputin's his prediction.