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3 notes &

(Amended) Preamble to the Constitution of Pakistan

Considering that we recently passed the 39th anniversary of the adoption of the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan, I figured it would be a worthwhile exercise to amend a few sentences from the Preamble to the Constitution to make it amenable to principles of democracy and the vision laid out by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah for a prosperous Pakistan. Strikeouts indicate what I would take out and parts in bold font indicate parts i would add in

12th April, 1973

12th April, 2012 (Amended)

Preamble

Whereas sovereignty over the entire Universe belongs to Almighty Allah alone, and the authority to be exercised by the people of Pakistan for the people of Pakistan within the limits prescribed by Him is a sacred trust;

And whereas it is the will of the people of Pakistan to establish an order :-

Wherein the State shall exercise its powers and authority through the chosen representatives of the people;

Wherein the principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice, as enunciated by Islam, shall be fully observed;

Wherein the Muslims shall be enabled to order their lives in the individual and collective spheres in accordance with the teachings and requirements of their relgion of choice, if any Islam as set out in the Holy Quran and Sunnah;


Wherein the state shall make no law  establishing an official religion, or from favoring or disfavoring one view of religion over another or prohibiting the free exercise thereof 

Wherein adequate provision shall be made for the  minoritiesevery citizen to freely to profess and practise their religions and develop their cultures,if he or she so chooses of their own free will;

Wherein the territories now included in or in accession with Pakistan and such other territories as may hereafter be included in or accede to Pakistan shall form a Federation wherein the units will be autonomous with such boundaries and limitations on their powers and authority as may be prescribed;

Therein shall be guaranteed fundamental rights, including equality of status, of opportunity and before law, social, economic and political justice, and freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship and association, subject to law and public morality irrespective of gender, religious beliefs and practices, ethnicity, social and economic status

Wherein adequate provision shall be made to safeguard the legitimate interests of minorities and backward and depressed classes;

Wherein the independence of the judiciary shall be fully secured;

Wherein the integrity of the territories of the Federation, its independence and all its rights, including its sovereign rights on land, sea and air, shall be safeguarded;

So that the people of Pakistan may prosper and attain their rightful and honoured place amongst the nations of the World and make their full contribution towards international peace and progress and happiness of humanity :

Now, therefore, we, the people of Pakistan,

Cognisant of our responsibility before Almighty Allah and men to fellow human beings

Cognisant of the sacrifices made by the people in the cause of Pakistan;

Faithful to the declaration made by the Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, that Pakistan would be a democratic State based on Islamic principles ofuniversal social justice;

Dedicated to the preservation of democracy achieved by the unremitting struggle of the people against oppression and tyranny;

Inspired by the resolve to protect our national and political unity and solidarity by creating an egalitarian society through a new order;

Do hereby, through our representatives in the National Assembly, adopt, enact and give to ourselves, this Constitution.

(Source: `)

Filed under Pakistan pakistan constitution government

5 notes &

A Decade of Sasti Masti

List compiled by Haseeb Asif (https://twitter.com/#!/haseebasif)

Dishoom Bhai Jaan’s suggestions (https://twitter.com/#!/dishoomjee):

Filed under Bollywood India Music Pakistan Hindi Songs

1 note &

My Two Cents

RE: Hamza Tzortzis And Dr. Pervez Hoodboy Debate Religion & Rationality

If you have not gotten a chance to see the 2 hour (partly edited) debate between Professor of Physics at LUMS Dr. Parvez Hoodbhoy and Islam Convert Hamza Tzortzis you can view the debate here:  Debate Video On YouTube. The debate ends badly with Dr. Hoodbhoy seemingly walking out after calling Hamza a liar. Dr. Hoodbhoy in a follow up conversation explains what led to him walking out here: Dr. Hoodbhoy after the debate response.

First off, I should note that I’m not taking a side in the overarching debate on rationality of theism. However I will make a few (albeit rambling) points about the debate that is referenced in the link above

  • Some brownie points must be awarded to LUMS and the organization that organized such a debate. From the video that’s been uploaded one can see that for the most part both sides had equal time for the arguments and rebuttal. However…
  • There was a total lack of moderation, which is a must, when the session enters into a Q&A mode. It was quiet clear that Hamza took up much more time in answering and basically reiterating his points that were mentioned already. In the interest of fairness and moreover honest debate both parties should be allowed equal time and opportunity to argue or rebut a point. That’s where a moderator failed miserably in enforcing that as was accurately pointed out by a couple of audience members
  • Another example of the dismal failure of moderation during Q&A was when a student started interjecting while Dr. Hoodbhoy was starting to answer another student’s question
  • If the audience reaction was a metric for superior performance, it would seem Hamza won the debate 
  • Dr. Hoodbhoy did not come across as articulate at times and that’s probably because he’s an academic (a physicist at that, lol) and not used to dealing with people on the basis of histrionics. Hamza proved himself to be the master of histrionics (as Dr. Hoodbhoy also acknowledges during the debate). 
  • I think Dr. Hoodbhoy would have been better off had he poked holes in the explicit points and logic presented by Hamza (and there were many holes to be poked by simple examples). One point that Dr. Hoodbhoy kept raising was using Quran as a source of scientific knowledge which Hamza never relied upon and even argued AGAINST to a certain degree. 
  • Dr. Hoodbhoy kept his approach fairly abstract in the face of rather explicit thought process leading to a gridlock and circular point scoring by the two sides. I think he could have advanced his points more effectively if he had relied on his forte: physics! (For an example how a physicist might do that you can watch a presentation by Dr. Lawrence Krauss  here
  • I think Dr. Hoodbhoy learned painfully that whenever entering a debate make sure you agree to the ground rules before hand and insist on all parties stick to them. For example: Dr. Hoodbhoy relied on the moderator to do his job and the moderator failed rather miserably.  
  • If nothing else, this debate even with its flawed execution promotes two positive things 1) an open debate on an important issue of human existence 2) need for scientific literacy amongst our populace and more importantly the young minds 
  • Finally and I think most importantly, Dr. Hoodbhoy deserves a lot of credit for putting forth his point of view forward on a topic that is very sensitive particularly in a country like Pakistan. It’s been a while since I’ve lived there but whatever little understanding I have of Pakistan, Dr. Hoodbhoy continues to tread on thin ice (blasphemy and related BS)

That’s all folks. As you can probably tell my rambling thoughts above and the fact that I’m doing this on Tumblr (lol), I don’t write often and whenever I do it’s for technical publications. However, I hope I’ve made a few points that I kept thinking while watching the debate. 

Originally found the videos here:  3 Quarks Daily

Filed under LUMS Pakistan Pervez Hoodbhoy Hamza Tzortzis Religion Rationality debate Lahore

3 notes &

'Pawns of War and Peace'

Pakistani Air Force Pilot (Qais Hussain) Writes to the Daughter of Indian Pilot (Jahangir ‘Jangoo’ Singh) He Shot Down During the 1965 War

Qais Hussain’s Email to Farida Singh

Date: August 5, 2011

Subject: Condolence

Dear Mrs. Singh,

I am glad that by now we know about each other and it is no surprise that I am writing to you, thanks to Naushad Patel and Jagan Pillarisetti.

The incident happened 46 years back but it is as fresh in my mind as if it had happened yesterday. The aircraft flown by your father had drifted off course by many a miles and in his search for the destination, he had been going up and down in the border area of Rann of Katchh for quite some time and it made our Radar Controllers uncomfortable.  I happened to be strapped up in my aircraft along with another pilot (my Leader) in his, on two minutes take-off alert. We were scrambled but I had to take off alone, and with the help from my radar controller, intercepted your father’s aircraft which was considered to be on a recce mission to open a new war front. I caught sight of him at 3000’ and made a pass so close that I could read his markings and the number of the aircraft. Your father spotted my presence immediately and he started climbing and waggling his wings seeking mercy. Instead of firing at him at first sight, I relayed to my controller that I had intercepted an eight seat transport aircraft  (guessing by the four side windows) and wanted further instructions to deal with it. At the same time, I was hoping that I would be called back without firing a shot. There was a lapse of 3 to 4 long minutes before I was given clear orders to shoot the aircraft.

After the shooting, I had a sense of achievement and satisfaction that I had completed my mission and destroyed any recce data that might have been collected to open a new war front. I landed back at Mauripur, Karachi with my fuel tanks bone dry and was greeted by my seniors and other squadron colleagues. Later that evening, All India Radio announced the names of the occupants who had lost their lives in that aircraft.

The reason that I have been trying to get in touch with you since recently is an article by Air Cdre Kaiser Tufail in April 2011, in which he researched the whole incident and came out with his story by interviewing me, the radar controller (a Flying Officer) and his supervisor  (a Wing Commander) who took the decision to order the shoot. I have also read numerous versions that appeared in the Indian media at the time, said to be eyewitness accounts from peasants of Mithapur which are unfortunately based on hearsay. Even the findings of an Enquiry Committee constituted by the Indian Government are nowhere near to what actually happened. I was alone at the site of incident while my Leader who took off finally about 6 to 7 minutes after me (due to change of aircraft and a new pilot), was perched at the border at 20,000’ acting as a relay station between me and  the controller at Badin. I had lost contact somewhere while descending to 3,000’ and had we not had this aircraft at 20,000’ at the border, I would not have found your father’s aircraft and he would not have lost his life along with all the others. Nonetheless, the unfortunate part in all this is that I had to execute the orders of my controller.

Mrs Singh, I have chosen to go into this detail to tell you that it all happened in the line of duty and it was not governed by the concept that ‘everything is fair in love and war’, the way it has been portrayed by the Indian media due to lack of information. I did not play foul and went by the rules of business but the unfortunate loss of precious lives, no matter how it happens, hurts each human and I am no exception. I feel sorry for you, your family and the other seven families who lost their dearest ones. I feel greatly grieved that you lost your brother Noshir recently. If an opportunity ever arises that I could meet you face to face to condole the death of your father 46 years back I would grab it with both hands. I would highly appreciate if you please convey my feelings to the other members of your family, who were equally hurt by the untimely departure of Jungoo to the next world.

I hope and pray that you and your family stay well

My best regards…

“Qais”

Farida Singh’s Reply to Qais Hussain

From: Farida Singh
10 August 2011 09:49
Subject: Re: Condolence
To: Qais Hussain

Dear Mr. Hussain,

Firstly, thank you for your condolences on the passing away of my brother Noshir.

I am somewhat overwhelmed at receiving this letter, even though I was expecting it as Jagan Pillarisetti had been in touch with me recently on this.

It took courage for you to write this. And for me, too, (I say this humbly) it takes the same to write back . But my father was Courage and Grace at their finest and I now speak on behalf of him, my extraordinary, gracious mother (who survived my father by just 16 years), my late brother Noshir and my elder sister in Canada who is unfortunately legally blind.

Yes, this was the one incident which defined our lives henceforth. But in all the struggles that followed, we never, not for one moment, bore bitterness or hatred for the person who actually pulled the trigger and caused my father’s death.The fact that this all happened in the confusion of a tragic war was never lost to us. We are all pawns in this terrible game of War and Peace.

A little more about my father. An ace pilot if ever there as one. A WWII veteran fighter pilot, a great leader of men, a willing team player, strong in body and spirit. This would have been just the view of an adoring daughter, had it not been reflected by all those fortunate enough to know him. Most of all was the generosity of spirit, and his intuitive understanding of the pain of others. Hence it is now easy for me to reach out my hand to receive your message. This incident is indeed a prime example of what damage strife and mindless battles can drive even good men to do.

Thank you again for your gesture. I know it was not an easy thing for you to do.

In closing, I would like to say that I have no idea as to how your email has made the front page in some prominent dailies here. (Jagan knows how publicity-shy I generally am). A friend told me about it and I then re-checked my inbox and opened your mail this morning, 4 days after you sent it.
However, I am glad that it is now public as it can do nothing but heal wounds, not just on a personal scale but in a much wider arena. And most of all, my father would have liked that it goes towards bringing a spark of forgiveness between our two peoples, who after all were one.

Warm regards,

Farida


Further details on the background story and a couple of pictures, go here

Source: Beena Sarwar

Filed under 1965 Air Force India Peace War Pakistan