More monkey business

We feel it is not just appropriate, it is absolutely vital, to remember the real nature of our great leader, as he twists and turns, trying somehow to hang on to power:

By the by...

Yet another incident to highlight the crisis of legitimacy faced by PML-Q: a few days ago, no less a person than the wife of Chaudhry Shujaat, Kausar Shujaat, showed up at the house of a lawyer prominent in the lawyers' movement and offered a substantial donation to the Legal Aid fund set up to support boycotting lawyers. The lawyer was quite shocked and asked Mrs. Shujaat to kindly explain her action!

Mrs. Shujaat replied that she lived in Saudi Arabia, that the money that she was offering was hers and had nothing to do with her husband and that she did not agree with her husband's politics!

No wonder then that MI's initial estimate of 110 seats for PML-Q has fallen to 40 seats - if the erstwhile leaders of PML-Q cannot even muster any support within their families, what could they possibly ask of the public at large, the same public whose opinions and freedoms they have so contemptuously suppressed?!

the writing on the wall

Fresh graffiti on the wall of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (parking area)

The scion inspects work in surprise visit

The scion of the Punjab's foremost political dynasty, Mounis Elahi, proved today that he's no slacker, that he can inspect it with the best of 'em.

Travelling incognito, he turned up completely unannounced at Liberty Market to inspect the work done over the Eid holidays by his legion of faithful followers.



The impression left on the innocent bystanders was deep - to say the least.

Such humility, such heart-felt acknowledgement of heroic, selfless service. Verily, the Punjab Social Welfare Department and the Elahi family have hit on a winning combination.

طوفان ہے اگر

طوفان ہے اگر گھر کی درپے یوں بیٹھ نہ جا؀ؤ کچھ تو کرو
کھڑکی کہ شکستہ شیشے پر کاغز ہی لگاؤ کچھ تو کرو

انسان کہ قبضۂ قدرت میں اک نطق نہیں، بہت کچھ ہے
ہونٹوں سے نہ نکلے بات اگر آنکھوں سے سناؤ، کچھ تو کرو

محرومِ تمنا رہنے کا سنّاٹا کھا جائے گا تمہیں
مایوسی کے سکتے سے بچو، آنسو ہی بہاؤ' کچھ تو کرو

سلطان کے قصرِ مرمر کا دروازۂ آہن بند سہی
گر توڑ نہیں سکتے اس کو، زنجیر ہی ہلاؤ، کچھ تو کرو

اے جلتے ہوئے گھر کے لوگو شعلوں میں گِھرے کیا سوچتے ہو
جب آگ بجھانا مشکل ہے باہر نکل آؤ، کچھ تو کرو

یہ کھیت جو چپ ہیں بولیں گے اور اکھوے آنکھیں کھولیں گے
بارش نہ سہی بجلی ہی سہی، کچھ تو برساؤ، کچھ تو کرو

ّـ احمد ندیم قاسمی

Uff, I'm so tired of these drawing room discussions

Well, who isn't, really?

If you're serious about making a difference, there are at least 198 ways to go about it.

All of them non-violent, but far from inactive.

We're exploring the following:
Pamphleteering
Lobbying government officials (in a country with a small, almost incestuously connected elite, this is an obvious tactic, with potentially high returns)
Flash protests
Wall-chalking
Street theatre
Person-to-person discussions and mobilisation

So don't just stand there - do something!

First Flash Protest

Yesterday, 19th November, 2007, two of our shabaab staged the group's first flash protest at Ghazi Chowk, DHA, (Lahore).

A real DIY job, they simply had two placards that they displayed to motorists stopping at the traffic lights.

The placards, in Urdu, translate as:

1. "Did you know that you can now be court-martialled? Yes you! Bloody civilian!"
2. "We're thankful to President and General Musharraf for they have both saved Pakistan!

More to follow.