Cogito, Ergo Sum

My letter "Government action needed against intolerance" is published in the daily "Pakistan Today", on 12 Oct 2017. To read the letter, please click  here . Following is the text of the letter published: Learn how to love Hafeez Center, Gulberg Lahore, is one of the largest mobile and computer markets of the city. However, it is shocking that almost every shop in the centre has a sticker on which the following statement is written: ‘Ahmadis are not allowed to enter. This is not only against the constitutional rights of the Pakistanis, but it is also in contradiction with the teachings of Islam. The National Action Plan of the government suggests strict action against promoting religious hatred, extremism and intolerance. Would our government and law-enforcement agencies take any practical action to clean our society from such hate speech? Muhammad Uzair Bhaur (Lahore)

My letter "Government action needed against intolerance" is published in the daily "Pakistan Today", on 12 Oct 2017. To read the letter, please click  here . Following is the text of the letter published: Government action needed against intolerance  I happened to visit Hafeez Center, Gulberg, Lahore – one of the largest mobile and computer sale centers of the city. I was shocked to observe that almost every shop of the center had a sticker bearing statements that Qadianis were not allowed to enter in those premises. This is not only against the constitutional rights of Pakistanis, but also in contradiction with the teachings of Islam. The National Action Plan of the government suggests strict action against promoting religious hatred, extremism and intolerance. Would our government and law enforcing agencies take any practical action to cleanse our society from such hate speech? MUHAMMAD UZAIR BHAUR Lahore

* Westernism-secularism and Islam are mutually exclusive word-views. In principle a person cannot be a Westernist and a Muslim at a time. * Religous extermists and militants like Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan are violating clear injunctions of Quran and Hadith regarding morality and sanctity of human life. What they are doing is not sin, it is Kufr (denial of their faith). * Keep away from Madrasa and the Maulvi of Madrasa. Both are extremely dangerous for our religion. * Quaid-e-Azam said, “I have one underlying principle in mind, the principle of Muslim democracy. It is my belief that our salvation lies in following the golden rules of conduct set for us by our great law-giver, the Prophet of Islam. Let us lay the foundation of our democracy on the basis of truly Islamic ideals and principles. Our Almighty has taught us that 'our decisions in the affairs of the State will be guided by discussions and consultations.'” (Sibi Darbar 1948)

فرانز کافکا: جدید فکشن کے بانیوں میں سر فہرست Franz Kafka was a German-language author. He was one of the best writers of 20th century. He is among the founders of modern story. Kafka's prose has multivalent nature. It allows for a number of interpretations. Here is an Urdu translation of his parable "Before the Law". قانون کے سامنے فرانز کافکا  قانون کے سامنے ایک چوکیدار کھڑا ہے۔  اس چوکیدار کے پاس دور دراز سے ایک شخص آتا ہے اور داخل ہونے کی اجازت طلب کرتا ہے۔ مگر چوکیدار اسے کہتا ہے کہ وہ اس وقت اسے داخلے کی اجازت نہیں دے سکتا۔ وہ شخص کچھ دیر سوچتا ہے اور پھر چوکیدار سے پوچھتا ہے کہ کیا کچھ دیر بعد اسے اجازت مل جائے گی۔ "یہ ممکن ہے۔ مگر اس وقت نہیں۔" چوکیدار کہتا ہے۔ چونکہ حسب دستور دروازہ کھلا ہے اور چوکیدار ایک طرف ہٹ گیا ہے اس لیے وہ شخص ذرا سا ترچھا ہو کے اندر جھانکتا ہے۔ یہ دیکھ کر چوکیدار ہنستا ہے اور کہتا ہے۔"اگر تم ایسا کرنا ہی چاہتے ہو تو میرے منع کرنے کے باوجود کر دیکھو۔ مگر یاد رکھنا، میں ایک طاقتور آدمی ہوں۔ اور دوسرے چوکیدار مجھ

A Brief Biography in Urdu In Pakistan two inflows of history merge with each other. One is religious, having origin from Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. It gives a universal spiritual message for whole humanity. We own it very deeply. The other one is that of the history and culture of our land. We live in Muslim India, which we named Pakistan. This land has a history, along with its culture and traditions, other than that of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. There is no reason to not own this culture and tradition, as far as it does not contradict with our religious teachings. Some (perhaps all) foolish policymakers of Pakistan want to remove our bonds with our secular history. They believe it is good for Pakistan. But weakening of our links with our secular history cannot serve us in achieving our religious goals. This is a brief biography of a praiseworthy son of the land, Krishna, translated in Urdu as an effort to revive our links with our secular history. حضور کرشن جی مہاراج ان شخ

Here is an interview of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (RA), President of Indian National Congress, with Shorish Kashmiri (Editor Chitaan) in April 1946. Maulan Azad was such a genius visionary that all his predictions regarding Pakistan came out to be true. (It is not necessary that the writer of this blog agrees with the views expressed by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (RA). The interview is reproduced here only to show how Maulana's predictions came true). Q: The Hindu Muslim dispute has become so acute that it has foreclosed any possibility of reconciliation. Don’t you think that in this situation the birth of Pakistan has become inevitable? A: If Pakistan were the solution of Hindu Muslim problem, then I would have extended my support to it. A section of Hindu opinion is now turning in its favour. By conceding NWFP, Sind, Balochistan and half of Punjab on one side and half of Bengal on the other, they think they will get the rest of India — a huge country that would be free from

Syrian government's security agents have arrested Tal al-Molouhi for posting poems about Palestine. She was a high school student. She was arrested on 27 December 2009, and has not yet returned. Her family even does not know where she is detained. I strongly protest against her arrest and detention. I request the authorities to release her as soon as possible. Violations against human rights must be stopped now! Here are links of her blogs: http://talmallohi.blogspot.com/ http://latterstal.blogspot.com/ http://palestinianvillages.blogspot.com/