Pakistan's Minorities Citizens [Archive]

Pakia

July 14th, 2006, 12:55 PM

I'd like to add when I do have something informative or new for others. But I can't add pictures yet as I'm a new member.

Pakistan minorities are many, they may not be large in numbers as compared to mostly muslim population but their importance is just as crucial to Pakistan's progress, if not more.

Because, in my humble opinion, they could be propel Pakistan's "soft image" better than all the policies of "elected officials" combined.

Some of the obvious Pakistan's minorities are Christians, Hindus, Ahmedis, Sikhs & perhaps few Parsis.

But in a broad sense there are lot of Pakistanis who feel under or unrepresented in Pakistan. For example half of Pakistan's population, meaning women, are way behind in education. Our Shia brethren are sometimes subject to gross misunderstanding and harrassment, due to ignorance and wide-spread rumors about them.

Then ofcourse there are Baluchis, Pathans, rural Sindhis, Sariki-speaking people and even "Mohajirs" who on different degrees feel being discriminated. No doubt of the huge contribution of Punjabi Pakistanis for ddefending and enriching Pakistan. Pakistan could never have survived without the great love of Punjabis for it, but now they must lend ahand to their other "hum watans" who may have been left behind mostly due to unfair and neglect of previous corrupt governments.
Punjabis are known for big hearts (& big appetites too, no offence), show it by offering other Pakistan languages classes in higher learning institute and try to pick atleast basic Pushto and Sindhi (as most of Pakistanis can converse or atleast understand basic Punjabis, due to exposure in every media). Just a suggestion.

I believe Pakistanis need to be very blunt and honest in admitting all our short-comings where it comes to dealing with rights for all Pakistanis esp. Minorities.

There are beautiful Gurdwaras in Peshawar, Multan, Quetta, not just in Lahore. There are Hindu temples in interior Sindh, Baluchistan, churches in northern areas and Buddhist temples in remote Pakhtoonistan or NWFP.
Lets be open-minded and not only find them and post pictures of these criminally neglected Pakistan's heritage but also preserve it by raising funding.

I'll post pictures once I'm allowed to do so here.

Thanks for reading this. Pakistan zindabad

Civitas

July 14th, 2006, 07:58 PM

Great effort Pakia. Congratulations.
This world needs more people like you. May god bless you.

Granted Pakistan is vastly muslim, some 97% but the other 3% do have rights just as any of us to be represented and acknowledged for their achievements in every sphere of Pakistan's heritage/culture and achievements.

Lets give them their long overdue respect and credit.

I'd like to start a thread where all of us can post news and such regarding our non-muslim Pakistan brethren and give them an opportunity to vent their complaints (and praises where due) about us and our treatment towards them.

We do have beautiful churches, gurdwaras, mandirs, temples in Pakistan. Lets have them posted with some background, so more and more of us can appreciate their history and contribution to Pakistan culture.

Hope we've the courage to admit past mistakes and wisdom not to repeat them.

swerveut

July 14th, 2006, 11:23 PM

Karachi's old hindu temple at Manora

(pictures by cageitfallsinto on flickr.com)

http://static.flickr.com/26/98960527_1340a1009a_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/41/111302270_21306c15ca_o.jpg

Ohno

July 14th, 2006, 11:26 PM

Are those Kalasha minority people muslim too?

swerveut

July 14th, 2006, 11:31 PM

Most of them belong to a strange indigenous religion, but a lot of them are also muslim converts...

Pakia

July 15th, 2006, 01:02 PM

http://allaboutsikhs.com/gurudwaras/gop-061.htm
http://canasiatravel.com/gurdwaras.htm
http://www.zyworld.com/slam33/panja.htm

Check this out for COMPLETE Listing of Pakistani Gurdwaras & other Sikh religious places, literally hundreds...

http://allaboutsikhs.com/gurudwaras/gurud_44.htm

Intoxication

July 15th, 2006, 01:41 PM

---

Red aRRow

July 15th, 2006, 03:59 PM

The Kalasha are reportedly the descendents of the remnant's of Alexander's army and practice their own religion.

swerveut

July 16th, 2006, 01:50 AM

Many of them claim to be desendants of Genghis Khan, although there is no written proof of it. Their culture and religion is in decline as many are being forced to convert to Islam.

I dont think they are being forced to convert at all. Many are converting due to their own reasons.

cntower

July 16th, 2006, 11:33 AM

Excellent topic! 3% of 160 million people is the size of some European nations! Afterall they are Pakistanis!

cntower

July 16th, 2006, 11:55 AM

St. Anthony's Church, Empress Road, Lahore
http://en.wikipedia.org/upload/5/54/St._Anthony's_Church_(Empress_Road,_Lahore).JPG

Convent of Jesus and Mary, Lahore
http://en.wikipedia.org/upload/6/64/(35)-PhSh.jpg

Hall Road Church, Nicolson Road, Lahore
http://en.wikipedia.org/upload/9/92/Hall_Road_Church_(Nicolson_Road,_Lahore)-2.JPG

Regal Church, Lahore
http://en.wikipedia.org/upload/6/63/Regal_Church-3.JPG

The Rt Revd Dr Alexander John Malik
Moderator, Church of Pakistan & Bishop of Lahore
http://images.google.com.pk/images?q=tbn:2AQjDaicN45nGM:www.aco.org/primates/pbphoto/Malik.jpg

Maharaja Ranjeet Singh's Tomb (Panja Sahib)
http://www.sikhsangat.org/uploads/panjasahib.jpg

cntower

July 16th, 2006, 12:08 PM

Ranjeet Singh's Temple, Lahore
http://static.flickr.com/22/97301844_d89343197a.jpg?v=0

Nankana Sahib, Pakistan
http://www.worldkhalsa.com/public/pakguru/newns.jpg

Gurudwara Bhai Joga Singh, Peshawar
http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/old/gurudwaras/images/gop/bhaijogasingh_peshawar.jpg

ArchiPak

July 16th, 2006, 01:32 PM

some pictures by Dobry Vojak on Flickr.com

Kalasha Girls:

http://static.flickr.com/56/140438305_c6731e3bd9_o.jpg

Where do these people live? Where in Pakistan? DO they consider themselves Pakistani?

cntower

July 16th, 2006, 01:39 PM

Yes ArachiPak they live in the Hunza Valley / Gilgit area.

Pakia

July 16th, 2006, 01:41 PM

Does anyone has seen any photos of the Parsi tower of Silence in Karachi built in 1847, where Parsi community takes their dead?

I've seen it once in 2001 on my visit there, its a pink-walled quite big building in old part of Karachi but can't seem to find any photos online.

Karachi still has a thriving Parsi community esp. some very good Parsi schools and hospitals, so there must be other Zorastian places of worship there, like they have in Iran.

Perhaps in Lahore too, they still have Parsi community, maybe much smaller than KhI, if anyone has any info about them there too.

Meanwhile those interested in Pakistani Parsi community, check out internationally acclaimed Novelist Khi-born, Lahore-raised Bapsi Sidhwa who was honored Sitara-i-Imtiaz by Pakistan. Many other honors have also been bestowed upon her by Zorastian, American, Indian literary communities and governments.
She now lives in Houston,TX.

Her novel Ice-Candy man was recently adopted for Deepa Mehta's film Earth, starring Amir Khan.

Another well-known Pakistani Parsi is Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee, Dawn's Columnist.

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/bsidhwa/biography.html

cntower

July 16th, 2006, 01:46 PM

I love Bapsi Sidhwa...I've read all her books!

Red aRRow

July 16th, 2006, 01:56 PM

Here is an overview of the Parsi (Zoroastrian) 'Towers of Silence'

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/kt10208/Internet/towers_of_silence2.jpg

Closeup:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/kt10208/Internet/towers_of_silence.jpg

Pakia

July 16th, 2006, 02:23 PM

Photos of Hindu Yatra there

Baluchistan has a higher density of minorities than most parts of Pakistan except perhaps interior eastern Sindh. They have three seats reserved for minorities, higher than anyother province of Pakistan. Quetta has as much as 15% minorities, incl. Ahmedis, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Bhais.

www.hinglajmata.com/yatra.htm

swerveut

July 16th, 2006, 06:09 PM

Where do these people live? Where in Pakistan? DO they consider themselves Pakistani?

Archipak, the Kalashas live in the northern areas in the valleys near Chitral in the Hindu Kush. They are as Pakistani as everybody else and consider themselves Pakistani too.

You can find more information about them on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalasha_of_Chitral

Currently, theres a lot of tourism in their area because of their uniqueness, and they have started getting a new sense of identity because more of them are getting an education now than before. An educated Kalasha woman is also an airline pilot in Pakistan. An article that mentions some issues facing the Kalash was pulished in DAWN some time ago:
http://www.dawn.com/2005/06/23/int7.htm

swerveut

July 16th, 2006, 06:21 PM

Karachi has a large community of Christians and there are a large number of thriving old and modern churches in the city. Also, there are a large number of educational institutions managed by Christian institutions that impart quality education to people. The Christian community in Karachi also manages a number of reputable healthcare institutions as well.

Christians are regarded in Islam as the "People of the Book" and Muslims are urged to have a friendly attitude towards them. The Koran says:

"Say ( O Muslims), "We believe in God and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and to the offspring of the twelve sons of Jacob; and that which has been given to Moses, and Jesus, and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted"

(The Heifer 02: 136)

Although there have been incidents where illiterate people have fallen victim to hateful teachings imparted by radical and un-learned mullahs, which have led to conflicts with the Christian community, on the whole, generally people have friendly relations with them.

Some churches in Karachi:

The St. Patrick's Cathedral:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/historickarachi/Churches/KarachiStPatricksCathedral6.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/historickarachi/Churches/KarachiStPatricksCathedral7.jpg

The St. Joseph's Convent School Chapel

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/historickarachi/Churches/KarachiStJosephsConvent2.jpg

The Trinity Church

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/historickarachi/Churches/KarachiTrinityChurch3.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/historickarachi/Churches/KarachiTrinityChurch2.jpg

and
the St. Andrew's Church in Saddar

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/historickarachi/Churches/StAnthonysChurchKarachi2.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/historickarachi/Churches/StAnthonysChurchKarachi1.jpg

A new church in Clifton

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d140/karachipics1/Karachi104.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d140/karachipics1/Karachi102.jpg

swerveut

July 16th, 2006, 06:25 PM

Also, one important fact concerning religious minority groups in Pakistan:

THE WHITE BAR IN THE PAKISTANI FLAG REPRESENTS MINORITY GROUPS

Intoxication

July 16th, 2006, 06:48 PM

Also, one important fact concerning religious minority groups in Pakistan:

THE WHITE BAR IN THE PAKISTANI FLAG REPRESENTS MINORITY GROUPS

You'll be surprised how many dont know what the White bar in the Pakistani flag is for. In the show 'mani-ism' on ARY, there is a segment called 'parah likha jahil' in which mani tries to prove that many 'parah likha' people are jahils. Mani asked people why is there a white bar in the Pakistani flag? To my surprise many people didn't know why it was there and said it was to do with purity. :nuts: :no: :lol: :laugh: :rofl:

Starsat86

July 18th, 2006, 02:54 PM

I am having problems posting photos of the above, can somebody please tell me how to post photos please? apologies for my ignorance!!!!! I cannot find any answers on FAQ!!!

Thanks

vazim

July 18th, 2006, 05:24 PM

Govt taking effective steps to facilitate minorities’

LAHORE, July 18 (APP): Pakistan has a very good track record of translating the Islamic values of human rights and religious amity in effective policies, to facilitate the minority communities.

This was observed by Punjab Auqaf minister Syed Saeedul Hassan at a function held to discuss ‘The Concept of Human Rights in Islam’ at a hotel here Tuesday.

He said minority communities have been brought in the national mainstream through election reforms and representation in assemblies and local governments, while special funds are allocated for improvements and repair of their worship places, churches and temples.

The minister said that recently Rs 1.2 million has been spent on the historic Krishna Mandir of the Hindu community, while special arrangements are made by the government to facilitate visiting Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from home and abroad during their religious festivals.

Arrangements have also been made to establish shamshan ghats (burial places) for Sikhs and Hindus, he added.

A number of ulema and religious scholars from various minority communities as well as social workers addressed the function.

www.app.com.pk

Red aRRow

July 18th, 2006, 08:18 PM

I am having problems posting photos of the above, can somebody please tell me how to post photos please? apologies for my ignorance!!!!! I cannot find any answers on FAQ!!!

Thanks

Have a look here:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=350159

If the picture is already on a web server (from some website which allows hotlinking) then just right click on the picture and click 'Properties'. Copy the URL from the properties box and then use the technique mentioned in the above link to paste it on this forum.

tybbick

July 27th, 2006, 10:50 PM

swerveut

July 28th, 2006, 12:11 AM

There are very few hindus in Pakistan but they can definitely be found in the bureaucracy. There are a MUCH larger amount of Christians. There is a ministry for minorities in the government which has usually been headed by a representative elected from the minorities. I believe minorities are also entitled to a few seats in the two central parliamentary houses of the government as well as in the provincial ones.

Zoroastrians (Parsis) have also held pretty important positions in the govt. and have a high social status as many of them have been ardent philanthropists. I will be highlighting the Parsi minority of Pakistan soon.

oogabooga

July 28th, 2006, 12:40 AM

Just curious, what's the highest position a Hindu has had in the Pakistani government?

Are Hindus in Pakistan prominent (overall - media, politics, military, etc) as Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Parsis are in India? I know that in India, you'd think that over half the country is Muslim, Sikh, Parsi, and Christian if you didn't look up the statistics.

We have had a Hindu Cheif Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Rana Bhagwandas (2005) we have also had a Christian Chief Justice, Justice AR Cornelius (1968). Besides whom there are Ministers from Thar region, which has a sizable Hindu population. Christians are very prominent as far as the media is concerned, allot of actors and singers are Christian and there is also a sizable Zoroarstrian (which is the proper word, instead of "Parsi" which just means "A person from Pars, Iran) community. Unfortunately only one name comes to mind right now and that is Ardeshir Cowasjee, he writes columns in Dawn and is one of the richest and most powerful people in Karachi.

swerveut

July 28th, 2006, 06:19 AM

^^ not to forget Bayram D. Avari, the owner of the Awari hotels chain who is also a Zoroastrian.
Plus, Karachi has two very famous schools that are run by the Zoroastrian Parsi community: Mama Parsi School for girls, and BVS Boys High School (which I studied from as well). They also run the Anklesaria Hospital in Garden.

cntower

July 28th, 2006, 12:45 PM

Christians and Parsis have been in main stream media and government for a long time now, ever since partition but the Hindus and Sikhs haven't.

Just recently, a Sikh was admited into the Pakistan Army (infact he topped the class) and his brother is also following. Since then, more Sikhs have come forward. Just a few days ago a new singer debut on TheMusik's "freshly baked"; nice song the guy is Sikh too. A Sikh also won a Union Council seat in Peshawar City a few months back (I think).

Red aRRow

July 28th, 2006, 02:54 PM

Plus, Karachi has two very famous schools that are run by the Zoroastrian Parsi community: Mama Parsi School for girls, and BVS Boys High School (which I studied from as well).

Man you're a Virbaijeeite??? bhenssss i studied at BVS too man. From class 6 to 10. Did matric in 96. What is ur batch? :cheers:

Farhad

July 28th, 2006, 04:16 PM

Does Anyone have pictures of The Free Masons’ Hall at the corner of the Mall and Queens Roads across Shah Din Building in Lahore.People called it Jadoo Ghar - the house of magic.

swerveut

July 29th, 2006, 01:44 AM

Man you're a Virbaijeeite??? bhenssss i studied at BVS too man. From class 6 to 10. Did matric in 96. What is ur batch? :cheers:

I studied from primary classes 1-3, and then grades 6-8 from BVS. Afterwards I left for a school with the Cambridge system. If I had stayed longer, my batch would have been '98. Since you seem to be just two batches ahead of me, we were probably in the same school for some time period in our past.

vazim

July 29th, 2006, 03:02 PM

http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/29/SlideShow/pic17.jpg
LAHORE - July 28, 2006: First Sikh traffic warden, Gulab Singh, receives his appointment letter from the traffic DIG on Friday. — Dawn

Red aRRow

July 29th, 2006, 11:13 PM

I studied from primary classes 1-3, and then grades 6-8 from BVS. Afterwards I left for a school with the Cambridge system. If I had stayed longer, my batch would have been '98. Since you seem to be just two batches ahead of me, we were probably in the same school for some time period in our past.

Yeah dude. Nice coincidence huh? :)

Pakia

August 6th, 2006, 03:19 AM

Karachi's invaluable Parsi connection

The Parsis of Karachi are renowned for their emphasis on education and looking after their own. With their highly developed sense of duty and responsibility towards community and country, they have added immeasurably to civil society in Karachi.

By Amna Rizvi of Dawn

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/jul2005-weekly/nos-24-07-2005/images/1a47.jpg http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/jul2005-weekly/nos-24-07-2005/images/1a48.jpg
The Bomanshaw Minocher Homji Medical Association, located in Saddar and popularly known as the Parsi General Hospital, has been catering to ailing Parsis since its inception in 1935.http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/jul2005-weekly/nos-24-07-2005/images/1a49.jpgEducation is given tremendous importance resulting in a literacy rate of 100% in the Zoroastrian community. Most will not find it surprising then that Karachi has two Parsi academic institutions that are known for their academic brilliance and their dedication in providing excellent knowledge and wisdom to all children who attend. Bai Virbaji Soparivala Parsi High School, popularly known as BVS High School, started out as a small elementary school, in 1859, with only one teacher teaching Gujrati, simple arithmetic and prayers. Today, the institution is one of the most progressive schools for boys in all of Sindh. Similarly, in 1918, The Mama Parsi Girls' Secondary School was established in order to provide the women of the city with an all-round education covering academics and various other extra-curricular activities. Today, The Mama Parsi School has about 2000 students of which only eighty are Parsi http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/jul2005-weekly/nos-24-07-2005/images/1a50.jpg

Bai Virbaji Soparivala Parsi High School, popularly known as BVS High School
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7e/854.jpg

swerveut

August 6th, 2006, 05:13 AM

Pakia, the hospital you have pictured there is the Lady Dufferin hospital, constructed during the British times by a benefactor, Lady Dufferin.

In the picture the smaller building you see was the Bai Virbaiji Katrak maternity wing which was established in the hospital in 1916. For another historical picture of this building, refer to the following page:
http://www.historickarachi.com/1910's.htm

There is also the Sobhraj wing that is associated with this hospital, which I believe was also constructed by the Zoroastrian community.

Another hospital that is associated with the Pakistani Zoroastrians is the Anklesaria Medical hospital in Garden.

astObs

August 8th, 2006, 06:25 AM

Wow, Pakistan has Freemasons too! Anyone know any members?

SJToronto

August 8th, 2006, 05:45 PM

There used to be Freemasons in Pakistan but not anymore.

Pakia

August 20th, 2006, 04:25 PM

Source www.unholywars.org
Hindu Woman Rests in Muslim Graveyard in Lahore (Pakistan)
Monday Jun 5 2006, 4:01am PDT - Anilm

Shame, Shame, Shame on us, if we don't speak about when an injustice done to any Pakistani or their civil right.

The body of a 70-year-old Hindu woman, Radha, which was rotting in the mortuary of a government hospital in Lahore (Pakistan) for the last five days because of the absence of a shamshaan ghat (cremation ground) in the Punjab capital, has finally been buried at the historic Miani Sahib Graveyard, which is a graveyard of Muslims, reports Amir Mir from Lahore in the Daily News and Analysis(DNA) newspaper of Mumbai in India.

Radha, who had been living in a senior citizens home since 1997 because she had no relatives in the city, died in Mayo Hospital on May 30. Her body remained at the city morgue for five days because of the absence of a shamshan ghat in the city.

The burial of Radha’s body instead of cremation as per Hindu customs has highlighted the long standing demand of the Hindu community for a shamshan ghat. Hindu Balmik Sudhar Sabha General Secretary, Amar Nath Randhawa said that the Hindu community in Lahore offered all-out cooperation to police for cremating Radha’s body but the police did not hand over the body, fearing that they would use it to stage a protest on The Mall to press for the shamshan ghat demand. He said Hindus in Lahore either take their dead ones to Nankana Sahib for cremation or burn them near the River Rabi after obtaining permission from the city district government.

In 1976, the Evacuee Property Trust allotted a piece of land on Bund Road in Lahore for a shamshan ghat but it was a disputed property and Hindus could not build a cremation place. Later, in May 1999, the Board of Revenue allotted 10 kanals (about 4000 sq. mts.) of land on Bund Road near Saggian Bridge for a shamshan ghat but the plot had not been handed over to the Hindu community.

Lets not forget that according to Islam its our duty to protect the rights of all non-muslims too, esp. since we expect the same from them in their countries. Its a shame for all of us when we can't even provide a small piece of land for their dignified burial according to their rites. Shamshaan Ghat now for all Pakistanis Hindus is our responsibility.

Starsat86

August 20th, 2006, 10:33 PM

I agree with you 100% Pakia, It is an obligation on all Muslims to look after the rights of the minority and in not providing a burial site for the Hindu Community in Lahore, we have not met our obligations.

I hope the Punjab Government look into this matter and resolve it immediately.

singaporean

August 21st, 2006, 12:05 PM

There are very few hindus in Pakistan but they can definitely be found in the bureaucracy.
we have very big community of hindus most of them are residing in rural areas of sindh and linked with agriculture sector. feudals exploite them.

UnitedPakistan

August 21st, 2006, 01:05 PM

Where do these people live? Where in Pakistan? DO they consider themselves Pakistani?
These people live in the Kalaash valley in Northern Pakistan in a area where it would take you just 2 days to hike to Afghanistan. These people are protected by the government of Pakistan very strongly and if anyone attempts to convert them the government of Pakistan will have a stick so far up there behind they would need some serious medical attension. They consider themselves as Pakistanis but many elders have no concept of Pakistan or the outside world. They are very isolated but the government provides them free education and incentives. One of the women from the Kalaash valley has become a pilot just to show you how well educated their youth is becoming. The kids were able to speak both urdu and english with me. They also understand their ancestry taught to them in school. I visited the valley a couple of weeks ago. I got some pictures and I got some stories I will share when i return back from Pakistan.

ArchiPak

August 21st, 2006, 02:47 PM

The Pakistani government estimates that there are only 2,550 people who continue to worship their polytheistic gods, while many thousands more have converted to Islam, yet still live within the Kalasha villages and maintain their language.

source: wikipedia

UnitedPakistan

August 21st, 2006, 03:46 PM

They converted on their free will and some were forced before the government came in to conserve their culture. The muslims of the area steal their gold and items from their graves because Kalaash customs require that a person be buried with his belongings. I have pictures to show you guys a bit of their religious sites. It may help you understand their culture. And it is not good that these people are converting because of social pressures. You should be concerned that their religion is not being conserved.

ArchiPak

August 29th, 2006, 10:39 PM

I thought this thread was going to be about minorities in Pakistan. I can only see some pictures of some minorities on the first page.

Pakia

September 8th, 2006, 12:29 AM

Founder of Tehrik-e-Niswan (Women's Rights) in Pakistan
Sheema Kirmani

http://www.janubaba.com/lollywood/actresses/SheemaKirmani/Janubaba_28508_sheemakirmani_EVO5.jpg
http://www.janubaba.com/lollywood/actresses/SheemaKirmani/Janubaba_28507_Sheddmanikermani_D5YS.jpghttp://www.tehrik-e-niswan.com/About_Us/Founders_Names/sheemapicnew.jpg

Sheema Kermani did her Senior Cambridge or "O" Levels from the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Karachi. She joined the Karachi Grammar School for "A" Levels after completion of which she went to study Art at Croydon College of Art, England. She also studied History of Art, Film and Art Appreciation. She did her graduation from Punjab University. Sheema trained as a Classical Dancer from India. In 1983 she held her first solo dance performance and since then she has been both teaching and performing.

In 1980 Sheema along with some other committed women started Tehrik-e-Niswan. Initially Tehrik organised seminars and conferences on issues like "Violence aganist Women" and "Chaddar and Char Deewari", but soon moved into using cultural means like Theatre, Dance and Music to convey its message. Sheema has been an active member in the Women's Movement and other Peace Movements in Pakistan and South Asia. The other founder members were :Parween Kazmi- teacher and Sarwat Sultana-artist/lawyer.

Director of a Documentary: Profiles of Women Councillors (2004)
The grassroots mobilization of women is the key to transforming Pakistan -- but they have a fight on their hands.

Genres: Documentary
Running Time: 0 hrs. 54 min

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808725789/info

TV Actress: Acted in lots of single Plays & TV serials incl. Mega Serial of 90's "Maigh Malahar"

Internationally well-known Classical Dancer.

A contemporary dance inspired by chaos theory; a choreographed version of a Faiz Ahmed Faiz poem; an Odissi mangalacharan on a Kafi by Bulleh Shah. Where were these imaginative expressions performed? No, not in the diaspora capitals of London or Toronto, nor in the metropolitan halls of Calcutta and Bombay. The country: Pakistan. The venue: the first National Dance Festival. The date: November 1995. The artists: Tehreema Mitha, Nighat Chaudhry, Sheema Kirmani
http://www.janubaba.com/lollywood/actresses/SheemaKirmani/Janubaba_28495_DSCN7495_1D9L.jpg
http://www.getpakistan.com/home/Celebrity/sheema.htm

http://www.janubaba.com/lollywood/actresses/SheemaKirmani/Janubaba_28509_sheema_NTZY.jpghttp://www.janubaba.com/lollywood/actresses/SheemaKirmani/Janubaba_28505_feb4011_3Y95.jpg

Pakia

November 7th, 2006, 02:20 AM

CRIMINAL NEGLECT OF CHRISTIAN CEMETERIES:

Wake up or forget about having any respect from the world, if you don't show some respect to your: muslims & non-muslims, men & women, living & dead citizens some respect.

British Era Cemeteries in the Khyber Pass
Dr. Ali Jan
http://www.khyber.org/images/places/khybercem/plaques.jpghttp://www.khyber.org/images/places/khybercem/partialplaques.jpghttp://www.khyber.org/images/places/khybercem/fadedplaques.jpg
The legendary Khyber Pass in the North West Frontier of Pakistan is the most famous passageway in the Himalayas. No other pass in the world has possessed such strategic importance or retains so many historic associations and romance as this gateway.

It is the fabled ancient route that led into Afghanistan from the British India of yore and it was in this rugged terrain of slate and rock that the actual strategies of the 'Great Game' of Imperial conquest were played out and where several battles of the Anglo-Afghan Wars of 1839-42, 1879-80 and 1919 were fought. Numerous military badges and insignias carved on rocks alongside the road are a reminder of the various British regiments that passed through here. The pass is 33 miles long and lies in the Tribal Territory mainly inhabited by the Afridi tribes. The plains of Peshawar in Pakistan stretch from its eastern mouth, and those of Jalalabad in Afghanistan from the western. The pass itself begins at Jamrud where a symbolic gateway (Bab-e-Khyber, constructed in 1963) stands on the main road about ten miles north west of Peshawar and twists through the hills for about 33 miles and ends near Dakka. The most important points en route are: Ali Masjid ten miles from Jamrud, Landi Kotal, the summit of the pass ten miles further, and Torkham at which point the pass enters Afghan territory.

There are three old British cemeteries in Khyber Pass:
http://www.khyber.org/images/places/khybercem/greengates.jpghttp://www.khyber.org/images/places/khybercem/newergravess.jpg

1. Jamrud Cemetery: Near the Jamrud Fort. About 11 miles from Peshawar.
2. Ali Masjid Cemetery: Near the Ali Masjid Fort.
3. Landi Kotal Cemetery: Near the Khyber Rifles Mess at Landi Kotal cantonment.

Landi Kotal Cemetery

Accessible by road (or railway, 'Khyber Steam Safari') from Peshawar, it is the largest of the three cemeteries in the Khyber Pass. The graveyard's main gate is usually kept locked. A Christian family which looks after a small chapel behind the Khyber Rifles' Mess has the spare key. Some of their family members work in the Photography Section of the Khyber Rifles' Mess nearby and they are quite helpful and can be contacted at the Mess if one wants to visit the cemetery.
http://www.khyber.org/images/places/khybercem/days.jpghttp://www.khyber.org/images/places/khybercem/cooks.jpghttp://www.khyber.org/images/places/khybercem/pttaways.jpg

The Landi Kotal Cemetery is about the size of a soccer field. Its burials are mainly from 1879-80 (Second Afghan War) and 1898 and 1919 (Third Afghan War). Many regiments and battalions are represented here. Two stone obelisks stand in the middle each bearing a plaque. The inscription on one is almost faded and the other records: "Sacred to the memory of the British soldiers of all ranks who lie buried near this spot 187 of whom died at Landi Kotal from the result of wounds received in action and from disease during the Afghan Campaign of 1879-80 and the remainder since the reoccupation of the Khyber in 1898"

http://www.khyber.org/images/places/khybercem/hickss.jpghttp://www.khyber.org/images/places/khybercem/hoares.jpghttp://www.khyber.org/images/places/khybercem/miless.jpg

The older graves lying towards the far end are unfortunately not very well preserved generally and sometimes it is not even possible to tell who is buried underneath. Many headstones have disappeared altogether. However, the relatively newer graves dating from 1898 onwards which are closer to the entrance are all in a better state.

Interviews with the Christian family that looks after the Landi Kotal cemetery revealed that there has been no funding from any quarter for its upkeep in the last two or three decades and therefore the cemetery has gone into gradual decline. It is a real pity considering this is one of the most important cemeteries in the North West Frontier from both historical and tourism point of views and is invaluable for family history research as well. The Khyber Pass cemeteries must be included in the threatened monuments and the heritage lists. Besides local initiatives by citizens, the British and Pakistan governments and their agencies need to play a more proactive role in their upkeep. Moreover, the involvement of national and international NGOs in their conservation is also necessary to seek a broader base of support. It is essential to preserve all such surviving Victorian cemeteries in the region before it is too late, because in another few years these irreplaceable landmarks might be lost forever due to neglect.

Pakia

November 10th, 2006, 12:46 AM

NOV. 7, 2006

PAK. SIKHS CELEBRATING 537TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF BABA GURU NANAK.

http://statesman.com.pk/pictures/APP22-07Islamabad.jpg
http://statesman.com.pk/pictures/APP24-07Islamabad.jpg

Pakia

December 21st, 2006, 04:36 PM

http://www.statesman.com.pk/pictures/2.jpg
http://www.statesman.com.pk/pictures/1.jpg
http://www.statesman.com.pk/pictures/7.jpg
http://www.statesman.com.pk/pictures/3.jpg
http://www.statesman.com.pk/pictures/4.jpg
http://www.statesman.com.pk/pictures/6.jpg
http://www.statesman.com.pk/pictures/5.jpg

Pakia

December 24th, 2006, 05:25 PM

To see pictures of Pakistani christians celbrating christmas, click the link below:

http://www.statesman.com.pk/picture.htm

http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/dec2006-weekly/sunmag-24-12-2006/fashion/images/image4.jpg
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/dec2006-weekly/sunmag-24-12-2006/fashion/images/image3.jpg
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/dec2006-weekly/sunmag-24-12-2006/fashion/images/image5.jpg
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/dec2006-weekly/sunmag-24-12-2006/fashion/images/image6.jpg
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/dec2006-weekly/sunmag-24-12-2006/fashion/images/image1.jpg
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/dec2006-weekly/sunmag-24-12-2006/fashion/images/image2.jpg

Merry Christmas to all esp. Pak Christain community everywhere.

Pakia

January 1st, 2007, 04:48 PM

http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/images/dmag7.jpg
December 31, 2006

Temples galore

Dec. 31, 2006

By Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro

Nagarparkar is a famous city in Sindh. It has historical sites such as Karoonjhar, Bodhesar mosque and many Jain temples.

Located on the south-eastern border of Sindh, Karoonjhar is a 16-mile area covering big and small sand hills that surround Nagarparkar. This mountain range of the Thar desert is popular for its old Jain and Hindu temples, granite deposits and rare flora and fauna. The songs of peacocks echoing in the vales and ancient sites like Bodhesar Talao (water tank) add to its scenic as well as historical importance. Its highest peak is 1,000ft above sea level and is known as Tarwat’s Peak. In ancient times, Karoonjhar was also known as Kinro. Today it is a mountain shrouded in myth. http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/images/dmag7c.jpg

At Bodhesar, 5kms north-west of Nagarparkar at the foothill of Karoonjhar, lies a beautiful, shining white mosque. This mosque, though small in size, is said to have been built by Sultan Mahmood Begra, the ruler of Gujarat. An inscription on the mosque reads the name of Mahmood Shah Bin Muzaffar Shah Bin Ghiyasuddin, and the year mentioned is H-880/1505.

Prior to describing the Jain temples scattered throughout Nagarparkar taluka or subdivision, some light should be shed on Jainism. Along with Buddhism, Jainism was the most important reformist movement that established an independent unit from Hinduism. The word is derived from Jina, meaning victor or conqueror, implying final victory over bondage to life’s misery. Jainism has a universal message of nonviolence. It denies creator-god. However, human teachers Tirthankaras (ford-makers) are worshipped once they reach liberation. It was founded by Rishabha and attained a major status in India at the time of Mahavira, who was born in 599BC in northern India into a royal family. When he was 30 years old, Mahavira decided to abandon his aristocratic surroundings in favour of an ascetic life. He gave away his treasures and embarked upon a severe regimen. For 12 years, he underwent castigation, enduring bodily and spiritual injury and emerged a teacher of many monks, a renowned preacher and a propounder of a new religion.

Jainism also preaches that karma is knowable, ineffable and cosmic power which directs retribution in the hereafter.

In line with the founder’s austerity, a Jain is admonished to follow an ethical programme of exacting discipline. The distinctive principle of Jainism is ‘ahimsa’ or nonviolence towards all living creatures in both thought and action. Jainism distinguishes between Digambara (sky clad or unclothed) and Svetambara (white clad) sects. The line of difference is drawn between Digambara going naked and Svetambara in white, otherwise both agree on cosmology, ethics ad philosophy. http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/images/dmag7b.jpg

The spread and prosperity of its followers is marked by the presence of temples in Thar and Parkar. Gorri, Virawah, Bodhesar and Nagaparkar are famous for Jain temples. A temple located in Nagarparkar bazaar is known for its grave and elegance. It is richly decorated with sculptures and paintings. Exquisite carving done on pillars and on entrance of the temple is magnificent. Quite close to the temple lies the dilapidated temple of Hindus dedicated to Vishnu god whose sculpture still stands in a good state. The temple is believed to have been built in the early 12fth century when Hindus were ruling this area.

Apart from fabulously carved Jain temple located in the main bazaar of the town, there exists a cluster of three temples at Bodhesar -- supposed to have been built in 1375AD and 1449AD. Two temples with corbelled domes are built with kanjur and redstone, and are finely carved. A third temple which is raised on a platform is most inspiring -- though in a poor condition.

Twenty-four kilometres north of Nagarparkar at Virawah stands a Jain temple in a neglected and desolate state. It is built with white marble and consists of an open group of pillars with carved capitals.

There is another Jain temple at Gorri, some 20kms north-west of Viravah. The temple is in a fairly good condition and is believed to have been built during the heyday of the Sodhas around 1376A.D. It has exquisitely decorated interiors reflecting the aesthetic sensibility of those who made it. It is very similar to the one at Bodhesar but far more superior in craftsmanship and finishing.

UnitedPakistan

January 1st, 2007, 07:31 PM

Buddha in Gilgit

http://www.urbanpk.com/static%20gallery/UPK_GALLERY/Northern%20Areas/Gilgit/P7161955-01%20copy.jpg

http://www.urbanpk.com/static%20gallery/UPK_GALLERY/Northern%20Areas/Gilgit/P7161958-01%20copy.jpg

UnitedPakistan

January 1st, 2007, 07:32 PM

Buddha in MMA infested NWFP

http://www.urbanpk.com/static%20gallery/UPK_GALLERY/NWFP/Saidu%20Sharif/P7260962-01%20copy.jpg

Thank you, MMA for infesting the NWFP and destroying our history. I really do feel proud of your actions!

cntower

January 4th, 2007, 12:20 AM

screw you mma...

Pakia

January 17th, 2007, 09:07 PM

Kudos for Sindh Gov't to officially observe ALL holidays incl for minorities.

16 festival holidays for 2006 announced

By our correspondent

KARACHI: The Sindh government announced on Friday 16 days as ‘Festival Holidays’ during the year 2006.

According to a handout, the holidays are: Eidul Azha (10 Zil Haj 1426), Tuesday and Wednesday January 10 and 11; Kashmir Day, Sunday, February 5; Ashura (9th and 10th Mohram-ul-Haram 1426) Monday and Tuesday February 6 and 7; Pakistan Day, Thursday, March 23; Eid Milad-e-Nabi (12 Rabi-ul Awal 1426), Tuesday, April 11; Labour Day, Monday, May 1; Independence Day, Monday, August 14; Eid-ul-Fitr (1st Shawal 1427), Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, October 22-24; Iqbal Day, Thursday, November 9; Quaid-e-Azam Day/Christmas, Monday, December 25; and Eid-ul-Azha (10 Zil Haj 1427), Saturday and Sunday, December 30 and 31, 2006.

The Muslim Festival Holidays, however, will be subject to the appearance of Moon, as per the decision of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, which will be communicated through various information media.

The Muslim workers belonging to an establishment, as a body at their option, but with seven day notice to the employers may observe, Festival Holidays on Shab-e-Baratt and Shab-e-Miraj in lieu of any of the Festival Holiday listed above. There will be no substitution of holidays falling on Sunday.

The following days shall also be observed as Festival Holidays by the workers belonging to the communities shown below:

HINDUS: Holi -Tuesday -
14th March; Janam Ashtami - Wednesday -16th August; Durga Puja - Monday - 2nd October; Dussehra - Monday- 2nd October and Divali - Saturday - 21st October, 2006.

UBALAMIKIES: Birth Day of Guru Balmik Swamiji - Saturday - 7th October, 2006.

CHRISTIANS: Good Friday - Friday - 14th April; Easter Sunday - Sunday - 16th April and Day after Christmas - Tuesday - 26th December, 2006.

PARSIS: Parsi New Year Day (Nauroz) - Sunday - 20th August and Birthday of Khordadsal Lord Zoroaster - Friday - 25th August, 2006.

BUDDHIST: Buddah Purnima - Saturday - 13th May, 2006.

SIKHS: Guru Nanak’s Birthday - Sunday - 5th November, 2006.

Pakia

February 9th, 2007, 02:14 PM

Nobel prize winner for Physics along with 2 Americans in 1979.

"for their contributions to the theory of the unified weak and electromagnetic interaction between elementary particles, including, inter alia, the prediction of the weak neutral current"

Professor Salam was a devout "Muslim" who belonged to the Ahmadiyya Community, and therefore he was never sufficiently recognized by the Pakistani government for being the country's first and only Nobel Laureate. In 1998, the government issued a stamp with his picture, but only as part of the series of stamps "Scientists of Pakistan" and without any special dedication to him.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a6/Salam_Nobel.jpeghttp://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:00Psihc4xd3uLM:http://www.ictp.trieste.it/~twas/images/AbdusSalamMedal.jpgAbdus Salam Medal for Science and Technology

Abdus Salam at the Nobel Prize ceremony with the King Carl XVI of Sweden in 1979.

"The medal was instituted in 1995 to honour the Academy's founder and first president, Nobel Laureate Professor Abdus Salam. It is awarded to highly distinguished personalities who have served the cause of science in the Third World.

The medal has so far been awarded to:
Federico Mayor, Spain (1995)
M.G.K. Menon, India (1996)
Thomas R. Odhiambo, Kenya (1998)
José I. Vargas, Brazil (2000)
Paolo Budinich, Italy (2002) "

http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic/1746FXD0/151310.jpghttp://nuclphys.sinp.msu.ru/persons/images/salam.jpg

Dr. Abdus Salam (Urdu: عبد السلام) (January 29, 1926 at Santokdas, Sahiwal in Punjab – 21 November 1996 in Oxford, England) was a Pakistani theoretical physicist who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979 for his work in electroweak theory which is the mathematical and conceptual synthesis of the electromagnetic and weak interactions, the latest stage in the effort to provide a unified description of the four fundamental forces of nature. Salam, Sheldon Glashow and Steven Weinberg arrived at the theory independently and shared the prize. The validity of the theory was ascertained through experiments carried out at the Super Proton Synchrotron facility at CERN in Geneva, particularly through the discovery of the W and Z bosons.

Abdus Salam was an exceptional student in high school. According to his Nobel Prize biography, When he cycled home from Lahore, at the age of 14, after gaining the highest marks ever recorded for the Matriculation Examination at the University of the Punjab, the whole town [Jhang] 1 turned out to welcome him. His first paper was written as a student there in 1943 and concerned Srinivasa Aiyangar Ramanujan.[1]

http://www.rmi.acnet.ge/tcps03/conf_03.jpgThe Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy

He was awarded an MA from Government College, Lahore, in 1946 then gained a scholarship to St. John's College, Cambridge , where he took a BA, graduating with with First class honours in mathematics and physics in 1949. In 1950 he won the Smith's Prize St John's College. His a PhD in theoretical physics from Cambridge was awarded in 1951 and contained fundamental work on quantum electrodynamics which had already gained him an international reputation, for which he was also awarded the Adam's Prize.

He returned to Government College, Lahore as a professor of mathematics in 1951-54 and then went back to Cambridge as a lecturer in mathematics.

During the early 1960s Salam played a very significant role in starting Pakistan's Atomic Energy Commission and Suparco, the country's space agency. Founder and Director of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy from 1964 to December 1993, Salam was a firm believer that "scientific thought is the common heritage of mankind", and that developing nations needed to help themselves and invest into their own scientists to boost development and fill the gap between the rich North and the poor South of the planet, thus contributing to a more peaceful world. Salam also founded the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and was instrumental in the creation of a number of international centres dedicated to the advancement of science and technology.

In 1956 he was invited to take a chair at Imperial College, London, where he and Paul Matthews created a lively theoretical physics group. He remained a professor at Imperial until his retirement. In 1964, he founded the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste in Northeastern Italy. In 1959, he became the youngest Fellow of the Royal Society (at that time) at the age of 33.

Salam died at 70 in Oxford in 1996, after a long illness. He was buried (without any official protocol) in Rabwah, Pakistan
http://th.physik.uni-frankfurt.de/~jr/gif/stamps/sm_salam.jpghttp://lxlib1.ictp.trieste.it/SALAM/images/gifts/gift_mdl222.jpg

Pakia

March 8th, 2007, 01:29 AM

http://www.pakistanlink.com/images/HOLI.jpg http://www.pakistanlink.com/Headlines/March07/04/04.htm
Holi celebrated in Krishna temple in Pakistan
4 Mar, 2007

LAHORE/KARACHI: People from different faiths took part in colourful Holi festival at a Krishna temple in Lahore amid beating of drums, dancing and dazzling lights.

Christians, Muslims and Sikhs celebrated the event along with Hindus on Saturday at the temple packed with Holi enthusiasts, said the Daily Times on Sunday.

Boys and girls splashed colours on each other and presented dances and songs. The newspaper carried a photograph of young girls, most of them attired in red, dancing away merrily in the precincts of the temple.

Basically a Hindu festival celebrated in spring, Holi takes place over two days in late February or early March.

Besides celebrating it with music and dances, Hindus prayed before the idols of Krishna, Ram and Hanuman, decorated with garlands. Lamps were lit. In the end prasad, or offerings, was distributed among the devotees.

Sonia Gill, a student, said: "On Holi, I pray for my country to prosper."

Rama Chand, another girl, said: "Holi gives us the message to share the moments of happiness and sorrow with others."

Sunil Kumar added: "We should participate in others' festivals as well. We need to promote peace, harmony, love, honesty and justice, the basic traits of every religion."

Pakistan Anglo Asian Friendship Society secretary Manohar Chand said: "Holi brings a message of joy and happiness. It is need of the hour that every citizen of Pakistan should celebrate not only Holi, but other events as well.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/World/Pakistan/Holi_celebrated_in_Krishna_temple_in_Pak/articleshow/1720296.cms
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070303/capt.lhr10103031644.pakistan_holi_lhr101.jpg?

Pakia

March 11th, 2007, 12:59 AM

Pakistani Hindus form party in Sindh

Monday, 05 March , 2007, 12:26

Karachi: Pakistani Hindus in Sindh have come together to form a party to advocate the cause of the religious minorities including raising the issue of growing violence against them in the province, a report said.

Several leaders of the Hindu community from Sindh formed a joint platform, Sindh Minority Alliance in order to address the growing incidents of kidnapping, extortion and other torture cases against religious minorities, especially the Hindus of Sindh.

The organisation, formed on Saturday at a meeting attended by several hundred Hindus, selected Mahadev Dheerani as the new president of the alliance. Former lawmaker Bheru Lal Balani and DM Maharaj were named vice president and secretary-general of the alliance respectively, the Daily Times said on Monday.
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14402513&news=Pakistani%20Hindus%20form%20party%20in%20Sindh&pubDate=Mon%2C+05+Mar+2007+15%3A41%3A51+GMT&keyword=sifynews_home

Pakia

March 13th, 2007, 02:56 AM

http://www.ismaili.net/jk/asie/hunzajk1.jpg
Hussaini Gojal -Hunza
http://ismaili.net/jk/asie/jk02.jpgChief Jamatkhana Aliabad, Hunzahttp://ismaili.net/jk/asie/jk06.jpgIsmaili children in front of Hindi Jamatkhana,Hunza
http://www.ismaili.net/jk/asie/aminabadjk.jpgAminabad Jamat Khana-Hyderabad-Sindh
H.H PRINCE KARIM AGA KHAN ISMAILI JAMAT KHANA
SULTANABAD # 2
TALUK TANDO ALLAH YAR
DISTRICT HYDERABAD SINDH
http://ismaili.net/jk/asie/kjk.jpg
Karimabad Jamatkhana Karachi, Pakistan
http://ismaili.net/jk/asie/jk05.jpg
Garden East Jamatkhana (Darkhana - By night) Karachi, Pakistan
http://ismaili.net/jk/asie/jk01.jpghttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/22/89871572_5f07f607e3.jpg?v=0
Kharadhar Jamatkhana Karachi, Pakistan
http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/8746/oldgardenjkzi7.jpghttp://img452.imageshack.us/img452/6668/newgardenjknx4.jpg
Courtesy and many thanks to Hassanali Janmuhammad (nanabapa).
It would be helpful if anyone could provide the history or the date of the old JamatKhana building.

I couldn't find any better quality pics of Jamat khana in Pakistan esp. of the interiors which are supposed to be exquisitely ornate & beautiful. HH Agha Khan has been extremely good friend of Pakistan and we can atleast honor his Pakistani Ismaili followers.

Pakia

March 23rd, 2007, 12:47 PM

http://www.statesman.com.pk/pictures/70322-27.jpg
http://www.statesman.com.pk/pictures/70322-30.jpg
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2007/03/23/20070323_21.jpg

Shahzad Roy performed live on Nauroze late Wednesday night for the city’s Parsis. PPI

Pakia

March 23rd, 2007, 12:55 PM

Non-Muslim can hold Chief Justice Position:applause:

A First for any muslim country!
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\23\story_23-3-2007_pg7_2

ArchiPak

March 24th, 2007, 07:37 PM

Non-Muslim can hold Chief Justice Position:applause:

A First for any muslim country!
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\23\story_23-3-2007_pg7_2

Mash'Allah

TORONTOCOPENHAGEN

March 24th, 2007, 10:51 PM

In fact, a non-Muslim already has for a brief period. In August 2005, the Hindu Rana Baghwanda was sworn in as chief justice for a brief period when judge Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudry went abroad.

;-)

nabeel_n

March 24th, 2007, 10:59 PM

i believe hes been acting Chief Justice twice, while this is the third time hes been sworn in as ACJ.

UnitedPakistan

March 24th, 2007, 11:11 PM

He isnt the first Non-Muslim Chief Justice of Pakistan so it is NOT a big deal.

TORONTOCOPENHAGEN

March 24th, 2007, 11:56 PM

UrbanPakistan it IS a big deal to mention in the context of this thread.

P

UnitedPakistan

March 25th, 2007, 02:36 AM

UrbanPakistan it IS a big deal to mention in the context of this thread.

P
Please research Alvin Robert Cornelius

TORONTOCOPENHAGEN

March 25th, 2007, 08:09 AM

Well with all the regimes that have ruled Pakistan, it doesn't really count what happened in the past (during other regimes), since that isn't likely to create a presedence for things to come in the future.

You should chill a little...

Khanrak

March 29th, 2007, 09:03 AM

I think we should be happy that Bhagwandas is CJ. Pakistan isnt exactly renowned for its tolerance in the world media, and Cornelius' Pakistan of the 1960's was more communally stable than today's Pakistan. Additionally, because he's Hindu, and not a "person of the book," it makes it that much more unique that hes CJ of the ISLAMIC Republic of Pakistan.

UnitedPakistan

March 29th, 2007, 04:09 PM

UnitedPakistan

March 29th, 2007, 04:16 PM

http://www.fanshop-online.de/images/p/pk_pres.gif

Pakia

March 29th, 2007, 04:21 PM

I am still waiting for the a president who is from a minority group...

I think reforms might go to amend that soon because did anyone notice how Musharraf got the President of Pakistan flag changed to have a white strip?

Wouldn't that be against the constitution of Pakistan? Afterall Pakistan was created in name of Islam.

Why didn't the President's flag had a white strip to begin with as Pakistan flag had it almost all along? But good thats good of Mushy!

UnitedPakistan

March 29th, 2007, 04:52 PM

Wouldn't that be against the constitution of Pakistan? Afterall Pakistan was created in name of Islam.

Why didn't the President's flag had a white strip to begin with as Pakistan flag had it almost all along? But good thats good of Mushy!
Yes, it is against the constitution of Pakistan to have a non-muslim President.

Old Flag:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/63/Flag_of_the_President_of_Pakistan.svg/250px-Flag_of_the_President_of_Pakistan.svg.png

New Flag:
http://www.fanshop-online.de/images/p/pk_pres.gif

If you guys do not believe me then watch one of Musharraf's address's to the nation.

Sikandar

March 29th, 2007, 06:32 PM

Sorry to back track, but do all Persian girls have braces or what?

nabeel_n

March 30th, 2007, 07:22 PM

what picture are you talking about?

Pakia

April 6th, 2007, 08:56 PM

Top Pakistan bishop supports Muslim Struggles in his Good Friday Sermon
Posted : Fri, 06 Apr 2007 07:25:01GMT

Lahore, April 6 Reverend Alexander John Malik, the bishop of Lahore and moderator of Church of Pakistan, has supported 'people struggling in Kashmir, Palestine and Iraq'.

He declared Good Friday as 'a fortunate day that symbolises the blessing of god for the people striving against unjust oppression', the Daily Times quoted him as saying Friday.

The bishop said death was not the end of struggle rather a milestone of success and that the 'sacrifices of the people in their struggle against any sort of injustice would be fruitful with the blessings of god'.

As Pakistan's largest minority community, Christians account for 2.5 percent of the population, or about 3.8 million people. Of these, over 1 million are Catholics, according to the Demographics of Pakistan. However, this number is debatable as the Catholic Church's birth records cite higher figures.

The community has been subjected to harsh blasphemy laws under which any non-Muslim, accused of speaking or writing against Prophet Mohammed, or found desecrating an Islamic document or place of worship is punished severely, at times with death.

Based in part on numerous incidents of religious persecution, Pakistan was recommended by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in May 2006 to be designated as a 'Country of Particular Concern' (CPC) by the Department of State.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/48544.html

UnitedPakistan

April 7th, 2007, 03:33 AM

Geo TV was playing Christian stuff all day today...

Mahratta

April 7th, 2007, 09:23 PM

Nice work and those pictures and structures are simplu stunning... I had never even heard the 3% minority being mentioned over here (but then I do live in Canada, the media is biased the make it seem as if Pakistan is a theocracy) Stunning buildings and great photos

Pakia

April 8th, 2007, 02:41 AM

All Saints Church
http://www.statesman.com.pk/opinion/exterior.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/97/254785894_f6beac7db5_b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/110/254785892_88f56a52b2_b.jpg
The first day in Peshawar we were taken to All Saints church Peshawar, here the sunday school were doing a presentation on creation.
http://l.yimg.com/www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif
クリスチャンの子供達の服装は、ほとんど日本と同じ。
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/147686928_d9e18069a4_s.jpg
十字の腕に、ウルドゥーの文字で「イエス」と書かれているそうです。
私には模様にしか見えないけれど･･･ (You can see 'Jesus' written in their words ..)
http://l.yimg.com/www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

SJToronto

April 13th, 2007, 12:36 AM

Hindus Celebrate festival at Hinglaj Mata Temple in Balochistan. See the link for pictures.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/south_asia_hindus_in_pakistan/html/1.stm

Edwardes

April 15th, 2007, 11:55 PM

There was a article on this All Saints Church in Peshawar in "The News" which said it could get some sort of national historical site recognition. Not sure but it was something like that.

shueyb

April 16th, 2007, 07:26 PM

The All Saints Church in Peshawar almost looks like a mosque with its minarets and domes. Mughal architecture. Any idea when it was built?

Pakia

April 17th, 2007, 04:10 PM

Pak govt plans university (on Sikhism) at Nankana Sahib
[ 17 Apr, 2007 1617hrs ISTPTI ]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan government plans to set up a university on Sikh religion and culture at Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak.

The international Guru Nanak University being planned at Nankana Sahib would have the best architecture, curricula and research centre on Sikh religion and culture, Chairman of Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Gen (Retd) Zulfikar Ali Khan, said.

Besides, it would have a comparative study centre on Sikhism, other religions and various languages of both sides of Punjab, he said at Gurudwara Punjab Sahib Hassanabdal.

For finalising the design of the university, syllabus, faculty, visiting faculty and other important issues, ETPB would organise an international conference of Sikh intellectuals in June.

"We will invite people from America, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and India to attend the conference," sources quoted Khan as saying. "With the consultation of these Sikh scholars we would finalise the outline of the University."

Also, Ali said three hotels each at Lahore, Hassanabdal and Nankana Sahib are being planned to be built for the Sikh pilgrims.

He said the sites for the hotels and the university have been identified and the authorities have got possession of 300 acres of land at Nankana Sahib.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pak_govt_plans_university_at_Nankana_Sahib/articleshow/1918603.cms

hornet871

April 21st, 2007, 02:51 AM

This is excellent news, Pakia. Do keep us updated on such developments. I am sure there are many like me who check this thread periodically, so don't get discouraged.

the HORNET

oogabooga

April 21st, 2007, 08:09 AM

Here is an article about Professor Adi Lovji Spencer. This article also sheds some light on the great accomplishments of the Zoroarstrian community of Pakistan and their massive contributions to our society. I urge everyone to, please read. And can we please not have any stupidass comments on Cowasjee's religion!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A gentle family

By Ardeshir Cowasjee

LIVING amidst the uncouth yahoos and rowdies who greatly outnumber us, it is somewhat of a rarity to have a chance to write about a cultured, educated and erudite gentleman and a fine human being of prodigious memory. Professor Adi Lovji Spencer, as were his ancestors, was an upstanding gentleman of learning and of great humanity.

Adi was born on December 22 1939, three months after the outbreak of World War II in September of that year. He died this past April 10. His loss to those of us who knew him is great.

In the centenary volume printed by the Bai Virbaiji Soparivala Parsi High School (BVS) on May 23, 1959, one page is dedicated to ‘The Spencers.’ It carries the photographs of Seth Nanabhoy Framji Spencer, the founder-secretary of the school (1859-1862), his grandson Minocher K Spencer, a long serving managing committee member, and Minocher’s young nephew Adi Lovji Spencer described as ‘an outstanding scholar.’

Nanabhoy provided the driving force in the Spencer family. Over a century and a half ago he realised and appreciated the value of education and he saw to it that no Zoroastrian (as a Parsi should rightly be known) man or woman, living in and around Karachi, remained illiterate and uneducated. His son Kaikhushrow (1860-1927) studied medicine, graduated from the Grant Medical College in Bombay, and returned to Karachi to serve its people. The lesser endowed who could not afford his fees were treated for free. He went off to join the volunteer corps when World War 1 broke out in 1914, returned to join the Sindh medical services. Later, through donations from the municipality and the citizens of the city in his memory an eye hospital was established for the poor.

The foundation stone of the Doctor Kaikhushrow Nanabhoy Spencer Eye Hospital was laid on November 28, 1938, in the impoverished area of Lyari (even more impoverished 70 years later) by our still remembered good mayor, Hatim Alvi. On March 14, 1940, it was inaugurated by Mayor Rustom Khurshedji Sidhwa. Thanks to its original donors and continued supporters, it is still functional. And to give credit where credit is due, it has just been spruced up by Nazim Mustapha Kamal.

Kaikhushrow married Nalibai, a daughter of Edulji Dinshaw, by whom he had three sons – Minoo, Homi and Lovji – and two daughters – Khurshedbano and Bachamai. Homi died young, crushed by a falling building in the 1935 Quetta earthquake. Minoo, a theosophist and a lover of all creatures great and small died in 1958. Lovji was a school mate and contemporary of my father Rustom at the BVS.

Minoo spent his life helping the sick and the poor, and was a great supporter of the leper asylum at Manghopir which he visited once a week to provide the lepers with food and with the medication and treatment needed. One day, in 1940, in the days of wartime petrol rationing, Minoo bicycled over to our house (then 52, he was learning once again to ride a cycle) to seek my father’s help. His petrol ration was not sufficient to support his weekly trips to Manghopir. The lepers had to be fed and treated and it was most difficult to carry the supplies required on a bicycle, even with his driver riding a second cycle. Could my father help?

At that time, our firm was involved in the handling of sea transport vessels and we did have an extra allotment, but permission to allot it would have to be sought from Captain Wyebert, the stern Sea Transport Officer of the Royal Naval Veterans’ Reserves who had been pressed into service. My father went off to plead with him and Wyebert consulted his manuals to see how the lepers could be helped. He could find no way. He closed his books, then he closed his eyes, and said, “Rustom, Nelson had one eye, I have one ear. I have not heard what you said. Do what you think is right, war or no war, the lepers have to be cared for.” He did so, and the lepers were the gainers.

Brother Lovji produced two sons, the elder Keki who became a doctor, and my good friend Adi, who did so well at the BVS before joining the D. J. Sindh College where he did his BA and in 1961 his masters in public administration. He then apprenticed himself in the family firm of general merchants, Spencer & Co, and after a year or so was given a job by the First National City Bank.

In 1968 he changed professions, and joined the Institute of Business Administration as a lecturer of economics for MBA classes. Generally, the IBA only hires lecturers who have had foreign training up to a master’s degree, but an exception was made in Adi’s case because of his excellent grades and his sound knowledge of economics.

The present director of the Institute, Mr Danishmand, sent me a few paragraph on Adi after he died, which I reproduce :

“He had a stern look but actually was one of the most caring teachers the IBA has ever had. He was an outstanding teacher and the faculty and students loved and respected him. They remember him fondly and still miss him. He was at the IBA when I was a student. He came into the library one day whilst I was there and just started talking to me. Later on we were on the faculty together. He was very strict and very concerned about the difference between right and wrong. A genuine scholar, the truth was all important to him.

“His students found him to be very fair and most interested in their welfare and development. Our present prime minister, Mr Shaukat Aziz, told us that Spencer encouraged him to join Citibank and actually took him to the bank so that he could appear for his interview.”Sadly, Shaukat found no time to visit Spencer on one of his frequent visits to Karachi during the seven and a half years he has been in government. A pity. Spencer was very proud of his erstwhile student.

Adi was well for almost a decade, firstly a hermit in his own house next to the Press Club, and later, until his death last week at the Parsi General Hospital. His knowledge of literature, of all nationalities, and his knowledge of the world’s religions was astounding as was his ability to quote at length from many works. His memory remained fresh and full right up to the end. He was a veritable source of information and I, for one, shall sorely miss him and his sayings.

He was a realist. He maintained unequivocally that the leaders of Pakistan, barring Jinnah, have all been selfish, greedy and self-perpetuating. The people reproduce like rabbits and no government has had the will or the ability to educate the vast illiterates. Bigotry continues to breed ignorance, and for all times to come, however short or long, it will be argued ad infinitum what exactly it was that Jinnah wished his country to be. This, despite the fact that he distinctly said that the first thing Pakistan’s government must impose is law and order, that religion is not the business of the state, and that under no circumstances is the country to be a theocracy ruled by priests with a divine mission. How many are capable of accepting all this?

Thanks to the current mania for processions and demos by our politicos and the legal fraternity, many of those who wished to attend his post-funeral prayers last Thursday were unable to get to his house thanks to the traffic jams and disorder that prevails in this city (and apparently in the rest of the country).

link (http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/cowas.htm)

Edwardes

April 22nd, 2007, 04:03 AM

Good article!

Pakia

April 22nd, 2007, 05:43 AM

http://jang.com.pk/jang/apr2007-weekly/showbiz-17-04-2007/images/syed-noorpic1.jpg
If any non-urdu reader interested enough in minorities affairs, let me know. I'll try to summarize it.
http://jang.com.pk/jang/apr2007-weekly/showbiz-17-04-2007/images/saleem-basit.gif

Pakia

April 29th, 2007, 05:40 AM

Lahore: Pakistan's first Sikh Police Officer & his surprisingly pleasant experience
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/images/2007/04/20070427121317cc_sikhpolice_49.jpg
Click below to watch video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/avconsole/bb_rm_fs.shtml?nbram=1&nbwm=1&ws_storyid=070427_sikhpolice_nn&ws_pathtostory=http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/wsindex/int/top/urdu/-/urdu/news/avfile/2007/04/&bbram=1&bbwm=1&lang=ur

Pakia

May 15th, 2007, 01:21 PM

Dr Ambedkar’s birthday celebratedhttp://www.ambedkar.org/Pic/ambed001.jpg

THARPARKAR: For the first time in Pakistan’s history, the (116th) birthday of Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar was celebrated in three different cities.

The first function was held in Lahore on April 13 where Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool was the chief guest.

Surendar Valasai, VT Rajshekhar and Prof Chaman Lal from JNU, Shyam Bahadur Katuwal from Nepal, Prof Bhatti from England and Mr Salman from the United Nations’ office in Islamabad spoke on the occasion. Sir Gangaram Heritage Foundation had organised the event. Foundation Director Dr Yousaf Bokhari played a pivotal role in organising the function.

The second function was held in Karachi under the aegis of the Scheduled Castes Federation of Pakistan and South Asia Dalit Solidarity Network on April 15.

Former Dalit MP Dr Khatumal Jeewan, Surendar Valasai and former Dalit MPA Bheru Lal Balani highlighted the struggle and achievements of Baba Saheb.

The third function was organised at the Hyderabad Press Club by the Pak Reformatory Institute of Dalit Emancipation (PRIDE), Sindh. Former Dalit MPA Engr Gianchand, Jam Saqi, BBC correspondent Suhail Sangi, Malji Rathore and Dr Sono Khangharani spoke on the occasion. pr

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\05\11\story_11-5-2007_pg7_47

http://www.ambedkar.org/Babasaheb/DrAmbedkar.htm

http://www.ambedkar.org/Pic/ambed012.jpghttp://www.ambedkar.org/Pic/ambed013.jpg
http://www.ambedkar.org/Pic/ambed003.jpg

Pakia

May 15th, 2007, 01:24 PM

Dalits of Pakistan
http://www.ambedkar.org/images/defsmall.jpg

Surendar Heman Valasai

In Pakistan, Dalits are mainly concentrated in Sindh. Except fewer individuals all of them are landless Haris. According to rough estimates, the Dalit population is 1.5 million in Pakistan. However, no official or authoritative figure is available. A huge majority of them is infact homeless for they have no proprietary rights of the lands they are settled in. In Tharparker, the Dalits form approximately 35 per cent of the total district population. Several hundred Dalit families lost their lands before partition due to forgeries in their ownership documents by influential tax collecting waderas of Tharparker. But illiteracy has plunged them into the darkness. They have separate utensils in rural tea and food hotels. Among the Dalits of Pakistan, Meghwar tribe is considered as more educated. The Kolhis are the most neglected and downtrodden. Many of them have won freedoms from agriculture slavery known here as "private jails" of big landlords. Bheels are also there but their literacy rate is also among the lowest in Dalit tribes.

Most of the Dalits are living in make-shift homes made of wood, and raw mud. However, fewer of them are settled in semi-urban centres.

Dalits of Pakistan are the unfortunate people for having no political leadership. Some MNAs (Members of National Assembly) were elected from Dalits but their politics revolved around making personal and family fortunes.

In Pakistan, before the October 12, 1999 coup, the Dalits had two seats in 217-member National Assembly of Pakistan.

The founder of Pakistani nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had installed a Dalit Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. However, thereafter no government has inducted any of the Dalit in Federal or any provincial cabinet as Minister. The Quaid had also given 6 per cent job quota in the federal services to the Scheduled Castes. But in 1998, Nawaz Sharif government converted the "Scheduled Castes job quota" into "Minority quota" due to the influence of caste Hindu and Christian MNAs in a National Assembly session. The two Dalit MNAs (i.e. Dr. Khatumal Meghwar & Kirshan Bheel) didn't raise any voice against this conversion though the said quota was rarely implemented in the past.

Lack of educated and social reformers among the Dalit population of Pakistan has further pushed them backward despite forming the largest portion of Hindu population.

Though the government takes interest in the complaints of Human Rights violations of Dalits in Pakistan, but the local fiefdoms make it difficult for any government action to reach its finale.

Apart from Sindh, Dalit population is also visible in the Punjab province, especially its Siraiki belt. The lone Hindu and Scheduled Caste seat in the Punjab Assembly always goes to the Dalits in every elections. However, in Sindh, Dalits were only able during the last two elections to get a single seat out of five reserved for Hindu and Scheduled Castes of the province while the rest four seats usually go to the caste Hindus.

In recent Local Bodies elections with last phase being held on joint electorate basis, three Tehsil Naib Nazim (Taluka Vice Chairman) posts were won by Dalits (i.e. Kanjimal Meghwar of Mithi Tehsil, Rawto Kolhi of Nagarparker Tehsil and Dalpat Meghwar of Chachro Tehsil).

A caste Hindu Rajput Ram Singh son of Ran Singh won the District Tharparker Naib Nazim post through the support of his 'cousin' Arbab Ameer Hassan a former MNA and son of the sister of Ran Singh Rajput.

The Dalits of Pakistan need concrete efforts to improve their education. There is no institution or organisation in Pakistan which specifically address this issue for Dalits.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Ddr%2Bambedkar%2Bpakistan%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501%26x%3Dwrt&w=75&h=76&imgurl=www.ambedkar.org%2Fimages%2Fdefsmall.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ambedkar.org%2Fresearch%2FDalitsof.htm&size=4.7kB&name=defsmall.jpg&p=dr+ambedkar+pakistan&type=jpeg&no=3&tt=3&oid=7ff971a718bf48c2&ei=UTF-8

Starsat86

May 17th, 2007, 07:23 PM

Very sad, The Dalits are Human just like everyone else and more should be done to help them win their freedom and get education, and get jobs and get a future!!!!! Inshallah!!!!!

Does anybody know of any organisation or charity that deals exclusively with Dalits or Hindus, as I would like to contribute financially in building wells, houses, education, places of worship (Mandirs) etc etc

Starsat86

May 17th, 2007, 07:26 PM

Also, If I wanted to set up a charity that helps the less privelliged in Pakistan, especially the Hindu community or Christian, what would be the best way in going about it? who would I need to speak to? what would I have to do?

Thanks for all replies and advice!!

Pakia

May 23rd, 2007, 04:06 AM

Christians pardon boy for threatening wall chalking

Statesman Report

CHARSADDA: The drop scene of the threatening wall chalking against Christian community here came to the fore on Tuesday when it was discovered that it was a school boy who had been writing the frightening sentences on the wall. The Christian community leaders pardoned the boy for threatening wall chalking after the boy pleaded ignorance of the sensitivity of the matter.

Addressing a crowded press conference, the deputy superintendent of police, headquarters, Sajjad Ahmed Khan, said that after the issuance of threatening letters to the Christian community, some threatening walk chalking had been found on the wall in front of the Bible Church at the sugar mills which had added to the fear and anxiety of the Christians in the town.

He revealed that on this the police authorities had started extensive investigations and they had soon come to know that the threatening wall chalking had been made by a 5th class student of the local government middle school by reproducing the contents of the threatening letter on the wall that he had overheard from the mouth of the priest without his realizing that it was a difficult and sensitive matter.

The police official observed that later on the boy's relatives had established contacts with the Christian community and convinced them that he had done so out of innocence.

He maintained that full security was available to the Christian community in Charsadda and their houses and worship places were under the watchful eyes of the police.

The religious and social leaders of the Christian community along with the school boy, Jamshed, were present on the occasion. The boy was pardoned by the leaders of the Christian community in the presence of the police.

http://statesman.com.pk/topnews/topnews10.htm

Sikandar

May 23rd, 2007, 07:01 PM

Gurdhwara Nankana Sahib in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan - home of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev.
http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/8630/nankanasahibsg3.jpg

Pakia

June 13th, 2007, 12:05 AM

http://www.imagesofasia.com/html/pakistan/images/large/sadh-bela-temple.jpg
Sri Sadh Bella Tirath, SUKKUR.150 YEARS AGO...

A Hindu religious place of worship on an island in the middle of the Indus River in Sukkur, Sindh.

Downstream from the island of Bukkur, and separated from it by a short stretch of river, is the pretty little island of Sat or Sadh Belo. On it is a Hindu religious establishment found in AD 1823 by Swami Bakhandi Maharaj Udasi; the gaily-painted buildings are, however, more or less modern. The island has two inlets, Sadh Belo and Din Belo and hence the name of the holy place. It is reached by boat from the Sukkur Bund. It is also one of the few Hindu temples where all castes are served food simultaneously. Following Sindhi Hindu practice, the Granth Sahib, or Sikh holy book is revered here as well.

http://wordofmansoor.com/photos/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=271&g2_serialNumber=2NOW

Intoxication

June 13th, 2007, 03:06 PM

A Hindu religious place of worship on an island in the middle of the Indus River in Sukkur, Sindh.

http://wordofmansoor.com/photos/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=271&g2_serialNumber=2

Wow!! :eek:

Khanrak

June 19th, 2007, 02:09 AM

UnitedPakistan

June 19th, 2007, 04:00 AM

In Punjab no one really cares but sometimes people think that the Christians in Pakistan are involved in fraud. It is nothing more than a stereotype though. People tend to believe it because quite a few of them are involved in such activites and give the rest a bad name.

Edwardes

June 19th, 2007, 04:57 AM

^ That's what happens when people are uneducated, people who have bad intentions can easily brainwash anyone into thinking anything they want.

UnitedPakistan

June 19th, 2007, 05:26 AM

^ That's what happens when people are uneducated, people who have bad intentions can easily brainwash anyone into thinking anything they want.
Actually, this happens in educated households as well. Sometimes people CHOOSE to be ignorant!:ohno:

Intoxication

June 19th, 2007, 10:17 AM

Actually, this happens in educated households as well. Sometimes people CHOOSE to be ignorant!:ohno:

Like in the developed world.

On the topic of Sikhs, I would say that Punjabis view them as brothers, as Sikhs are Punjabi too.

transistorized

June 19th, 2007, 12:47 PM

Is there much predjudice against Sikhs in Pakistan? I know most people on this board that are educated probably dont have much resentment towards Sikhs, but what about the average Pakistani?

My family in the Frontier province, which many people consider harsh, intolerant, and backwards, would refer to Guru Nanak as "Guru baba", and actually, in the village next to my families, there are quite a few Pashto-speaking Sikhs. Is the situation in Punjab different from this?

My family has Sikkh family friends and they were here for their pilgrimage a while back. They actually loved it here and didnt feel uncomfortable at all even when traveling alone. Keep in mind that this was back when India-Pakistan relations were pretty cold. You can often see Sikkhs in and around Lahore during the pilgrimage season.

Also Guru Nanak is widely revered throughout Punjab (and I would think rest of Pakistan too) for his enlightened views.

helihui

June 27th, 2007, 09:33 AM

A very inspiring thread. This proves that the moderate voice is very much alive and kicking in Pakistan. May Pakistan sh become a becon of light for tolerance in the Islamic world, more importantly may it win over hearts through love such as that shown by the contributors of this thread.

UnitedPakistan

June 27th, 2007, 02:59 PM

Like in the developed world.

On the topic of Sikhs, I would say that Punjabis view them as brothers, as Sikhs are Punjabi too.
We need to set our targets higher than the developed world to keep this country competitive.

Intoxication

June 27th, 2007, 04:46 PM

We need to set our targets higher than the developed world to keep this country competitive.

My statement "line in the developed world" was aimed at your statement of "sometimes people choose to be ignorant". Which is true in the developed world!

Eventhough almost everyone is educated in the developed world, some people still choose to be ignorant and choose believe stereotypes.

UnitedPakistan

June 27th, 2007, 05:53 PM

My statement "line in the developed world" was aimed at your statement of "sometimes people choose to be ignorant". Which is true in the developed world!

Eventhough almost everyone is educated in the developed world, some people still choose to be ignorant and choose believe stereotypes.
I know what you meant by your statement. I just wanted to add that we should try to achieve our best even above the developed world. Even in developed countries they can improve their education systems to help stop more stereotypes and ignorance. Do you see what I mean?

Edwardes

June 30th, 2007, 12:31 PM

Nankana Sahib looks amazing! Today I was in Rawalpindi and saw a group of them boarding a bus to Lahore.

Pakia

July 27th, 2007, 03:38 AM

http://www.jang-group.com/jang/jul2007-daily/27-07-2007/multan/mul1.gif

Multan: About 10.54 million rupees are being spent on the renovations & repair of minorities religious places esp Gurdwaras & hindu temples. Also some more hotels are being planned to be built near their places of worship.

Starsat86

July 27th, 2007, 12:16 PM

I didn't realise there were any Gurudwaras or Mandirs in Multan, does anyone know the population of the respective communities?

Also well done Multan!!!! the city of Pirs!!!!!!

Edwardes

July 27th, 2007, 09:01 PM

Minorities in Pakistan

Christians - 2,436,299
Hindus - 1,280,882
Sikhs - 300,000
Baha'is - 100,000
Parsis - 20,000
Buddhists - 20,000

Edwardes

July 27th, 2007, 09:08 PM

Prominent Pakistani Chrisitians

A. R. Cornelius
Alvin Robert Cornelius (born 1903), a Catholic, was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan from May 13, 1960 to February 29, 1968.

Martin Bashir
A correspondent for ABC's 20/20. Bashir also became one of the three full-time anchors of Nightline.

Joseph Cordeiro
On 7 May 1958 was appointed Archbishop of Karachi, with his seat at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Karachi.

Joseph Coutts
Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Hyderabad in Pakistan by Pope John Paul II. On 27 June 1998 he was appointed Bishop of Faisalabad. Bishop Coutts is also Caritas Pakistan National Director.

Merella Fernandez
Is a Canadian reporter and anchor for CityNews in Toronto.

Evarist Pinto
Archbishop of Karachi on 5 Jan 2004 on the retirement of the incumbent Archbishop Simeon Pereira. The seat of the Archdiocese of Karachi is at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Karachi.

Max John Rodrigues
Appointed Bishop of Hyderabad by Pope John Paul II. He was ordained Bishop on 25 Mar 2000.

Lawrence Saldanha
Appointed Archbishop of Lahore by Pope John Paul II. He is the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan.

Edwardes

July 27th, 2007, 09:13 PM

Pakistani Hindus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Pakistani_Hindus

July 27th, 2007, 09:51 PM

Minorities in Pakistan

Christians - 2,436,299
Hindus - 1,280,882
Sikhs - 300,000
Baha'is - 100,000
Parsis - 20,000
Buddhists - 20,000

Do you or anyone else happen to know where are the greatest concentrations of the Baha'is and the Buddists?

And about the people of kailash valley

Edwardes

July 27th, 2007, 09:59 PM

Do you or anyone else happen to know where are the greatest concentrations of the Baha'is and the Buddists?

And about the people of kailash valley

Buddhists live primarily up in the Northern Areas and parts of Kashmir. Baha'is are concentrated in Karachi, as well as Parsis. The Kalash people live in Chitral, up north; they follow an ancient religion based on nature and stuff (somewhat like our version of the native Americans)

July 27th, 2007, 10:05 PM

^^ Actually i was asking about the population of kailash..I have been there myself, though.

Do you happen to know the name of city/villages where the buddists are concentrated?

Btw, here's an article about the people of kailash that i found on virtualtourist.com and at another source i read their population is about 3000-5000.

The Kalash People are found in 3 valleys the Rumbur, Bumburet and Birir. The Kalash are not Muslims but follow their own Religion which is made up of single creator called ‘Dezau’ with 12 male and female gods the major God is Mahandeo and some folks say this is the same god as Ares is known as Mars by the Romans. Most Kalasha are Mediterranean looking. The men wear largely traded traditional goat-skin tunics and the women wear black reaching to the ankles. They have beautiful embroidery. Here is the official position of the Pan Macedonia Society of the USA -- 13. The Kalash of the northern Himalayan region of the Hindu Kush Mountains of Pakistan are Hellenic descendants of the armies of Alexander the Great.

The Kalash Indigenous people have sustained their ancient culture and traditions since the 4th century B.C. Good overview video of this area and the Kalash How to visit the Kalash first you need a permit from the office in Chitral that overseas foreigners travel in this part of Pakistan or at the Pakistan tourist development office the one in Chitral is at the PTDC Motel, Main Bazaar, Chitral (NWFP) Tel: (0943) 412683. But I would recommend that you go with a guide. There is one that posts on Virtual Tourist imranthetrekker his e-mail is below and you can read his page -- he might be a good person to ask. But arrangements can be made easily via your hotel I would strongly recommend that you ask for a guide form the Kalash culture itself. I found a student by the name of Afiyat but was working as a guide during her vacation. This made it very nice as I had a built in access to her family.

I located here by asking in three or four place but finally from the concierge at the Hindukush Heights hotel. The trip up the Valley is about 30 Kilometer and you really need to have a 4 wheel drive. They also sell tour group excursion type engagements with 4 wheel drive in groups of 8 to 30 again your hotel will know.

Pakia

July 27th, 2007, 10:11 PM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Tariq_Ali.jpg/200px-Tariq_Ali.jpg

Tariq Ali - Pakistan's only Atheist!

Tariq Ali (Urdu: طارق علی) (born October 21, 1943) is a British-Pakistani writer and filmmaker [1]. He is a member of the editorial committee of the New Left Review, and regularly contributes to The Guardian, Counterpunch and the London Review of Books.

He is the author of Pirates Of The Caribbean: Axis Of Hope (2006), Conversations with Edward Said (2005), Bush in Babylon (2003), and Clash of Fundamentalisms: Crusades, Jihads and Modernity (2002).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariq_Ali

Pakia

July 27th, 2007, 10:48 PM

Pakistan's only standing Synagogue (inoperative)!
http://www.geocities.com/scn_pk/pic_david_tablet.JPG
Look closely to the word Pakistan right below stars of David in this PESHAWAR synagogue. This was where Bukharan jews of Pakistan/Afghanistan prayed until 1960s.

http://www.geocities.com/scn_pk/pic_david_architecture.jpg

Magen Shalome, Karachi’s last synagogue, was demolished in the 1980s to make way for a shopping plaza.

http://www.geocities.com/scn_pk/peshawar_jews.html

Edwardes

July 28th, 2007, 12:25 AM

Wow

zees

July 28th, 2007, 05:47 AM

there r still jews living in Karachi

Edwardes

July 28th, 2007, 06:25 AM

there r still jews living in Karachi

I doubt it

zees

July 28th, 2007, 10:26 AM

I doubt it

I personally knew some of them, one of them lives in Bath Island and he told me, most of them live in Bath Island or Rancho lane.

Pakia

July 28th, 2007, 02:55 PM

^^ I read they geneally pass themselves as Parsees.

adil

July 31st, 2007, 06:19 AM

I remember my father mentioning that the question of Jews in Pakistan was brought up a few years back in the National Assembly. The government responded to the question of whether there were any still remaining in Pakistan.
The reply was that there at least 300, known to be mostly in Karachi. In fact some of them are also in the federal civil service. There is a grave yard in Karachi that still recieves visitors, so there are still some around.

shueyb

July 31st, 2007, 06:47 PM

Just google Jews in Pakistan and you'll find plenty of resources about the history of Jews in Pakistan. An article by Prof. Adil Najam of Tufts University, USA (founder of www.pakistaniat.com blog) in Daily Times:

VIEW: Where have Pakistan’s Jews gone? —Adil Najam

The front page of last Friday’s Jerusalem Post featured a boxed item headlined “Surprise! There are still Jews in Pakistan.”

The story in The Jerusalem Post was triggered by an email sent to the newspaper’s online edition in a Reader’s Response section by one Ishaac Moosa Akhir who introduced himself thus: “I am a doctor at a local hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. My family background is Sephardic Jewish and I know approximately 10 Jewish families who have lived in Karachi for 200 years or so. Just last week was the Bar Mitzvah of my son Dawod Akhir.”

I remember seeing the mail when it originally appeared middle of last week and wondering whether the writer was, in fact, who he claimed to be or an over-zealous Pakistani trying to make a point behind the Internet’s obscurity. The Jerusalem Post and the experts it interviewed seem to have harboured similar doubts, I think largely because of the tenor of the debate on that discussion board. Some Indian readers seemed bent on proving that Pakistanis are intrinsically anti-Semitic and over-enthusiastic Pakistanis trying to cleanse Pakistan’s international image by pontificating about the connections between Islam and Judaism. It was in this context that Mr Akhir wrote, “I must convey to the Israeli people that Pakistani society is in general very generous and my families have never had any problems here. We live in full freedom and enjoy excellent friendships with many people here in Karachi.” He went on, then, to add: “I have been to India as well, though I found Indian society to be less tolerant, highly emotional and more anti-Semitic. Pakistanis respect people of all faiths because it is a doctrine of their Sufi version of Islam, which is very different from Arab Wahhabism.”

Unlike the readers, The Jerusalem Post had Mr Akhir’s email address (they did not print it). It seems that they wrote back to him and he added some thoughts that were not in his original post. The newspaper reports that Akhir wrote about holding prayer services in his home for the Jews of Karachi and that “although he and his fellow Jews there could practice their religion openly if they wished to” they have chosen to live a life of anonymity. Mr Akhir is quoted as saying that “We prefer our own small world and, since we are happy and content, we never felt there was a need to express ourselves. ... We don’t want to let anyone make political use of us. We enjoy living in this simplicity and anonymity.” He goes on to say that he has no desire to leave Pakistan but would like to visit Israel.

Like the Jerusalem Post, I am still not sure whether this is in fact one of the few remaining members of the Pakistani Jewry. However, even if that is not so, it raises the very interesting question of where are the Pakistani Jews?

There isn’t much reliable information on the subject. The official census reports that 0.07 percent of the population is of ‘other’ religions but does not say how many, if any, are Jews. Various Jewish websites suggest that there were about 2,500 Jews living in Karachi at the beginning of the twentieth century and a few hundred lived in Peshawar. There were synagogues in both cities. Reportedly, the one in Peshawar still exists but is closed. The Magain Shalome Synagogue in Karachi was built in 1893 by Shalome Solomon Umerdekar and his son Gershone Solomon (other accounts suggest it was built by Solomon David, a surveyor for the Karachi Municipality, and his wife Sheeoolabai, although these may be different names for the same people). It soon became the centre of a vibrant Jewish community, one of whose leaders, Abraham Reuben, became a city councillor in 1936. There were various Jewish social organisations, including the Young Men’s Jewish Association (founded 1903), the Karachi Bene Israel Relief Fund, and the Karachi Jewish Syndicate formed to provide affordable homes to poor Jews.

Some Jews migrated to India at the time of partition but reportedly some 2,000 remained, most of them Bene Yisrale Jews observing Sephardic rites. The first real exodus from Pakistan came soon after the creation of Israel, which triggered several incidents of violence against Jews in Pakistan including the burning of the Karachi synagogue. From then onwards most Pakistanis viewed all Jews through the lens of Arab-Israel politics. The wars of 1956 and 1967 only made life more difficult for Jews in Pakistan. The Karachi synagogue became the site of anti-Israel demonstrations, and the Paksitani Jews the subject of the wrath of mobs. Ayub Khan’s era saw the near disappearance of the Paksitani Jewry. The majority left the country, many for Israel but some for India or the United Kingdom. Reportedly, a couple of hundred remained in Karachi but out of concern for their safety many went ‘underground’, sometimes passing off as Parsees. According to a website on Jewish history, many of the Karachi Jews now live in Ramale and have built there a synagogue called Magain Shalome. Much of this was corroborated when I recently ran into a ‘Pakistani Jew’ (my term, not hers) now living in Massachusetts, USA. She told me that her father was a community and synagogue leader of the Karachi Jews. She herself had grown up in Karachi and studied at St Jospeph’s Girls School. Her family had moved to Israel during Ayub Khan’s era.

The Magain Shalome synagogue, in Karachi’s Rancore Lines area, became dormant in the 1960s and was demolished by property developers in the 1980s to make way for a commercial building. The last caretaker, a Muslim, reportedly rescued the religious artefacts (bima, ark, etc). It is not clear where he or those artefacts are now. However, thanks to the tenacity of Rachel Joseph the story of the Karachi synagogue is not yet over. In her late ‘80s, of frail health (hopefully still alive) and living in Karachi in a state of destitution, Ms Joseph is the surviving custodian of the Karachi synagogue and the Jewish graveyard in Mewa Shah suburb of Karachi, parts of which have now become a Cutchi Memon graveyard. Ms Joseph claims that the property developers had promised her and her now deceased brother (Ifraheem Joseph) that they would be given an apartment in the new building and space for a small synagogue. She feels that she was swindled and has been trying (unsuccessfully) to move a court to get what she was promised. In 2003, Kunwar Khalid Yunus from Karachi wrote a moving letter to daily Dawn pleading that she be helped.

What does all this tell us about Mr Akhir. Not much. But it does offer some lessons that we might want to heed as a nation. First, it tells us that there was once a small but vibrant community of Jews in what is now Pakistan and that most of this community left Pakistan many decades ago and in circumstances that were not comfortable for them and a matter of some shame for us. Second, it tells us that despite this mass exodus, a small number of Jews — maybe as many as a few hundred — still remain in Pakistan and are forced to lead a life of anonymity, even camouflage. Mr Akhir may well be who he claims to be. Even if he is not there are likely to be others who have been forced into anonymity for too long and who need to be brought back into the national folds. Whether we ever recognise Israel or not, we need to recognise and make peace with our own Jews (and other minorities). After General Musharraf is done dining with the American Jewry, maybe he should also break bread with the Paksitani Jews, including those who are now spread across the world, Paksitani no more.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_16-9-2005_pg3_3

shueyb

July 31st, 2007, 06:50 PM

The story of how Jewish families living in Peshawar had to leave the city.

http://www.nshahs.org/350/afghanistan2.htm

I remember, when two years back probably, Musharraf was addressing the American Jewry Organization in USA, a man stood up in the audience and claimed he was a Jew from Pakistan. He asked Musharraf if he could go back to Pakistan. Musharraf allowed him.

shueyb

July 31st, 2007, 07:45 PM

1. According to this article, there are still 1,000 Bukharian Jews in Pakistan:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukharan_Jews

2. Jews in Pakistan's civil service: http://archive.gulfnews.com/world/Pakistan/10099607.html

3. Wikipedia on Pakistani Jews:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Pakistan

adil

August 1st, 2007, 05:17 AM

Edwardes

August 1st, 2007, 09:32 PM

I've been researching this and from what I can see there are almost 2,500 Jews still living in Pakistan, which is amazing! I thought all of them left! One synagogue still exists in Peshawar and there are two main synagogues and several Jewish Cemetaries that still function in the Karachi. I can't confirm this but maybe our Karachite members could help us out. I'll try and find out about the one in Peshawar.

shueyb

August 1st, 2007, 09:48 PM

^^ There is no functioning synagogue in the open in Pakistan any more. The only synagogue in Karachi was demolished to make way for a shopping plaza. The synagogue in Peshawar is not functioning. If there are any jews left in Pak, they don't disclose their religious identity. Sad.

shueyb

August 18th, 2007, 04:11 PM

WASHINGTON: There are still some Jews living in Karachi, though their number has decreased from 2,500 at the time of independence, according to a report in a Jewish publication. One of them has filed a suit to be given land that was promised when the city’s synagogue was demolished under Ziaul Haq.

Most of them pass as Parsees, says the British publication Jewish Chronicle, because they “like to keep quiet”. However, a destitute and frail woman of 88, Rachel Joseph is the sole surviving custodian of the community’s synagogue, even though it was destroyed almost 20 years ago. Magain Shalome once stood at the corner of Jamila Street and Nishtar Road. It was demolished in July 1988 by order of President Ziaul Haq, to make way for a shopping plaza. Ms Joseph is suing the property developers who built it, saying they promised her space for another synagogue, and a flat to live in while she tended it. Meanwhile, she looks after the community’s graveyard, in the Mewa Shah neighbourhood. The shul was built in 1893 by Bene Israel from Maharashtra, who came to work in the civil service the railroads and pressing coconut oil with Baghdadi Jews from Bombay.

Quetta, Lahore and Peshawar also had communities, but Karachi’s importance as a Jewish centre was such that the All-India Israelite League convened there in 1918. With independence came pogroms and Israeli independence in May 1948 saw the Karachi synagogue set on fire. Prime Minister Zulfikar Bhutto is supposed to have said, “To Jews as Zionists, intoxicated with their militarism and reeking with technological arrogance, we refuse to be hospitable.” According to Rachel Khafi, an American whose grandfather, Benjamin Khafi, organised the departure of Jews from Peshawar, “My grandfather went from door to door, from Jew to Jew, to tell them that they had to leave the town.” The numbers in Karachi halved during the Suez Crisis and again with the Six-Day War, though communal life continued throughout the 1970s. Over 630 Karachi families now live in Ramla, Lod and Beersheba in Israel. Older members still speak Urdu or Marathi. “They are not the most integrated of communities in Israel,” said the Hebrew University’s Dr Shalva Weil, an expert on Jews of the subcontinent. khalid hasan

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\08\18\story_18-8-2007_pg7_32

Pakia

August 20th, 2007, 07:38 PM

Tussle over Bhai Taro Singh Jee temple in Lahore: Sikhs being stopped from entering gurdwara
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2007/08/20/20070820_i22.jpg

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\08\20\story_20-8-2007_pg13_1

Hindu girls gear up for Raksha Bandhan on 28th (Karachi)
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\08\20\story_20-8-2007_pg12_5

oogabooga

August 20th, 2007, 11:17 PM

Have the Mods gone completely crazy? Why the hell are you guys deleting posts left and right? What was wrong with my post in here? I was simply voicing my opinion, I did not use any profanity either?

UnitedPakistan

August 20th, 2007, 11:58 PM

:banana:

Intoxication

August 26th, 2007, 12:33 PM

http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/images/sonya-2.bmp

Pakistani Canadian Christian Sonya Zia who wins Miss Photogenic award in Miss Pakistan World competition 2006.

^^ This girl seems to be better than the other Miss Pakistan's.

JADI

August 27th, 2007, 12:49 PM

Miss Photogenic is quite disappointing...

Pakia

August 28th, 2007, 03:04 AM

Sadh Belo Temple, Sukkur, Sindh, Pakistan
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/173/415389973_5f9dcdd07c_o.jpg
Water color, 1860.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/171/419843086_3b69c24347_b.jpg
Built on an island in river Indus, outskirts of Sukkur.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/445925846_84bb89da55_o.jpg
Dadu canal, river Indus.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1131/925778424_9ed85bb96b_o.jpg
Outside the Entrance.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1185/924779979_9e12a700e1_o.jpg
The front Park.
INSIDE OF THE TEMPLE.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/395159734_acffa1b40b_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/399622021_3cd8e0601c_o.jpghttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1141/924779905_3f99c0b1de_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1073/924779635_308db81b9e_o.jpghttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/150/399622020_f90f10d607_o.jpg
Ganesh Idol

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/156/399622019_3460becb38_o.jpg
Pavilion iside the temple.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/177/399622017_a664efca16_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1275/540246786_a92fbf643a_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1430/924779623_ddb1cb8b25_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/147/395151588_ce978546aa_o.jpg

Pakia

August 28th, 2007, 04:46 AM

Rakhi-Bundhan
http://www.statesman.com.pk/pictures/Pix27-31.jpg
http://www.statesman.com.pk/pictures/Pix27-33.jpg

Intoxication

August 28th, 2007, 04:31 PM

Rakhi-Bundhan
http://www.statesman.com.pk/pictures/Pix27-31.jpg
http://www.statesman.com.pk/pictures/Pix27-33.jpg

Its not Rakhi-Bundhan, its Raksha-Bandhan.

August 29th, 2007, 02:06 AM

^^ :crazy:

doenumberpakistani

August 29th, 2007, 02:20 AM

Sadh Belo Temple, Sukkur, Sindh, Pakistan

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/445925846_84bb89da55_o.jpg
Dadu canal, river Indus.

is that a bridge? its very well kept

Pakia

September 5th, 2007, 05:04 PM

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2007/09/05/20070905_e06.jpg

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Krishna Temple echoes with bhajans

By Shahnawaz Khan

LAHORE: The city’s Hindus, Sikhs and some Parsis celebrated the last day of Janmashtami (Lord Krishna’s birthday) on Tuesday in a colourful ceremony at Krishna Mandir on Ravi Road. The ceremony lasts for eight days and Krishna Mandir remained the hub of activity in this regard.

The temple echoed with hymns and bhajans. Hindus fasted on the day and broke their fast at midnight. Festivities for Janmashtami started with the initiation of Japa (recital) of Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya eight days ago by Pundit Bhagat Lal Khokhar. The people who knew the bhagavatam recited with the pundit while others listened to them.

Sunil, a Hindu youth, started Tuesday’s ceremony by blowing the conch (shell of a sea creature) and Sunny joined in by ringing the temple’s bells. The participants praised Lord Krishna and sang hymns and parts of bhagavatam, especially the Gopika Geetam. The devotees then bathed Lord Krishna with milk and chanted his name 108 times.

Women at the ceremony put the tilak on Lord Krishna’s murti (statue) and presented offerings of flowers and aarti (in which light from wicks soaked in ghee [purified butter] or camphor is offered to one or more deities), and read a portion of the bhagavatam that deals with the birth of Lord Krishna.

Later, the participants broke a pot full of butter because butter was Lord Krishna’s favourite dairy product. Then they distributed the holy prasad after which they returned home with the blessings of Lord Krishna.

Sunita, a participant, said that on this day, the women adhering to the Hindu faith decorated their houses to welcome Lord Krishna. She said they also prepared sweets and offered them to the deity. She said they had marked the floors of their homes with a child’s footprints made of flour from the doorstep to the inner meditation rooms. “This creates the feeling that Lord Krishna was in the house and had made the footprints,” she added.

The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) was the host of the event and seniors of the department were present at the function. The ETPB had also arranged foolproof security arrangements for the occasion.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\05\story_5-9-2007_pg13_8

Pakia

February 5th, 2008, 02:47 PM

Minorities to get places of worship in Pakistani jails
3 Feb 2008, 1620 hrs IST,PTI

ISLAMABAD: Places of worship for persons from minority communities will be set up in Pakistani jails as part of measures for the collective welfare of prisoners.

Directives for constructing the places of worship have been issued by the human rights ministry and work will start as soon as funds are approved by the finance ministry, caretaker Human Rights Minister and leading rights activist Ansar Burney said.

The decision was made in view of the fundamental right of every citizen to have the liberty of performing religious rites and rituals. It comes close on the heels of visits undertaken by Burney to jails across the country.

"One of the major grievances I had to confront during my visits to certain jails like Kot Lakhpat and Haripur was that the prisoners belonging to minority groups had no separate places of worship inside jails," Burney said.

It is the inalienable right of every citizen to have full freedom of religion even in jail, he said.

A majority of prisoners usually resort to performing religious rituals to find solace while in jail and the new initiative will provide a similar opportunity to prisoners from minority groups as well.

"It will be a harbinger of a comprehensive and compact policy (through) which we are striving to provide maximum relief to minority groups, even if they are confined in jails," Burney said.

Minority communities including Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis comprise three per cent of Pakistan's population.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/Minorities_to_get_places_of_worship_in_Pakistani_jails/rssarticleshow/2752972.cms

Intoxication

February 18th, 2008, 05:40 PM

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44427000/gif/_44427970_pop_census_org3_416gr.gif

Pakia

February 21st, 2008, 01:39 AM

A Hindu wrote Pakistan's first national anthem

http://www.hindu.com/2005/06/19/images/2005061907400101.jpg
http://www.milligazette.com/image2003/2004/110_jagannath-azad.jpg

JAMMU: "Aey sarzameen-i-pak Zarrey terey hein aaj sitaron sey tabnak Roshan heh kehkashan sey kahin aaj teri khak."("Oh land of Pakistan, each particle of yours is being illuminated by stars. Even your dust has been brightened like a rainbow."')

These are lines from Pakistan's first national anthem — written by Jagannath Azad, a Lahore-based Hindu, acceding to the wishes of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the country's founder and first Governor-General.

As the debate about Jinnah's secular August 1947 vision of his country rages on, this little known fact will be of public interest. Days before his death last year, Azad recalled, in an interview to this correspondent, the circumstances under which he was asked by Jinnah to write Pakistan's national anthem: "In August 1947, when mayhem had struck the whole Indian subcontinent, I was in Lahore working in a literary newspaper. All my relatives had left for India and for me to think of leaving Lahore was painful. I decided to take a chance and stay on for some time. My Muslim friends requested me to stay on and took responsibility of my safety. On the morning of August 9, 1947, there was a message from Pakistan's first Governor-General, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. It was through a friend working in Radio Lahore who called me to his office. He told me `Quaid-e-Azam wants you to write a national anthem for Pakistan.' I told them it would be difficult to pen it in five days and my friend pleaded that as the request has come from the tallest leader of Pakistan, I should consider his request. On much persistence, I agreed."

Why him? "The answer to this question," Azad said in the interview, "has to be understood by recalling the inaugural speech of Jinnah Sahib as Governor General of Pakistan. He said: `You will find that in the course of time, Hindus will cease to be Hindus and Muslims will cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the state.' It is for historians and analysts to judge what made Jinnah Sahib make this speech. But clearly as understood by the speech was the fact he wanted to create a secular Pakistan, despite the fact the whole continent, particularly the Punjab province, had seen a human tragedy in the form of communal massacres. Even I was surprised when my colleagues in Radio Pakistan, Lahore approached me. I asked them why Jinnah Sahib wanted me to write the anthem. They confided in me that `Quaid-e-Azam wanted the anthem to be written by an Urdu-knowing Hindu.' Through this, I believe Jinnah Sahib wanted to sow the roots of secularism in a Pakistan where intolerance had no place."

The national anthem written by Jagannath Azad was sent to Jinnah, who approved it in a few hours. It was sung for the first time on Pakistan Radio, Karachi (which was then the capital of Pakistan).

Meanwhile the situation in both east and west Punjab was becoming worse by the day. The same set of friends told Azad in September 1947 that even they would not be able to provide him protection, and that it would be better for him to migrate to India. He followed their advice.

The song written by Jagannath Azad served as Pakistan's national anthem for a year and a half. After Jinnah's death, a song written by the Urdu poet Hafiz Jallundhari was chosen as the national anthem.

http://www.hindu.com/2005/06/19/stories/2005061907400100.htm

My last wish is to write a song of peace for both India & Pakistan: Azad
His last interview before his death in 2004
http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/2004/16-31Aug04-Print-Edition/163108200406.htm

Pakia

February 23rd, 2008, 07:13 PM

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1364/1388742440_272a61b47b_o.jpg

cntower

February 23rd, 2008, 10:29 PM

That's cool!

singaporean

March 3rd, 2008, 12:12 PM

http://www.dawn.com/2008/03/01/SlideShow/pic11.jpg

Intoxication

March 5th, 2008, 01:34 AM

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii109/traPPed_2008/PakLanguages.jpg

^^ Didn't know where else to post this. If Mods can find a better place they are free to move it.

Pakia

March 5th, 2008, 01:42 AM

Intoxication

March 5th, 2008, 01:45 AM

^^ You didn't post the source. But seems strange having Darvidians (generally now in southern Indian states) in the middle of Balochistan and Burmese in Northen areas.

I don't know, seems fishy to me.

Dravidian language = Brahui

Tibeto-Burmese = The Ones in Northern Areas

MANY people don't know the fact that Brahui is a Dravidian language. People think that Dravidian languages are only limited to South India.

Intoxication

March 5th, 2008, 03:07 AM

Here you go Pakia:

Areas in South Asia populated by Dravidian peoples:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Dravidische_Sprachen.png

Pakia

March 5th, 2008, 06:18 AM

Thank you Trappy for letting us know. I had no idea about Bruhi being of Dravidian extract. Good job!

Intoxication

March 6th, 2008, 01:37 AM

http://www.joshuaproject.net/profiles/photos/p101653.jpg

http://www.joshuaproject.net/profiles/maps/m101653_pk.gif

The Brahui of Pakistan reside in Kelat. This area of some 30,000 square miles is divided into the highlands of Sarawan and the lowland plain of Kacci. The zones are separated by the Sulaiman and Kirthar mountain ranges and by the 80-mile-long area known as the Bolan Pass. Smaller groups of Brahui can also be found in southern Afghanistan and in Iran.

The Brahui overthrew a dynasty of Hindu kings to rise to power in the 1600's. Under Nasir Khan in the 1700's, the confederacy reached its peak. Today, the Brahui are made up a group of 29 tribes. Eight of those tribes form what is believed to the original Brahui nucleus.

Brahui can be distinguished from their Pushtun and Baluchi neighbors by their Dravidian language, called Brahuidi. Linguists have not been able to discover the link between the Brahui and other speakers of Dravidian languages who live 1000 miles away in southern India.

More Info here: http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php?rop3=101653&rog3=PK

cntower

March 6th, 2008, 01:26 PM

Actually they are not Dravidian people.

The Barauhi are an Iranian people of Pakistan

This lie about the Barauhi people being "Dravidian". It was spread during the time of the British, who manufactured this lie failed to back it up with ethno-linguistic and/or cultural facts.

For example not one of the books, articles or publications that says the Barauhi are "Dravidian" is able to present grammatical evidence from the Barauhi language that is "Dravidian" in nature. This was only presented as propaganda in order to substantiate the hoax of the Aryan "invasion" of Sindh (also a lie of colonial manufacturing).

The Barauhi people are an ancient Iranic people known in Greek and Latin history as "Arachosian" which is a tribe mentioned in the Avesta as living around the Quetta-Pishin area.

In Avestan scriptures, a river is called Hindu (Sanskrit eqv. Sindhu) and the Indus River specifically is called Harauti (Sanskroit eqv. Sarasvati). The Zend Avesta refers to this Iranian tribe living on the western banks of the Indus river as Harauti which if you observe closely, is the same word as Barauhi (with only first and last consonants at a variation, that too only slightly even after a span of 5000 years!).

The Barauhi people are an Iranic people as is their language [not to be confused with modern day Iran] . Also, there are no rural Dravidian people in Pakistan.

Pakistanis from east of the river Indus (The Punjabis and the Sindhis) belong to the Indo-Aryan sub-branch of the greater Indo-European family while Pakistanis from west of the river Indus (Pakhtoons, Balochis, Barauhis and Farsivaans) belong to the Iranian sub-branch of the greater Indo-European family. Both groups today are citizens of Pakistan.

Hope that clears up some concepts...:nuts::nuts:

moved_on

March 6th, 2008, 04:10 PM

^^Iranians are Aryans, so basically east or west of Indus we all are Aryans.

Intoxication

March 6th, 2008, 05:40 PM

^^ True. Look at what CN posted:

Pakistanis from east of the river Indus (The Punjabis and the Sindhis) belong to the Indo-Aryan sub-branch of the greater Indo-European family while Pakistanis from west of the river Indus (Pakhtoons, Balochis, Barauhis and Farsivaans) belong to the Iranian sub-branch of the greater Indo-European family. Both groups today are citizens of Pakistan.

Pakia

March 8th, 2008, 07:18 PM

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1084/846056640_6a50f64f65_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1217/846069478_f06e0f9539_o.jpg
Sheedi Devotees.

http://www.jphpk.gov.my/English/feedcroc.jpg

Pakistan's ethnic Sheedis feed Karachi's crocodiles in annual festival

KARACHI (Pakistan) - In a centuries-old rite, Pakistan's minority Sheedis dance to African rhythms and pay homage to a saint with tasty offerings for his revered disciples - a pond full of crocodiles.

Each year, thousands of devotees meet at a shrine on the outskirts of Karachi for a four-day festival, to sing, pray and thrust big chunks of raw cow and goat meat into the snapping jaws of dozens of forbidding reptiles.

The Sheedi people, who like the vast majority of Pakistan's 150 million people are Muslims, believe their forefathers arrived in southern Pakistan centuries ago from someplace in Africa. They hold the festival each year to venerate their saint, Khwaja Hasan, and to bring themselves good fortune.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dpakistan%2Bsheedi%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501%26toggle%3D1%26cop%3Dmss%26ei%3DUTF-8&w=300&h=198&imgurl=www.jphpk.gov.my%2FEnglish%2Ffeedcroc.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jphpk.gov.my%2FEnglish%2FMay04%252012.htm&size=13kB&name=feedcroc.jpg&p=pakistan%20sheedi&type=JPG&oid=7bf288cb040ddc36&no=1&tt=1

ArchiPak

March 8th, 2008, 08:18 PM

cntower

March 9th, 2008, 01:06 PM

^ This well well before the times of the Mugul Empire...WAY before!

brightside.

March 12th, 2008, 01:32 PM

Hunzas children. Hey, they're an ethnic minority. What is their religion btw?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2015/2327898625_224a7f538e_o.jpg

brightside.

March 12th, 2008, 01:40 PM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/2326452016_8dd7f95924_b.jpg

March 12th, 2008, 01:58 PM

that looks like india, not pakistan...please confirm the source of the pic.

Look at the color on the trees.

brightside.

March 12th, 2008, 02:08 PM

that looks like india, not pakistan...please confirm the source of the pic.

Look at the color on the trees.

That is Lahore, I checked the location. Didn't really save the link, been searching through pages of pictures so it's gonna be almost impossible to find it. Should have posted link with each picture, gonna do that from now on.

edit: found it through going through my history. Here is the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24038746@N06/2326452016/

Pakia

March 21st, 2008, 06:19 PM

Happy Holi to all Hindus & Happy Easter to all christians esp. the ones hailing from Pakistan.

Peace in the world!! :cheers:

Intoxication

March 21st, 2008, 07:12 PM

Pakia I want to know who in your eyes are a minority in Pakistan? Apart from the obvious ones like the religious minorities, Kalash people, desendants of Africans living along the Makran coast and people who are gay or lesbian. Are women included in your list? Who else?

Pakia

March 21st, 2008, 10:32 PM

Intoxication

March 22nd, 2008, 11:15 AM

^^ Thats a silly question. Women obviously make up half the population of most places, so how can they be minority.

Yes all the rest you mentioned are minority as they are miniscule part of the society due to their distinct cultural or religious differences.

If still not sure, pick up a dictionary and look it up. Hope you'll learn something. :)

NO! NO! You got me wrong. I was talking about who YOU personally believe to be a minority in Pakistan. Ofcourse I know what a minority is. But seen as you keep on banging about women all the time and their situation (you even posted some stuff about them) thats why I asked.

Intoxication

March 22nd, 2008, 11:24 AM

Minorities in Pakistan

Christians - 2,436,299
Hindus - 1,280,882
Sikhs - 300,000
Baha'is - 100,000
Parsis - 20,000
Buddhists - 20,000

HAHA! That equals the number of Sikhs in the UK! :lol: Though that was from the UK 2001 census. Its probably higher now.

Founder of Tehrik-e-Niswan (Women's Rights) in Pakistan
Sheema Kirmani

http://www.janubaba.com/lollywood/actresses/SheemaKirmani/Janubaba_28508_sheemakirmani_EVO5.jpg
http://www.janubaba.com/lollywood/actresses/SheemaKirmani/Janubaba_28507_Sheddmanikermani_D5YS.jpghttp://www.tehrik-e-niswan.com/About_Us/Founders_Names/sheemapicnew.jpg

Sheema Kermani did her Senior Cambridge or "O" Levels from the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Karachi. She joined the Karachi Grammar School for "A" Levels after completion of which she went to study Art at Croydon College of Art, England. She also studied History of Art, Film and Art Appreciation. She did her graduation from Punjab University. Sheema trained as a Classical Dancer from India. In 1983 she held her first solo dance performance and since then she has been both teaching and performing.

In 1980 Sheema along with some other committed women started Tehrik-e-Niswan. Initially Tehrik organised seminars and conferences on issues like "Violence aganist Women" and "Chaddar and Char Deewari", but soon moved into using cultural means like Theatre, Dance and Music to convey its message. Sheema has been an active member in the Women's Movement and other Peace Movements in Pakistan and South Asia. The other founder members were :Parween Kazmi- teacher and Sarwat Sultana-artist/lawyer.

Director of a Documentary: Profiles of Women Councillors (2004)
The grassroots mobilization of women is the key to transforming Pakistan -- but they have a fight on their hands.

Genres: Documentary
Running Time: 0 hrs. 54 min

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808725789/info

TV Actress: Acted in lots of single Plays & TV serials incl. Mega Serial of 90's "Maigh Malahar"

Internationally well-known Classical Dancer.

A contemporary dance inspired by chaos theory; a choreographed version of a Faiz Ahmed Faiz poem; an Odissi mangalacharan on a Kafi by Bulleh Shah. Where were these imaginative expressions performed? No, not in the diaspora capitals of London or Toronto, nor in the metropolitan halls of Calcutta and Bombay. The country: Pakistan. The venue: the first National Dance Festival. The date: November 1995. The artists: Tehreema Mitha, Nighat Chaudhry, Sheema Kirmani
http://www.janubaba.com/lollywood/actresses/SheemaKirmani/Janubaba_28495_DSCN7495_1D9L.jpg
http://www.getpakistan.com/home/Celebrity/sheema.htm

http://www.janubaba.com/lollywood/actresses/SheemaKirmani/Janubaba_28509_sheema_NTZY.jpghttp://www.janubaba.com/lollywood/actresses/SheemaKirmani/Janubaba_28505_feb4011_3Y95.jpg

^^ Why post about Women if they are not a minority?

To see pictures of Pakistani christians celbrating christmas, click the link below:

http://www.statesman.com.pk/picture.htm

http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/dec2006-weekly/sunmag-24-12-2006/fashion/images/image4.jpg

"Merry X-Max"? HAHA! It Merry X-Mass you idiots! :rofl:

Pakia

March 22nd, 2008, 04:44 PM

cntower

April 3rd, 2008, 08:32 PM

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1084/697875168_8256039dc6_o.jpg

For the first time, the Pakistan Army is now recruiting women and minorities.

Plasma.

April 4th, 2008, 12:18 AM

women have been in the army before.

brightside.

April 4th, 2008, 09:41 AM

Many Pakistan Air Force aces of the 65 and 71 wars were Christians :yes:

Though it's saddening that if you're an Ahmadi, you can't join the armed forces. Shameful state discrimination. Also it's sad that the only Pakistani to have won the the nobel prize had the word "Muslim" wiped from his grave stone because he was an Ahmadi.

Intoxication

April 4th, 2008, 07:15 PM

Beside being a woman, Sheema Kirmani is also a minority Hindu who has accomplished a lot for the arts.

This thread is also to highlight the achievements and contribution of minorities of the country, irrespective of their gender.

Yea but what does "Women's Rights" have to do in a "minority" thread?

women have been in the army before.

Women are not a minority.

Many Pakistan Air Force aces of the 65 and 71 wars were Christians :yes:

Though it's saddening that if you're an Ahmadi, you can't join the armed forces. Shameful state discrimination. Also it's sad that the only Pakistani to have won the the nobel prize had the word "Muslim" wiped from his grave stone because he was an Ahmadi.

Thats sucks! Too much discrimination in Pakistan. Every group thinking that they're superior to the others.

read before you get yourself owned.

Relax.

Plasma.

April 4th, 2008, 10:29 PM

Women are not a minority.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1084/697875168_8256039dc6_o.jpg

For the first time, the Pakistan Army is now recruiting women and minorities.

read before you get yourself owned.

singaporean

April 5th, 2008, 02:14 PM

http://www.dawn.com/2008/04/05/SlideShow/pic12.jpg

SUKKUR - April 04: Supreme Court Bar Association president Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan is being briefed about the history of a temple during his visit to Sadh Belo. Mr Ahsan and a number of other federal ministers attended a reception hosted by Labour Minister Khurshed Ahmed Shah at the temple, located on an island in Indus Revier.—Onl

farazilu

April 6th, 2008, 02:33 AM

^^ what Hindu God in that in gold color? :gossip:

Pakia

April 6th, 2008, 04:52 AM

^^It looks like the top of an animal's head where the flowers are placed -perhaps another elephant. Unless ofcourse you think its giant boobies of one of those nice goddesses !:)

singaporean

April 13th, 2008, 01:17 PM

By Sher Muhammad Malkani
MIRPURKHAS: Dr Harchand Rai has said that philanthropist Hindus should come forward for the welfare work of the people, as nothing would go along with the person after his death. He was speaking as chief guest at the ceremony of inauguration of welfare charitable dispensary held under Hindu Panchayat Mirpurkhas at Lal Mandir here the other day. Dr harchand Rai belong to Umerkot said that he himself has yet been making social work as a worker. He lauded the office bearers of Hindu Panchayat Mirpurkhas who have fulfilled their dream to launch the charitable dispensary for the human being. President Hindu Panchayat, Mirpurkhas, Lachmandas Parwani said that four years back when he was elected as president of the Hindu Panchayat Mirpurkhas, the dispensary was in deficit of Rs 98,000. But on self-help basis with the help of notables and businessmen we achieved the targets and today main dream to launch charitable dispensary has been fulfilled. He said that this charitable dispensary has been established with the help of Hindu doctors, businessmen, notables etc. He said that we would change this charitable dispensary in 100 baded hospitals in future.

http://www.regionaltimes.com/13apr2008/heartland/newcharitable.php

brightside.

April 16th, 2008, 10:21 AM

St. Anothony's Church, Cantt, Karachi

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/2410172860_95fb60fe84_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2246/2409339657_6759ab1508_o.jpg

By Victor Anwar on Flickr.

singaporean

April 28th, 2008, 06:06 PM

http://www.dawn.com/2008/04/28/SlideShow/pic19.jpg

ISLAMABAD - April 27: This Hindu temple in village Dera Bakhshian in Gujar Khar is a relic from the pre-Partition era.

Pakia

April 28th, 2008, 09:06 PM

Just matter of time before it all comes on the ground. Perhaps some non-profit organization, of mostly volunteers, should be formed between India/Pakistan to take care of eachothers religious neglected heritage. All the governments will have to do is provide them visas for such purpose.

Our government is too 'preoccupied' with 'better' things to do for last 60 yrs.

brightside.

June 9th, 2008, 01:22 AM

Hingraj Mataji by chamundamaa

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2559245434_ca03f9f09d_o.jpg

singaporean

June 20th, 2008, 09:49 AM

SUKKUR, June 18: Three-day celebrations of 145th death anniversary of Hindu saint Baba Bankhandi Maharaj began at Sadh Belo temple, situated on an island in the River Indus, on Wednesday.

Thousands of pilgrims have reached Sukkur from all over the country to pay homage to Bankhandi Maharaj. It is expected that thousands of devotees from India would also attend the celebrations.

The three-day celebrations would conclude on Friday and during the celebrations, devotees will listen to Bhajans and eat Parshad.

According to Mukhi Eshwar Lal Makheja, Bankhandi Maharaj came from Nepal in 1823 and after visiting different places of what now is Pakistan, he decided to stay at an island of the Indus. Later with the help of his followers, he built Sadh Belo temple.

According to mystics, this life separates one from the Creator and death reunites with Him. Therefore their death anniversaries are celebrated in a festive and colourful manner.

NewYork-wala

June 23rd, 2008, 06:56 AM

Interesting read.

KARACHI: ‘Sheedis have been hurt most by attitudes’
http://www.dawn.com/2008/06/23/local11.htm
KARACHI: The city of Karachi is like a multi-coloured quilt, with various ethnic, linguistic and religious communities forming a patchwork that comes together in a diverse whole. However, when certain elements exploit these differences, the same quilt transforms into a rather coarse fabric.

Though each community shares the common problems that affect the city’s teeming millions, they also have their own specific issues and grievances.

Perhaps one of the city’s most under-researched communities is the Sheedi community – descendants of African slaves – the first of whom were brought to the subcontinent nearly a thousand years ago. Dawn talked to Yaqub Qambrani, one of the current organizers and a former president of the All Sindh Al Habash Jama’at, a community organization that seeks to uplift the lot of the Sheedis, to learn more about the community and the issues it faces in Karachi.

Mr Qambrani, a driver by profession in his forties, studied up till the intermediate level. However, his grip on history and the affairs of his community is indicative of wisdom way beyond his scholastic education.

“The Sheedi community has been in Karachi ever since it was called Kolachi. The first arrival of Sheedis in Sindh was probably with Mohammad bin Qasim. When the British came to the subcontinent, they also brought some artisans with them. Lyari’s Sheedi Village Road traces its history back to this as there was a Sheedi village there,” he says, adding that the largest concentration of Sheedis in Karachi can be found in Lyari and Malir, with communities in Saeedabad’s Mohajir Camp, Baldia Town and Keamari as well.

“Even today we have a community house called Kharadar Makan. The community in Karachi is quite different from the community in other parts of Sindh. Sheedi artisans also worked on the Kotri Barrage. Even today there are Sheedi families in Kotri who trace their ancestry to these artisans,” he observes.

“Ours is mostly an oral history. Some people have held on to it, while others are totally unaware,” Yaqub Qambrani says.

The importance of culture

He says that it is the community’s cultural events, such as the famous annual dhammal at the shrine of Sakhi Sultan at Manghopir in Karachi, have been essential in keeping alive the Sheedis’ traditions.

“On every fourteenth night of the lunar month there used to be a get-together of the community. Nobody needed to be told as everybody knew about it. These meetings were the only way our community communicated and shared its culture with each other.” Mr Qambrani was asked what the mother tongue of the Sheedis is. “In Sindh we speak Sindhi. Those in Balochistan speak Balochi while Sheedis in India speak Gujarati. Our actual mother tongue was probably Swahili. Most of the community here traces its roots to Zanzibar (Tanzania). We have only retained a few words of Swahili, such as ‘Jambo.’ Even these we have picked up recently from films.

“It was difficult for the community to hold on to its traditions and culture due to slavery and the wadera shahi (feudalism) that was en vogue. We weren’t the only ones that were oppressed. Countless people were oppressed. But because of our physical appearance we were the ones that stuck out. That’s why we were particularly picked on. It is largely the same today, but it is less obvious.”

As for the Sheedis’ economic situation, Qambrani says that “the community faces great economic hardships. There is great poverty. There is now a small educated class in the Sheedi community. In the past, the professions we usually opted for were carpenters, washer-men, drivers and artisans.”

In his opinion, it is the lack of education within the community that is retarding growth.

“Even if I say one or two per cent of the Sheedi community is educated, it might be an exaggeration. Interestingly, the number of educated Sheedis is more in the interior of Sindh. For instance in Tando Bagho, around 75 per cent of the people are matriculates. This is largely due to the efforts of Mohammad Siddiq Musafir, who started a campaign to awaken the community. He was a teacher at the Hyderabad Training College. He also contributed to shaping the modern Sindhi syllabus. He was also a poet. He propagated the idea of forming a jam’aat, and that is how the All Sindh Al Habash Jama’at was formed.”

As for the community’s religious preferences, Yaqub Qambrani says that in Sindh, most Sheedis are Sunni, with a few followers of the Shia school of thought. “Our concept of dhammal is free from any sectarian bias,” he adds.

‘No political leanings’

However, when it comes to describing the Sheedi community’s political leanings, he is quite matter of fact.

“We have no political leanings. Some Sheedis became councillors when the new local government system was introduced. There might have even been one or two nazims. As for party affiliations, to be quite honest, we flow with the tide. In the past there was great support for the Pakistan People’s Party, but as people’s awareness grows, even that is decreasing. We have faced a lot of difficulties, but no one is sincere about solving our problems. Now there is a feeling in the community that we have to help ourselves.”

He says Sheedis are basically divided into the Qambrani and Bilali clans. “The Sheedis in Pakistan have come from various tribes. Sindhi Sheedis call themselves Qambrani, out of reverence for Hazrat Qambar, a servant of Hazrat Ali (AS). As for Hazrat Bilal, the companion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), we know that he did not have children, so the Bilalis attach their nisbat with him. That is an honour for us.”

As for the origin of the word Sheedi, Qambrani believes it is a corruption of the Arabic word Sayyidi (sir).

On a lighter note, he was asked if the community had any specific traditional foods.

“The food is influenced by where the community members live. We eat anything, we’re not that picky! I must say that Sheedi cooks make quite delicious meals. But there is one dish beloved by the community: it is a dish made from rice sweetened with gur called payri. It is also called Baba Ghor’s payri. It is served at all special events.”

Concluding the conversation, Yaqub Qambrani says that despite the odds, the Sheedi community is trying its best to change its fortunes for the benefit of future generations.

“I don’t want to blame anyone, as the problems we face are largely due to our community’s complacency. If we work hard, we shall receive the fruit of our labours. We have just awoken. I feel things will get better for the next generation. During my generation’s time, our biggest problem was overcoming a sense of deprivation. We have been hurt most by attitudes. When people consider you worthless, that hurts the most. We are not complaining about not getting jobs. We realize everybody is facing a tough time economically. Our problem is with people’s attitudes. Why don’t people practice Islam’s message of equality?

“Even today, in the interior we are trying very hard to liberate our people from the grip of waderas and pirs. We have the attached stigma of slavery. People still tell us we are slaves. We say, yes, we were salves, but who hasn’t been a slave? Take a look at history. Nearly every race has been enslaved at one point or another.

“But we are working hard. You’ll see very few Sheedis begging for money. This is a point of pride for us. We would rather do hard labour then beg. We are trying our level best to educate our community.”—QAM

Intoxication

June 23rd, 2008, 07:31 AM

Great article! Thanks for sharing! He seems like a nice man who is aware of alot of things.

Lyari’s Sheedi Village Road traces its history back to this as there was a Sheedi village there,” he says, adding that the largest concentration of Sheedis in Karachi can be found in Lyari and Malir, with communities in Saeedabad’s Mohajir Camp, Baldia Town and Keamari as well.

“Even today we have a community house called Kharadar Makan. The community in Karachi is quite different from the community in other parts of Sindh. Sheedi artisans also worked on the Kotri Barrage. Even today there are Sheedi families in Kotri who trace their ancestry to these artisans,” he observes.

This part got me thinking. Can anyone please make a list of the places in Karachi considered to be Rich, Middle Class and Poor? Thanks.

“Our concept of dhammal is free from any sectarian bias,” he adds.

Thats great! Other Pakistanis need to learn from them!

We have faced a lot of difficulties, but no one is sincere about solving our problems. Now there is a feeling in the community that we have to help ourselves.”

Create your own political party. Thats what everyone else does!

As for Hazrat Bilal, the companion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), we know that he did not have children, so the Bilalis attach their nisbat with him. That is an honour for us.”

Nisbat??? I forgot what it means, little help?

But there is one dish beloved by the community: it is a dish made from rice sweetened with gur called payri. It is also called Baba Ghor’s payri. It is served at all special events.”

Hope one day I get a chance to taste it. :eat:

Concluding the conversation, Yaqub Qambrani says that despite the odds, the Sheedi community is trying its best to change its fortunes for the benefit of future generations.

“I don’t want to blame anyone, as the problems we face are largely due to our community’s complacency. If we work hard, we shall receive the fruit of our labours. We have just awoken. I feel things will get better for the next generation. During my generation’s time, our biggest problem was overcoming a sense of deprivation. We have been hurt most by attitudes. When people consider you worthless, that hurts the most. We are not complaining about not getting jobs. We realize everybody is facing a tough time economically.

Thats the spirit! I'm impressed.

Our problem is with people’s attitudes. Why don’t people practice Islam’s message of equality?

That ain't never gonna happen buddy! Thats one of the messages of Islam that has fallen on deaf ears! The world is your example.

We have the attached stigma of slavery. People still tell us we are slaves. We say, yes, we were salves, but who hasn’t been a slave? Take a look at history. Nearly every race has been enslaved at one point or another.

What A-hole Pakistanis! I have no word for them!

“But we are working hard. You’ll see very few Sheedis begging for money. This is a point of pride for us. We would rather do hard labour then beg. We are trying our level best to educate our community.”—QAM

Cheers! Hope these guys succeed! :cheers:

brightside.

July 7th, 2008, 07:52 AM

Hindu temple in Karachi

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3114/2641521070_6a59e259fe_b.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28311367@N03/2641521070/

singaporean

August 14th, 2008, 09:53 AM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has doubled the minority development fund from Rs7.5 million to Rs15 million.

During a meeting with a 10-member delegation of minority legislators at the Parliament House on Wednesday, the prime minister also announced a grant of Rs10 million each for 12 minority MNAs.

Shahnaz Wazir Ali, special assistant to the prime minister, was present in the meeting.

The legislators demanded a five per cent quota in all government housing schemes for minorities, ownership rights for dwellers of kachchi abadis and minorities’ representation in the Evacuee Trust Property Board.

They also demanded that the minorities should be given a special quota in the judiciary, five per cent quota in all government jobs and professional colleges. Establishment of a model village for minorities was also sought.

The lawmakers said that all important festivals of minorities should be celebrated at the national level.

The prime minister assured the delegation that the government would seriously look into their demands and asked Ms Shahnaza to prepare a report. He asked the special assistant to set up a committee to prepare a report on all laws that discriminate against the minorities.

Intoxication

August 15th, 2008, 12:47 PM

Why not merge the thread about Sikh Temples (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=510433) with this one?

Intoxication

August 16th, 2008, 02:57 AM

Something for this thread:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/Religious_Population_Pakistan.gif

Intoxication

August 16th, 2008, 09:22 PM

http://gulf2000.columbia.edu/images/maps/Pakistan_Religion_sm.jpg

Pakia

August 17th, 2008, 05:01 AM

Thank you for the above 2 posts. Very informative in a nutshell.

Pakia

August 17th, 2008, 10:10 AM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Pool_at_Katas.jpg/800px-Pool_at_Katas.jpg

Katasraj temple is a Hindu temple situated in the Chakwal district of Punjab in Pakistan. Dedicated to Shiva, the temple has existed since the days of Mahābhārata and the Pandava brothers spent a substantial part of their exile at the site. The Pakistan Government is considering nominating the temple complex for World Heritage Site status. It also proposes to spend about Rs 20 million in three phases for the restoration of the complex. Why the wait??

Most of the temples, located some 40 km from the modern city of Chakwal in the Potohar region of northern Punjab in Pakistan, were built during the reign of Hindu kings. These several temples were built around 900 years ago or more, although the earliest of the Katasraj temples dates back to the latter half of the 6th century A.D. Scholars believe that most of the temples were actually constructed when the Shahi kingdom, driven from Afghanistan when their ethnic cousin Mahmud of Ghanavi came to power, fled to the region and set up base there.

The temple was abandoned by local Hindus when they migrated to East Punjab in 1947. It has always been the site of holy pilgrimage for people of various faiths. Even nowadays, worshippers from all faiths perform pilgrimages to the temple every year and bathe in the sacred pool around which Katasraj is built.

cntower

August 18th, 2008, 06:16 PM

Cool facts and pics!

Pakia

August 22nd, 2008, 12:58 AM

Colin David laid to resthttp://www.dawn.com/2008/02/27/images/nat04.jpg

LAHORE, Feb 26: Noted painter and former head of Fine Arts Department of the National College of Arts Collin David was laid to rest at Jail Road cemetery on Tuesday. He had died late Monday.

According to the family, he had been ill for the last one year. He had liver cancer and his condition was serious for the last one month.

A large number of people attended his funeral on Tuesday. They included National College of Arts Principal Nazish Attaullah, art educationist Saleema Hashmi, College of Art and Design Principal Shahnawaz Zaidi, Punjab Arts Council Executive Director Ghulam Mustafa, Rahat Naveed Masood, R M Naeem, Khalid Iqbal, Mian Ijazul Hasan, Iqbal Husain, Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Asif, Rashid Rana, Zulqarnain Haider, Faqir Aijazuddin, Mira Phailbous and Shoaib Hashmi.

Private art gallery owners, and students and faculty from the Punjab University and the National College of Arts and other art institutions also attended the funeral in large numbers.

Talking to Dawn, Punjab Arts Council Executive Director Ghulam Mustafa said a reference would be held for Colin David on March 4. The reference would be organised by the Artists Association of Punjab in collaboration with the Lahore Arts Council. —Staff Reporter

A bit delayed obituary.

Intoxication

September 6th, 2008, 11:31 AM

From some other thread, though I don't think the video is full.

Pakistani Hindu Girls celebrating holi with their friends.

BMviZiJIpJw[/QUOTE]

Intoxication

September 6th, 2008, 11:32 AM

Please mods...

Why not merge the thread about Sikh Temples (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=510433) with this one?

Pakia

September 6th, 2008, 03:56 PM

I think the merging of these two threads not a good idea, as the Sikh temple network is quite wide spread in Pakistan and can sustain a thread on its own.

What we need to do is to contribute more to it.

Besides it makes it easy for those Sikhs who might be visiting forums here for their religious places info.

Intoxication

September 6th, 2008, 04:13 PM

What we need to do is to contribute more to it.

We aren't contributing more to it, because there is nothing to contribute to it! Its filled to the brim with pics of those two Temples.

brightside.

September 6th, 2008, 04:16 PM

Leave it be. No need to merge inactive threads.

Intoxication

October 21st, 2008, 03:18 PM

Sikhs welcome Pakistan's decision to bring Anand Karaj Act

Sikhs welcome Pakistan's decision to bring Anand Karaj Act which oversees Sikh marriages in Pakistan.

cPBiF_EMSiE

Amazing to see them chanting "Pakistan Zindabad" at the beginning and at the end of the video. :)

October 21st, 2008, 06:38 PM

oogabooga

October 21st, 2008, 07:43 PM

That's the only thing I understood in the whole video.

:pet:

Tussi needing translationing servees? :colgate:

HSK

October 21st, 2008, 08:18 PM

Pakistani Hindu Girls celebrating holi

Boop. Wrong. They're a distant cousin of Hindus ... Lahoris.

syedahsaninam

October 22nd, 2008, 04:05 AM

From some other thread, though I don't think the video is full.

Pakistani Hindu Girls celebrating holi with their friends.

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Well These hindu girls are Sexxy.....:gunz::gunz::gunz:

Pakia

October 29th, 2008, 03:13 AM

Happy Deepawali to ALL Hindus - in Pakistan & elsewhere!!

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/adilnajam/PML-Diwali.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/2974416013_ca9d3903e5_m.jpg

sami231

October 29th, 2008, 08:03 AM

nice to see respect for religious minorities especially the hindus in pakistan

cntower

October 30th, 2008, 12:10 PM

Is it Diwali or Deepavali?

Pakia

October 30th, 2008, 12:44 PM

I think its the Same thing. In India its Diwali, other hindus esp. in Caribbean regions and Guyana, Trinidad refer to it as Deepawali.

The lights on the moonless night.

sami231

November 2nd, 2008, 05:22 AM

First-ever mass Hindu wedding in town

Sunday, November 02, 2008
By Aroosa Masroor

Karachi

At the first Hindu mass wedding in Karachi on Saturday night, Gopal Kanji was possibly the happiest father around. Three of his daughters tied the knot without the family having to spend a single rupee on the wedding. Although a common practice in interior parts of Sindh, the mass wedding, hosted by the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC), was the first of its kind in the city.

As Kanji’s family moved from one canopy to another-arranged in a single row-to attend to the bride and groom, he shared his sentiments with The News. “I am a government servant and could not afford to organise a wedding on a large scale due to rising inflation. When I learnt about the mass wedding, I discussed it with the families of the grooms and they readily agreed. This is the best day of my life. I feel at peace now.”

In Mandap (Canopy)number 15 was an Indian groom, Mahesh Manara, who had come all the way from Jamnanagar, Gujarat, to unite with his soulmate, Chanda Govind, a 16-year-old Karachiite. “The groom is also our relative. My sister is marrying our cousin, so she is not as nervous and is excited that she will be going to India,” said Chanda’s older sister. Although as per the Hindu law, inter-caste marriages are discouraged, Mahesh and Chanda’s case was an exception. Some 25 couples were registered with the PHC. However, only 20 couples could make it. From the clothes of the bride and groom to accessories, bride’s dowry and other essentials, everything was taken care of by the organisation that won the hearts of the Hindu community. “We didn’t want to burden the families with anything. The concept that only the Hindus residing in rural areas are poor and need help is wrong. Low-income Hindu families are there in Karachi too and are in equal need of financial help,” Dr Ramesh Kumar, Patron, PHC, told The News.

Due to high inflation, he said, the PHC aims at encouraging this trend so the cost of weddings can be minimised. He added that after this successful venture, such weddings would be organised in the future too. Couples from various communities, including Maheshwary, Kathiawary and Bheel were present on the occasion.

The entire temple was brightly lit and each Mandap (canopy) was numbered to facilitate the guests. The ceremony began 30 minutes later than the scheduled, giving the guests enough time to assemble. To accommodate the family members of all, the bride and groom were allowed to bring 10 members each only.

As the ceremony began, the Maharaj (priest)-seated on a stage-recited a common wedding Mantra for all over a microphone. Each couple took Mangal Pheras (circles) in their Mandaps around the Agni (wedding fire) followed by other rituals. The wedding was followed by a grand feast and function that continued late into the night.

sami231

November 2nd, 2008, 05:26 AM

http://pictures

Pakia

November 2nd, 2008, 06:41 PM

^^ pic not showing :ohno:

Pakia

November 2nd, 2008, 06:48 PM

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2008/11/02/20081102_e09.jpg
KARACHI: The courtyard of the Swami Narayan temple was echoing with the voice of the pundit reciting the holy mantra in Sanskrit. Women wearing banarsi saris were sitting on chairs and children were surprised to 20 brides and grooms sitting in mandaps which were arranged for a typical Hindu wedding and a pundit was instructing the couples over a loudspeaker to start making rounds around the holy fire. Then the groom put the mangalsutar around the bride’s neck and he put sindoor in the bride’s maang, completing the marriage rituals.

Local Hindus arranged a mass wedding of 20 couples for poor Hindu families. The couples were from Karachi, Umerkot, Hyderabad, Tandoallahyar, Mithi district Tharparkar and other parts of Thar.

“We are basically Gujarati Hindus and our weddings cost a lot, so it was great decision to have a mass wedding,” said Dev Kumar, 32. His sister Chanda was one of the brides there. “Most of our relatives are in India and to travel to or from Pakistan costs a lot,” he said.

Wedding expenditures have multiplied and this mass wedding was good news for poor Hindu families. The local Hindus also provided dowry to each girl, which comprised of basic requirements. text by amar guriro and photos by athar hussain
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\11\02\story_2-11-2008_pg12_10

jodhpur

November 2nd, 2008, 09:18 PM

I think its the Same thing. In India its Diwali, other hindus esp. in Caribbean regions and Guyana, Trinidad refer to it as Deepawali.

The lights on the moonless night.

well deepawali is the sanskrit word for rows of diya's'.... in modern times people in north have shortened deepawali to diwali... but in south it is still the same.. :)

sami231

November 6th, 2008, 04:11 AM

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/28-10-2008/77079d5bdc1214f31d86f227be757d0c.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/28-10-2008/c7287ceb1b7e6d6db187d03fac728f2b.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/28-10-2008/959fdddd52e9166c51d2cc387931ef94.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/28-10-2008/f3074075541bf144f13250fc8eea3fc3.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/28-10-2008/3afce6d7df8937ee066b23c58ba86abf.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/28-10-2008/b4c9d7ebb03adc73f4793dbc27c107e4.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/29-10-2008/2261a194c6f9c07ec46ddd0f7a8aba1c.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/29-10-2008/ad81834095d93289a8fef1be6acc26b5.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/29-10-2008/371382d8f3121ba14e041d33be697e6c.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/29-10-2008/fd70b6601a87af8ae8e6a2c5a8ba2555.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/29-10-2008/cd3bfc0ecba04066d35dc067b2ea27c2.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/29-10-2008/cf748370dcbdb4b2eb35b9ce1689b16e.jpg

brightside.

November 7th, 2008, 06:42 PM

Awesome! There better be Santa pics in December.

Pakia

November 7th, 2008, 10:57 PM

^^ And no Hannakh pic on Dec 10 for the only jew in Pakistan! :ohno:

syedahsaninam

November 11th, 2008, 03:14 AM

This remarkable article by Reema Abbasi in the online Pakistani newspaper Dawn makes a heartfelt plea for an NGO to take up the cause of the preservation of the Jewish cemetery in Karachi. The article asserts that 2,000 Jews stayed on in Pakistan in 1947, but there are only 10 Jewish families today. (With thanks: Farook)

"The fierce keepers of the graveyard refuse to let anyone in as they fear that excessive exposure will rob them of their home. However, when caught off-guard the family had some interesting information. “A lot of people used to come in the ‘50s, wearing black suits, hats and with beards. There were quite a few Jews here but after General Ayub many left for London,” says the old lady who lives there with her family.

“A few come here even now but they are in Sindhi-Muslim, Khoja or Memon families. They married Muslims or went undercover as Parsis because they fear for their lives. There are about 10 Jewish families in all, scattered in areas like Ramaswamy, Soldier Bazaar, Ranchore Line,” she continued.

"According to Aitken’s Gazetteer of the Province Of Sind, there were only 428 Jews enumerated in the census of 1901 and these were really all in Karachi. Many belonged to the Bene Israel community who observed Sephardic Jewish rites and are believed to have settled in India shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus.

"Other research documents record about 2,500 Jews in Karachi with about 100 in Peshawar at the beginning of the 20th century. At the time of independence, many Jews migrated to India but about 2,000 stayed in Pakistan. Their first real exodus occurred soon after the creation of Israel which triggered many incidents of violence against Jews and the Karachi synagogue became a site of anti-Israel demonstrations. The majority of Jews who left Pakistan are said to have settled in Ramle, Israel, and have built a synagogue called Magain Shalome.

"Arif Hassan, renowned architect and town-planner, believes that this was a highly prosperous and active community. “Families such as the Dulseys were very important as prominent educationists who moved to Israel. One of them was also in government service.”

"Hassan also recalls that there were two famous Jewish cabaret artistes who performed at the Roma Shabana nightclub. “They were the Daniel sisters in the ‘70s and their names were Deborah and Suzie. One became a heroine in films and the other remained a dancer in clubs and films,” says Hassan.

"Commenting on the state of the graveyard and the fact that most of Karachi is either in denial of its existence or oblivious to it, Hassan says that it is vital for it to become a protected area. “I have asked for it to be made heritage property. If that does not happen, it will be destroyed like the Hindu cremation ground where many samadhis of prominent Hindus have given way to the Lyari Expressway,” asserts Hassan who is working on a three-volume account of the city.

"But the relevant government departments have no such plans. “No work is being done at the moment to make it a protected site. If this is done, it will be under the Special Preservation Act 1994 but we work mostly on cultural sites,” says Qasim Ali Qasim, head of Southern Circuit of the Archaeology Department.

"However, Qasim believes that if an NGO adopts a monument or a site then his department would provide the necessary technical assistance required to preserve it."

Pakia

November 11th, 2008, 03:36 AM

I hope these locations get acknowledged and stay protected atleast until the time we realize the importance of tolerance as envisioned by Quaid & Islam itself.

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Pakia

November 15th, 2008, 01:01 AM

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/14-11-2008/2a03d14a3b28d220360434426d01f094.jpg

November 16th, 2008, 12:01 AM

Aren't banners supposed to be short and a slogan or something? thats like a mini-novel written on that....I can't even bother to read that

November 16th, 2008, 12:04 AM

Well apparently their celebrating the appointment of some guy to some ministry. I'd have a nice meal instead of wasting my money on a banner for this.

sami231

November 23rd, 2008, 04:07 PM

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/23-11-2008/6f46d32dc390e7662626f43a7e23e7c6.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/23-11-2008/529404daacd7b05c990ba702ef2e78dc.jpg

Intoxication

December 17th, 2008, 10:14 AM

Hindus rally for Muslim charity

Hundreds of members of Pakistan's Hindu community have turned out to protest on behalf of a Muslim charity accused by India over the deadly Mumbai attacks.

The protesters in the city of Hyderabad in Sindh province complained that Jamaat-ud-Dawa was not a terrorist organisation and should not be banned.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45303000/jpg/_45303860_hyap.jpg

The protesters say the charity has helped them

They said it was a "saviour" in providing food and water.

India says Jamaat-ud-Dawa is a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba which it blames for the attacks that killed more than 170.

Water wells

Many in Pakistan's minority Hindu community are poor farm workers.

One protester, Biga Ram, told Reuters news agency: "How can an organisation be terrorist if it's been providing food and water to us despite knowing that we're not Muslims?"

She added: "They're friends of humanity. We condemn the ban. It's unjust."

Some of the banners read: "Do not ban our saviour!"

Bhai Chand, a Hindu community leader, told Associated Press the charity had set up water wells in the desert.

Pakistan has yet formally to ban Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which has been put on a blacklist by the UN Security Council.

Its bank accounts have been frozen by the Pakistani government and a number of members detained.

India blames Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is fighting Indian rule in Kashmir, for training the Mumbai attackers. The group and the Pakistani government deny involvement.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7786495.stm

brightside.

December 17th, 2008, 01:38 PM

'Don't bane Jamat-ud-dawa'

But we have no choice, it must be banned to pacify the US.

sami231

December 19th, 2008, 05:27 PM

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/19-12-2008/7be63c3cccfca535ce5e4f8b72b4319f.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/19-12-2008/8532b553f3c4d678dc5d66958a16944e.jpg

http://www.app.com.pk/photo/photo_lib/19-12-2008/1148faf844b3feb4f41b2ea43e88dd4f.jpg

brightside.

December 20th, 2008, 02:35 PM

Christmas prep in Pakistan!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/3121651085_6c5ed8997d.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3121651011_9957d3a51a.jpg?v=0

RANA AAA

December 21st, 2008, 02:11 AM