Mood moood ki baaat hay =))

They have feelings too … they want to have a stroll on  the constituion avenue’s green belt too.

Smelling some blooms.

What a beautiful sight.

Masha Allah~

Image Courtesy: Dawn

Yesterday happened one full swing monsoonal rain. Making the annoying humidity condition much better. It called for a party too =)

A reader of Islamabad Metblogs, Imran Shakeel, sent an awe-inspiring shot our way.

And a few images I was able to capture through my mobile.

clouds were playing games over lush margallas ~

The samosa party- courtesy, Bangali :)

Its beautiful here. Still. Alhamdolillah =)

Are you enjoying monsoons too? How’s it over there?  Missing Isloo, anyone =)

Jump for more pics.

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The lights on Chaghi’s model near Faizabad fluover commemorating this day when Pakistan became nuclear power.

A decade down the lane already. I remember when the news arrived that Pakistan has successfully tested Nuclear Bombs; people were of two views. Happier lot and the ones fretting over deteriorating economy and condition of awaam.  Still, at large we were hopeful and happy. The next year Nawaz Sharif, the then prime minister, asked Pakistanis to take part in naming the day. Since online option existed too (and there was a good good prize money :~) ), I particpated too. Didnt get the prize, still got Nawaz Sharif’s signed letter of thanks. He was not in my good books then. Yaum e takbeer, it was named.

A decade gone and we haven’t moved much. Forward not at all; backward probably yes. When I look around I see frustration. People cannot feed their kids milk, eggs, meat, pulses, fruits and even vegetables. Wheat is already short. And in these circumstances if I get to read family suicidal news, I’m not shocked. Suicide is haraam in Islam. But Islam lead towards a welfare state … that is far-fetched dream still. And when I look further, I see on roads of Islamabad young boys holding cigars and cigarettes, thumping deck of their Porsche and Convertible BMWs. Obviously hard-earned by their fathers … the stark comparison STUNS me.  I can whine at heart; in act probably I’m part of this corrupt tale.

I hope teh end I’m seeing is not a dead-end. Inshah Allah!

 
It rains in Islamabad when the dust settles down … for the country we can’t be so sure.

Image Courtesy: Dawn

Like every 1st May, posts are made and news pieces are written all over the globe to share the care we have for the labor class.

Regardless of the fact that do we pay any heed to their needs or the simple fact they are all-human-just-like-us on other 364 days of the year; the picture below can cause anyone to feel instantly en grief for the poor kid who’s working when he’s still a youngling. But in today’s soaring dearness what more to expect?? Be it an adult or a kid … both have to work hard to earn a few bucks only. That hardly helps in meeting the two ends.

I read a few articles today and ‘am for many days crying out about CHILD LABOR at large. The situation seems similar to those earthquake days when, oblivious of the difficult terrain of Kashmir, western media was saying Pakistani army is not just trying hard.

Child labor is an issue that needs to be healed deep. When their are mouths to fed, they dont care about age. And for that matter should they be?? With milk, oil, flour, meat, chicken, eggs, vegetables, rice … all out of one’s reach … you can do two things. Either Steal/Beg or Earn. And they are earning.

What do you think?? Will we be able to eradicate this … will we ever be prosperous enough to give books in these beautiful lil’ hands. About knowledge, they are gaining it though the hard way.

As for US, we are enjoying yet another off-day … sad it doesn’t collide in with the weekend.

<< Haymarket Affair in Chicago

Yesterday was 10th April. 20 Years down the Ojri Camp incident. And I’m so tempted to re-post this post here :)  Previously it was posted in Dec’ 05

Life is full of events … tragic … happy … alarming …. monumental …. all sorts of … in different phases and times …!

OK … wait a minute … I was about to write some flashback moments here … Let’s have a small quiz first … Can you tell me what is this thing … any idea into its history ????

Ciao …!

Update [7th Dec 06 - 11:15 PM]

So some of you were quite correct - some funnier :-)

It’s a small-sized Rocket’s propeller (see the fan like thing on which it is standing) - it had a shell on it with gunpowder - the cylindrical shape also contains gunpowder (to the best of my knowledge) …!

A little history of this Rocket now … but first the INCIDENT … It dates back to 10th April 1988 … another day (apart from 8-10-2005) when Islamabad and Rawalpindi were almost shook by rockets and missiles flying in the air … falling here and there … rumors in the air that Islamabad is invaded by India (and even some said Russia) … it was all due to Ojri Camp incident.

Ojri Camp was basically army depot with ammunition (I’m not sure … anyone??? I guess it was abandoned by 1988 and people didn’t even knew that it do have LIVE AMMUNITION) … and then something (what?? Ummm I don’t remember … don’t BLAME me … I was just 4 then) happened and taraah … the rumors outside Pindi-Islamabad is all finished … it’s no more … since telephone lines also suffered … few rockets hit the exchange too … !

My father incidentally went to work on (my beloved) Vespa and not on car … so while coming from Pindi to Islamabad at around 11 … (this incident happened between 10-11) … he had 2-3 rockets with him :D as “his collection” … hence a Live Masterpiece no Re-Collection from POF or anywhere … we only painted it golden laters… En route he narrates that there were missiles of lamp post size and man they were real huge … the incident was tragic with lots and lots of stories to tell …!

One of our acquaintances had a missile hit their home in satellite town such that it perfectly drilled on wall, ten next room and perfect drilling of wall … such wise it drilled 3 walls perfectly and then hit off 4th wall … that brought all energy game to an end …!

I vaguely (READ it CLEARLY … because Even Now I seem to have it in my memory) remember when rockets were really flying off in air, with everyone worried about their kids and men out on work … everyone praying and talking if it is an invasion or Allah’s wrath ..!

So it was kind of brief flashback from Islamabad’s life … with this rocket memoir … by the way the other two bigger (and my mom told us that the shell was much beautiful :>) rockets we gave back since the chances of it be LIVE were always there … !

I havent been to many parks in Islamabad, but the ones I have been to were not cute - severe lack of maintenance and some of the climbing frames looked dangerous but still it was better than not having a park at all. Then i’ve been pleasantly surprised by the beautiful Childrens Playland opposite F6. Sitting at the bottom of the Margalla hills and the road leading up to Damenh Koh, this park is excellently maintained and has lots of things good about it. Loads of bumby castles for the kids to play in, a bucking bronco ride - for those who want to experience the wild west in the wild east - and a mini-bungee jump for more adventurous kids. A couple to nice cafes to sip tea and enjoy a burger or two and all in all this is an ideal park for the family…

On Thursday, January 31; An assembly by Alliance Against Sexual Harassment (AASHA), which comprises of organizations including: Actionaid, Mehergarh, Bedari, Pilor and Intereko Resource Center, was held in Best Western Islamabad at 11 am and ended at 6 pm.
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_{Those magical city lights: If you’ve been up in the hills at night, you know just how lovely Islamabad can look from above. (Disclaimer: This photo is not mine. Click here to go to the page from where I ripped it off.)}

We human beings are terrible at conserving things. Water, forests, food, electricity - we are wasteful of all the things we most need to save. But that’s not something about ourselves we can’t change. And change it we ought, because the people of Pakistan are among those nations of the world that are all too familiar with the finite nature of all things on earth.

Just one of the most current examples of this is the electricity shortage in our country, and the resulting routine of loadshedding in our daily lives. Our government says that citizens must do all they can to conserve electricity. It neglects, as it always does, to apologize for not doing its own job - for it is the responsibility of the state to ensure its citizens have all the basic resources they need. Loadshedding aside, how frightening it is that in this day and age there are villages in Pakistan that do not have any electricity at all.

So yes, we are victims of really lousy administration. But even if we were not, we would still have our own civic duties to fulfill. We owe it to ourselves, to each other, and to the Earth, to do our part for electricity conservation. And there’s really no better time to start than now.

Now, I’ve developed some pretty bad habits, with regards to electricity consumption. But lately I’ve really been trying to mend my ways at home, and I’d like to share a few simple things on here for you to consider as well. Most are obvious, others are novel, but nearly all of them are things that need to be nurtured as habits - for a more energy-efficient lifestyle. Here they are:
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I was wondering the other day about the questions raised by a reader of Islamabad Metroblog that should he return to Pakistan (and Islamabad specially) and if its safe to do so? I’d quote him here as well:

I wanted my children to see my culture and to live with our own people and learn about Pakistan and our language which is hard in Britain. i thought Islamabad was a good city an advanced city a modern city to live in … i am fed up of Britain and its media portraying Islam in a bad light and dont want my children to pick up on it.

Islamabad is still a feeling and not a city to me … but I should do some re-thinking when it comes to Feeling Secure in your Home & Enjoying Peace of Mind, i.e., Islamabad & Pakistan.

Ironically, despite Lal Masjid events, Political and Judicial Crisis, I always felt safe in here.
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