I’m sure all of you must have had the chance to drive by the Marghazar Zoo on your way to either having sheesha at “Jungle Spot” or going for a nice meal up on Peer Sohawa. The other day, I along with my camera decided to pay visit to the once coveted Japanese Park and the Zoo. Now If you’ve grown up in Islamabad, you must have fond memories of school trips to the Japanese parks, the new portal of “weird” and “interesting” jhoolas, the canteens, the frost juices and what not. Everything changes, and it has too. In a good way or a bad way, that I’m not sure of.

Landscaped, more flowers, more shades, but that feeling just wasn’t there. I guess it comes with age. But as it stood, it was a very safe haven, for people expressing their wishful thinking and unprecedented love for one another. Hallelujah. Merry making has taken a whole new twist, but then again so has the whole city so it wasn’t a surprise. But a public children park? really? *shakes head*

On to the real intention of this post, I went to the zoo hoping to see animals having “fun” or maybe that’s what I thought happens in a zoo but the animals are trapped and caged but they can be taken care of. Which is one tenet that the administration does NOT follow. The animals looked half dead, there was no one around them, people were throwing stuff inside their cages, throwing water. This one trip from some out-station university even had the guts to throw ALL their garbage inside one of the cages because they thought it was funny. I mean how is that even remotely funny? Maybe the 30 odd girls with amazing “poise” and utmost “beauty” thought it was, but it was rather sad to see them doing it. I bet they wouldn’t be this happy if they were in the cage.

Look at this elegant work of nature. An elegant bird. It should be free, but then again so should the rest of the animals be but the point is, they’re not being taken care of. It’s sad that they can work on the “outlook” of the place but not feed these poor animals properly? Or perhaps stop stupid people coming and harassing the animals. You thought outstation universities were through with harassing local people, specially women. Well guess what their new mission in life is.

Very sad state of affairs and to top it, when I went to the man apparently in charge inquiring as to why there was “no” water in the pelican place he said “Pani jaisay he aiga dalaingay”. I was baffled, and well, speechless.

*shakes head again*..

Dead or alive, I’ve always loved Islamabad for what it is. I love the greens of the city (which are not to green now). The clean roads, the Clouds Mountains, people who would go by if your tire is busted (unless you’re from the fair gender). So like little things you know, how we like to drive real fast near a pool of water with people passing by, how everyone think he’s royalty in front of every other  person, how much we love to tell the cop who our father/uncle is,  it’s all the little sweet things that make Islamabad Islamabad.

Like the other day my mom was coming back from dropping my sister to school (yes I don’t wake up and drop and I’m a lousy son) on her way back (near 9^th avenue, H-8 parallel road). There was a kid around 8 years old with a donkey cart when the donkey slipped and fell and the stuff on the cart fell over it, keeping the poor thing down. If that wasn’t enough the ‘nakel’ was strangling the little fellow. The kid was screaming and asking out for everyone to help him and crying on the top of his voice. The things were too heavy for him to lift them alone, while the poor creature struggled to breath. Mom dropped to help the child but just couldn’t while everyone just passed by late for work I presume.

So ya, I just love Islamabad for its fancy schools and its fancy education, let’s bring justice walks and save the world parades. So welcome all, to Islamabad the Educated!

“Hello, I am an ordinary tree. You use me to put up banners, you sit in my shade, you throw banana peels all around me but I don’t complain. You use knives to cut me, so your lover can come see and be “oh so happy”. You pick up stones and throw them at me so your aim can be perfect. But I never say a thing. I protect you from the sun, I take all dust on me so you don’t get any nasal infections. I am green, green means peace, I am peace.

“Yet when you feel the need, you cut me, turn me into furniture and sit on me. Yet when you feel the need you cut off my leaves and there I am, standing stark naked, but you don’t see that do you?. You never think twice that I live, I breathe, and I feel. Fine I know my folks were cut because they were old, but hey, don’t burn me to feel warm. Don’t cut me for the sake of making a road to facilitate some important persons security. Don’t cut me and throw me away. I am me. TREE-T ME NICELY”

Save the trees, SAVE THE PEACE, SAVE THE GREEN, SAVE IT….

Now that’s something I call reporting. Sensationalizing the whole experience.

Sleepy nights of  Isloo turns into coma.

Haa!

Courtesy: Khabrain

So the Ruyete Halal Committee at last announce that the Shawaal moon’s been sighted and It’s eid here in Pakistan, all over Pakistan, on 1st October. The announcement came at around 11 PM.

The possibilities of moon sighting were near to zero. Saudi Arabia announced the moon sighting yesterday and it was Eid in middle east. A minister in Frontier announced that there are 15 witnesses of moon sighting with him and he announced Eid without Ruyete Halal Committee’s consent. In my opinion, to erase the conflict the Committe decided to have Eid in Pakistan unanimously. Hence it’s tomorrow.

Eid Mubarak!

May the day brings lots of happiness for Pakistan and us all!

Not 18 hours completed and what do we see here? The Prime Minister and President of Pakistan desserts the capital city, Islamabad, for safe waters. At times like this when elsewhere premier of countries cancel their trips and return home. Ours thought the catastrophe done is normal. So, why fuss over a thing that’s not going to stop? So lets visit USA and meet Mr. Bush!

Well actually its all normal, isn’t it? When things happen daily … it comes in normal range, No? Be it Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Bajaur, Anguur Ada or any place else. … after yet again few promises of we are with you sir in YOUR War Against Terrorism. Even if we’ll have to risk Pakistan (and that we’re doing) … we won’t stray away from our promises. Though promises are not hadith or quran. But a promise with Uncle Sam can’t be compromised on. We’ll sacrifice our kids, our men, our women. Let’s make the whole world a 9/11 … to fight thy war of terrorism.

The president who claims, during his fumbled up speech, god-knows-what … must be happily flying in a plane right now. He couldn’t bother paying the site a visit or sympathizing with the poor - common Pakistanis suffering in hospitals. And for our dear Prime Minister … attending a iftaar party in Lahore was much much important.

We are a proud nation! We bicker a lot and we blame each other. We can’t even think straight … act is a totally different story.

Isn’t it high time, govt show some steel in their necks? Take some stern decisions and ACT. Fight the war … but protect your own territories. If I and You can tell who did this … why can’t the govt? FGS. Take your own people into confidence. Stop war on your own people. Start digging for facts please … and Seriously … act before its too late. Though I’m not too sure if its already late or not.

But then these are my opinions … you are free to share your own. Your own theories … and some plan of action if you can suggest would be highly welcome.

I DID whine here … but I know whining would yield nothing. Its time to act.

ps: In case you haven’t watched the CCTV footage earlier released … clickety. Seemingly there was lot of time … but nothing could be done to save this huge terrorist attack.

Jiyalay.

Courtesy: BBC Urdu

This is what awaam is crying about today.

Let the Zardari (ooops, Janaab Zardari Sahab) make you fool … let his camp take the left over economy from Pakistan in their Dubai and London accounts.

haaa.

Image Courtesy: Ammar

When will we Own a Car like This?, originally uploaded by Daudpota.

As suggested by a commenter on this picture (Flickr page), the only way is to steal. Owning a car like this and maintaining it is becoming difficult even for middle line in Pakistan’s economic belt.

Ironically, every week I get to hear of one car theft or other in Islamabad.

When the leaders are busy in their dubai-london-dubai-islamabad-london tours, what can we expect?

Today in a forwarded e-mail, I got an interesting letter written by an affectees of post-budget like you and me to the ruling bodies.

Sharing with my readers.

Prime Minister of Pakistan
President Of Pakistan
Co-Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party
Federal Finance Minister

Dear Sirs

Thank you so much for increasing the prices of petroleum products, after the shortage of edible commodities this
increase is like a cold breeze in hot summer, specially your new gift to the nation at the start of the fiscal year 2008-09 by increasing the CNG prices to 31%, we as a nation sincerely appreciate your efforts to support us.

Dear Sirs, we further suggest the following measures to be taken in the broader interest of the nation as soon as possible, the way the nation is enjoying the following benefits, is not the right of this nation and it also hurt your efforts for the stability of economy.
Your kind attention to the following will help to strengthen the economy of the country;

• Breathing - The tax may please be imposed on breathing.
• Eating - The tax may please be imposed on the eating 2 meals a day, (Because of the strong economy now the nation do not afford to eat 3 meals).
• Drinking of Water - The tax may please be imposed on drinking more than 2 glasses daily, additionally taking bath more than once a month should be Taxed.
• Clothing – Wearing Cloths may please be taxable and additional tax on changing the suits/shirts on daily basis.
• Traveling - Journey through the public transport should be allowed once a day, means if someone comes to work by bus/rail he should not be allowed to use the same for going back, when the nation will start to walk back to homes it will help to keep them healthy.
• Birth – Tax may please be imposed on the birth of every child, the tax should be the 10% of the monthly wage rate of the father and if the mother is a working woman, she will also have to pay 10% of her wage, it is also suggested that this tax should be increased 20% to 30% on every additional birth.
• Death – A death tax may please be imposed on every person who dies, an additional tax is also suggested to the suicidal or accidental death.

There are so many other items that are still identifiable and we will try to let you know as soon as we realize the taxability of those.
Now at the end we recommend to award “Nishan-e-Haider”, “Tamgha-e-Khidmat” to the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Shaukat Aziz and his team for the efforts they made to revive the dying economy of Pakistan.
An increase of 100% in the packages of Members of Assemblies / Ministers and other officials is also suggested, it will help them to serve the nation better, after all we have to take care of the interests of the nation.
Thanking you in advance
Pakistani Nation
Courtesy: M.Arshad Minhas (his name was on the letter I received ~ so probably written by him)