But the crowd is super-excited? or ain’t they?

Pakistanis can be like that.

Do listen to comments of people regarding terrorists defeat too.

Pakistan wins T20.

Few years back, I remember making fun of my cousin who mistakenly told us about attending this event of “Bird Watching”, organized by ASG (Asian Study group), in Rawal Lake. The idea of sitting silently on a boat watching birds sounded hugely crazy. But now that I think of it, doesn’t seem even odd. When you are silently surrounded by nature, the nature speaks to you. (noops I haven’t recently picked any of Paulo Coelho’s book ;-))

Islamabad’s home to beautiful species of birds and thanks God we are not chirra-eaters like Gujranwala people *_* (no offense). Margala hills itself is abode to many rare-sighted birds.

I confess being part of killing a Blue Finch once, during a air-rifle shooting practice. But I’ve never ever seen this Sunbird, so royal in its colors, in Islamabad ever. Glad that the photographer managed to shoot it. Beautifully camouflaged as well.

Red Sunbird, originally uploaded by Suh@il << Busy & Away >>.

Do you have an eye for nature?

Image Courtesy: Suhail on Flickr

Read more on Birdwatching in Islamabad

16th March’09

The day thousands of people were expected to storm the Federal Capital City in order to lodge protests in front of the Presidency to pave way for the Restoration of the deposed Judges. People had already seen chaos in the city of Lahore when the PML-N started it’s journey and in the early hours, we saw our Prime Minister address the nation. He told the nation that the orders for the restoration of the judges had been sent, the anti-protest Section-144 was taken back and that the disqualification of the Sharif brothers would be formally sent into an appeal by the Government itself.

One could see thousands of people out on the streets rejoicing their victory. The lawyers movement that started two years ago had transformed into the movement of the people and one could easily tell how frustrated the nation was the past two years. The power of the people paid off.

17th’March’09

In order to celebrate the restoration of the judiciary, Geo Television network took the initiative and organized an ‘open for public” concert by “Laal”. (A band that has been in the limelight mainly due to them being workers of the movement against the Governments wrong doings and the fact that their music is based on the revolutionary writings of Habib Jalib and Faiz Ahmed Faiz which are applicable even today).

The proceedings of the concert finally started at 10 when Hamid “Capital talk” Mir introduced the band and welcomed the audience which mainly constituted people from all ages and walks of life. Aunties, Kids, Uncles, young people with flags etc. They started with the title track of their album “umeed-e-sehar”. Brilliantly executed, absolute class. The notes ringing on the guitars, the dholak and drum beat at the back and the flute man airing away on his flute. The song was immaculate. The vocalist delivered it perfectly and extended the song, asking the crowd to participate which they did. Umeed-e-Sehar is the 2nd single by them which is on air these days on various music channels. The video itself is very touching and does justice to the song but I could see people smile, rejoice, even shed tears when he sang ” umeed-e-sehar ke baat sunno”.

Next they did the Habib Jalib classic “Musheer”.. Meinay us say yeh kaahaaaaa yeh do dus karoorrr hein, jehal ka nechorrr hein. People shouted “Rehman Malik” out loud and the vocalist carried on their chants by saying ” this is what Rehman Malik tells Zardari behind closed doors”… It was a lovely number with the Guitar player, Taimoor messing around with the voice box and catching the attention of the audience.

The last song that I heard, was the song penned down by Aitzaz Ahsan which became the anthem of the Lawyers movement called “Kal aaj aur kal”… Jeet humara mustakbil hei :)

Very well rounded performance, extremely neat aura and rejoice all around. Laal, gel together as a band and I suppose it was their first performance in Islamabad, and quite a memorable one it will turn out to be..

Umeed-e-Sehar ke baat sunno =)

VIVA LA REVOLUCION!!!

Collage courtesy Express

A few updates:

• Sherry Rehman’s resignation accepted and Qamar uz Zaman Kayira given charge of (dis)Information Ministry.
• Rehman Malik continuously hinting about possible target killings, suicide bombings … and god-knows-what-not.
• GT Road and Motorway closed.
• The Fortress.
• Students residing in IIUI and QAU hostels told to evacuate on asap basis.

Follow this link for quick Twitter Updates on LongMarch.

ps: I see no Umeed e Sahar … =(

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The Flyover

Though construction of Faisal Chowk flyover still makes no good sense to me but thanksfully its finally nearing its completion.

Same traffic situation at Blue Area is anticipated. Come on, its still signal studded zone. Do you see any change at this very spot after the flyover’s construction?

ps: I’m not much liking the every-chowk-closed look of Islamabad.

Only through this picture taken from Aaj Kal I come to know of renovated Marghzar park. Yup along Islamabad’s zoo. After Daman e Koh’s exuberant renovation … this looks interesting too.

Any one been there yet? Any news to tell? :)

Please Share.

ps: I always used to think its MURGHZAAR from murgha :s

Now that’s an interesting thing.

Every nook and corner of Islamabad is full of beggar families these days. They usually come to the city from Punjab and elsewhere during the two eid seasons.

Let’s see how the scheme goes … if it ever happens i.e.

Courtesy: Jang

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

Fasi Zaka’s terse verses printed in today’s The News go very fine with this imagery.

Wanted to share with the readers of IMB.

________

The leader of the PML-N tries his hand at penning poetry once again by explaining his plans for Pakistan.

Now that I cannot be an MNA,

I know what it is you will say.

You will throw at me the finance bill,

And get some cheap insulting thrills.

I may be disqualified but I am not defeated,

I promise someday I will be thrice repeated.

I promise I will fight for the redundant judges,

Not just because of my recent personal grudges.

Please don’t say that I am a hypocrite,

Even if the PPP made me seem like a dim wit.

Was gone so long have become a bit of a novice,

I thought PCO meant Public Call Office.

MA Qayyum says PCO means Provisional Constitutional Order,/ But I say it means Please Cut Out Nawaz and Brother./ The courts made my candidacy brief,

All I am now is the party chief.

Since then I now seethe and leer,

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After trying to make Seat belts usage a permanent fixture in Islamabad’s traffic and discouraged use of mobiles during driving, ITP (Islamabad Traffic Police) is all planning to implement Point Systems.

If i’m not wrong this is the first time point systems will be introduced in the country. Lately the traffic has become a mess in the city, thanks to a  zillion on-lease cars out on roads and the new avenues and flyovers in construction.

Talking of the points system, licences of motorists/motorcycles would marked with a point every time they were ticketed and the marking would continue till 20th traffic rule violation was committed. The driving licenses of the traffic violators would be suspended after 20 violations of traffic rules.

“The system will be enforced within two months and Islamabad will thus become the first district among 110 license issuing districts in the country to enforce such system as per 11th schedule of the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965”, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Zubair Hashmi said in a press conference.

Ahh ha, so be prepared to start counting the points off i.e., ofcourse if you have a driving license.