My words published in Pak-Observer.

All other important paragraphs had been omitted out, perhaps, because of space or material couldn't be digested easily; only conclusion could be published.

Here is whole article.

Don't move by Fear

Religion is based upon fear, primarily. Fear and greed go hand in hand and fear is the parent of cruelty. Thousands of years, mankind have lived in sheer fear; it is a need of hour to conquer it through science and reason. If we peep into the pages of history, the initial states were all theocratic, the states of fear.

When Pharoah imposed his first law announced and claimed that this law had been bestowed upon him by the sun god. He became, then, a son of god __ a cleric and ruler. Rulers of China called themselves, sons of sky, Tien-Tse. They were clerics and rulers of the state. This kingdom of the sons of god continued till 1911 and when a democratic revolution came, the empire of the sky was finished for forever. This same kingdom was also in Japan till 1945.

The 1000 year rule of the church is called "THE DARK ERA" by western philosophers. All the theocratic states of time are lambasted by scientists and philosophers. The founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam, in Febuary 1948 said, " In any case Pakistan is not to be a theocratic state -to be ruled by the priests with a divine mission." Why is Pakistan being made a theocratic state?

Those nations who do not learn from history face the toughest time. This is what Pakistan is facing now because of kicking out historical mindedness. The country is facing problems from within and without. Extremism is at its peak and business of fear is running fast. Government of Pakistan needs to be a secular state as the founder said.

Pakistan played a critical role in the 1979 war of Afghanistan and risked her own stability. Since that Pakistan is a victim of extremism and terrorism. Pakistan is trying to overcome extremism through military operations, no doubt, the military operation is important, but the extremism runs deep in the psyche of people. There is a Taliban in the mind of people. It cannot be killed through bombs and bullets.

There are 22,052 registered madaris in Pakistan as per record by the interior ministry. Thousands of unregistered seminaries are in Pakistan. Around 446 madaris are unregistered in federal capital; one can easily guess the ratio well. Most of the madaris are source of spreading fear, sectarianism, greed and violence among people and this ends up in extremism. Rabia Basri said, " I carry fire in one hand and a bucket of water in another; with these thing, I am going to set fire to heaven and put out the flames of hell so that voyages to God can rip the viels and see the real goal."

Talibans are being killed by military and others are being generated through text books, madaris, media and loud speakers. Curriculum in both madaris and schools promote hate, bigotry, sectarianism and violence. False history and hate material should be rooted out from text books. As it is briefly written in the book of K.K AZIZ "The murder of history."


It is a sorry state of affairs as to how our Ulemas and religious leaders interpret Islam and world here after. They fill the hearts of people with fear and greed; the fear of hell and wrath of Almighty and greed of heaven and honey. God is beyond fear and greed. He is all love for His creations - humanity and human beings. Root out fear and greed. Yes, don't move by fear.

Zuhaib Ahmed Pirzada
Thatta Makli

Pak-Observer
10-1-2015

My words Published in The Express Tribune

Child-abuse

Brutality and barbarism seem to have no end in Pakistan. Vigils seem to have ended, schools have reopened, life is going on as usual and our children continue to face dangers and not just from terror menace. They are being savaged, assaulted, victimized, raped and killed. Recently, two innocent children, a boy and girl, have been raped and killed; 7-year-old-boy of Lahore and 5-year-old-girl of larkana.

It seems being born in Pakistan now amounts severe punishment. 130 children are slain in Peshawar, hundreds have died in Thar, 3.3 million are entangled in child-labour and others are being abused. Paedophiles, for personal lust, regularly assault children and many of them reach death or child-traumatic-stress. They become preys of stress, anxiety and a variety of behavioral disorders. Neither they can sleep well, nor can they trust anyone in their lives. The future of Pakistan-- our children-- seem to bleak.

Pakistan offers a little protection to children; they are not safe. Not a single day passes and the news of injustice rereverberateas around Pakistan. Establishment should take strict actions against this heinous crime, the police should perform their duties sincerely in this regard.

Zuhaib Ahmed Pirzada
Thatta Makli

21-1-2015
The Express Tribune

My Article Published In Pak-Observer.

Child labour: Set off alarm bells!

Children are the future of any nation _the future of Pakistan is begging, sweeping floors and washing cars. Child labour is a tragedy and social injustice. It has been banned by the constitution of Pakistan, but this crime is being committed without any embarrassment and with freedom.

Children, who should have pen in hands have wipers. Around 3.3 million children under age of 14 are labouring in Pakistan. It is an alarming situation, when education is a fundamental right of every child, why are children being bereaved of it and why is there social inequality? Why sons of a farmer become farmers; nature does not plan like this, system makes it so.

Day follows day, children get birth and child labour increases. Many writers have already written much on it and alarmed the government, but no corrective actions are taken. It is an appeal to the state of Pakistan, do something immediately for the future of nation, otherwise the child labour will end up in begging and this will destroy the national honour and esteem and then the whole edifice.

Zuhaib Ahmed Pirzada
Thatta Makli

Pak-Observer
31-12-2014.

My Article published in Dawn. Name of article was BLESS US WITH BOOKS which editor replaced with A PRAYER TO ALMIGHTY.

BLESS US WITH BOOKS

THE social or political progress of a society can be measured by its education, libraries and books. Education in our society is at stake. Libraries are no more; some are not used by the public and the others are no less than a museum where one cannot touch the books.

Books are hardly available. Where they are available, only the wealthy few can buy them. The many who cannot afford them prefer to spend their meagre earnings on the necessities of life.

Books bring revolutions, which is why they are banned by totalitarian states, as they are afraid of thought-provoking books.

Thatta, where I live, once had almost 400 institutions that were a source of knowledge and education.

Now, there is not a single public library. The one at Makli Park is more a museum where one can only look at the books locked in showcases but not read them. There is no good bookshop where one can buy books.

Books are the gates to the future and the best way to tackle extremism and sectarianism. I pray that the Almighty bless us with books that are free of prejudice, hatred and bigotry and which promote peace, reason, science and historical consciousness.

Zuhaib Ahmed Pirzada

Thatta, Makli

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2015

Youth-Bulge

Any country with a youth population equal to that of Pakistan would be a country of power. Today, there are more people aged 14 and younger in Pakistan than there are in America. This is indeed a blessing for us, but unfortunately, our government has never utilised this important resource. If educated, these young people can become nation-builders for the country, and if not, they can turn into a liability.

Pakistan is a young nation with 69 per cent of its total population being below 29 years of age and 53 per cent below 19 years. It is a sea of potential. Good quality education, basic rights and jobs can bring good economic growth and prosperity in the country. But this is currently not the case. A poor education system and unemployment have fostered a sense of alienation and deprivation, which has led to violence, crime and extremism.

Pakistan is facing gigantic problems from within and without as well. If our successive government had anticipated them, the irreparable losses we are suffering would not have happened. Quality education and jobs for the youth are the need of the hour.


Zuhaib Ahmed Pirzada
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2015.

Insult of the word 'COMRADE'

How a word 'comrade' has been totally changed into a different negative meaning and dimension, it is used for bandits, looters and villains now. No, not at all, this doesn't mean, of the word 'comrade' it is a respectable word. It is used for those who are social activists and fight for the rights of human beings-- it also means a friend or companion.

Word 'comrade' has been used for great social activists and revolutionists like; Comrade Che Guevara, Comrade Mao Tse Tung, Comrade Hyder bux jatoi and recently a comrade of Sindh who passed away, Comrade Sobu gianchandani. Whenever, I listen to this word for who loot people and ruin their rights, my heart feels pity and I ask myself, 'is this political consciousness of our land?'. They were the real comrades who fought for the rights of their fellow men and dedicated their lives.

It is my appeal to you through this letter, especially students of Sindh university that kindly don't use this word for ill-doings and ill-doers. Use it only for those who are worthy of it, who fight for the rights of people. I end up with a quotation of Prabhakar bargurde, "Comrade! Tomorrow's dawn is yet to rise, sleep undisturbed until then."

Zuhaib Ahmed Pirzada
23-2-2015 Pak-Observer

Asia's Century

Power__ never remains permanently in one hand. When it reaches its peak, it declines. Undoubtedly, the universe, is based on this principle. The power keeps on transferring from one block to the other; from East to West and West to East. The 19th century was European, 2oth century American and 21st century is an Asian century. The robust performance of china is quite praiseworthy. The economic giant, with her peaceful policies has proved herself in all fields; culture, politics, international diplomacy, science, technology, militancy. No doubt, India has boosted her performance rapidly, too. Some experts have rightly said that before 18th century India and China were the largest economies by world standards. The balance got off somewhere in the middle, but both countries are progressing in an unparalleled way.

Japan, the world's master in technology; Russia, a military might; Malaysia, truly Asia; Israel, a wizard of science, and other Asian countries have highly contributed to make the 21st century an Asian century. A study by the Asian development bank states, " By nearly doubling its share of global gross domestic product (GDP) to 52% by 2050 Asia would regain the dominant economic position it held some 300 years ago before the industrial revolution."

Asia is soul of cultures and civilizations. Asia is famous for its diversity and natural resources. Godspeed. The way Asia is progressing, it will soon acquire its lost crown. Bertrand Russell in his essay ''Reflections on the reawakening East' says that Asia is very important continent because it has the home of three distinct civilizations i.e. Islamic Chinese and Hindus. Asian countries should preserve poetry, music, art, love and simple joys and should not bring the smaller nations under their control and exploitation.


Zuhaib Ahmed Pirzada*
Thatta Makli

25-2-15 The Express Tribune

Moral Decline

Humans have discovered tiny atoms and giant stars __they are probing into space, but not into SELF. We have progressed materialistically and we are going through moral decline. Killing, abusing, assaulting, terrorizing, disrespecting has been common in our society. Have we forgotten how to behave friendly, how to live united, how to help and love? Yes, perhaps, we are engrossed by the materialistic world and facing decay of morality.

The super power country, U.S.A, is well known for progress and power, yet, it is embracing to know that after every two minutes a rape takes place in the USA, thousands of abortions, highest crime rate and old parents are mostly left alone in their old houses. This is how the world is going. Pakistan is ranked as the third most dangerous country for women, third on the human slavery index and third on the global terrorism index. Are we trying to make notorious records? 3.3 million children are laboring in Pakistan. Most of them stay in the street and become victims of pedophiles. Children are raped and killed__ it is savage-narrow-mindedness. Half of the population of Pakistan lives in poverty and at the other hand, Pakistanis bought property worth 7.5bn Dirhams, and became the second largest community in the list of expatriate property buyers in Dubai during 2014. The more we are progressing material world, the more we are declining morally.


The woman is practised sole of shoe, she is limited till ceilings, caged in four walls, murdered for the sake of honor, deprived of education, bereaved of due rights, victim of acid spree, brides are burnt, enslaved, engraved, chocked, banned, chained, sold in dark of nights. Is this what our Prophet taught? He gave perfect way of life and perfect code to live morally, but we forgot it or unfortunately couldn't learn it.

Zuhaib Ahmed Pirzada

Thatta Makli

18-3-2015

IS-PSEUDO STATE?



THE so-called Islamic State is a fallout of the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Before that, it was only a small group of Sunni extremists. Now, it has almost 30,000 fighters, it governs a territory and expands, its followers coming from different countries. Can counter-terrorism stretagy work for this pseudo-state?

The IS is not like Al Qaeda. It controls territory, it has a large number of followers, it is self-financed, it attracts youths easily and, most importantly, is present in urban areas. Al Qaeda was different and not stronger like the IS is.

It earns $1 to 3m a day through crude oil that it sells at low prices and everyone — Syria, Iraq, Turkey or Jordan — buy it. The IS kidnaps, takes ransom money, loots public properties which it invades, empties the banks, and has different resources of finance.

The so-called collateral damage has already created a new phrase like: ‘kill one and beget two free.’

The US is not in a position to wage a new war against the IS. Its public would resist the action in view of the upcoming elections next year.

The so-called Islamic State is a threat to the whole world. All powerful actors on the planet — the US, Russia, China, France and Middle Eastern countries — should come together to make a strategy and roout out the IS. At least a different diplomatic strategy of containment can work, not a counter-terrorism strategy at all.

Zuhaib Ahmed Pirzada

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2015

Also in Tribune


The Islamic State (IS) is an outcome of the US invasion of Iraq circa 2003. It has almost 30,000 fighters, governs territory and is rapidly expanding its influence with its followers coming from different countries who have joined it willingly. Can a counterterrorism strategy work for this ‘pseudo-state’?

The IS is not like al Qaeda. It possesses territory, has a huge number of followers, is self-financed, attracts the youth easily and most importantly, lives in urban areas. Al Qaeda was totally different and not as strong as the IS is. It kidnaps, takes ransom money and loots public property and has sources of finance different from al Qaeda.

There now exists a phrase, ‘kill one and beget two free’. The US itself is not in a position to wage a new war against the IS because its public would resist such an action and due to the 2016 US presidential elections, no candidate wants to lose popularity at this stage.

The growing power of the IS is dangerous for the countries neighbouring Syria and Iraq, and if the Middle East is in havoc, the state of affairs can endanger the whole world. All powerful actors on the planet — the US, Russia, China, France and the Middle Eastern countries — should collectively devise a strategy and demolish the IS completely. The current counterterrorism strategies that have so far been employed have not worked. A different strategy of containment may work in this scenario.

Zuhaib Ahmed Pirzada

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2015.