Parachinar is burning By Dr Ghayur Ayub

Sarwan Ali-an honest man, is a retired Lance Naik from the village Malana in the outskirt of Parachinar and has been living with his wife in a single room. Not any more. Now, he is fighting for his life in Agency HQ Hospital, Parachinar, from a gunshot wound. Wounds inflicted from bombs, snipers, splinters and guns have become part of daily life in Kurrum agency mostly linked to sectarian strife. But his wound is different. He was not shot by the opposing group for his affiliation to any sect. His is a self inflicted wound. Reason?
Before the sectarian conflict, he would go to Parachinar and work on ‘Dhiari’ (daily wages) to earn enough to sustain himself and his wife. After the escalation in war, situation has changed dramatically. In a short span, the death toll has reached hundreds and the injured thousands. The prices of daily commodities have rocketed sky-high as the only road linking Parachinar with mainland Pakistan remains closed. This has paralysed the life in Parachinar, closing the markets and stopping the construction work. As a consequence, the poor are suffering the most. The days of ‘Dhiari’ are over and they, like Sarwan Ali, are jobless and with no income.

Many mornings, he went to the town expecting to earn a few rupees and every evening he came back empty handed with shattered hopes. Many nights he and his wife went to bed without proper food with bellyful of boiled leaves from the nearby ShahTut tree. He was too proud to beg and too honest to steel. He sold all their possessions, except for his rifle. In the Pukhtun culture, rifle is considered to be a man’s honour; he couldn’t sell his honour.

He returned home one evening feeling low and disheartened after another fruitless day and found his grief stricken wife shivering like a leaf. He knew it was Malaria as he saw her in that state before. But still, he put his trembling hand on her forehead; she was burning hot. He also knew she needed medicine to bring the temperature down and to treat the Malaria but this time, unlike the previous time; he didn’t have money to buy the needed medicine. The feeling of desperation hit him hard and the sense of worthlessness stabbed him deep. He couldn’t bear to see the pain on her pale face. He knew she was not only sick but also weak from lack of food. Filled with despondency, he moved to one corner, picked up his gun, loaded it and turned around to face her. Tears were rolling down her face. She knew what he was about to do. “You’re an honourable man Sarwan Ali. Do what you have to do.” She closed her eyes waiting for the end. He pointed the gun at her but could not bring himself to shoot her. He started crying like a child and for a long time, the two caring souls broke the silence with their agonising sobs. Then slowly, he eased the pressure on the trigger and started walking towards the door.

He decided to sell his honour, his gun, in Parachinar to buy medicine for his dear wife. He went to a chemist shop and offered to sell his gun and get medicine out of the price. He was told that there was no medicine because none was coming through the blocked roads from Peshawar. Sarwan pleaded with him and told him about his wife’s condition. The man felt sorry for him and handed him over two Paracetamols.

Back in the room, he gave the tablets to his wife and after a while she stopped shivering and went to sleep. He watched her sleep for a long time, then got up slowly, performed Wazu as if he was preparing for prayer; picked up his gun and without a second thought shot himself. The bullet passed through his chest.

This is the life in the war-torn Parachinar, where death is as cheap as sipping water from a stream; a town, which was known for pleasant weather and natural beauty. A town, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto fell in love with and wanted to turn it into a settlement like Switzerland. That was the time when Shah of Iran had friendly relation with Saudi King. That was the time when Sunni-Shia misunderstandings did not change into hate. That was the time when skirmishes between Sunni and Shais remained local and were settled amicably by the administration. That was the time when Afghanistan was not taken over by Taliban. And that was the time when general Zia was still serving as army chief under ZAB.

Things changed when Shah was deposed in Iran, when Zia took over in Pakistan, when Afghanistan was invaded by the Soviets, when America supported fanatic Sunni Arabs against Soviets, and when it helped Sunni Pukhtuns against Iran. Things changed radically. America used Muslim religious sentiments for its own gains. It poured money into the pockets of Afghan Warlords with the help of general Zia and turned ‘Jihad’ into ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ with tremendous consequences to Pakistan. It took advantage of Zia’s sectarian leanings and put Pakistan on the road to political and religious vulnerability.

It was then, when Parachinar was caught in the middle of sectarian strife. Iranian clergy started supporting the Shias in Parachinar through prominent local Shia Syeds, and the Saudi Wahabis pumped money to the local Sunni Mullahs. Sunnis fought Afghan war to oblige Saudis and Shias safeguarded Iranian interests. Soviets were defeated in Afghanistan; America won the ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ and Pakistan a Jihad, leaving the spoils in the hands of fanatic Afghans. The spill over was bound to effect Parachinar. And it did in a big way. The beautiful town has never since returned to its previous grace.

The time rolled on. The strong corporations in America required an enemy to replace the dismembered Soviets. They found one in the garb of ‘terrorism’ creeping out of Afghanistan. It was moulded in the same outfit as their Jihadi friends in the not so distant past. Now, they needed the change of guards in Afghanistan to target it. They got lucky; the history favoured them twice; once when Musharaf sacked a democratic government of Nawaz Sharif in Pakistan; again, when the Twin Towers were brought down by the terrorists in New York. The White House didn’t need much persuasion to seek help from the dictator Musharaf who made a U-turn in Afghan policy. With change of policy the enemies changed.

Now, the Americans were not fighting the communists; they were fighting the terrorists who happened to be Muslims; and Musharaf was not fighting the infidels, he was fighting the same Muslims. In this way, the moderate Musharaf surpassed those barriers which even zealous Zia dared to tread, exposing Pakistan to massive internal turmoil.

Today, Parachinar is burning in a fire lit by zealous Zia and spread by moderate Musharaf; a fire which is different from the one seen in rest of the tribal area. It is not linked to sentiments against Pakistan army or even America. It is based on emotions against Taliban. Majority in upper Kurrum are Shia and they despise Taliban. Taliban in return, reciprocate their sentiments by sending decapitated bodies of Shias captured during their journeys to Peshawar. The Internet is full of grotesque footages. The Shia-dominated upper Kurrum is sealed by the surrounding Sunni-belt having a strong influence of Taliban. In the middle of it, Parachinar is in virtual siege with no food items, no daily commodities and no medicines. In desperation, the Shias are turning to Afghan government for help after seeing apparent apathy from Pakistan.

This is a bizarre situation, the like of which was once historically seen in early 20th century, when a prominent Shia Turi Tribe Chief, Noor Khan (alias Dur Khan) sought British help when he found Shias under siege in identical circumstances. Today they are asking Afghan government to help them against the Taliban. In the middle of this bizarre turn around, the poor people of Parachinar from both sects are slaughtered like animals in sectarian hate and others like Sarwan Ali are killing themselves for reasons other than that hate. This is Parachinar burning in a fire not lit by the locals but by those whose political and religious interests lay outside Pakistan.

The end

Parachinar is burning By Dr Ghayur Ayub

Sarwan Ali-an honest man, is a retired Lance Naik from the village Malana in the outskirt of Parachinar and has been living with his wife in a single room. Not any more. Now, he is fighting for his life in Agency HQ Hospital, Parachinar, from a gunshot wound. Wounds inflicted from bombs, snipers, splinters and guns have become part of daily life in Kurrum agency mostly linked to sectarian strife. But his wound is different. He was not shot by the opposing group for his affiliation to any sect. His is a self inflicted wound. Reason?
Before the sectarian conflict, he would go to Parachinar and work on ‘Dhiari’ (daily wages) to earn enough to sustain himself and his wife. After the escalation in war, situation has changed dramatically. In a short span, the death toll has reached hundreds and the injured thousands. The prices of daily commodities have rocketed sky-high as the only road linking Parachinar with mainland Pakistan remains closed. This has paralysed the life in Parachinar, closing the markets and stopping the construction work. As a consequence, the poor are suffering the most. The days of ‘Dhiari’ are over and they, like Sarwan Ali, are jobless and with no income.

Many mornings, he went to the town expecting to earn a few rupees and every evening he came back empty handed with shattered hopes. Many nights he and his wife went to bed without proper food with bellyful of boiled leaves from the nearby ShahTut tree. He was too proud to beg and too honest to steel. He sold all their possessions, except for his rifle. In the Pukhtun culture, rifle is considered to be a man’s honour; he couldn’t sell his honour.

He returned home one evening feeling low and disheartened after another fruitless day and found his grief stricken wife shivering like a leaf. He knew it was Malaria as he saw her in that state before. But still, he put his trembling hand on her forehead; she was burning hot. He also knew she needed medicine to bring the temperature down and to treat the Malaria but this time, unlike the previous time; he didn’t have money to buy the needed medicine. The feeling of desperation hit him hard and the sense of worthlessness stabbed him deep. He couldn’t bear to see the pain on her pale face. He knew she was not only sick but also weak from lack of food. Filled with despondency, he moved to one corner, picked up his gun, loaded it and turned around to face her. Tears were rolling down her face. She knew what he was about to do. “You’re an honourable man Sarwan Ali. Do what you have to do.” She closed her eyes waiting for the end. He pointed the gun at her but could not bring himself to shoot her. He started crying like a child and for a long time, the two caring souls broke the silence with their agonising sobs. Then slowly, he eased the pressure on the trigger and started walking towards the door.

He decided to sell his honour, his gun, in Parachinar to buy medicine for his dear wife. He went to a chemist shop and offered to sell his gun and get medicine out of the price. He was told that there was no medicine because none was coming through the blocked roads from Peshawar. Sarwan pleaded with him and told him about his wife’s condition. The man felt sorry for him and handed him over two Paracetamols.

Back in the room, he gave the tablets to his wife and after a while she stopped shivering and went to sleep. He watched her sleep for a long time, then got up slowly, performed Wazu as if he was preparing for prayer; picked up his gun and without a second thought shot himself. The bullet passed through his chest.

This is the life in the war-torn Parachinar, where death is as cheap as sipping water from a stream; a town, which was known for pleasant weather and natural beauty. A town, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto fell in love with and wanted to turn it into a settlement like Switzerland. That was the time when Shah of Iran had friendly relation with Saudi King. That was the time when Sunni-Shia misunderstandings did not change into hate. That was the time when skirmishes between Sunni and Shais remained local and were settled amicably by the administration. That was the time when Afghanistan was not taken over by Taliban. And that was the time when general Zia was still serving as army chief under ZAB.

Things changed when Shah was deposed in Iran, when Zia took over in Pakistan, when Afghanistan was invaded by the Soviets, when America supported fanatic Sunni Arabs against Soviets, and when it helped Sunni Pukhtuns against Iran. Things changed radically. America used Muslim religious sentiments for its own gains. It poured money into the pockets of Afghan Warlords with the help of general Zia and turned ‘Jihad’ into ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ with tremendous consequences to Pakistan. It took advantage of Zia’s sectarian leanings and put Pakistan on the road to political and religious vulnerability.

It was then, when Parachinar was caught in the middle of sectarian strife. Iranian clergy started supporting the Shias in Parachinar through prominent local Shia Syeds, and the Saudi Wahabis pumped money to the local Sunni Mullahs. Sunnis fought Afghan war to oblige Saudis and Shias safeguarded Iranian interests. Soviets were defeated in Afghanistan; America won the ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ and Pakistan a Jihad, leaving the spoils in the hands of fanatic Afghans. The spill over was bound to effect Parachinar. And it did in a big way. The beautiful town has never since returned to its previous grace.

The time rolled on. The strong corporations in America required an enemy to replace the dismembered Soviets. They found one in the garb of ‘terrorism’ creeping out of Afghanistan. It was moulded in the same outfit as their Jihadi friends in the not so distant past. Now, they needed the change of guards in Afghanistan to target it. They got lucky; the history favoured them twice; once when Musharaf sacked a democratic government of Nawaz Sharif in Pakistan; again, when the Twin Towers were brought down by the terrorists in New York. The White House didn’t need much persuasion to seek help from the dictator Musharaf who made a U-turn in Afghan policy. With change of policy the enemies changed.

Now, the Americans were not fighting the communists; they were fighting the terrorists who happened to be Muslims; and Musharaf was not fighting the infidels, he was fighting the same Muslims. In this way, the moderate Musharaf surpassed those barriers which even zealous Zia dared to tread, exposing Pakistan to massive internal turmoil.

Today, Parachinar is burning in a fire lit by zealous Zia and spread by moderate Musharaf; a fire which is different from the one seen in rest of the tribal area. It is not linked to sentiments against Pakistan army or even America. It is based on emotions against Taliban. Majority in upper Kurrum are Shia and they despise Taliban. Taliban in return, reciprocate their sentiments by sending decapitated bodies of Shias captured during their journeys to Peshawar. The Internet is full of grotesque footages. The Shia-dominated upper Kurrum is sealed by the surrounding Sunni-belt having a strong influence of Taliban. In the middle of it, Parachinar is in virtual siege with no food items, no daily commodities and no medicines. In desperation, the Shias are turning to Afghan government for help after seeing apparent apathy from Pakistan.

This is a bizarre situation, the like of which was once historically seen in early 20th century, when a prominent Shia Turi Tribe Chief, Noor Khan (alias Dur Khan) sought British help when he found Shias under siege in identical circumstances. Today they are asking Afghan government to help them against the Taliban. In the middle of this bizarre turn around, the poor people of Parachinar from both sects are slaughtered like animals in sectarian hate and others like Sarwan Ali are killing themselves for reasons other than that hate. This is Parachinar burning in a fire not lit by the locals but by those whose political and religious interests lay outside Pakistan.

کرم ایجنسی کے حالات اور حکمرانوں کی مجرمانہ غفلت تاریخ کے آیینے میں:: تین بچے ادویات کے عدم دستیابی کیوجہ سے ہسپتال میں دم توڑ گیے

ڈیڑھ سال سے زیادہ عرصہ ہوا کہ ٹل پاراچنار روڈ بند ہے اور حکمران کی مجرمانہ غفلت برت رہے ہیں کل کے تقریبا سارے نجی ٹی وی چینلز نے ایک افسوسناک خبر شایع کی کہ تین بچے ادویات کے عدم دستیابی کیوجہ سے ہسپتال میں دم توڑ گیے-افسوس کہ کسی بھی قابل ذکر صحافی نے نہ کویی دورہ کیا اور نہ ہی تیس میلین کے آبادی کے مسایل کی نشاندہی کے واسطے قلم اٹھانے کا زحمت گوارا کیا جب کویی ایک عرب جنگجو یہاں شہید ہوتا تو ہمارے نامور کالم کار بھی انکے زیارت کے لیے تشریف فرمایا کرتے تھے اور اب ان ہی شہیدوں کے سازشوں سے فرقہ ورانہ اور مذہبی کارڈ استعمال کرکے سارے ایجنسی کو اغوا کیا گیا ہے اور ایک ہزار سے زیادہ بےگناہ نوجوانوں کے سر، ہاتھ اور پیر کاٹھ کر اپنی مذہبی جنونیت کا پیاس بجھا رہے ہیں-لیکن تاریخ شاہد ہے کہ ان غیوراقوام نے مغلوں کے مظالم سے لیکر امیرمحمدخان کی سفاکیوں تک اور اب نام نہاد طالبان مجاھدین کے ناپاک عظایم کا ڈٹ کر مقابلہ کیا ہے-اور آج کے جمھوری دور میں بھی عدالت کا تو نام و نشان نہیں، انتظامیہ انکے ہمنوا، حکمران انکے ہم پیالہ لیکن ہمارا چوتھا ستون کہلانی والی صحافی برادری بھی مجرمانہ غفلت برت رہی ہے ڈیڑھ سال سے تو یہ لوگ افغانستان کا راستہ استعمال کررہے ہیں جہاں ڈیڑھ سو روپے کی بجایے پانچ ہزار سے زیادھ خرچ ہوتے ہیں لیکن کب تک؟ مجھے یہ لکھتے ہویے کویی ڈر نہیں کہ ایک دن بلوچوں کی طرح یہ بھی افغانستان میں بیٹھ کر دوسروں کے آلہ کار بننے پر مجبور ہوجایینگے اور جب انکے باپ دادا ظالم افغان حکمرانوں سے تنگ آکر ھندوستان کے ساتھ الحاق پر مجبورہویے تھے تو اب وہی تاریخ پاکستانی حکمران دوہرا رہے ہیں اللہ نہ کرے کہ جب انکے ہاتھوں میں افغانستان کے پرچم ہو کیونکہ ساٹھ سال سے تو یہ لوگ یکطرفہ پاکستان کو تسلیم کررہے ہیں اور پاکستانی حکمران ہیں کہ نہ تو بلوچوں کو حقوق دینے کیلیے تیارہیں اور نہ ہی پختونوں کی نامحرومیوں پر غور فرمانے کیلیے تیار۔۔

کرم ایجنسی کے حالات اور حکمرانوں کی مجرمانہ غفلت تاریخ کے آیینے میں:: تین بچے ادویات کے عدم دستیابی کیوجہ سے ہسپتال میں دم توڑ گیے

ڈیڑھ سال سے زیادہ عرصہ ہوا کہ ٹل پاراچنار روڈ بند ہے اور حکمران کی مجرمانہ غفلت برت رہے ہیں کل کے تقریبا سارے نجی ٹی وی چینلز نے ایک افسوسناک خبر شایع کی کہ تین بچے ادویات کے عدم دستیابی کیوجہ سے ہسپتال میں دم توڑ گیے-افسوس کہ کسی بھی قابل ذکر صحافی نے نہ کویی دورہ کیا اور نہ ہی تیس میلین کے آبادی کے مسایل کی نشاندہی کے واسطے قلم اٹھانے کا زحمت گوارا کیا جب کویی ایک عرب جنگجو یہاں شہید ہوتا تو ہمارے نامور کالم کار بھی انکے زیارت کے لیے تشریف فرمایا کرتے تھے اور اب ان ہی شہیدوں کے سازشوں سے فرقہ ورانہ اور مذہبی کارڈ استعمال کرکے سارے ایجنسی کو اغوا کیا گیا ہے اور ایک ہزار سے زیادہ بےگناہ نوجوانوں کے سر، ہاتھ اور پیر کاٹھ کر اپنی مذہبی جنونیت کا پیاس بجھا رہے ہیں-لیکن تاریخ شاہد ہے کہ ان غیوراقوام نے مغلوں کے مظالم سے لیکر امیرمحمدخان کی سفاکیوں تک اور اب نام نہاد طالبان مجاھدین کے ناپاک عظایم کا ڈٹ کر مقابلہ کیا ہے-اور آج کے جمھوری دور میں بھی عدالت کا تو نام و نشان نہیں، انتظامیہ انکے ہمنوا، حکمران انکے ہم پیالہ لیکن ہمارا چوتھا ستون کہلانی والی صحافی برادری بھی مجرمانہ غفلت برت رہی ہے ڈیڑھ سال سے تو یہ لوگ افغانستان کا راستہ استعمال کررہے ہیں جہاں ڈیڑھ سو روپے کی بجایے پانچ ہزار سے زیادھ خرچ ہوتے ہیں لیکن کب تک؟ مجھے یہ لکھتے ہویے کویی ڈر نہیں کہ ایک دن بلوچوں کی طرح یہ بھی افغانستان میں بیٹھ کر دوسروں کے آلہ کار بننے پر مجبور ہوجایینگے اور جب انکے باپ دادا ظالم افغان حکمرانوں سے تنگ آکر ھندوستان کے ساتھ الحاق پر مجبورہویے تھے تو اب وہی تاریخ پاکستانی حکمران دوہرا رہے ہیں اللہ نہ کرے کہ جب انکے ہاتھوں میں افغانستان کے پرچم ہو کیونکہ ساٹھ سال سے تو یہ لوگ یکطرفہ پاکستان کو تسلیم کررہے ہیں اور پاکستانی حکمران ہیں کہ نہ تو بلوچوں کو حقوق دینے کیلیے تیارہیں اور نہ ہی پختونوں کی نامحرومیوں پر غور فرمانے کیلیے تیار۔۔

کرم ایجنسی کے حالات اور حکمرانوں کی مجرمانہ غفلت تاریخ کے آیینے میں:: تین بچے ادویات کے عدم دستیابی کیوجہ سے ہسپتال میں دم توڑ گیے

ڈیڑھ سال سے زیادہ عرصہ ہوا کہ ٹل پاراچنار روڈ بند ہے اور حکمران کی مجرمانہ غفلت برت رہے ہیں کل کے تقریبا سارے نجی ٹی وی چینلز نے ایک افسوسناک خبر شایع کی کہ تین بچے ادویات کے عدم دستیابی کیوجہ سے ہسپتال میں دم توڑ گیے-افسوس کہ کسی بھی قابل ذکر صحافی نے نہ کویی دورہ کیا اور نہ ہی تیس میلین کے آبادی کے مسایل کی نشاندہی کے واسطے قلم اٹھانے کا زحمت گوارا کیا جب کویی ایک عرب جنگجو یہاں شہید ہوتا تو ہمارے نامور کالم کار بھی انکے زیارت کے لیے تشریف فرمایا کرتے تھے اور اب ان ہی شہیدوں کے سازشوں سے فرقہ ورانہ اور مذہبی کارڈ استعمال کرکے سارے ایجنسی کو اغوا کیا گیا ہے اور ایک ہزار سے زیادہ بےگناہ نوجوانوں کے سر، ہاتھ اور پیر کاٹھ کر اپنی مذہبی جنونیت کا پیاس بجھا رہے ہیں-لیکن تاریخ شاہد ہے کہ ان غیوراقوام نے مغلوں کے مظالم سے لیکر امیرمحمدخان کی سفاکیوں تک اور اب نام نہاد طالبان مجاھدین کے ناپاک عظایم کا ڈٹ کر مقابلہ کیا ہے-اور آج کے جمھوری دور میں بھی عدالت کا تو نام و نشان نہیں، انتظامیہ انکے ہمنوا، حکمران انکے ہم پیالہ لیکن ہمارا چوتھا ستون کہلانی والی صحافی برادری بھی مجرمانہ غفلت برت رہی ہے ڈیڑھ سال سے تو یہ لوگ افغانستان کا راستہ استعمال کررہے ہیں جہاں ڈیڑھ سو روپے کی بجایے پانچ ہزار سے زیادھ خرچ ہوتے ہیں لیکن کب تک؟ مجھے یہ لکھتے ہویے کویی ڈر نہیں کہ ایک دن بلوچوں کی طرح یہ بھی افغانستان میں بیٹھ کر دوسروں کے آلہ کار بننے پر مجبور ہوجایینگے اور جب انکے باپ دادا ظالم افغان حکمرانوں سے تنگ آکر ھندوستان کے ساتھ الحاق پر مجبورہویے تھے تو اب وہی تاریخ پاکستانی حکمران دوہرا رہے ہیں اللہ نہ کرے کہ جب انکے ہاتھوں میں افغانستان کے پرچم ہو کیونکہ ساٹھ سال سے تو یہ لوگ یکطرفہ پاکستان کو تسلیم کررہے ہیں اور پاکستانی حکمران ہیں کہ نہ تو بلوچوں کو حقوق دینے کیلیے تیارہیں اور نہ ہی پختونوں کی نامحرومیوں پر غور فرمانے کیلیے تیار۔۔

کرم ایجنسی کے حالات اور حکمر