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thewhitepaper-media-blog · 7 years ago

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#Malala, #Benazir, Patriotism and other stuff...

Every morning, when I wake up, I find myself one of them who check social media, to see the world stayed same when they had a little luxury in peace. I Perhaps, somewhere deep down in my subconscious a voice always warns me, ‘you snooze, you lose,’ so checking twitter notifications, is a faster way to check losses and gains, because I don't want to lose, certainly, none of us wants to lose. We all want to win, and we do. My theory about winning and losing is a little different than one may think about this factor of life. To me, we never actually lose, because there is always a winning factor in every defeat. I will explain this point some other, more appropriate time, as at the moment my mind is captured by a tweet by #Malala Yousafzai, is loving ‘A colourful day,’ with a positive smile. Let's take a look at her picture...

To see such a positive gesture by someone who has gone through extreme conditions in such a short time, from facing an attempt of assassination to becoming Noble Peace Laureate, is brainstorming. It shows her intellectual power, and strong will power, hence she still loves her roots and she carries out her mission to empower the girls in every situation. There is a very limited youth, who dedicate their time to a genuine cause and want to bring a positive change in the world. Most of the youth, in their teen years, have nothing better than actively following top celebrities on the social media and copying their looks to impress the opposite sex.

Various colours, covering #Malala’s face, is the reflection of a positive mind and a pure, peace-loving soul. Her smile is an act which reflects that she is still determined to bring peace and equality to the world full of differences and discriminations.

Honestly speaking, looking at #Malala’s picture, made me feel good, a positive vibe surrounding me rest of the day. I felt hopeful about the future of mankind, I saw a light in the pitch dark of extremism and intolerance. I thought positively there are still some youngsters who are determined to make this world livable, full of colours and happiness.

#Malala’s picture tweet is the perfect message of love, peace and harmony. It is motivational and inspiring. She is telling the world, the real happiness lays inside equality and respect for others beliefs. Also sharing the happiness without prejudices is a real feeling.

I normally scroll down to read comments, among 840 comments, at the time I read, on her tweet, many people have shown a positive response and appreciated her for celebration A colourful day, which is a sign of a healthy mind and body. Such positive comments are a great source of hope for a better future. Majority of us, as ‘human beings’ love peace, we like those who initiate a positive thinking procedure, without any personal frustrations and prejudices.

But there is a large crowd on the social media or in other words the army of the hate squad, who have nothing better in their lives, but to create hate and negativity against those who are working hard to bring a positive change in the world.

I personally think this is a hate crime and it should have to be banned immediately on the social media. The freedom of speech never gives one a right to show a disrespect to others, swear and use a street language, crossing all the boundaries of a civilized society, against others’ daughters and sisters. I am sure they never speak to their own women, daughters, sisters and mothers in the same manner? How these Khudai faujdars and declared patriot and guardian of the religion, would feel if someone else uses the same language for their women?

Such arrogant people, males and females, completely ignore the fact that their comments reflect their own upbringings and their own personalities. It also reflects a high level of jealousy and prejudices again a young girl, who have zero contribution to their ignorance and smallness.

I also noticed few very sick beside some nonsense and irrational comments like, ‘she is not Benazir’, ‘She cannot become the Prime Minister of Pakistan’ etc. Some of them have a habit to compare everyone with someone else, for example, Malala is after a political leadership in Pakistan and there must be something fishy behind her work for girls’ education and girl empowerment. They think that is wrong because they never came out from a shell of selfishness and greed. How can they be that blind, to think Benazir Bhutto was a great example to follow?

Though I respect Benazir, I am sorry to say that I never think she was a great leader. What is her contribution towards women education, and empowerment? She never introduced anything to improve women conditions in Pakistan or empower them. During her regime, thousands of women were locked up in the jails without any solid charges against them. They were imprisoned under the Hudood ordinance. She never paid any attention towards girls education? She was elected multiple times, but she did do anything to empower women in the region or in Pakistan but her husband to exploit his authority and misuse the system.

Yes, she empowered herself, and enjoyed the title, ‘the daughter of East,’ whole nation stood beside her, they never questioned her patriotism. Whatsoever, she did for the country and nation was not something which can distinguish her from other corrupt politicians who use the voters for just to empower themselves and then forget them.

Those who blame others for the extreme conditions in Pakistan, in fact, they are the root cause behind country’s worst conditions, and they have brought the country down. They should learn the skills of self-accountability to check who is actually traitor and causing the country a severe damage and who is a patriot and improving the image of the country around the globe?

#malala #benazir #pakistan #girls education #colour #discriminación #politics #nobel peace prize

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thewhitepaper-media-blog · 8 years ago

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EDHI HOMES: Homes to Muffled Cries

Behind bars…shut out for life ever after!

In our conservative patriarchal society, homeless women often end up in so-called rehabilitation centres. Azra Syed makes in-roads into Edhi Homes and exposes the life inside the tightly guarded walls.

‘I can sing very well. Please help me escape from here.’

‘I know tailoring. This was my means of living when I lived in Saudi Arabia. For God’s sake, get me out of here.’

‘I am Qur’an Teacher and want to teach the holy book to children, but how can do that here?’

These were just some of the desperate cries I heard as I enter the Bilquis Edhi Home ‘Apna Ghar’ in Shadman Town, North Karachi.Walking through the corridor I was confronted with disturbing questions. Why are these women here?Who dumped them in such a pathetic place where they do not even have a fan in such hot weather?Overwhelmed by such questions, I reminded myself that many of these women have no alternative but to take refuge in a

Dar-ul-Aman – rehabilitation centre for shelter-less women. In our conservative patriarchal culture, many women dare not leave their parents’ or husband’s home because they fear hostility from their families and society in general. But those who dare to do it often have no choice but to take refuge in

Dar-ul-Aman

, or they are forced to land in any Edhi Home.

So what is really going on in most of the Dar-ul-Amaans?

This can’t be explained in limited time and space. But what has been happening in the Edhi homes established especially for females, is a mystery which deserves a careful study.

Bilquis Edhi at work

The wrongdoings being committed by a renowned welfare organisation, as witnessed by this correspondent, are at best shocking. Here are a few examples of women I came across during my visit to Edhi Homes.

Mushtari Begum was a paralysed old woman who has been living at Apna Ghar for four years. She came from India and was married to a Pakistani National, an employee of Pakistan International Airline (PIA), who lived in Hyderabad. She wanted to go back but, as she said: “Edhi’s driver took me twice to Hyderabad, but both times, brought me back without taking me to my ex-husband’s home, saying the house is closed. She also alleged that her jewellery and money was taken by the staff at Apna Ghar and she never got it back.With tears in her eyes, she requested us: “Please help me get out of here.” Mushtari Begum was confident enough to live on her own. She said she had some money in the bank, besides some precious jewellery, watches and silks. “I can hire a maid and live a comfortable life,” she said. At the rehabilitation centre, she complained of pathetic living conditions. “I used to take a bath twice a day. But here I am lying on the floor without even a fan and a bed. I am paralysed and unable to maintain cleanliness. I need a helper, but who will help me in such a pathetic place?” she questioned.However, when asked for his comments regarding the allegations and conditions prevailing at Edhi Homes, Edhi said: “These women have no sense as to what they are talking about. They are mentally disturbed.”But then there is Amina, a slim Saraiki woman, accompanied by five other women, was preparing chapattis for all inside a big room. Upon spotting a journalist, she quickly moved towards me and started telling her story before we asked her anything. “I was living in Saudi Arabia, where I was earning my bread and butter by tailoring. My brother is still living in Saudi with his family. I came here to update my documents because the visa date had expired. The authorities did not allow me to go back and sent me to the Edhi Home instead,” she complained.

Helpless and Homeless: Waiting for Messiah

There are many Bengali women in Edhi Homes, and 20-year old Anwari is one of them. She was brought here when she was only twelve. Unlike most other women, she is very happy here. “This is my home. I feel comfortable here,” she said. Anwari and her elder sister Abeeja were trafficked to Pakistan from Bangladesh. The sisters parted at the border. She has forgotten everything about her childhood except her younger brothers and sisters left behind in Bangladesh. Anwari is fluent in Urdu and performs the duties of cooking with two other women, Nargis and Zubaida. Nargis was also trafficked to Pakistan from Bangladesh by a pimp who sold her in Pakistan. She cannot speak Urdu but understands it. She did not say anything but kept weeping.Another married old woman Ameer Jan claimed that about four months ago, she came to Karachi to shop for her son’s wedding. But some people from Edhi home carried her here.My discoveries about what really goes on inside the tightly guarded walls of Edhi Homes were reinforced by a joint research study conducted with Shabana Akhtar Siddiqui, a student at the University of Karachi. The study conducted a few months ago, looked at the “productive activities of women at Edhi Homes.” Starting disclosures where made as a result of the study which is probably the first of its kind.

About 50 women of different ages were selected at random from all the three Edhi Homes running in Karachi. A questionnaire covering age, education, number of skills, and further desire for working, was prepared. About 68 percent women approached for the purpose, were between 14-25 years. Whereas 28 percent were between 26-35 years and remaining was above 35 years. Fifty percent among them were illiterate. Only 26 percent had primary education. About 40 percent had primary to middle schooling. Only 14 percent were educated between middle to matriculation, while only four percent fell in the range of matriculation and graduation level.

About 70 percent women came from urban areas, 26 percent from rural areas and only two percent belong to townships, whereas two percent had no knowledge about their native towns and cities because they have been living in Edhi Homes since their childhood.To begin with, the majority of the women in Edhi Homes are involved in unproductive activities.

They usually spend their time sleeping or sitting idle, playing games or chatting. Very few had a reading habit.

About 68 percent knew stitching, 54 percent knew embroidery including Kashmiri and Sindhi embroidery, Moti Tanka (bead-stitch) and Afghani Tanka (Afghani-Stitch) and mirror work. 32 percent were trained in knitting and crochet. About 34 percent knew skills like flower-making, baskets, caps and other household items made. Many had worked in offices and dispensaries. A few were diploma holders in different courses including typing, short-hand, midwifery, hand decoration (Henna painting), and beautician.All of them maintained that they had learnt these skills before getting into Edhi Homes. The majority of the women wanted to increase their qualification. They were keen to learn different skills like driving, nursing, stitching, office work, social welfare, teaching, religious education. These women had also requested the administration to provide them with opportunities for learning different crafts.The management promised to do so, but never put its words into action. Hence, only one of the women succeeded in getting admission in a training school but she could not attend classes because of other engagements at the centre. Another was refused permission by the management without any reason.When Bilquis Edhi was asked about the productive activities of the women living in Edhi centres, she replied: “these women are mentally disturbed and are unable to do anything or perform any duty.”When it was pointed out that the majority at the Clifton Centre and

Dar-ul-Baqa-e-Khawateen (Women welfare centre) appeared normal, she denied it and said:

“No they are also abnormal and you do not have enough knowledge about different types of mental disorders.”

She said that they get themselves injured with sharp objects like needles, scissors and knives when asked to cook or stitch.“Participation in various tasks, like stitching of shrouds for the dead bodies (Kafans), repairing of clothes, cooking, sweeping dish-washing and laundering is compulsory for all women otherwise their food supply would be stopped,” she informed.However, she maintained that usually the women perform all these duties at their free will and do not object to doing any of these tasks.According to Bilquis Edhi, the Foundation has chalked out a number of new projects for the shelterless women. These including the establishment of a ball pen factory and match factory, besides starting typing and stitching courses.She claimed that in order to provide education to every woman, from first to the sixth level.

“Nursing, midwifery, and laboratory work had been taught to those women who showed interest in these areas, so they could become independent,”

Bilquis Edhi claimed.

Talking about the issue of marriages of girls lodged in Edhi Homes, she said Edhi Foundation has arranged marriages of a large number of girls who had been divorced once or were widows. Only one marriage out of these ended in failure, she claimed.But most of Bilquis Edhi’s statements are questionable in the light of the allegations by the women at the centres.For example, it was observed during random visits to the centre there was nothing like proper education facility at any centre or none of the women interviewed mentioned it.

Edhi Homes- Where one feels insecure

She had been crying for the last two hours but nobody paid any heed to her cries and woes. She was old, begging for her son whom she had admitted, a few months ago, in Edhi Home’s ‘

Apna Ghar’ (Ours Home) situated in Sohrab Goth

, Karachi.“For God’s sake! Let me meet my son. He is the only one I can lean on in my old age.” She was crying outside the window of the office, as she pleaded with those inside, Apna Ghar Edhi Home office.No one tried to understand her pain. After a while one of them came toward and snapped at her,

“jao mai tumhara beta mur gaya hey, Humari Jan chhorro” (Go away old woman, your son has died, leave us alone.) Once again she dissolved into tears: “You are telling a lie. How could he die? He was young and healthy.” “He was not healthy, he was a drug addict, so he simply died while sleeping at night,” was the reply.“Why did not you inform me?” she asked.This was met with silence.“Ok, if he is dead, then please hand his body over to me,” she requested.

‘We have buried him.’

'Where have you buried him?’

‘We don’t know. Hundreds of people die every day. How is it possible to remember where they are buried.’

He is no more, forget him and don’t waste our time.” She was told.“You people are talking rubbish… you are lying, if not, then give me his body,” she shouted.Meanwhile, one of the staff members came out and pushed the old lady away.According to an Edhi Homes staff member, the old woman had a son called ‘Haider’ who had fallen victim to the curse of heroin andWas admitted in ‘Apna Ghar’ a year ago. He died a few months later as he failed to respond to the treatment.It was time to question the staffer;

“How did Haider get heroin at Edhi Home when the rules stipulate that nobody can enter any Edhi Centre, without the express clearance by Maulana Abdus Sattar Edhi, the founder and head of Edhi Foundation?”

The staffer could not answer properly and tried to gloss over the embarrassing situation. I turned to the old lady and questioned her about her position. “I am too poor to get my son admitted to a private or semi-private hospital. So I had no choice but to leave my beloved child here and regularly visited him. But these people were always reluctant to allow me to meet him. In the beginning, they simply refused because he was an addict.”After one month they informed her that Haider

had been shifted to another Edhi Home. She asked for the address which they deliberately withheld. She did not surrender and kept demanding information.“One month passed and they did not have a proper reply. One day one of the office bearers informed me that my son had expired and since then I have been begging them for information about his grave.”This is not a rare case but a routine practice at Edhi Homes.It has been observed that those who cannot afford treatment of either physically or mentally ill relative drop them at Edhi Home. Usually, after a few months or a maximum of a year, they are informed that the person had died or lost somewhere while being shifted from one of the Edhi Homes to another.Parents are not allowed to meet their wards lodged at Edhi Centres.Defending the decision, Ismail, the charge of ‘Apna Ghar’ at Sohrab Goth said: “If a parent or relative admits a child or a person at the Edhi Home, it means the person is unwanted.

Once they do not want a person they have no right to meet them because they lost their right when they threw the person out of their lives.So we discourage them and are not allowed to meet them.”According to Ismail, illiterate people bring their abnormal children to Edhi Centres. They fail to read the admission form in which it is clearly said that the person who has filled the form has no relation to the child or person. He or she is alone in the world, and so, is being admitted to the Edhi Home.Some of the staff members and insiders, while requesting anonymity, said that a physically healthy but mentally retarded person living in the Edhi Homes dies within two to three years. Nobody knows the reasons behind these early deaths. When asked, the people sitting in Edhi Homes replied that they die because they develop severe mental disorders.Can a mental disturbance be the cause of an early death?

#women #abdul sattar edhi #edhi #homeless #poor #women condition #women rights #karachi #pakistan #refuge home #miserable #untold stories

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