THE NGO MAFIA !
05 July, 2005
By Ahmer Muzammil
If you live in Pakistan and still are not some how involved in either the real-estate business (its more like real estate scamming business) or the NGO phenomenon, then you truly havent arrived yet on the scene.
So much has been written about one simple but courageous woman by the name of Mukhataran Mai that initially I choose not to comment on this story. But then I realized that the sole motivation behind my writing, whether its this article or any previous efforts, have been that I truly feel that most writers are biased and are working on an agenda. The Enlightened ones see nothing but faults and wrongs and ills in everything that is religious and traditional and hence blame all evil on religion some how. The other side, well they are just stupid for lack of a better word. They claim they are the flag barriers of religion and Islamic tradition, although they fail to comply and comprehend the basic principle of my beautiful religion, which is COMPASSION. Whenever I hear an ignorant man with a beard (I refuse to call him mullah or anything else because they are nothing but ignorant m an with beards) ranting and raving about how women should and shouldnt do this & that and the other, I would love to just smack him across the face just so he can calm the hell down and then tell him that you moron, do you know Who is regarded as the best amongst us according to the Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah swt be with him)? The one who is good in manners with his wife! It amazes the oxygen out of me that we claim to be the biggest religious pundits, hence we refuse to understand the beauty and the science of Islam and the teachings of our beloved Prophet may peace and blessings of Allah swt be with him. Of all the things Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah swt be with him) could have declared as the prerequisite for being the best, he choose the one who is best in manners with his wife. Is this not worth pondering over? Its funny! I dont know how else to say it, but both these sides make fools out of themselves on television and in the media a nd the populous is going, Is that really the best our country has to offer? I was watching this talk show in which the response of every query that was directed towards the champion of all-human rights(by the way, raping, killing, child labor, exploitation, forced prostitution etc etc., unfortunately none of this fulfill the definition of human rights abuse. Apparently the only thing that jolts her in action is if heavens forbid society is denied a mix marathon) one Ms. Asma Jehangir was that I am sorry, I will not wear a burqa(veil). Interestingly enough not once the question was asked that Ms. Jehangir would you wear a Burqa(Veil)? The questions were the usual. So Ms. Jehangir, why did you feel it was necessary to held a mini marathon? Her response? I am sorry, I will not wear a burqa(veil). Next question? So Ms. Jehangir, do you feel that your organization should protest on more imp. Issues like workplace harassment, innocent people in prison, private jails etc? He r response? I am sorry, I will not wear a burqa(veil) Next question? So Ms. Jehangir, how come your organization fails to condemn atrocities of human rights at the hands of western countries?, even though you are the biggest NGO in Pakistan with the most foreign aid, however when it comes to doing actual work like getting innocent Pakistanis freed from foreign jails, or liberating Pakistani kids from middle eastern Camel-Run mafia, its always people like ansar burni who come to the rescue? Her response? I am sorry, I will not wear a burqa(veil). Next question? So Ms. Jehangir, do you prefer Biryani(Rice) or Qorma(Soup)? Her response? Ding ding ding! You guessed it. Its absurd, who is asking you to wear the veil? I categorically claim (although I have no scientific proof of that) that majority of women in Pakistan probably dont wear the veil(face covering), however they dont wear jeans & halter tops either as media would like you to believe. But my vexation is that why are the liberal women so obsessed with this veil phenomenon. Get over your low self-esteem issues and lets talk real issues. I assure you that the majority of women, who choose to wear a headscarf or cover their faces, do it of their own free-will. If my mother (who has a masters in Organic Chemistry, and was a college professor mind you!) refuses to go out in public without covering her head, or if thousands of young & old Muslim women all over the world including USA & Europe insist on covering their heads and would not even hesitate to fight for that right, its not because they are forced by the men, its simply because they understand it to be their religious obligation. You can choose to agree or disagree with them but it doesnt make them any less liberated than women who choose to wear a mini-skirt.
It is so pathetic that these vultures pray on already victimized poor soles. The way Mukhtaran Mai was cashed by both the LIBERAL NGOs and the enlightened establishment was so wretched that it truly makes you wonder if these people have any conscience whatsoever. This poor woman was gang-raped on the orders of the elders of the tribe. Those supposed elders and the perpetrators of this crime should have been publicly hanged. Why is it that if a police officer is killed anywhere in Pakistan, the killers always always some how meet justice in an Encounter by the police. Why cant for once this Encounter happen for the offenders of an innocent, weak, raped & brutalized woman? Oh never, how dare I even ask? The law will take its due course! In layman terms if the offenders are resourceful, God-Willing they will be free to go! Absolutely gut-wrenching.
Lastly, although we truly appreciate the concerns of Ms. Rocca regarding the Mukhtaran Mais mothers forced illness due to which she was conveniently stopped by the Govt. of Pakistan to go abroad and share the reality of menace of Landlord Culture prevalent in Pakistan. We would kindly request her that she also looks in to bringing justice to some very unfortunate women who have been sexually harassed while in the armed forces of USA. The details are as follows:
In 2004, 91 women formally complained of sexual abuse while serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.
According to AP (Associated Press) 54 Women Officers in Colorado Air-force academy formally reported sexual misconduct against them.
Captain Jennifer Matchmer of US Army has been reportedly raped by her superior officers 3 times in last 3 years, last time around when she reported the crime, instead of getting reprimanded the rapist was promoted to a higher rank. (hmm interesting!)
A superior officer on 20th march 2003 in Kuwait raped Major Beth Jamison, even though the verdict has been given against the rapist, to this day no action has been taken to punish the perpetrator.
In year 2003, according to FBI 93,233 women reported sexual abuse, that same year the reported incidents in Pakistan were less than 600(before anyone goes bizark and start fuming that in Pakistan cases are not reported, let me be the first one to acknowledge that, however this figure will never reach the alarming proportions of USA)
Every year about 400,000 children become victim to sexual crimes in USA. In year 2004, about 756 catholic priests were investigated of molesting young boys.
So with all due respect before we go on becoming the champion of women & human rights all over the world, first lets tackle this menace domestically in the LAND OF THE FREE & HOME OF THE BRAVE. Shall we?
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