Life as it is, is extremely dull and boring so it is only natural that people should do things to amuse themselves, this is the case here as muchs as it is in the rest of the world. But here, because of the existing 'religious fanaticism' policy of the junta, nearly everything which is fun or which makes people happy – is for all intents and purposes cursed.
There is a spring festival in which people fly kites, it is called Basant and lots of people participate in it. There are other things which are perfectly normal form of entertainment in other parts of the world such as music concerts, plays and stage shows - the junta and its lackeys have made it point to give these things a bad name. Discos and night clubs were shut down when General Zia-ul-Haq was heading the martial law - those options simply do not exist.
Theatres and auditoriums are regularly raided while these shows are going on. Some performers are banned. A few days back the military controlled Supreme Court upheld the ban on wedding parties – which means no food can be served in a wedding party. An ordinance was made to ban wedding feasts this ordinance lapsed and wedding parties resumed. The military controlled Supreme Court at the same time also ruled that many pre-wedding ceremonies are against religious values i.e. Islam.
The problem with this ruling is that infringes on the privacy of people. If someone can afford it and has 'money to burn' wants to hold a large party for family and friends – it is should not be anyone else's business only be of that person who has arranged the party. After all it is his money and he is spending it. No one has any business interfering in what people do privately.
How many times does it have to be repeated if there people who cannot afford to have such lavish parties and organise feasts, they do not have to have to, but that does not mean that they should stop people who can afford have them.
No sooner did the military controlled Supreme Court made its ruling immediately planted letters started appearing in the newspapers praising the court’s idiotic ruling. Newspapers which want to flatter the government had editorials praising the ruling.
As for pre-wedding merry-making ceremonies – it is conveniently forgotten that none of them have anything to do with religion. These are a the result of cultural heritage – no desert roaming nomad bereft of any kind culture and any type ofrefinement could ever think up of. For instance the ceremony of Mehndi – in which henna is placed on the hands of the bride and groom to be. On this occasion there is lot of singing and dancing. There is the ceremony of Mayoun in which the bride to be is has turmeric put on her on the same occasion there are also food fights.. Again those who can afford such things should have every right to have such festivities and those who cannot should not. Why should such a paltry matter be turned into a legal issue is unfathomable?
As for pre-wedding merry-making ceremonies – it is conveniently forgotten that none of them have anything to do with religion. These are a the result of cultural heritage – no desert roaming nomad bereft of any kind culture and any type ofrefinement could ever think up of. For instance the ceremony of Mehndi – in which henna is placed on the hands of the bride and groom to be. On this occasion there is lot of singing and dancing. There is the ceremony of Mayoun in which the bride to be is has turmeric put on her on the same occasion there are also food fights.. Again those who can afford such things should have every right to have such festivities and those who cannot should not. Why should such a paltry matter be turned into a legal issue is unfathomable?
Most probably one of the reasons why people abandon the country forever is because the excessive restrictions and involvment in the private mattters of individuals. There is too much prying into their personal life – they cannot have the privacy they want. They simply want to be left alone to do as they please.
The main concerns of all military officials and their civilian counterparts should be to improve the quality of life – but such concepts are entirely alien to them.
Despite the existing tyrannical and extremely oppressive environment, court rulings, mindless laws, rules and regulation people find ways to have their own way. If they cannot have wedding receptions and the pre-wedding ceremonies with great fanfare – they have some other way.
What is sickening is New Year, it is celebrated with great gusto although officials who belong to the same but these are condemned by some demented group of people, they detest any kind of celebration. Such people are a pitiful lot, all they ever see is doom and gloom. but they are scared of being beaten up, because the crowd which is celebrating is huge and , there is dancing and fireworks. Everyone is having a great time.
A saying from Tao Te Ching is one which I find very pertinent for the conditions which exist in the country.
Injuring through greed:
When taxes are too heavy,hunger lays the people low.When those who govern interfere too much,the people become rebellious.When those who govern demand too muchof people's lives, death is taken lightly.When the people are starving in the land,life is of little value,and so is more easily sacrificed by themin overthrowing the rulers.
This being said, it does not mean the existing rulers of the country will ever pay heed to such advice. They will continue with their insane ways, they will go on trampling on the rights of the people, eventually they are thrown out . (Again today there was no electricity for the better half of the day. It is obvious the military is incapable of doing anything about this problem – there is absolute incompetence in every rank). Every time a military dictator is thrown out there is always another waiting to take his place. True democracy and freedom may remain forever unattainable. Either there is a military dictator or a puppet of the military regime.
What I would like to see is that there should be no identity cards which means no NADRA and all its records destroyed and the organisation permanently shut down, no PEMRA, no PTA, no PTCL, no KESC (in its place 200 electricity supply companies), no WAPDA. There is just about too much state interference in virtually every aspect of our lives and a stop should put to it right away. Loudspeakers from mosques should be shut down, the mullahs who run the mosques should pay income tax and property tax. Mullahcracy should brought to an end. Madressah preach fanaticism and do not provide any kind of education.
Injuring through greed:
When taxes are too heavy,hunger lays the people low.When those who govern interfere too much,the people become rebellious.When those who govern demand too muchof people's lives, death is taken lightly.When the people are starving in the land,life is of little value,and so is more easily sacrificed by themin overthrowing the rulers.
This being said, it does not mean the existing rulers of the country will ever pay heed to such advice. They will continue with their insane ways, they will go on trampling on the rights of the people, eventually they are thrown out . (Again today there was no electricity for the better half of the day. It is obvious the military is incapable of doing anything about this problem – there is absolute incompetence in every rank). Every time a military dictator is thrown out there is always another waiting to take his place. True democracy and freedom may remain forever unattainable. Either there is a military dictator or a puppet of the military regime.
What I would like to see is that there should be no identity cards which means no NADRA and all its records destroyed and the organisation permanently shut down, no PEMRA, no PTA, no PTCL, no KESC (in its place 200 electricity supply companies), no WAPDA. There is just about too much state interference in virtually every aspect of our lives and a stop should put to it right away. Loudspeakers from mosques should be shut down, the mullahs who run the mosques should pay income tax and property tax. Mullahcracy should brought to an end. Madressah preach fanaticism and do not provide any kind of education.
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