tragedy
Terror strikes seat of love
The suicide attacks at Data Darbar have exposed vulnerability of shrines to terrorism
By Shahzada Irfan Ahmed
The last Thursday was undoubtedly one of the most tragic days the city had seen over ages. It was the day when at least two suicide bombers breached the so-called security cordon at the shrine of sufi saint Hazrat Ali Hajveri, popularly known as Data Sahib, and blew themselves amid hordes of devotees who had gathered there for prayers.

MOOD STREET
Interesting times
By Haneya H. Zuberi
They say your twenties are to make mistakes. Your thirties are to mend those mistakes and settle down. Your forties are to pay the bills and relax. Strangely, there is no mention of teenage or even your fifties for that matter. Maybe that is because you are way too unsettled in your teenage and a little too settled in your fifties.

Town Talk
* 6th MTFA
Football
Summer Camp
06:00 AM To 06:00 PM
Wed, 02 Jun 2010 To Tue, 10 Aug 2010
Venue: Model Town
Sports Ground / Lahore

service
SOS and beyond
A haven for children, the environment at the orphanage is helping children to grow into confident, skillful and educated individuals
By Noorzadeh Raja
Living in a society where it is common for weak, helpless orphans and abandoned children to be oppressed, exploited and coerced into participating in trades such as beggary, prostitution and drug trafficking, SOS Children's Villages of Pakistan is a beacon of hope for a better future for these children.

School in tents
A bunch of young people giving education to children living in tarpaulin huts is a ray of hope
By Amara Naseer
Where tents and roads reflect sunlight equally, the poor children are getting education in tarpaulin huts, at their living places, in the area of Sabzazar, Lahore. Life here is so basic that these children do not even know of electric fan but the deprivations seem to drive them to the classes even more. Here they see an opportunity to follow their dreams through education.

A diminishing art
Based in Krishan Nagar Bazaar of the city, a family has kept alive the art for over two centuries and are By Syed Ali Abedi
Once Krishan Nagar Bazaar was known for the shops of block printing. There was a time when block printing vendors used to visit streets and roads of Krishan Nagar but now they have either left the work or switched over to some other profession. All shops of block printing have closed down in the bazaar, except one which has been doing this business for the last 50 years.

 

tragedy

Terror strikes seat of love

The suicide attacks at Data Darbar have exposed vulnerability of shrines to terrorism

By Shahzada Irfan Ahmed

The last Thursday was undoubtedly one of the most tragic days the city had seen over ages. It was the day when at least two suicide bombers breached the so-called security cordon at the shrine of sufi saint Hazrat Ali Hajveri, popularly known as Data Sahib, and blew themselves amid hordes of devotees who had gathered there for prayers.

The place that used to be immersed in the fragrance of roses and incense sticks was covered with splashes of blood and dead bodies and smelt of burnt human flesh. The shrine is frequented by thousands of people every day with the number being the highest on Thursdays. This was apparently the main reason why the terrorists selected this day to carry out their attack. The horrible blasts left around 45 people dead and more than 170 injured, many of them critically.

The worst part of the story is that the suicide attackers succeeded in carrying out the attack at Data Darbar despite repeated warnings issued by law enforcement authorities and intelligence agencies of the country. For example, the special branch of Punjab police had sent a report to the Punjab government about a likely suicide attack at Data Darbar on June 24.

Following this warning, the Punjab police carried out extensive search operations in different areas of the city and rounded up dozens of suspects. The areas in the vicinity of Data Darbar were also combed thoroughly in an attempt to catch terrorists but the whole exercise turned out to be a sham. Though the police claimed of finding important clues during this operation, it failed to pre-empt the attack and foil this bloody plan.

Soon after the tragedy, Lahore Commissioner Khusro Pervez condemned the act and put the responsibility on Pakistan's enemy states. Besides, he wondered as to how the tight security at the darbar was breached in the presence of large number of policemen deployed there.

Abdul Mannan, a devotee who visits the shrine every Thursday night and stays there till morning prayers, tells TNS that the security there is mainly in the hands of volunteers called razakaars. He says though the police officials stand close to the gates, it's the razakaars who frisk the visitors one by one and do the job diligently.

He says the evidence of this can be found in the CCTV footage shown by TV channels in which a razakaar by the name of Saleem Akhtar is seen chasing the suicide bomber in the basement of the shrine. The police man deployed at the gate is seen walking casually in the same footage, he says, adding that Saleem sacrificed his life in an attempt to pin down the suicide bomber.

Mannan tells TNS that there is a police post in the basement of the shrine but the staff posted there is least concerned about the security of the visitors. They are always hunting for runaway girls, pickpockets and fraudsters and busy dealing with their backers for their release against hefty bribes.

The said attack has exposed the vulnerability of similar attacks at other sufi shrines spread all over the country. The Punjab Auqaf department which is responsible for the care and administration of these shrines seems ill-equipped to fight the menace of terrorism. The department has its own guards who are limited in number and are not properly trained to fight terrorists. Their main duties at the shrines are to control unruly crowds and make devotees stand in queues while entering the shrines or receiving their share of food distributed there. Pakpattan Sharif, Bibian Pakdamanan, Ucch Sharif, Mian Mir, Shah Jamal, Pir Makki, Miran Hussain Zanjani and Madhu Lal Hussain are some of the most heavily attended shrines of the country and need well-chalked out security plans for the visitors.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) leader Sahibzada Fazal Karim tells TNS that the attack on Data Darbar is a heinous act and an attempt to trigger sectarian violence all over the country. He says the planners of this attack have tried to give the message that they are targeting shrines revered by Barelvis. Fazal says they would not lose their calm but at the same time press the government to find out and punish the elements behind these attacks.

Mufti Intekhab Alam of Jamia Naeemia Lahore tells TNS that the sufis throughout the history had spread the message of love and peace. Their places were visited by people from all walks of life and religions who came here to find solace. Show of such barbarism at these places is incomprehensible, he adds. He says last year learned religious scholar Mufti Muhammad Sarfaraz Naeemi was martyred in a suicide attack. His only fault was that he had termed suicide attacks forbidden (haram) in Islam.

Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmed, a trader in Akbari Mandi, is not deterred by these horrible blasts. Like always, he offered his Friday prayers at the shrine. Talking to TNS, he says the faithful cannot be stopped from attending holy places by such acts. "If they stay back, they will help terrorists achieve their goals." Mushtaq says instead of blocking entries to the shrines, the hideouts of the terrorists should be raided and the evil be nipped in the bud.

 

MOOD STREET

Interesting times

By Haneya H. Zuberi

They say your twenties are to make mistakes. Your thirties are to mend those mistakes and settle down. Your forties are to pay the bills and relax. Strangely, there is no mention of teenage or even your fifties for that matter. Maybe that is because you are way too unsettled in your teenage and a little too settled in your fifties.

As definitive as it may sound, I will grow out of my teenage tomorrow. It feels like an era is ending. Maybe this is what kings felt when their reign came to an end or how prime ministers and presidents feel when their five year term finishes, unless, of course they are not running for the second term.

I remember being exceptionally hyper and over-excited the day I turned thirteen. I couldn't wait to get over being a twelve year old, having no clue what I was getting into. Teenage is exciting for a twelve year old and good riddance for a nineteen year old a day away from turning twenty. Now you should not get me wrong. I had a very fulfilling teenage. I enjoyed my years growing up thoroughly. I did what most normal teenagers do. I might have been a little bit of a non conformist but I was never a disobedient child. My father will nod if he reads this, he might raise one of his eyebrows, but it works. It is my birthday tomorrow after all, and it is still the birthday week so things are great.

At the risk of making my teenage sound a little too pristine I will make a confession. It seems like the Chinese curse; "May you live in interesting times" really applied to my age of innocence (read dissonance) or in simple words my teenage. For starters, our national cricket team decided to descend the ladder. One bad performance after the other and nothing broke the impeccable monotony till a very long time. We did win sometimes of course; it does rain in the Sahara desert, just so you know! We do not have a foot ball team participating in the world cup as yet. But we do have football fever as a nation; after all we are one of the biggest manufacturers of football and who has seen tomorrow? We might just have a team.

Hailing from the sixth populous country in the world I did however watch a steady increase in my country's population over the time. This happened while our neighbour was bent upon a one child policy and the use of contraceptives was still hanging as a controversial topic with us. Soon after which the nature decided to shock us with an earthquake leaving thousands homeless. My country faced injury. Throughout the time, my country also sufficed with one government in charge and the same faces on the opposition bench. Change came but with the death of another Bhutto. Power crisis rose to a peak while the GDP went down at the same rate. Half my nation had to go on a diet because of the sugar and wheat crisis. Children have now incorporated 'load shedding' as a part of their daily life. To tell you, they are way more adaptable.

I had to see the power crisis in my teenage; I was used to 24 hour electricity back when I was a child. Then the internal security issues and the T word kicked in, followed by the drone attacks. NWFP decided to become Khyper Pakhunkhwa, that too, during my teenage. My! I have lived in interesting times. Our inflation rate might have gone up to 13.07 percent but on the brighter side we have Sania Mirza as our national bahu and Hardees to eat.

Now with the onset of global warming, drastic climatic changes, melting of the glaciers plus the scanty natural resources in the world, growing intolerance and lack of peace, predication of the world ending in 2012, where do we go?

I was thinking Mars but somebody told me there is China!

 

Town Talk

* 6th MTFA

Football

Summer Camp

06:00 AM To 06:00 PM

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 To Tue, 10 Aug 2010

Venue: Model Town

Sports Ground / Lahore

 

* Wushu (Kung-Fu) Training Camp (Girls)

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 To Sun, 25 Jul 2010

Venue: Pakistan Wushu Federation / Lahore

 

* Urdu Baithak/Sing along session every Sunday

at Faiz Ghar from 3:45pm to 5pm.

 

* Tea Party at Cafe Bol every Tuesday at 8pm.

 

* Theatre Workshop at Ali Institute of Education

till July 15

from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.

 

* Film: Knight and Day at

DHA Cinema till Thu, Jul 8.

 

* Film: I hate Love Stories at

DHA till Thu, July 8,

daily from 2 pm and 7:15 pm.

 

SOS and beyond

A haven for children, the environment at the orphanage is helping children to grow into confident, skillful and educated individuals

By Noorzadeh Raja

Living in a society where it is common for weak, helpless orphans and abandoned children to be oppressed, exploited and coerced into participating in trades such as beggary, prostitution and drug trafficking, SOS Children's Villages of Pakistan is a beacon of hope for a better future for these children.

SOS Children's Villages of Pakistan is a branch of SOS Kinderdorf International, the largest child welfare organisation in the world. The villages are based in cities such as Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Sialkot.

The philosophy of SOS is to provide every child with a normal environment for growth and nurturing. A proper family support system is established by the presence of four essential pillars; the mother, brothers and sisters, the home and the village.

Upon visiting SOS Children's Village in Lahore, which is located on Ferozepur Road, I was given the opportunity to interact and question several 'families', as had been established by the organisation. The village has a serene, comfortable feel to it, as the leaves of trees, in the shade of which children play together and sit on swings, are gently rustled by a soft-blowing wind; it is obvious the children feel at home in its calm environment.

It comprises a school and the families' living quarters, and a brief inspection shows the latter to be surprisingly comfortable and homely-in fact, corresponding with the current dire electricity situation, each home is even equipped with a UPS.

Community spirit appears to be strong in SOS. Ami Akhtari, who joined the organization at the young age of 18 and has no children of her own, plays the role of a mother of eight children, all of whom hail from different backgrounds. Some children come to SOS as infants, therefore it is easy for them to adjust to their new surroundings. However, Ami Akhtari's newest child, Sabir, came at the age of 6, and some arrive when they are even older, in which case the transition is not as easy.

In order to unite the children into the true form of a family, they are told from the start that they are siblings, are fed the same kind and amount of food, bathed at the same time, and clothed without any discrimination. The mother cooks two meals a day according to the likes and dislikes of all her children, which entails mostly vegetables and pulses, although meat is provided as many as four times a week, whenever the family desires it. Children are given toys to play with and have many other forms of entertainment , including trips to Jallo Park, Model Town Park and Shahi Qila, playing sports such as football and cricket, as well as the annual Eid Mela.

They start school in SOS at the age of four, which continues till the 10th grade. The fact that three boys from SOS have gained admittance to Aitchison College on the Governor's Scholarship bears witness to the fact that the standard of education provided here is good. Girls' marriages are arranged by SOS and funded by the Friends of SOS. However, as Ami Akhtari acknowledges, "No matter how much we do, we can never replace their own parents."

But it remains a fact, as according to another mother, Asma, that "The children's wishes are fulfilled even before they ask." SOS provides these deprived children with a home away from home, a place which they learn to love and consider their own.

SOS Pakistan is a safe haven in the midst of a society which in general does not take kindly to orphans. The question arises whether the children brought up at SOS are able to adjust in such a society and prove their worth as individuals, using the valuable life skills imparted to them at SOS. Does their protected upbringing render them fit to experience life in the real world? Director SOS Children's Village, Lahore, Almas Butt, answers in these words: "The children at SOS have a bright future because we educate them. Many have made their mark." The cut off age for girls is when they get married, whereas for boys it is till they can learn to stand on their own feet and support themselves economically.

Out of the 365 children who have left SOS to date, many are doing well in life and have shown a degree of success. Several boys have good posts in the army, there are some who became engineers from UET and a few are doing their MBAs. Some girls, after completing their MAs, are now teaching in educational institutions. They are working in computer companies, foreign banks and some have successful careers abroad. SOS also helps children find respectable employment opportunities.

Talking to two of the girls from SOS who have now entered the realm of practical life was an enlightening experience, and their sincerity and loyalty to the place they consider their home is heartwarming. Rabiya, 25, still lives at SOS and will continue to do so until she is married. Now teaching at a prestigious private school, she says she got everything she ever wanted from SOS, which equipped her with the necessary tools; education and moral values and basically shaped her entire personality, because she has been in their care since the tender age of 2, as a result of which she has adjusted well to practical life. She did photography and computer courses from there. According to her, when she tells people she is from SOS, their behaviour is generally good and she is never discriminated against.

Sana, 26, had a similar story to tell. She has been living at SOS for the last fifteen years and says that her time there has been just like it would be in a normal home. She did her MBA from Superior College, where she is now working in the administration. She says that SOS gave her the confidence to face the real world with her head held high, the valuable gift of education and groomed her personality well.. In fact, she got the first job she applied for.

One thing is for certain; the children at SOS have high hopes and aspirations for the future. Shahraz, 15, and Tanveer, 14, aspire to become doctors in the future, while Fatima, 14, would like to become a bank manager as well as a singer. One hopes that their dreams are fulfilled and that this organisation continues to do valuable work in our country, for it is surely an asset in providing a better future for these children.

 

 

School in tents

A bunch of young people giving education to children living in tarpaulin huts is a ray of hope

By Amara Naseer

Where tents and roads reflect sunlight equally, the poor children are getting education in tarpaulin huts, at their living places, in the area of Sabzazar, Lahore. Life here is so basic that these children do not even know of electric fan but the deprivations seem to drive them to the classes even more. Here they see an opportunity to follow their dreams through education.

Volunteers – young men and women -- hold classes under these tents with open spaces to escape the heat. These teachers are boys and girls from one of the city's best universities, enthusiastic to bring about change in the society through education.

Since children here are of different ages and different levels, challenges here are immense. A project initiated by Farrukh Naz Sherazi to provide education in these tents is progressing by leaps and bound with dedicated volunteers and professionals.

The class for neglected families becomes a sharing and learning space where happy boys and girls can be seen learning to read and write. The school is open on three sides but no child tries to flee the class, rather they look forward to it where they learn new things every time they meet. In a corner of the class is a space covered with sheets where food for children is kept to make them happy.

The tent dwellers see it as no less than a miracle that their children are getting education at the very place where they live. The classes also serve as a venue to train them in concepts of hygiene, nutrition and health. The charity organisation, Naz Foundation under its project name Naz Pakistan has undertaken a challenge to educate children who are the first ones in their community to learn to read and write.

"Displacement reduces access to resources such as food, water, shelter and money which makes it impossible to teach children of these families," says Zaigham Rasool, executive member of the Foundation. Tent school is a new idea to bring change in the lives of displaced people. "These classes not only provide education but also serve as a platform for children to improve their vision."

Naz Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in 2003 and registered under Society's Act. The Foundation has developed an infrastructure to serve humanity. Through donation schemes and plans for expansion, the classes continue to reach out to the community. Naz acutely felt the deprivations of these people and wanted to do something to ameliorate their condition. Poor children living in tents with temporary arrangements particularly moved him to respond to the necessity of education. What could be better than teaching them to read and write which he sees as true empowerment of a people. This is how he started school in tents.

The board members behind this initiative with Farrukh Naz Sherazi are friends with good hearts and business expertise who assist in the practical, financial and legal aspects of the new organisation. The Foundation has launched Naz Pakistan an educational project in tents and Shelter Home for old people.

"The new education programme will seek to increase the literacy rate by helping the shanty home children secure a place as an educated member of society. The second main plan is to construct a hospital for the poor. The objective of this effort is to bring prosperity in the society in areas where government and other agencies have totally failed." says Riaz-ul-Haq, member executive body.

The organisation started receiving funds as people pitched in the good being done. "A person has donated land for hostels for the destitute children and shelter homes at Narowal," says Naz. "This land will also provide space for the administrative offices of the growing organisation.

Naz Foundation plans to take its work to every city of the country. "Soon we are starting teaching in tents in Islamabad and Multan while classes in Sargodha have already started. We are trying to engage students from well-reputed universities as volunteers to teach these poor children living in tents. It's not just teaching at their doorsteps, we are distributing free textbooks and stationery in addition to offering them some food to keep the interest of the children alive," says the chairman of the foundation.

 

 

 

A diminishing art

Based in Krishan Nagar Bazaar of the city, a family has kept alive the art for over two centuries and are By Syed Ali Abedi

Once Krishan Nagar Bazaar was known for the shops of block printing. There was a time when block printing vendors used to visit streets and roads of Krishan Nagar but now they have either left the work or switched over to some other profession. All shops of block printing have closed down in the bazaar, except one which has been doing this business for the last 50 years.

Block printing has become popular because this simple process can create sensational prints in rich and vibrant colours. The beautiful art of block printing employs wooden or metal blocks to print designs and patterns on fabric by hand. The blocks are made of seasoned teak wood by craftsmen. The designs are carved onto blocks by hand. The colours used are normally vegetable dyes. Mineral and non-toxic chemical dyes are also used. They are made of wooden blocks in different shapes and sizes called bunta. The underside of the block has the design etched onto it.

The fabric to be printed is washed free of starch and soft bleached if the natural grey of the fabric is not desired. If dyeing is required as in the case of saris, where borders, or the body is tied and dyed, it is done before printing. The fabric is stretched over the printing table and fastened with small pins. In the case of saris, the pallu is printed first and then the border. The printing starts from left to right. The colour is placed in a tray and the block dipped into the outline colour (usually black or a dark colour). When the block is applied to the fabric, it is slammed hard with the fist on the back of the handle so that a good impression may register. Skill is necessary for good printing since the colours need to merge into the design to make it a composite whole. A single colour design can be executed faster, a double colour takes more time and multiple colour design would mean additional labour and more colour consumption. Different dyes are used for silk and cotton. One distinctive quality of block printing that makes it popular is that its designs are not repeated. It is novelty of designs that attracts the customers.

Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq the owner of a shop, whose forefathers belonged to Soni Patt, India, had started the business in 1800. He says the Mohallah in which his forefathers lived was called Kucha Chhapay Garan. Now, its new name is Kucha Pundit. He says after the Partition, his grandfather and family shifted to Lahore and now they have been doing the business in Krishan Nagar for more than 50 years.

He says block printing art is on the decline due to several reasons, including tough labour, price hike and availability of printed clothes in the market. He says he has bought Khaddar for Rs130 per meter from Faisalabad. Two months ago, its price was Rs82 per meter. Several people came in the business but later they left it. He says they are doing the business despite all this just to keep the art and family business alive. When asked whether his sons will adopt the profession or not, Muhammad Ishaq says he cannot say anything in this regard as they are studying. He does not see any boom in this business in the near future. He says now they have also started the business of bedsheets after the decline in the block printing business.

Muhammad Asif, the nephew of Muhammad Ishaq, says this is the family's 4th generation which is doing this business. He says his great grandfather Azizuddin had taught for about 13 years in different schools before entering the field of block printing. He says when his grandfather launched the business there were only six or seven shops on Saadi Road. Now, it has become a hub of business activities. He says making of block printers is an art and their manufacturing needs tough labour. The printing blocks are prepared by craftsmen of Multan and Jhang. It takes seven to eight hours to make a block printer. He shows me a 60-year-old block printer which was made of Saagwan wood.

He says they are using artificial colours for block printing clothes being imported from Germany, Taiwan and China. They use different colours for different clothes, for example, for cotton they use prismatic and for silk they use paste. "When my grandfather started the business, there were natural colours which were imported from India. Natural colours were prepared from the skin of pomegranates, trees, flowers and other fruits and vegetables," he says.

"Block printing is an art. We train people and then give them work. Block printing of a cotton suit and silk suit costs Rs500 and Rs700 respectively," he informs.

He says there are different varieties and shapes of block printers at his shops. He claims there is no other shop which has such a huge range of block printing. He says block printing shops have been closed down in Anarkali due to the recession. Currently, their trained people are doing the business in Raja Market and Gulberg.

A woman, Seema, says she has switched over to printed fabrics as one can easily select clothes of his or her choice. She finds block printing expensive as well as time consuming. Firstly, you have to buy plain cloth and then get it block printed. Selecting a block printer is not an easy task, she says. Many other women have the same view.

 

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