Alternatives

My second book Alternative which is a compilation of some of my blogs with some additions has been published on Smashwords.com. Reviews and comments are wellcome.

My First Book

Islam for the Perverted by Muhammad Nasim has been published on Amazon Kindle (ASIN: B007G8Q044). US$ 7.85.
Reviews and comments are welcome.

A National Embarrassment

Way back in the 1990s, it was discovered that there were some sixty million dollars deposited in a bank account in Switzerland which were kickbacks paid by a Swiss firm while it worked for the GOP. The then government proceeded to recover that amount and a case was registered for the repatriation of the funds in that account. The Swiss authorities froze that account which happened to be in the names of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari who were not in power in those days. The money was proven to have been laundered and the account holders were convicted who appealed through a better lawyer who forced a retrial on technical grounds. Towards the end of 2007 the retrial was nearing completion and it seemed that the earlier verdict would be repeated. At about the same time General Musharraf the military dictator disguised as president of Pakistan was in serious trouble. An agreement was reached whereby all cases against Pakistani politicians including the Swiss case would be withdrawn and Peoples Party would shore up Musharraf’s presidency. NRO was issued and the cases were withdrawn. Benazir was murdered and PP won enough seats to form government and forced Musharraf to resign by threat of impeachment. Asif Ali Zardari became president.

After the restoration of the real judiciary as a result of a populist movement which shook the PP government the supreme court heard citizen’s petitions and annulled many ordinances and orders of General Musharraf including the NRO resulting in the reopening of all the cases which had been closed.

On another citizen’s petition, the supreme court ordered that a letter be written to the Swiss authorities to reopen the case for the repatriation of the 60 million dollars. The prime minister took the plea that since the main culprit of the case was Asif Ali Zardari who as president had immunity from criminal trial the letter could not be written.

The supreme court took this action of the PM as contempt of court and Mr. Gilani is under trial on this account. In my opinion the supreme court has taken a short sighted view of the matter.  If at all, Mr. Gilani should be tried for obstructing the course of justice and harming the nation by refusing to recover the 60 million dollars which belong to the people of Pakistan.

Bhutto’s Gallows Revisited

President Asif Ali Zardari has made a reference to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to revisit the case in which Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was sentenced to death on the charge of ordering the murder of an innocent man Nawab Muhammad Ahmed Khan Kasuri. Interestingly enough the parliament has already prejudiced the case by passing a resolution in its initial session declaring the execution of Mr. Bhutto a ‘judicial murder.’

 In this background, the reference really is a request to determine whether or not the national assembly resolution had any merit or whether it was a contempt of court. The reference also establishes the principle that the judgment of the Supreme Court has greater meaning and weight than a resolution of the national assembly. In order to understand the case it is important to know the background.

Here are some clippings from Nation and Express newspapers and Wikipedia:
Nawab Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Kasuri’s father, was killed in 1974. Kasuri himself was the complainant for the murder case registered against Bhutto, who was eventually hanged in 1979. In April this year, 32 years after Bhutto’s death, President Asif Zardari filed a reference under Article 186 of the Constitution to the Supreme Court to reopen the murder trial.
Bhutto was convicted in a murder case and sentenced to death by the Lahore High Court (LHC) in 1979 during the dictatorship of the then army chief General Ziaul Haq. He was executed on April 4, 1979 by then military dictatorship.

A five-member bench of the LHC, headed by Maulvi Mushtaq Ahmad, had held the Bhutto trial for five months and awarded death sentence to him on March 18, 1978. The Bhutto family had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court. A seven-member bench upheld his death sentence in its February 6, 1979, verdict with a bare 4-to-3 majority. His review petition was also dismissed on March 24, 1979. Bhutto was hanged at the Central Jail, Rawalpindi, on April 4, 1979.

Sheikh Anwarul Haq is a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan [September 23, 1977 - March 25, 1981]. He is often considered 'ill-famed' for giving legitimacy to General Muhammad Zia ul-Haq’s martial law and for upholding the decision of the Lahore High Court which sentenced Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to death for the authorization of the murder of a political opponent. Four Supreme Court judges headed by Chief Justice Anwarul Haq upheld the murder conviction of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. On 25 March 1981, S. Anwarul Haq became the first Justice and only Chief Justice to refuse taking the oath under the military imposed PCO and resigned on conscientious grounds.

Prime Minister Bhutto began facing considerable criticism and increasing unpopularity as his term progressed, the democratic socialists alliance who had previously allied with Bhutto began to diminish as time progresses. Initially targeting leader of the opposition Vali Khan and his opposition National Awami Party (NAP), also a socialist party. Despite the ideological similarity of the two parties, the clash of egos both inside and outside the National Assembly became increasingly fierce, starting with the Federal government’s decision to oust the NAP provincial government in Balochistan Province for alleged secessionist activities and culminating in the banning of the party and arrest of much of its leadership after the death of a close lieutenant of Bhutto's, Hayat Sherpao, in a bomb blast in the frontier town of Peshawar.

Dissidence also increased within the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and the murder of a leading dissident Ahmed Raza Kasuri's father led to public outrage and intra-party hostility as Bhutto was accused of masterminding the crime. Powerful PPP leaders such as Ghulam Mustafa Khar openly condemned Bhutto and called for protests against his regime. The political crisis in the NWFP (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Balochistan intensified as civil liberties remained suspended, and an estimated 100,000 troops deployed there were accused of abusing human rights and killing large numbers of civilians.

On January 8, 1977 a large number of opposition political parties grouped to form the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA). Bhutto called fresh elections, and PNA participated fully in those elections. They managed to contest the elections jointly even though there were grave splits on opinions and views within the party. The PNA faced defeat but did not accept the results, alleging that the election was rigged. They proceeded to boycott the provincial elections. Despite this, there was a high voter turnout in the national elections; however, as provincial elections were held amidst low voter turnout and an opposition boycott, the PNA declared the newly-elected Bhutto government as illegitimate.

All the opposition leaders called for the overthrow of Bhutto's regime. Political and civil disorder intensified, which led to more unrest. Bhutto imposed martial law in major cities including Karachi, Lahore and Hyderabad. However, Mr. Bhutto accepted that there were major irregularities in the election in a number of constituencies and a compromise agreement between Bhutto and opposition to hold fresh election in some constituencies was ultimately reported. This compromise theory was however probably a later day addition as a major PPP armed rally was in the offing.

Zia planned a the Coup d'état carefully as he knew Bhutto had integral intelligence in the Pakistan Armed Forces, and many officers, including Chief of Air Staff General Zulfiqar Ali Khan and Major-General Tajammul Hussain Malik, GOC of 23rd Mountain Division, Major-General Naseerullah Babar, DG of Directorate-General for the Military Intelligence (DGMO) and Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan, were loyal to Bhutto.

To remove this intelligence, Zia secretly contracted with the active duty British SAS army officers to maintain a staff course for the Army personnel while Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Shariff quietly removed naval personnel loyal to Bhutto and his government from the Navy's active duty. Zia ordered Bhutto's loyal officers to attend a staff and command course and none of the officers were allowed to leave the course until the midnight. Meanwhile, Zia with his close officers, including Admiral Mohammad Shariff, then-Chaiman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, arranged the coup in the evening. On July 5, 1977, before the announcement of any agreement, Bhutto and members of his cabinet were arrested by troops of Military Police under the order of Zia by the evening.

Bhutto's last personal appearance and utterances in the supreme court were not merely a long defence of his conduct he also made some matters clear. He mentioned the words of "heir" for his son "Mir Murtaza Bhutto". He made some remark which indicated that he has views similar to a Sunni, though he was Shia albeit a non-practicing one. He also effectively cast doubt on the reliability of star witnesses against him i.e. Masood Mahmood who was a UK-trained lawyer and not merely a police officer and FSF chief. He mentioned repeatedly Lahori Ahmedi connection of Masood Mahmood in his testimony. He repeatedly brought the subject of his maltreatment in the death cell. Bhutto made it abundantly clear, even though indirectly that he wanted either freedom or death, not something in between, and appreciated Khar and his lawyer Yahya Bakhtiar.

While witnessing the dramatic fall of Bhutto, one U.S. diplomat in American Embassy in Islamabad wrote that:

During Bhutto's five years in Pakistan's helm, Bhutto had retained an emotional hold on the poor masses who had voted him overwhelmingly in 1970s general elections. At the same time, however, Bhutto had many enemies. The [socialist economics] and nationalization of major private industries during his first two years on office had badly upsets the Business circles... An ill-considered decision to take over the wheat-milling, rice-husking, sugar mills, and cotton-ginning, industries in July of 1976 had angered the small business owners and traders. Both leftists— socialists and communists, intellectuals, students, and trade unionists— felt betrayed by Bhutto's shift to centre-right wing conservative economics policies and by his growing collaboration with powerful feudal lords, Pakistan's traditional power brokers. After 1976, Bhutto's aggressive authoritarian personal style and often high-handed way of dealing with political rivals, dissidents, and opponents had also alienated many....

—U.S. Embassy, Pakistan, U.S. commenting of Bhutto's fate,

                                                                    

7. The Digital Universe

Having made this rather lengthy opening statement and prepared our minds to pay attention to new ideas, let us revert back to the rather old and lingering question of whether the nature of light is one of a wave or a particle, or somehow both, like a wave through a series of particles. Every reader of this book must have witnessed an illumination in which the successive lighting up of a series of electric lamps gives the illusion of a moving bright object. An electrical pulse moving slowly enough to take nearly a sixteenth of a second to travel from one lamp to the next would also create exactly the same impression. So let us assume that the universe is a heap of very minute neutral particles each having a diameter of nearly 10^-18 meters which is the present limit for point particles that seem to possess no internal structure such as quarks and leptons, although dimensions as small as 10^-33 centimeters have been suggested for gravitons. These "space particles", if I am allowed to call them so, must be densely arrayed in a hexagonal close pack arrangement, and have a spherical surface for symmetry. Since matter and energy are mutually interchangeable, we can assume that matter or mass is nothing but an accumulation of energy in these particles, and motion is no more than the transmission of an energy pattern through them. We thus have a quantized space through which quanta of energy are propagated to form moving mass or radiation.

The most basic form of radiation would be the transmission of energy or the propagation of a suitable quantum of energy through a perfect straight line string of space particles, which would probably have a velocity of propagation slightly faster than the velocity of light in vacuum. This particle, if not already discovered, would perhaps be smaller than a photon and an electron, and its recognition should provide the basic dimensional data for this model of the universe. For obvious reasons the occurrence of this particle or pulse or radiation would be extremely rare and in certain specific directions only, which would define the universal space coordinates. Perhaps, it is this velocity of propagation that should be used in place of the velocity of light in vacuum in the special theory of relativity. All electromagnetic radiation would, perhaps, be transmitted through bunches of space particles which can form in practically any direction. In fact, any quantum of energy of any size or magnitude can be represented by a suitably sized bunch of space particles and be transmitted with an associated wave length and velocity whose limiting value would be given by a logarithmic step function. This scheme of things obviates the need for massless particles carrying energy at the speed of light, as it provides a universal and all-pervading medium for the transmission of energy, and also saves relativity from breaking down at the speed of light. The existence of various quanta of energy in a particular location could, indeed, produce states with varying properties that would affect the interaction of quanta of energy trying to occupy the same set of space particles. Mass could be defined as the most stable state of energy and the relationship between force and energy can be used to define time.

What we call time is nothing but the perception of change measured in terms of quanta or stages of variation in a constantly or cyclically changing system with a uniform or variable rate. The measurement of time always needs a reference of change and we use many of them from the Earth's orbital motion to the frequency of electromagnetic emissions. The velocity of light in vacuum is considered to be the most reliable linear reference of change.

We have already asserted that since the integration of force over a distance produces energy, conversely force can be defined as the spatial derivative of energy:

  

          F = dE/dx                   (1)

Mass can be expressed using Einstein's mass-energy relationship as E/c2 and acceleration being the second time derivative of distance d2x/dt2, the Newtonian expression of force can be rewritten as:

          F = E/c2. d2x/dt2           (2)

The above two expressions of force can be used to define the equation relating energy, space and time as:

          dE/dx = E/c2. d2x/dt2       (3)       

The solution of equation (3) with useful boundary conditions may take time, but with the fast developing finite element analysis techniques it should be possible. What is more, since a life span is a period of time and a succession of changes, the above equation may come to be known as the equation of life.

Some precise experimentation is needed before it can be determined as to whether or how this approach can be applied to gravitation or buoyancy or both. In crude terms, the force resulting from the energy gradient would naturally tend to cause a change in the rate of displacement of a moving body, thus creating acceleration. Similarly, if a uniformly distributed amount of energy resides in a finite volume of space i.e. an exact number of space particles, there would be a theoretically infinite gradient at the boundary creating a gradually decaying force field which can possibly be approximated by the well known relationship defined by Newton.

Electrical charges and spin can, probably, be attributed to the dynamics of the energy quanta within the bunches of space particles occupied by them, the various massless particles representing unique flow patterns of energy quanta within the bunches. Magnetization and demagnetization would no longer require the strenuous rotation of atoms or molecules, but would simply be a matter of change in energy flow direction in the space particles occupied by the substance in question. In such a system, it seems that the four fundamental variables would be energy, location, orientation and age, time being the difference between ages. Perhaps, in future we would see the development of such new branches of science as energy chemistry and energy mechanics.

In our digitized, crystalline universe consisting of granular space and quantized energy, the vector atom model really flourishes. The electron occupies a globule of about twenty two thousand million space particles in which the electrical charge constantly revolves creating the impression of a spinning particle. A uniform circle or ellipse, the uniformity being defined by a limiting angle of contact, can only be formed at discrete distances from the center, defined in multiples of the diameters of the globules. Similarly, due to the regular arrangement of the space particles, the orbital paths would only form in certain planes whose orientations would be a function of the universal arrangement. No doubt these orbits and planes are not transcendental; but can be computed with a great degree of accuracy by the use of suitable computers. The scope of relativity is also tremendously enhanced, as even the smallest particle of matter would occupy a matrix of space particles numbering in thousands of millions which must have its own reference frame, and thus a system of frames within frames would emerge. In certain types of analysis one would analyze the inner most or smallest frames first and use the net values thus obtained in the analysis of the next frame level or equilibrium boundary; similar to the operation of brackets. This should do away with the difficulties of absolute motion in Newtonian mechanics and help to expand relativity to include noninterfering reference frame hierarchies or family trees. In another type of analysis, one would use equations of the type ((((((( f(e,x,t ) + a ) + earth effects ) + solar system effects ) + milky way effects ) + intervening contents effects ) + boundary effects ) = 0, since there would be nothingness beyond the boundary of the universe; in some cases the brackets would represent the null points of systems in binary equilibrium. This sort of mathematics could, perhaps, provide the logical basis for the Grand Unification that is the dream of many a modern scientist and philosopher.

 A neutral particle would mean the coalescence of a certain critical number of energy quanta; an excess or deficit resulting in positive or negative electrical charge. In a tetrahedral close pack, a sphere with a slight deviation in the number of occupied space particles would be likely to distort into a spherical tetrahedron with concave or convex faces for excess or deficit respectively. The curvature of the faces may distort the boundary effects and force fields in such a way that similar particles would repel each other and dissimilar ones would attract. From the qualitative point of view it is already accepted that everything tends to move towards a more stable state. So if the combining of two bodies would increase the stability level they would be attracted towards each other and vice versa.

It seems that gravitation can be explained very well in terms of curving or warping space; but unfortunately, the empty space could not be curved or warped except in terms of mathematical symbols. By contrast, the particulate space has the physical ability to warp and flex; although this could result in the appearance of stresses and strains in the space structure, if we may use the term. However, this might require the development of a totally new science of the properties and mechanics of space, which in turn could open up totally new possibilities, about which I would refrain from speculating. In any case, quantum mechanics would not allow a space particle to hold more than a certain fixed amount of energy and, therefore, we would have to look for a mechanism for the initialization of the universe less spectacular and less violent than the Big-bang. For this purpose, we may consider the rapid injection of a very large amount of energy at a point in our universe. We could say that the injection must have come from the same source as otherwise the ultracompact seed of the Big-bang would have appeared. In perspective, the injection is as good a source of providing initial momentum to all energy (or matter, if you still prefer to use that term) as the big-bang. No doubt, the big-bang theory which assumes the initial state of the universe as being a concentrated point of matter in a boundless void (finite and infinite at the same time) was the first to materialize, because we have often seen matter transforming into energy, but we do not seem to find any obvious instances in nature where energy would directly covert into visible matter, except in the case of the mass determination of highly accelerated particles. But now that we are recognizing matter as nothing but a stable manifestation of interacting quanta of energy entrenched in a body of space particles, the question of whether the egg was born first or the chicken does not arise. Since we have already observed that in keeping with two forms of consequential energy, kinetic and potential, forces are also of two basic kinds, those resulting from time differentiation of momentum as defined in Newton's Laws of motion, and those resulting from the space differentiation of energy which have so far been ignored. Perhaps, these could provide a clue to the `missing matter or excessive gravity' problem. The only question is one of how long it takes a person committed to an existing school of thought to start thinking on this new more promising line.

In the mean time, we can review the compatibility of this new concept of particulate space with some of the very old concepts which seem to have survived and maintained their influence in spite of the matter-related sciences with all their power and convincing ability pointing otherwise. The first analogy that comes to my mind is that with the silicon chip. By manipulating quanta and states of individual and groups of space particles, it could be possible to build complex logic circuits into a gigantic processor as well as centillions of centillions of memory units and data transfer buses that would be invisible in what seems to be empty space. The quasars and pulsars could be looked upon as the multivibrators furnishing the power pulses required by the system to operate. It is not possible to speculate now on whether the whole system was preplanned, or whether in the presence of all the necessary components and requisites, a brief self multiplying and self developing seed (like a good computer virus) was accidentally formed which not only gradually expanded and perfected itself, but also shaped those parts of the universe which seem to demonstrate elements of intelligence, logic and growth.

The evolution of life on earth could have been just one of the exercises of the Great Processor. The accumulation of all life-experience in a single collective memory and the use of this data in the formation of detailed genetic and transgenetic information seems to be a viable mechanism for the evolution of life. Similarly, the human or animal sperm and egg could be regarded as containing two incomplete command codes which when overlaid become executable and initiate the reading and execution of various program modules from the huge universal library which could exist around us; and thus build up the human fetus with its own intelligence and organic memory banks. The human being then acts almost like an intelligent terminal which is its own operator. This idea is reinforced by the fact that the development of the embryo is not simply a matter of cell multiplication; it also involves perfectly repeatable and very closely controlled cell mutation for the formation of bone, tooth, hair and skin tissue, various organs, blood circulation system and the matching profiles of movable joints. Some sort of a control mechanism is required for the sequencing and timing of the activation of various genes called morphogens which are known to shape a creature from the fertilized cell, and whose mode of action also seems to be more like information transformation than chemical reaction. The kicking of the unborn baby seems to be systematic testing of the various joints and muscles in the confined space. Identical twins are further testimony to the process of development of two fetuses by a single set of instructions being received by both, as if on parallel telephones; they could not be identical if a random process was followed.

 Since only an infinitesimal portion of the total bulk of the space particles is actually occupied by sensible (meaning that which can be sensed) states of energy, there must be plenty of room to monitor and create long lasting memory records of actions and interactions of all the living and nonliving beings on earth and all other planets sustaining life. This analogy also seems to provide a plausible explanation for the occasional appearance of persons with exceptional knowledge of things they do not remember having come across before and the possession of unusual mathematical ability. Certain types of extra-sensory perceptions could be attributed to the accidental "crossing of wires" or spill over in these spatial communication channels. The unique development and similarities in events in the lives of identical twins does not seem too astonishing in this scheme of things. It would certainly be remotely possible that someone with special training or understanding of the universal data-network could act as a hacker and cause stimulation, temporary disruption or damage to the local memory or control functions in the bodies of other individuals by using some strenuous exercises such as those claimed by occult practitioners. But it is very unlikely that one could hack into master memory banks or run a simulation of the universal master program to predict future events with any degree of accuracy, but it is not impossible. The idea of tampering with the past memories on a large scale to influence present or future events is simply absurd, except to the extent of the behavior of the individual himself as is already practiced by hypnotists.

THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN RELIGION SHOULD STOP READING HERE.  

However, when one looks at the rather erratic behavior of even the most celebrated living organisms on earth, one can't help wondering as to why the Perfect Processor who constantly monitors the entire operation does not sort things out a little by direct intervention. Could it be that life on earth is only an experiment?  Yes. It seems possible that in the processing system we have just discussed, there might be a preset juncture in time when the Earth, or the entire solar system, or the entire galaxy, or more could be destroyed and a detailed review of all the stored memories of living and nonliving beings carried out with certain qualifying criteria. We do not know exactly what those criteria would be, but it can be conjectured that memory records of creations other than humans and those of humans containing destructive, exploitative or generally negative trends would be burnt out or erased by some extended thermal process similar to heating with ultraviolet radiation to erase the memory of ROM chips. On the other hand, the human memory records exhibiting positive traits such as belief in God, constructiveness, charity, propriety, forthrightness, punctuality, truthfulness, conformity to rules, conservation of what is good etc. will be integrated into the operating system of the Great Processor. This combined memory could then be used to design, build and operate a new world incorporating the ideas of all the good and noble minds and exhibiting absolute perfection, infallible simplicity, undeniable beauty and imperturbable peace which would, hopefully, last forever. Perhaps, the new breed of life forms that would exist in that new world configuration will have all the safeguards against malfunction that are built into man-made computers, and by then the system would have been modified so that people who turn into new angels would not experience the reprobate emotions that could turn them into new devils. In any case, if the final object of our existence happens to be the eventual creation of a perfectly peaceful, beautiful, clean and comfortable world called `Paradise', any attempt to develop similar conditions for all creatures living on the Earth must be regarded as praiseworthy action. Indeed, it wouldn't be such a bad idea if we start working on the blueprints of what we can possibly contribute in this regard; although it would be rather far-fetched to think that by such an exercise the Day of Judgment can be averted. In fact, what are referred to as `angels' today might be the cognitive remains of the good people of a previous world configuration, as according to the Qur'an they were apprehensive of the consequences of human population on earth at the time of man's creation as if they had been through that experience before. Such an assumption seems to rationalize a number of anomalies associated with revealed religious literature. The above analysis resolves two of the often repeated enigmas of the Qur'an. Aqimus Slah can be interpreted as "establish contact" and Yom ul Qiamah can be understood as "the day when all contacts will be established." Now one cannot touch an arbitrary object and say that the contact is made. Rather, the procedure given by a person who is certain to have established the contact with God must be followed.

 The aforementioned scenario can be detected in most Middle Eastern, Indian and other religions with varying degrees of color and detail in such concepts as doomsday, Day of Judgment and the eventual integration with the Absolute. Even the Big-crunch theory about the future of the universe points in the same direction; though without any hope or cheer for anybody. Now, as we reach the same conclusion through so many different paths of approach, the idea can simply not be ignored, no matter how unpalatable the consequences are likely to be for some. Our efforts should be directed, not towards denying the inevitable but towards ensuring that the end would be as happy as possible for the maximum number among us. Most religions provide that their originating prophets would be able to intercede and rescue at least those who have demonstrated some degree of positivity towards them in a highly glorified courtroom drama on the Day of Judgment, at least after having to undergo a brief period of punishment. I am more inclined to believe that such promises allude to the possibility that memory records with some good portions along with some bad ones may be only partially saved. However, if we have found a logical way of thinking, and a point of convergence, there is no reason why a good world order (though not necessarily a new world order) cannot be created, that would simply eliminate the causes of people acting irrationally or negatively. Moreover, I am inclined to think that the common belief in Christianity and Islam that the Messiah (PBUH) would someday return and reform the lives of those who would exist at that time, and take actions that would win them God's pleasure, could be a personification of the hint that someday humankind would be able to develop the necessary paraphernalia that would enable those with unusual genetic gifts of a certain kind to consciously communicate with the Great Processor. Many of the secrets of nature that elude us today may become known then, and perhaps even the purpose of the creation of the human race may become apparent. However, for such a situation to arise, it would be necessary for the state of political and social affairs on earth to be extremely harmonious and equanimous. And, of course, these improvements have to be brought about with positive and nonviolent thinking. 

    

The National Trauma

For the past couple of months I have been extremely busy with the commissioning of a large project and had little time to pay attention to news and other events, although some very significant things happened during this period. In spite of my not paying attention those who visited me managed to make statements that showed how traumatized the Pakistani society is due to what is going on. Here are some examples:

1.       The Nato massacre in Mahmond is an act of provocation which will be followed by skirmishes and a full scale invasion.

2.       The Americans are trying to weaken Pakistan economically to such a degree that the Pakistanis will have no choice but to trade of their nuclear assets for their survival.

3.       If the government and the armed forces cannot exact retribution for the Mahmond massacre, the people will.

4.       Asif Zardari is conniving with the Americans to destroy Pakistan in order to save his ill-gotten wealth. If Pakistan remains, someday Peoples Party will lose power and the new government will reopen cases against him and register some more based on the current corruption.

5.       The Nato investigation of the Mahmond massacre is actually an attempt to cover-up the extremist Christian elements in Nato that are actually carrying out a crusade against Islam.

6.       There is a phenomenal rise in armed street crimes and the citizens if Sindh are more insecure than ever, thanks to the massive legitimization of illegal weapons held by criminal elements by Zulfiqar Mirza.

Unfortunately the national leadership is unable to do anything to ease this traumatic situation in the country which is already overburdened by fuel shortage, inflation and unemployment. You cannot fool the people for long when everyone can see that milk prices are soaring by about 3-4% per month. The resignation of Mr. Zardari and the announcement of fresh national and provincial assembly elections in a couple of months might bring some peace to the minds of the people of Pakistan.

7.4 Haj, the Annual Convention

(Chapter from "Islam for the Perverted" to be published soon)

One of the root causes of much communal and international mistrust and prejudice can be traced back to historic and often religion related legendary misconceptions about people belonging to alien geographical, political or racial identities. The destruction of the Babri mosque in India is an example of how distortion of history can nurture mass-hysteria for centuries. This author has had opportunities of working in association with fellow professionals of various nationalities, and was amused when many of them exclaimed "I often used to wonder what a Pakistani Mechanical Engineer would be like, but you are just like one of us -- the same theories, the same practices."  However, the object of this exercise is not to highlight the various regional prejudices but to point out that close contact in working on a common project helps to remove many of the fantasies or prejudices one may have about the other person, or people. Another common cause of many unrealistic and often schizophrenic attitudes is the supernatural mental pictures that people often have about various historic or holy places. By creating an obligation for every Muslim, who can afford, to visit the Masjidul Haram and assemble in the grounds of Arafat on a specified day of the year (9th Zul Haj) the Qur'an has ensured that people from all over the world would come in contact and develop mutual understanding. Many pilgrims are surprised to find that Makkah is a city like any other with streets, houses, bazaars, and mosques, except for the religious discipline and nonviolence which is a part of its life. Arabs, Aryans, Mongols, Negroes, Caucasians and people from many other races and nationalities live together and perform the Haj rites in complete unison and harmony. The prejudices resulting from differences in language, color and tradition evaporate and the experience of Haj convinces every participant that basically all human beings are the same and the apparent differences are insignificant. It thus eliminates the `clan or enemy' concept of the less developed cultures.

It is interesting that an attempt has been made to inculcate the same spirit by establishing a secular institution called the United Nations Organization. But unfortunately it consist of representatives of governments rather than people and is used for international intrigues rather than understanding. Much time is spent in maligning other nations and creating hatred and discord among people of different political inclinations. In the light of the failure and misuse of the UNO, the wisdom of limiting access to Makkah becomes quite obvious. The restriction, it transpires, is not a negative one but a positive one that requires everyone intending or aspiring to join in the great annual convention of unbiased humanity to accept the Islamic injunctions of universal freedom, equality, brotherhood, peace, honesty, truthfulness, humility and nonviolence first. This assertion becomes even clearer when one examines the rites and instructions of pilgrimage applicable to Haj.

All the rites performed during Haj are not prescribed clearly in the Qur'an. Some of the existing practices seem to be the results of improvisations by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) over ancient traditions, presumably with the help of divine guidance. In the enlightened era, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had only one opportunity of performing the Haj in the last year of his life when, according to estimates, he was accompanied by as many as a hundred thousand devotees. The traditions and narrations are many and sometimes even conflicting. There is some divergence of opinion on the relative significance of the various activities reportedly performed by the Prophet (PBUH). However, most scholars agree that circumambulations of the Ka'bah, which must not be confused with the prohibited act of worshiping the cubic structure itself which in its present form is no more than a symbolic axis and point of convergence, walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa, and the congregation and lecture or sermon at the grounds of Arafat on 9th Zul Haj are the essential elements in addition to the state of Ahram in which one must live with utmost simplicity and nonviolence and abstain from all normal pleasures and luxuries during three days of Haj. However, some of the ancient traditions regarding housing and travel conditions have been changing slowly with environmental changes in the area, although the basic tenets remain the same. It is hard to determine whether the prophet actually kissed the black stone or merely examined it at close quarters. One thing is definite -- he did not worship it. The most important aspect of Haj, indeed, is the attitude and intention of the pilgrim which should be one of total devotion and willingness to learn. Umra, a brief pilgrimage to the Ka'bah at any time of the year is also regarded as an adequate substitute for Haj.

The sacrifice of animals during Haj is not performed at an altar, but is meant for eating and distribution among the poor as described in verses 34 to 37 of Chapter 22 (The Pilgrimage). When looked at closely, the sacrifices and the shaving of heads seems to symbolize the end of the condition of Ahram and the restart of normal life for the pilgrim. The abundance of sacrificial meat would, inevitably, create an environment of feasting and celebration which is extended to the entire Muslim world by the custom of sympathetic sacrifices of Eidul Adha in commemoration of Ibraheem's (PBUH) demonstration of unflinching discipline. Pickthall translates verse 22:37 as follows:

     "Their flesh and their blood reach not Allah, but the devotion from you reacheth Him. Thus have We made them subject unto you that ye may magnify Allah that He hath guided you. And give good tidings (O Muhammad) to the good."    

The above stated verse and others in the same chapter can be construed to mean that the Qur'an is instructing believers to desist from the ancient traditions of wasteful ritual killings of healthy and useful animals as offerings to God. He, with his unrestrained ability to know what is in people's hearts, does not need any symbolic rituals to inform Him of an individual's intentions or beliefs.

The common belief arising from sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) that the performance of Haj washes away all past sins applies only to matters of an individual's obligations to God such as Salat or Fasting or perhaps Zakat. There is no reprieve from repaying debts or compensating for harm or injustices done to others. It is considered appropriate that before proceeding for Haj one must repay all debts, fulfill all social and contractual obligations, and make reparations for any discomfort or loss caused to anyone intentionally or unintentionally, publicly or secretly. And it goes without saying that one returning from Haj must try not to give up the spirit of pilgrimage ever.  

Capital Loses

It is happening after all. The people of the West are beginning to see through the façade and they are protesting. Although the press and electronic media are playing it down, the spark has all the potential to turn into a raging fire. The current protests are perhaps not very well articulated, but the feeling behind them is quite discernible. They are trying to break loose from the capitalist claw. They want freedom from the bondage of debt. They want their due share in the affluence brought about by their sweat, blood and tears. May be the movement will shake up the handful of Christian and Jewish extremists who have a strangle-hold on their lives. Or may be some new distraction will be created to take the wind out of the movement. But one thing is decided. The feelings of the oppressed masses of the West have taken the right direction. The next wave will definitely sweep the present lousy economic system aside.

How Benazir Died

Murder cases are always difficult to solve if there are more than one parties involved in them. However, if Hercule Poirot the fictional detective could solve the murder on the Orient Express, there is no reason why the case of Benazir Bhutto cannot be solved.

Video films of the murder shown on television clearly show a pistol shooter and a suicide bomber. But they were both on her left side while the wound was on the right side of the head. According to the doctors who had examined her corpse a piece of the skull above the right ear had disappeared. They thought that it could be an exit wound, but were perplexed that there was no entry wound. Pakistani police blamed the latch of the hatch of the bullet-proof car. Cryptically it would mean that what was meant to protect her became the cause of her death. The highly paid UN investigators also gave an inconclusive report and pointed in the same direction. No one seems to have been interested in the possibility of a third assassin. One thing seems obvious that the car was stopped at the particular point according to a plan and the crowd waiting outside rather than being inside park where she made the speech was gathered there for a purpose.

The scene of Benzir’s death had a number of multistoried buildings in the vicinity and there could have been one or more snipers on their roofs who could easily target her. It seems quite possible that a bullet fired from a high-powered rifle from one of the rooftops grazed Benazir’s head tangentially and drilled off a part of her skull above the right ear. Such a head injury could be fatal as it was.

The significant question is whether the three assassins were acting on their own or were sent by the same party or had been sent by three different parties. Many would immediately name three presidents, two past (from Pakistan and USA) and one present in Pakistan, but it would be very difficult to implicate any of them.

It is such a pity that in our time one of the basic requirement for being considered for the post of president or prime minister in many countries is the ability to give orders for clandestine assassinations – an honor previously reserved for mafia bosses.

Food Path

Scientists seem to divide life forms into three basic categories, microbes, plants and animals. The basic difference between plants and animals is that plants are stationary while animals are mobile. However, if we look at the basic supporting element for life it turns out to be food. All living beings need food to survive. So it seems reasonable that food or its consumption should form the basis of division of life forms. Based on the food path within their bodies, life forms can be divided into four categories – microbes, plants, animals and human beings as follows:

Microbes: No definable food path

Plants: Food path vertical upwards

Animals: Food path mostly horizontal

Human Beings: Food path vertical downwards

It is interesting that during the evolution from plant to human, the food path has taken two ninety degree turns in stages. It also shows that human beings are not a sub-species of animals but a more advanced and separate species.

What this means is that man is neither social animal as western philosophers put it, nor talking animal as arab philisophers pu it. Man is just man and under all circumstances he or she must act like man or woman and not like an animal. Ther is no room for animal instincts in human behavior.

A lot of research has been carried out on animal instincts in relation to biology, psychology and other fields and the same have been applied to human beings. Instintive actions or responses are those that can be performed without the need for a learning process.

Unique human instincts are responsibility, mercy, leadership, communication, problem solving, and hygeine not necessarily in the order of importance. The primary object of education should be to develop and groom these human instincts,