Tuesday, September 24, 2013

THE MINSTRELS OF KASUR

         

         THE MINSTRELS OF KASUR





DSC09467 DSC09472

Kasur is a small sleepy town lying in the outskirts of Lahore, known for the tomb of the mystic poet BHULLEY SHAH and for the stench emitting tanneries which pose an environmental hazard to the people living nearby. 

My first visit to KASUR was way back in 1969, when I was a first year medical student of Kind Edwards Medical College Lahore, when I went to witness the KASUR MELA.  At that time on motorbikes it took us more than one hour from Lahore to reach the venue of the Mela, but nowadays because of good road conditions and organized traffic KASUR can be reached within half an hour’s drive from Kanchi (scissor’s) stop on the Ferozepur road.

DSC09476

KASUR is located adjacent to the border of Ganda Singh Wala between Pakistan and India, and is a tourist attraction because of the daily occurring like flags lowering ceremony. Also on your itinerary should be the savoring of the mouth watering delicacies of FALUDA local concoction of pulverized Iced mixed with highly condensed milk with sugar and AMRASA balls made of sugar, semolina and farina sprinkled with resins.

KASUR district is surrounded in the north by Lahore, on the east and south by India, on southern west by Depalpur tehsil of Okara district and at northern west by a small protuberance of Sheikhupura district.

DSC09491

The History of KASUR dates backs to old times and according to the great ancient Hindu scripture, the Ramayana, Lord Rama had a son named Kusha who was believed to be the ruler of a kingdom centered at KASUR in ancient times – and it is said the present city was founded by, and derives its name from Kush – whose twin brother “Lava” founded the nearby Lahore city.


Late towards the end of 2000 when I became involved in mysticism and Sufism, that I started reading the works of great Sufi poets like, WARIS SHAH, MIAN MOHAMMAD BUKSH and BHULLEY SHAH. The works of these saints so much inspired me that I made up my mind to visit the shrines of these great Sufi poet’s of the Punjab.

In the first week of April 2013 I had to go to Lahore in connection with a family wedding that I got an opportunity to visit the Shrine of BHULLEY SHAH in KASUR.

DSC09479

What struck me most was the performance and display by the MINSTRELS who form a regular feature of the courtyard of the shrine of BHULLEY SHAH.

The term minstrel in ancient times was referred to singers who performed songs whose lyrics told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events.

 Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty and high society. As the courts became more sophisticated, minstrels were eventually replaced at court by the troubadours, and many became wandering minstrels, performing in the streets and became well-liked. 

Minstrelsy fed into later traditions of travelling entertainers, which continued to be moderately strong into the early 20th century, and which has some continuity down to today’s BUSKERS or street musicians.

DSC09480

When I went into the courtyard of the shrine after depositing my shoes with the care taker that I could see many groups of MINSTRELS sitting in the courtyard waiting for their turn to perform.

At one side under a big banyan tree was another group of ecstatic MALANGS who were performing DHAMAAL to the beat of the drums. Faster the drum beat the MALANG’s go into jerking fantasy of body swaying  and twirling with fast steps and their hair  which is exceptionally long swings from side to side.


After paying my respects, homage and offering FATIHA at the tomb of the great Sufi Saint Bhulley Shah as I came out of the Mausoleum, that the particular sacrosanct verse rang a bell in my ears which I had memorized attracted me and caught my attention. This was being repeated by the MINSTRELS.


THE VERSE BY BHULLEY SHAH SAY’S:

Rab rab karde budhe ho gaye, Mulla Pandat saray,
Rab da khooj khurra na Lubha, Sajde kar kar haare,
Rab te tere andar wasda. Wich Qur’aan ishaare,
‘Bulleh Shah’! Rab unho milsi jhehra apne Nafs nu mare..


Translation 


Mullah and Pundit became old reciting the name of GOD

Despite many prostrations, they could not find any clue of GOD.

The HOLY QURAN indicates that in your heart dwells GOD.

Bhulley says only those who kill their desires find GOD.



This particular verse encapsulates the basis of Sufism, mysticism and holds the key to ones code of conduct in life that to find GOD you don’t have to go far just look inside yourself.


I became so engrossed in the performance of the MINSTRELS that I sat on the ground for a very long time to listen to their melodious performance coupled with the mystic music. 

This made me go down the memory lane about ten years back when I had to consult one oneircritic (interpreter of dream) after another to satisfy my esurient quest for truth and inner contentment. This made me go into a state of trance and I remained aloof from my surroundings as if I was in a state of levitation for quite a long time as I tried to find a direct link with my creator.

DSC09481

These performers are more or less strong devotees and disciples of BHULLEY SHAH and as a homage and respect to the great saint perform without any rapacious needs or worldly desires. 

However people do give some offerings in the form of money, which with great respect other devotees place in front of the performers. Some of the devotees who go into a deep trance of ecstasy move and sway their head from side to side while sitting and then slowly gyrate up like a mesmerized snake coming out of its basket and dancing to the tune of the music. 

Such scenes are a common site at the shrines where these minstrels perform but the genuineness of the ecstatic trance cannot be fully judged because some mimic, others do for attracting attention but the real trance can only be judged by a very experienced and observant eye.

DSC09482

The legacy and the art of these performers are becoming rare and may soon become extinct because of financial problems and the lack of succession planning by the progeny of these performers who are now diverting to other occupations because of easy access to education and new vista’s of employment.

Such minstrels are the hall mark of all the shrines of the great Sufi poets of Pakistan and their art of performance needs to be commended and applauded with state recognition and sponsorship from the various corporate entities.


So next time when you visit some of the shrines where these minstrels are performing do take some time out to listen to them and also show your appreciation by your offerings of xenium (wail) in the form of money.

Dr. Babur Zahiruddin

The Living Cultural Heritage of Pakistan

The Living Cultural Heritage of Pakistan

  DSC00145
This Lady came to me about 8 years back at that time she had no NIC with her….. She used to sit out side Jamia Islamia Mosque Kashmir Road, Rawalpindi soliciting for arms..
 
I asked her to get her NIC made but she was reluctant to have her NIC made.
After great motivation and emphasizing the importance of NIC she had her NIC made and since then she has been coming regularly to collect Rations from Raza Charity Trust during the month of Ramzan…..DSC00110

Her age is not known but the NIC says about 65 years but she has developed slight Parkinson-ism and arthritic problems… But she still has lot of drive and vigor in her and recites religious slogans when she comes to collect the Rations.
she wears a lot of stones and agates on her hands and a garland of FEROZA (Turquoise) round her neck.
DSC01737
 
Why I have put this picture is the persistence and agility of the lady even at this age and according to my professional knowledge she must be crossing 70.
If you meet such people on the roads or streets please do find time to interact and give a word of appreciation and motivation.

 
These people are the living cultural heritage of Pakistan

MISSING LINK

MISSING LINK
 

TATOO is a sleepy village which can only be accessed by a very narrow and dangerous jeep track from the RAIKOT Bridge on the Kara Kuram Highway which is 540 kms, from Islamabad and 75 kms, from Gilgit.
To get to this village you have to leave / park your vehicle at the RAIKOT Bridge in the parking lot. Here you must haggle with the parking attendant about the parking fee / day as you may come into a big surprise when you come back to reclaim your vehicle.


A unique Queue system prevails in the hiring of the jeeps in the order of seniority.
A very strong cartel is in force here which you should not try to break or manipulate as they have a very strong unity and your efforts will be futile if you try to haggle or lower the prices. 


These jeeps are old 1948, American Vintage Refurbished MK 48 – A1/CJ7, which can easily accommodate seven persons including driver but be sure to carry light baggage as you will be choking yourself  for leg space in case you carry excess baggage.
The journey from RAI KOT Bridge to TATOO Village is one hell of an experience of a life time and those who have not experienced this must put it on priority number one on their list of things to do on their next family outing.


RAI KOT is at a height of 2900 feet, and the next fifteen minutes the drive is on a gradual gentle incline with plateau like ascending climb in a typical S-bend fashion. Once you have gained about 700 / 800 feet, then the road becomes a single narrow dirt track with steep rise of mountains on the right side and sheer drop of thousands of feet on the left side. Those with weak hearts and agoraphobia should avoid setting on the left side of the jeep as the ravines & crevices are more than 3000 to 4000 feet deep at places and may give you vertigo.


This reminded me of my good old army day’s way back in 1976, while working with the corps of engineers on Skurdu Road, I was stationed at SHAHBATOOT village and had to traverse even more dangerous road from my battalion headquarters to ASMANI MORH about 15 kms, away every day.

Two of my fellow trekkers BILAL & RAUF were not used to such adrenaline rush, thrilling / adventurous ride so I told them to sit on the right side and keep their eyes closed.
After traversing 4, miles or so you start a steep climb on an incline gradient of 35 degrees or more, where the jeep has to constantly move in the first and second gear and off and on one has to engage the four wheel drive.


As you continue with the climb you will notice that you are dwarfing some of the peaks and other jeeps at distance following you down below look like dinky cars.
The hazards and difficulties encountered in this adrenaline rush drive can only be felt and experienced it is difficult to describe it in words and just to have an immediate sitting experience of this ride have a motion ride in one of the CINEPAX THEATERS of Pakistan.

The road is so narrow, winding uneven, dilapidated that in case you encounter another jeep coming from the opposite direction that the two cannot cross and one of them has to reverse for quite a distance till you come to a lay bye or a turning which allows the crossing to take place.
The road is closed from October to mid April every year due to heavy snow, land slides and torrential rains which washes away the vantage points of the road especially at the bends and turnings because of the downpour on the hills which cascades into mudslides.





Major portion of the road is built on retaining walls and make shift culverts whereas the accompanying water drains are very occasionally found. Hence odd portions of the road are easily swept away by even a mild down pour.
The local people speak SHINAH which is their native language and is spoken from KOHAR valley near SHANDOOR to the edge of ASMANI MORH on the GILGIT SKURDU road.
The SHINAH speaking people comprise of the following sub tribes Shinds, Yash Kun, Gujjar, Dome and Kamin.
The town people of TATOO, JAIL and FAIRY MEADOWS village, pool together their resources and manpower and form a team of 16 – 20 persons who work on the opening of the road from early April and complete it by end of April well a head of the tourist season which starts from the 1st week of May every year..
This is a classical example of corporate social responsibility and the locals take pride in owning and maintaining the road. The loyalty to the road and its maintenance by the village folks is to such an extreme extent that no outsider jeep driver can dare to enter or compete with the locals or break their cartel.
The next 30 minutes your adrenaline rush is at its peak and you can feel your heart coming in your mouth, your hair standing on its edge and your goose pimples become goose bumps.
           



In case you are not accustomed to such rides then you have three options stay at home in the comfort of you room and forget this saying hung in my commando’s school in Cherat THOSE WHO DARE LIFE HAS A CHALLENGE WHICH THE SHELTERED NEVER ENJOY.
Secondly keep your eyes closed during the ride or thirdly enjoy the sheer thrill excitement of this jeep ride which you will never forget for a long time to come.

You long for the 3-D motion ride to end as soon as possible but you are now in for a bigger surprise as this jeep rides end at the broken bridge just short of the TATOO Village.

In the local language TATOO means HOT because of the hot sulphur springs which are found in abundance in the area. Another very important feature of this village is that there is hydel generation as small turbines have been installed with the help of a local N.G.O and the villagers enjoy free electricity…………Of course a hot bath in winters from the sulphur springs……. 
At the far end of the broken bridge you disembark and carry your luggage over a small track which by passes the bridge along the side of the mountain over a deep ravine about 8 feet wide over which the locals have placed wooden planks to make a make shift bridge. Make sure you don’t lose your balance and bearing over the gorge lest you become part of history.
This bridge is the missing link between TATOO Village and JAIL Village (Local Meaning jungle) from where the trek to the fairy meadows starts which is at the height of 3200 meters from where you can have an enchanting view of the Nanga Parbat at the height 8126 m (26660 ft) and is ranked as the 9th highest peak in the world. We camped at the Jail village for the night as it was not advisable to go further in the dark. The smaller heights over looking our wooden hut are BATRAIT BEZAR and the TOI NALLAGH passes on the right of the encampment.

This bridge was washed away by the floods of 2010, and since then has not been rebuilt because of the apathy callousness of the local administration. The locals do not have the requisite expertise / finances to reconstruct this bridge on their own. …………..Lo and be hold an Angel of GOD in the form of an N.G.O from Lahore has volunteered to reconstruct this bridge again. As you can see from the pictures that the abutment of the bridge made of wooden beams projection have been completed in a forward Z - shaped load bearing technique, which thus reduces the main span of the bridge and the main bridge will be launched on these abutments like the good old Bailey bridge.

On my return journey to TATOO Village Bridge from the Fairy Meadows I saw that the work on the completion of the bridge has not been started as yet.

On my enquiry I was told that the first batch of the N.G.O’s party had completed its work and gone back to Lahore and the arrival of the second batch is awaited to complete the bridge.,
Till the time of my writing of this article the bridge has not been completed and this broken bridge is the missing link between TATOO and the JAIL village. From the far side of the broken bridge there is another jeep which is waiting to take you to JAIL village which is about four miles away.

The nation as a whole can take a lesson or two from the team work and collective corporate social responsibility from these simple village folks.      
In the history of nations many bridges are washed away but the proud, patriotic and nationalistic spirit of the people keeps the flame of hope alive and burning in the hearts of the citizens and the press onwards to repair these bridges as soon as possible.


DR. BABUR ZAHIRUDDIN



Monday, September 23, 2013

RAMZAN ACTIVITY 2013



RAMZAN ACTIVITY 2013

11th July 2013.

Today the first of RAMZAN 11st July 2013………. RAMZAN has come as a great blessing in disguise as I was able to make a pledge to say my prayers with JAMAAT as much as possible and to help the needy and poor …….

I had to get up early in the morning and came to the clinic early at about 11.00 am where a throng of people had collected for Registration for ZAKAT……
GOD was kind today as it was not hot and we were able register about 97 people (85 % female & 15 % Male)…

In the mosque at AFTARI there were about 130 people and the AFTARI edibles were adequate enough……….. and I had to distribute the left over as take away for those who had come with families.

There is one shortage in the mosque as there is no provision for COLD SHARBAT at Aftari.

This has to be arranged tomorrow and we would like people to come up with the following on daily basis..
1.     One bottle of ROOH Afza
2.     05 Kg of Sugar
3.     10 Kg of Ice
4.     2 Plastic jugs
5.      50 Plastic glasses 

The month of RAMZAN is for caring sharing and helping others………………. We at RAZA Charity Trust are making our effort in a humble way………. And would like people to come forward and help us………

The number of people registered for ZAKAT today stands 450 persons target 1000 money collected 450,000/- and the target is 8,50,000/- still a long way to go but not impossible as many friends have sent in their pledges which are in the pipeline.
Hope the weather continues like this and the first Ashra of RAMZAN passes away with the same cool and serene weather.

12th July 2013.
12th July being a Friday in the morning there was not much activity to report except that the morning chores in the heat and humidity costed me a mild heat stroke.
Today was the 2nd day of RAMZAN 12th July 2013……….it was a day in which whole of PINDI I cant say Pakistan cursed two things WAPDA and WATER……

The light came for one hour and went away for 2 hours coupled with lack of water which completed the misery of dilemma faced by me and other recipients of ZAKAT.
There were more than 108 people waiting at the clinic to be registered and I had to distribute them in to 4 batches and to do their registration. The point here which I am going to emphasize here is that it is a dam difficult job to make the old ladies make a line…………….and ask them to be disciplined, whereas the men folk are disciplined, organized and patient……….


May be the Chinese example may come in handy some times in Pakistan………but I will talk about it some other time.

108 people were registered today which cost my vest a good bath in my sweat……. And to top it all it also taught me a thing or two in ANGER MANAGEMENT ………… A favorite Topic of my lecture in my Human Resource Presentations of which I usually boast about……… but as a human being ones knowledge is far from complete and one learns every thing new day by day………..may be today what I learnt was something even the BUDDHA’s disciples would have not learnt that to keep your brain in the deep freezer when confronted with adverse circumstances.

Today being Friday the congregation in the Jamia Islamia mosque was more than 800 people and the sermon was relating to the rituals of fasting i.e. that GOD does not need us to go hungry or to abstain from taking food, but the essence and crux of fasting pivots round the point that we do not speak any lies refrain from petty talk back biting, do not cause mental and physical harm to anyone and above all  be patient and forgiving and at the same time share our joys and sorrows with the poor people who are less fortunate than we are.

All of my friends are invited for AFTARI in the JAMIA ISLAMIA MOSQUE every day at Aftari time.

Come and see for yourself how the words are being turned into practicality the following the tenets of Islam of equality, brotherhood and fraternity.   
  
In response to my call yesterday for Sugar & Rooh Afza Bottles two of my friends came up with the required number of bottles of Rooh Afza and sugar which will last me for the next 15 days in the mosque for making SHARBAT at Aftari.

Salman Amin an Abdalian and Head of internal audit of OGDC & Mr. Aqeel Ahmed of Waseem Autos Saddar Rawalpindi my neighbor are the two friends who I would like to thank for coming up with this noble gesture.

After ASAR I went to the mosque to prepare for the AFTARI and today there were more than 150 people at the AFTARI but the plates were only 100…… and by the time it was the call of the MUAZZIN to prayers so many edibles had come in that the left over’s had to be put in a shopper and the people asked to take them home with them………

3 more bottles of Rooh Afza came in as a last minute donation which was added to the tub of Sharbat which I was making and hence the sharbat served today was very cold & Sweet much to the liking of the ROZADAR’s. 

The number of people registered for ZAKAT today stands 550 persons target 1000 money collected remains pegged at 450,000/- . Many friends were contacted today by me to send in their pledges while some are still on the waiting list.

Again my request for funds goes out for my donors to come forward and help me in my Charity Drive.

In the end I would again like to thank my friends, family members, colleagues and my acquaintances from the corporate world who’s donation, encouragement are coming in and making my charity campaign a success……….


13th July 2013.
Today the 3rd of RAMZAN (Saturday)………. Was even verse than the 12th July 2013 as the electricity problem exacerbated with greater intensity bringing with it the paraphernalia of associated problems…….not to talk of the problems anymore because as they say which cannot cured must be endured.

The preferential load shedding in Pakistan where the sectors of F-8/4, E-7, President house Diplomatic enclave, Behria town, Wapda Colony, Army House, Chaklala Garrison, Corp Commander’s House  and the personal house of PM Nawaz Sharif in defense Lahore was / are exempt from load shedding at the expense of the poor people of Pakistan……….

This is the breed of leaders that we have………… and now compare it with the leaders of CHINA in 1948 when the great MAO TZE TUNG refused to ride on a imported vehicle saying that when the whole of the population of china can afford this then I will ride on a imported vehicle…….. for that moment he rode on a bus along with his team members to inspect the  peoples hall in the red square in Beijing.

CAN U Produce any leaders like that ? The answer is very simple such leaders are within us and have to be found out and given a chance but this election have proven me wrong that this nation is obsessed with committing suicide by giving their votes to the failed leaders again and again.

Coming back to my ZAKAT efforts we brought the total to 660 people and target is 1000 people.

Today being a very hot day I was somehow or the other put under extreme pressure by the recipients of ZAKAT as they were more than 100 in number and to my surprise 50% of them were not fasting and were asking my attendants for cold water now and then. It is very difficult to make this nation disciplined as despite my repeated attempts to ask them to make a line they find it their personal privilege to jump the line and make a rush at the entry gate. I requested for volunteers to come and help me with the ZAKAT registration but none has come so far and I am forced to work with my office staff and one hired temporary help which is not sufficient to manage the work load.   

In the mosque many things came for AFTARI but somehow or the other the plates and glasses were less in numbers as compared to the ROZADAR’s. May be tomorrow I can shake of my lethargy and go to the bazzar to buy plastic plates and glasses for Mosque I hope I am able accomplish this task.

Today pledges of donation came in from my friends some of whom have promised to provide 100 Tins of GHEE and some have promised to send in their contribution for the Charity Drive.

The money collection still remains at Rs.450,000/- but I am hopeful that the spirit of Ramzan of fasting, praying, caring, sharing and helping others will pickup and my target will be met.

I would like to THANK all my friends once again that with their help & support from a very small Charity in 2002 I have come this far to 2013 where my annual budget is now above 15,00,000/- per year.

14th July 2013……..
Today Sunday the 4th of RAMZAN ………. The clinic was closed and there were no registration activities. 

At Sehri time I after saying my prayers fed my kennels inmates who now number 12 ranging in ages from 04 months to 4 years and put them back in their respective cages. My driver Rauf came in at 5. O’ Clock and we all herded into my tried and trusted Jalopy and made my way to ANGOORI village at the height of 2800 feet near PATRIATA. As we made our way through the sleepy town going to a Ammar Shaheed Chowk, airport, Karal chowk,  Faizabad turned right on murree road after crossing Bara kaoow we turned right on the express way and just before the toll plaza turned right on Angoori Road, the small hamlets of Mallata, Bobari, kathaar and finally crossing the Union council angoori parked my car at the incline of the Dhoke Dhumma. 

I was fasting and a good descent of 1.5 kilometers lay ahead of me but as the sun was not directly shinning on my head so by small steps I made my way down to the small river let where I crossed the stream and then ascended to my lands perched above like an eagles nest. 

Here in the land a small make shift hut of thatched roof has been made for the caretakers and it is really very cool to lie down and relax.

The journey back from DHOKE DHUMA to ANGOORI road was quite and uphill climb of more than 35 minutes with a hot humid and sultry weather taking a toll of my patience and endurance.

Finally with sweating and prespiration, I reach the top where my jalopy was parked and started my retuned journey to 17 meel and then to Bhara Kaoow and from there turned left on to Simili DAM road and finally reached Mehra Baig wal where my friend Chaudhry Aitabar had invited me for AFTARI.

After Aftari I said my prayers in the local mosque and then made my journey back home to Lalazar very tired and exhausted but very contented.

Looking forward to Monday as it will be a very rush day and I hope that I am able to complete my registration to 800 people.  

 Hope you all had a nice weekend too.


15st July 2013……..

Today the 5th of RAMZAN ………. The weather was hot and humid and on coming to the clinic was met with the horde of old ladies waiting to be registered………
One thing I must say that we here are getting better organized and the SOP’s are being laid  and to top it all contrary to my expectations the ladies are also behaving well……… and making lines for registration.

A path and a vision has to be shown to our nation and they will follow you provided they see leadership qualities in you……. This reminds me of IQBAL’s famous couplet
“ZARA NUM HO TU YAA MITI BARIHI ZARKHAIZ HAI SAAQI” 

I hope that NUMI / moisture has set in and now the seed has to be sown for germination and harvesting.

Coming back to the ZAKAT effort we completed registration 780 people the target is still 5 days away… that means that me and my staff has to toil for another 5 days till 5 in the evening to complete the job.

One thing I must elaborate here that majority of the ladies coming in for registration do not fast and keep on asking for water from my attendants…….. that is something between GOD and his people……but it sets a bad example for others…………

On the mosque front somehow or the other SHURBAT ROOH AFZA was arranged. One small setback received by me today was that at the last minutes some guests came in the clinic and I had to send the things for AFTARI through my drive RAUF who failed to deliver the Ice in time for making ROOH AFZA hence the SHARBAT served today was not very cold. 

A point noted for future compliance. At the time of distribution there was complete fiasco and pandemonium as I was mobbed by the recipients and I had to sacrifice my SHALWAR QAMEEZ to the frequent spill over of the SHARBAAT.

For the time being we are putting a moratorium on the distribution of the SHARBAT till the marshalling plan is executed for its orderly distribution.

Today again I received a phone call from one of my corporate acquaintance who appreciated the efforts put in by me for my CHARITY drive. I would like to thank him for his kind words and hope others will also emulate his example……..as RABINDAR NATH TAGORE said that one candle lights another candle and in this way the world can be lit…………        

Donations came in today from my dear friend Madam Irum Aziz of OGDC and Mr. Zubair Qayyum of Zubair Motors and the collection now stands at 4,65, 000/- target Rs.8, 50,000/-

ATTA bags have been arranged and now it is the time to arrange GHEE Tins & Sugar bags.

Anyone interested to please come forward with your help.

16st July 2013……..

Today the 6th of RAMZAN ………. There was respite from the weather as the welcome rains came in and the curse of the load shedding lessened and we continued with our activities braving the odds against us. 

Today record no of people came in for registration and 140 people were registered and the total figure stands at 910 people registered. One point I want to emphasize here that a new problem of impersonation is coming in as young girls brandishing their mothers NIC under a veiled NIQAAAB try to get RATIONS for which they are not eligible. The antidote for this is to solicit the services of one of the senior lady recipient who is responsible to verify their BONA FIDES.    

When I started this trust way back in 2002 I kept it as a low keyed family affair with the major portion of donations coming in from my SON SALMAN RAZA ALIM and myself……….but little did I know that this charity will grow with geometrical progression that activity which used to subside after RAMZAN will take place all the year round and many friends and corporate entities are ready to donate for our CHARITY.

There are many friends who have pointed out that there are two problems in giving donations to our charity 

1.     The Trust is not registered.
2.     The account is in the name of individual.
I am cognizant of the above two short comings and promise my friends and well wishers that I will address the problem very soon.

In the mosque at AFTARI we were better today than yesterday as I sent an advance party to make the ROOH AFZA which was very cold and in abundance. Many of the ROOZA DARS insisted today that cold soft drink at the time of AFTARI must continue…….so we started from Tuesday the ROOHAFZA campaign once again taking in view the marshalling plan for distribution which I do it myself. 

In the mean time our arrangements for dry RATIONS is nearly complete and now only the ATTA / Flour has to be arranged…………… the budget for that is about 3, 55,000/- and this amount is very much in hand……….the only problem is the storage of the consignment because I cannot keep 1000 bags of flour in the open less there may be rain or moisture sets in.

Ghee has also been arranged courtesy of Mr. Raja Ejaz of Utility Stores Corporation who has arranged it from EVA Banaspati brand @ Rs. 395/- per tin of 2.5 kg that comes to Rs. 3,95,000/-

And the total of this is Rs. 7,50,000/- of which 4,70, 000/- has been collected as I received Rs. 5000/- from my cousin sister Rubina Nawaz in London target Rs.8, 50,000/- 

Still a long way to go seems far but not difficult and I am hopeful that by this weekend funds will come in from sleepy donors.  GOD BLESS  YOU


17th July 2013……..

Today the 7th of RAMZAN ………. Being Wednesday I was expecting a great turnout of ZAKAT recipients and much to my expectations there were more than 150 people waiting outside the clinic. Amongst them 80% were those who had heard about our trust by word of mouth and as a last minute late entry made a beeline for the clinic rest were those who had deposited their cards with us a few days back.

As we are near to our saturation point so only 20 new were registered and those too who were handicapped or above the age of 70.

The rest were told to go away as our head count now stands above 960 people so there was no room to register more people. Those left out created a lot of hue and cry and kept on sitting in front of the clinic till 3 O’ Clock but our financial constraints were such that we cannot accommodate more than 1000 people. The balance of 40 people will be the wild card entries or very desperate cases.

The total registered people is about 960 so another three days to go till Saturday that completes the first ten days of RAMAZAN and the first ASHRA of NIAMAT comes to a farewell. 

Apart from my friends in various corporate entities OGDCL being one of them I received very nice motivational messages from Madam Irum Aziz, Aftaab Ahmed and Amjad Saeed Yazdani along with their generous contributions to my charity campaign. OGDCL being one of the movers and shakers on the stock exchange is also the back bone of the oil and gas exploration activities in Pakistan. The positive news is that there are good finds in the ZINN reservoir area and exploration activities have also started in the KALCHAS area. 

About 6 years ago there was some lobby with vested interests who wanted to hand over the ZINN reservoir to a private party but I vehemently opposed it tooth and nail and my efforts bore fruit and now this will be a national asset in the future.   
  
In the mosque the ROOH AFZA campaign has come in to full swing as other people have also sent bottles of ROOH AFZA and ice is sent one hour before so that the Sharbat that we served today was very cold & sweet, DUA for those who send in their contributions well in time. 

Since the number of ROOZADAR’s has increased I had to put in extra 3 dozen plates & Glasses. Have you ever wondered what happens once the Aftar is over? Well I leave to your imagination or come and see for yourself as 4 people along with me have to work for 15 / 20 minutes to sort out the leftovers and dispose of the garbage. The plates are then collected in a tub to be washed later on during the day. Just as an incentive I sometimes tip the helpers so that their morale remains high.


All is going well so far and many donations are coming in for which I am thankful to my friends and well wishers. 

The collection stands at Rs. 4, 80, 000/- as today Rs. 10,000/- was received from Utbah Umer of SLS Rawalpindi and phone calls were made to other donors of last year who are still asleep and had to be woken up with my phone call.

18th July 2013……..

Today the 08th of RAMZAN being Thursday………..  I took it easy in coming to the clinic as the registration has been more or less complete only a few compassionate and disability cases were there so I asked the staff to enroll them and wait for my arrival for my signatures.

In the mean time on the home front after much coaxing and admonishing by my wife that the AC had gone out of order and she could not bear the heat and humidity so as a warning she gave me my last chance to have the AC repaired which was out of order since the past 01 week as I could not tend to my home chores because of my preoccupation with ZAKAT registration.

An AC mechanic by the name of IMRAN was readily available so he was kind enough to come and have the AC dislodged from the casing and took it to his shop for repair but at about 12.30 when I went to enquire about the state of affairs of my AC the irony of fate was that Mr. Imran was hauled up by the Lalakurti police because of some petty domestic dispute in which the other party had bribed the lalkurti police heavily to have him arrested a stigma which will remain like a curse on this nation as good governance is nowhere to be found. This means I will be without AC for next few days but the constant nagging of my wife will be a dilemma for me to face so today I will go home with cotton stuffed in my ears.

On the Zakat front I was expecting that my registration count will go above 960 and we crossed this figure and hit 970. Many Zakat recipients are very contented this Ramzan and many of the old people registered last year are no longer there in this world. This is how life goes on and on and I wonder that after me will this process continue as non of my successors are in Pakistan to look after the Charity drive may be GOD will send someone in my place ………. 

“HUM NA HOON GAYE TO KOI HUM SA HOOGA”

Still isolated trickle of cases keep on coming and I really feel sorry for them as I have reached my saturation point and cannot accommodate more than 1000 cases. 

After Asar prayers I went to the mosque at about 6.45 and found that the arrangements have been made satisfactorily and the SHARBAT was ready for distribution at that time I received a call from one of my friends Mr. Khurshid Zafar from Askari Bank a SEVP / President material, asking me about my welfare and also giving me the information about his donation which will come in tomorrow. I thanked him and also would like others to follow suit and emulate his example.

The Aftari this time was distributed in an orderly manner and quite a lot was left over which was distributed after the MAGRIB NAMAZ.
 

19th July 2013……..

Today the 09th of RAMZAN……….. Friday being one of the special days for Muslims and things go slow here……….and business activity comes to a standstill …… and to top it all the heat becomes unbearable…..

A slow day for me today as I started my physical activity at about 11.00 and was busy with the domestic chores like cleaning of the kennels and feeding the inmates which took a toll of my physical faculties as the ROZA was also going side by side reached JAMIA ISLAMIA at about 1.15 pm and was in time for the Friday congregation 

As it was JUMMA there was great rush in the mosque due to JUMMA prayers and I asked this question…………. What happens to these NAMAZEEE’s in days other than RAMZAN?
Are we Muslims only for RAMZAN?
What happens to us when RAMZAN is over?
Where does are religious spirit go after RAMZAN?
What happens to us in SHAWAAL?
This reminds me of the famous RHYMED couplet of ALLAMA IQBAL
MASJID TO BANA DHI SHAAB BHAR MAIN……….EMAN KI HARART WALOON NAY
MUN APNA PURANA PAAAPI HAI, BARSOOON MAIN NAMAZIII BANN NA SAAKAA.

In the evening said my Asar prayers in the clinic and then sent the ingredients for Aftari to the mosque via my driver Abdul Rauf as today I have been invited for AFTARI by my nephew Ali Tariq in Islamabad. Such invitations are not much of a pleasure for me for I have to forego the mass (DUA) just before Aftari where all the things that you want from GOD almighty are easily realized.  
Any way
CHAHAT MAIN KYA DUNYA DARI………ISHQ MAIN KASI MAJBOORI
APNA APNA MUN HA SUB KA………….. APNI APNI MAJBOORI
Reading my daily updates one of friends has suggested that I should handover the SHARBAT campaign to the mosque’s administration…………….. Maybe my friend does not know the PSYCHE of our MULLAH’s and how things are mismanaged where the proverb prevails. 

“MAAL – E – PARAYAA …………..DILEEY BE-RAHAAM”
The sky today is over cast and rains are expected hope that they come early today……a small drizzle has started and bringing with it a pleasant change in the weather.

Tomorrow I go early in the morning to arrange ATTA & Ghee from various sources and today my fried Mr. Aqeel of Waseem Auto’s has promised to donate 1000 bags of 01 kg Sugar each which will amount to Rs. 55, 000/- towards my target. Thus money collected Rs. 5, 35, 000/- and the total number of recipient registered is 973 as some disability cases are trickling in. 

All friends and well wishers are again requested to come forward with their pledges and donations.

20th July 2013

Today the 10th of RAMZAN ………. Being Saturday is a slow day in Pakistan as regards official activities as more or less the corporate offices are closed and the banks are also not open. The attendance in the offices is very thin and the work goes on in slow pace.

The total registered people comes to about 976 as tomorrow being Sunday the clinic will be closed and today this completes first ASHRA of NIAMAT comes to a farewell.
Amjad Saeed Yazdani my Abdalian friend from OGDC sent in his generous contributions today to my charity campaign, and also an email was received from my brother Mr. Hussain Lawai President of Summit Bank making a pledge of contribution towards my Charity campaign for which the necessary information was sent to him.

The weather in PINDI / ISB is very pleasant because of the overnight drizzle and winds. Hope the weather remains like this along with the minds of the public on the road. These days everyone seems to be on razor edge and is ready to fight for no reason at all. The inflation in the market has hit hard the common man as despite the price reduction in the utility stores there is hardly any rush in the USC outlets.

For the Flour and GHEE acquisition Mr. Fayyaz (Owner of Flour Mill) was contacted who has promised to send in the ATTA bags on Monday where as RAJA FARRUKH EJAZ of utility stores corporation of Pakistan has arranged for the 2.5 kg Ghee TIN’s from Islamabad and will be delivered by Tuesday.   

In the mosque the ROOH AFZA was very very cold sweet and in abundance and the campaign for the AFTARI edibles was also in full swing as the number of ROZADAR’s  has increased but the last minutes entry just before the MOAZZAN call at MAGRIB creates problem because at that time very few plates are left and I have to accommodate these late comers with me.

All is going well so far and many donations are coming in for which I am thankful to my friends and well wishers. 

The money collected Rs. 5, 45, 000/- and the total number of recipient registered is 976 as some disability cases do come in who are accommodated on compassionate basis.
Hope you have a nice weekend but do try to spend it with some poor orphans or the needy and poor and then you will realize how fortunate and blessed you are.
Do thank GOD for his countless blessings and NIAMAT’S………… 


21st July 2013……..
Today Sunday the 11th of RAMZAN ………. The clinic was closed and hence there were no registration activities so I took it easy and went to inspect my kennels and took my time in feeding and looking after the kennel inmates somehow or the other it was really a pleasure to play with my canine friends who were quite happy that I was attending to them.

Remember about few days ago I mentioned about the state of my A.C still out of order as the mechanic an innocent soul who will not harm a fly is still in police custody because of the high handedness of the investigating officer A.S.I Mohammad Idress, of Lalkurti Chowki who after taking gratification from the other party has taken them on remand simply because his palms were greased.

Such things will keep on happening in Pakistan because of the lack of good governance and the fact that the police in Pakistan only listens to JHANDA & DANDA.  

If the DPO Pindi Capt Mohammad Zubair who happens to be an ABDALIAN is reading this then please take cognizance of the matter as an innocent person is languishing in JAIL.   

In the afternoon took the unusual liberty of taking a well deserved nap and got up in time for ASAR PRAYERS after that I rushed to the market to buy ROH AFZA & Sugar for JAMIA ISLAMIA AFTARI as those donated by my friends were in the clinic and I did not have the access to the keys.

At JAMIA ISLAMIA pandemonium prevailed because one of the USTAAD’s who duty was assigned there was absent and it was free for all for sometimes till I came and set the house in order.

The edibles for AFTARI were less in number and so were the ROZADAR’s. after MAGHRIB prayers I went to see my sister who is a widow  and lives in General’s colony near n Murree Brewery.

Late night said my ISHA prayers and finally made my programme for Monday as it is going to be a tough day for me because of the delivery of ATTA & GHEE.

The collection stands as status quo and so is the number of the recipients of ZAKAT.
22nd July  2013……..

Today the 12th of RAMZAN (Monday)……….. I got up very early today and after feeding my inmates of my KENNEL came and rested at home and was shocked to hear the news on TV that a father & son were forced to perform an unnatural act with each other because of the coercion of the police authorities in OKARA. 

What type of nation are we becoming? Are we like the Quom-e-Looth who used to indulge in such acts and the wrath of GOD fell on this nation and they were obliterated and annihilated from the surface of the earth surely our nation also deserves the same fate. GOD is watching us but is giving us a long rope which will be pulled suddenly one day. Will the HAKIM – E - WAQT N.S & S.S take cognizance of the matter as this falls under TAKHT-E- LAHORE in PUNJAB.  


As a social activist I can only point out these matters but cannot take any retaliatory steps because I do not have the power to do so.

Coming to the clinic at about 11.00 am, a great rush of people was there as they were potential ZAKAT recipients who had come late and could not be accommodated however four very compassionate cases were registered taking the number of recipients to about 980.   

My friend Mr. Fayyaz of Khan Flour Mill sent in 302 Bags of ATTA (10 kg each) which had been paid in advance and were neatly stacked in the ZAKAT room which has been dedicated for RAZA CHARITY TRUST activities.

The second batch of delivery of 1000 GHEE TINS of (2.5 kg each) came in at 2.30 pm but there was one big problem as the driver came alone and did not bring any labour for unloading. Myself and my staff took it upon themselves to unload the truck and that took us about 3 hours to unload and by time we had finished it was nearly 5.30 and all of us were drenched in sweat with the ROZA going side by side.

 These things happen because of lack of administration and experience next time we will be better prepared.

In the evening when I went to mosque after ASAR prayers I was accosted by some elderly people that on such and such day sir, you were not present hence we did not get AFTARI or ROOHAFZA as complete mismanagement prevailed. I apologized to them that I was busy but I will ensure that I will come on time as well. So this time I really showed my authoritarian and disciplinary skills and ensured that the ROOHAFZA and AFTAARI was distributed in an organized way. One big drum of ROH AFZA was alo donated by some unknown person hence there was plenty to drink at AFTARI time. 


Dear readers Pakistan is in great distress, turbulence and turmoil and according to predictions of some clerics and inner gut feeling of yours truly I feel that some catastrophe or natural disaster may be fall us. May I request all of you to recite AYAT-E- KAREEMA 

“LA ILAHA ILALAH ANTA SUBHANKA INNI KUNTU MINAZAALIMEEN”

Please also instruct your family members, employees, colleagues, friends and well wishers to do this about 370 times and ask GOD ALMIGHTY for his forgiveness and blessings.

A donation of Rs. 10, 000/- came in from my neighbor Mr. Khurram Aziz of Latif & Sons Bank road Rawalpindi thus taking the money collected to Rs. 5, 55, 000/- still about 3, 00, 000/- short of target and I am hopeful that this will be met with in the next one week.  

I wish u a very happy and prosperous second ASHRA of RAMZAN………… NIAMAT.


23rd July 2013……..

Today the 13th of RAMZAN (Tuesday)……….. The weather in the morning was pleasant but later on during the day Mr. Sun was pleased with us and warmed us to its heart’s content. 

Rawalpindi is a very peculiar garrison town where the city is haphazardly divided into sections of its own with their peculiar likes and dislikes………

For instance if you meet someone from Lalazar, 502 Workshop and Adiala road they are going to talk about the water problem……… someone from Saddar will talk of congestion and pollution, someone from murree road will talk about the traffic problem but there is a segment of the society which is oblivious of these problems like the General’s colony in Chaklala, Scheme III, Askari Villas and off course the touch me not in mates of Behria town.

What a class differentiation of the society prevails……..things are just becoming the way it was before the French revolution……………but where is the mob and guillotine?

This nation has to be woken up from deep slumber because the poor are being suppressed and driven against the wall.

Coming to clinic at about 11:15 am and the registration count today stands at 982 people another 18 people more to go which have been kept as a wild card entry.  
Talking again of Rawalpindi and its peculiar segment divide my readers may not believe that sometimes It rains heavily in Saddar whereas Lalazar does not have even trickle…….. There is some respite from the heat and the weather is hot humid and sultry….. We are praying for the rains and also doing ASTAGFAAR.

Today a last minutes problem came that one of our donors Mr. Aqeel of Waseem Autos promised to send 1000 bags of sugar in 01 kg packing but at the last moment 20 sacks of Sugar 50 kg’s each were delivered hence my staff has to put its shoulder to the wheel to pack them in small 01 kg bags and the time is very short as we have to start distribution of our Rations from Thursday 25th July 2013.

Another breaking news and a depressing and shocking announcement came from the B.O.D of Askari Bank Limited that the performance of the bank has been abysmal and dismal as the EPS was negative Rs. 5.76 and the N.P.L’s have swollen above 35 Arab Rupees this means that there will be M.C.R problems for which the Bank has announced the issue of 55% Right Shares @ Rs. 10/- share. The moment this news hit K.S.E, AKBL share closed at its lower circuit breaker of Rs.15.55 and I envisage that by end of August the share is going to hit its par value of Rs. 10/-  

AKBL under the new president Majeed Ullah Hussaini who was brought in from a very low profile bank KASB to head a high profile bank like Askari Bank had little exposure of handling such a big corporate entity like AKBL. He has brought all the skeletons out of the closet with provisioning that means that the shareholders of AKBL will be deprived of DIVIDEND for the next 3 years. 

On assumption of the office of President AKBL instead of taking stock of the situation he immediately went on a witch hunting spree and kicked out the able hierarchy of AKBL in order to show his performance and competence.


The norms of HR dictates that in order to make an organization viable and profitable it is the standard operating procedure for the new BOSS to first analyze and judge the merit and demerits of his team then give them a chance to perform and if they do not come up to the mark then show them the door. But what Majeed ullah Hussaini did was contrary to the S.O.P and made a lot of decision in haste which always causes waste. In kicking out the superior hierarchy of AKBL the first causality was Farooq Abid Tung, who was a capable head of SAM and would have been an asset to the bank in recoveries and realization of NPL’s.


Askari Bank for the next 2-3 years will be in the deep freezer unless the principals like Fauji Foundation, Fauji Fertilizer Company and Fauji Bin Qasim opt to put in fresh equity of 5-7 Arabs which they might do so in the shape of right share as they hold along with NIT 83 % of the total stock holding.


The under writers will be having a tough time as the general public shares amounting to 17% will not be subscribed and will have to be picked up by the under writers.
After ASAR prayers went to the mosque and the Aftari activity was quite usual and the ROOHAFZA campaign is going on in full swing as I have the SHARBAT made ½ hour before AFTARI. Only 6 bottles of ROOH AFZA left.     

24th July 2013……..

Today the 14th of RAMZAN……….. Wednesday came with good tidings as Rawalpindi received the first good pour of MOONSOON and weather became pleasant……. You could see greenery, fun and frolic all around.


Children came out in their undies and enjoyed the rain shower with splash in the rain puddles.   How important this commodity of water is because life revolves round sun earth and water and these three things are necessary for the bio-cycle to complete. We here in Pakistan are not using our water resources prudently but wasting the water into the rivers and finally in to the ocean.

I have written a lot about the conservation of water and building up of water reservoirs but so far it has fallen on deaf ears. The load shedding faced by the nation can only be resolved by renewable sources of energy and making of electricity by hydel and coal generation. If Kala Bagh Dam cannot be built because of contentious political issues then there are other venues / options available like the SOAN, DASU, ASTOOR, BUNJI, SHENGAS and BASHA DAM and work must be started on these sites without further delay. As a social activist time and again I have highlighted these issues but those in power are too busy in filling their own coffers. 


The registration today despite moratorium stands at 985 another 15 more to go………………which will be completed tomorrow.
The morning was a light day as there was no registration only return of previous tokens and few odd new cases……….


The day was spent in organizing the rations so that it could be easily distributed tomorrow that is Thursday 25th July 2013, that meant carrying the RATIONS bags from the first floor to the reception which took about 2 hours and was done in 2 shifts.
Just before Aftari my sister Col Sabra Jalal (R) sent in her driver Javed along with bunch load of Aftari along with ROH AFZA Bottles, Ice and sugar which I took with me to the mosque very early so that these edibles could be distributed well in time but at the last moment the truck of ATTA came and 300 bags had to be unloaded with in a very short time and the whole gang of loaders along with the drivers were taken by me to the mosque and given AFTARI. 

The plates at the Aftar table were full to the brim and for the first time this Ramzan I was contented that each of the ROZADAR’s eat to his heart content. 


In the evening we went through the exercise / drill of job duties and catering for some unforeseen eventualities so that tomorrow ZAKAT distribution goes like clockwork.
Our zakat room is full to the brim and the Rations waiting to be distributed which INSHALLAH we will complete by Monday 29th July 2013.

The collection today comes to Rs. 5, 75, 000/- as Rs. 20, 000/- was received by me as profit which was deposited in the Zakat Account.

I would request all of my friends, well wishes and donors to spare some time tomorrow and come and help us in the RATIONS distribution.  

25th July 2013

Today the 15th of RAMZAN……….Came with welcome showers but only for a short time and the sun played hide and seek behind the clouds……… Came to the clinic very early as it was the first day of ZAKAT distribution and tried for the ratification of the recipients but the Ladies were in an disorganized manner and the documentation was held up for some time as I tried to bring order and discipline to the crowd but these ladies were impatient and were very happy to gate crash but after 2 hours order was restored and after taking the token they went and collected their RATIONS from the ZAKAT Room.. 

This was done in three stages and the total who took RATION’s today were 287 persons ……………. But there were still some late wild card entries who still insisted on getting registered despite the fact that we ran out of our QUOTA. It really embarrasses me when some well to do people who are my acquaintances ring me up recommending people for ZAKAT distribution somehow or the other I am completely taken a back as to why these well to do people don’t give Zakat themselves and send their employees to other places. Zakat is voluntary and compulsory and one of the last tenets of ISLAM.  

The distribution of Rations continued till 3.00 pm in the afternoon and by that time myself and my staff were completely exhausted so I ordered them to take rest till the Asar Prayers.

In the evening as I was preparing to go to the mosque I was sent Aftari by my neighbors to be distributed in the mosque. Last year when my family was residing here I used to have my Aftari after coming from the mosque in my house on market road but as the irony of fate is that my elder brother exactly one year ago stabbed me in my back and sold my ancestral house for a song thus displacing my family from their ancestral abode. My neighbour Mr. Ozair has now taken up the task to sends token Aftari for myself and my staff thus compensating the absence of my family near to my clinic.
DAIMEN ABAD RAHEY GI DUNIA………. HUM NA HOON GAYE KOI HUM SA HOOGA    

When I reached the mosque there were not many people for AFTARI but as the MAGRIB AZAN came near the DASTERKHAN was full and many things came for Aftari and again MASHALLAH the plates were full to the brim and the SHARBAT was also fully consumed by the time of the MAGHRIB Jamaat.

One thing again I would like to add here that the clerics in the mosque are playing a dual game by pilfering and channeling the AFTARI edibles to their near and dear ones at the cost of the ROOZA DAR’s.

 This is how our nation is and this we have to endure it. Our national character is weak and so is our moral fiber.
Remember the Chinese Opium eaters in the beginning of the 19th century and how this problem was tackled………………. This has to be done with our nation too sooner or later.
The collection today comes to Rs. 5, 96, 000/- as Rs. 15, 000/- was received from my sister Col. (R) Sabira Jalal and Rs. 6, 000/- from Mr. Bilal Aziz Manager Bank Al- Falah Kalma Chowk Branch. 

Still Rs. 254,000/- away from the target as many donations have been promised for Monday and hope that those in the pipe line materialize.

 Half of the Holy month of Ramzan is over and another 14 / 15 ROZZA’s more to go again I wish you a very happy RAMADAN and hope that you are also investing in the Bank of ALLAH unlimited. 

26th July 2013

Today the 16th of RAMZAN ………. Two very important events took place on this day many years ago first 16th of Ramzan 8th Hijri the Muslims conquered MAKKAH and the Islamic kingdom spread beyond the borders of the Arabian Peninsula.
Secondly on 26th July 2013 was my Birthday and I was flooded with emails, phone calls and face-book messages in which everyone congratulated me on this particular day.
Many people asked me which cake did I cut and what presents did I receive……… my reply was very simple, that instead of this extravagance and waste I preferred a low key affair, thinking about the miseries faced by the Muslims all over the  world and specially the media silence over the genocide of the Muslims in BURMA. The Pakistani media built up a hype over the death of an Indian actor and their throats went horse in repeating the stereotyped messages again and again but on the genocide of the Muslims of Burma they are silent.   

The Pakistani media should now come of age and grow up mentally rather than behaving like school boys with expensive toys……..they must promote our religious, social and cultural values rather than blindly following the media on the other side of the divide and not to sell their conscience so cheaply to their foreign masters. 
Coming back to my birthday there are two small sub events which I would like to share with my readers and friends….

My wife gave me an option of a lavish dinner in any expensive restaurant of RWP / ISB or any expensive gift but I politely asked that the money dedicated for this purpose some more RATIONS should be purchased for the needy and poor and this was done willingly thus my target for RATION distribution has been enhanced. I celebrated my birthday with the needy and poor in the mosque at AFTARI which gave me internal peace contentment fulfillment and alleviation.

The second event that one of my very old friends of 40 years ZUBAIR RAFIQUE MIRZA from PARIS called me and gave me my birthday felicitations but he also told me that this is also the day of ASIF ZARDARI’s Birthday how come you two personalities are poles apart. I replied to him LEO’s are born leaders but if they go to negativity then they bring havoc to the nations which they are leading and the famous example is of ADOLF HITLER and now of Mr. 200 %. I hope that my sleeping Pakistani nation rises from it slumber and use their head rather than emotions in choosing their leaders. The present leaders have compromised all their principles just to muster support for the presidential elections thus shaking hands with those who looted and plundered Pakistan. 

Welcome the era of BHATTA KHORI where Nine zero and JATTI UMRA Raiwind will collectively collect BHATTA from Punjab also. 

My friend asked me a very pertinent question that when he first befriended me in PARIS in 1986 when I was on my way to Vienna in AUSTRIA that one day I may become an exalted and erudite personality in Pakistan……….what has become of your vision and mission to lead Pakistan?


I replied to him that despite all my plus points I have three major manufacturing defects and these were a major Impediment in my ascent up the leadership ladder.
1.     I have the bad habit of speaking the  truth all the time
2.     I have the bad habit of calling a spade a spade
3.     I have the bad habit of being scrupulously honest 
These three qualities the opposite of which are rampantly and abundantly common among our leaders hence they cannot bear upright and honest people amongst themselves.

I am happy the way I am because now my goals are not mundane but more on the religious and spiritual side. I feel happy in helping the needy and poor and educating people about discipline, honesty, integrity and meticulous precision. 

Coming back to RAMZAN Activities as I came to the clinic in the morning there were more than 150 people present and my courtyard was full of heads and some had to sit outside. Today I went outside myself and made the ladies queue up and admitted them inside in batches of 15 at a time which thus facilitated the registration process. 

The documentation was done in 2 batches and after JUMMA Prayers by 3.00pm in the evening more than 230 people was given rations. Two points to be mentioned here that the old and infirm had difficulty to carry the 10 kg ATTA bags and had to be helped. Secondly again some wildcard entries were there and two people were accommodated on compassionate basis ……….. This brings the token count to 990. Total number of people given rations about 518.

Today again I indulged in  the luxury of taking a well deserved nap till ASAR prayers as I was exhausted due to over work humidity and heat…………

Three important Islamic events have come one was the FATEH MAKKAH on 16th RAMZAN, JANG – e- Badar on 17th Ramzan and the MARTYDOM of HAZARAT ALI (R.A) by IBNE-MULJIM on the 21st of RAMZAN.

In the evening in the mosque at AFTARI I was confronted with a paradoxical situation that the ROOH AFZA campaign was initiated as a cold start doctrine and for that we were short of glasses and Jugs. (What happened to the jugs and glasses which were given by me on 2nd of RAMZAN is still a big question mark). I took upon myself the marshalling duties by distributing the ROOHAFZA at the cost of the edibles for AFTARI because I could not be present at two places…… however luckily there were many things for AFTARI so not much of mismanagement took place.


I would request my readers to please let me have their comments and suggestions…. Because in my writings I try to spread nationalistic and patriotic issues hoping that this nation may stand up and rise like the Phoenix from the ashes…..  

I have stopped watching television and reading newspapers as it gives me depression as regards the national scenario…………… hope my readers will keep me informed in this regards ……

The Zakat collection today comes to Rs. 6, 21, 000/- as Rs. 25, 000/- was received from my friend Mr. M.R Mehekri ex-President of Askari Bank now living in Karachi. 
Still Rs. 2,30,000/- away from the target as many phone calls were received regarding donations and promises for Monday and again I hope that those in the pipe line materialize and my target will be achieved.


Many of you will now make the NEEYAT of AITIKAF and I wish all of my friends who intend to do so may ALLAH have Blessings on you.
All said and done the day ended contentedly and peacefully……

27th July 2013
Today the 17th of RAMZAN……….. Saturday marked the important Islamic event to which I will come later on, as today was the last day of the Ration distribution and I anticipated a great rush and when I came to the Clinic very early there were about 300 plus people waiting.

I started the registration at about 10:30 am and in five batches completed the count to about 895 people. One important episode I would like to share with my readers that while registering the recipients I look at the date of birth and the NIC picture of the person.

Later on while registering I go through a detailed scrutiny and check the bona fides. Some non-Muslims also try to get the RATIONS for which I politely tell them that this is for Muslims only. In the second session there were about 40 ladies in which I had to refuse one  lady because she was Christian but finally at the end one lady came to me as her NIC showed that she was Christian but she told me that she had just converted to ISLAM hence her NIC could not be changed. I asked her to recite the first Kalma and the tenets of Islam which she gladly did so and her daughter also recited the three KALMA’s………. I was greatly impressed with this young girl and gave her a reward of hundred rupees along with a token for the RATION. I also asked them to come to me after EID for further help.


Exceptions do come in life but they have to be ironed out with finesse and meticulous understanding of the situation and this is one of the leadership qualities that I developed during my stay in the Pakistan Army as a young combatant.  


The number of people coming in today was tremendous that despite my best efforts to clear the backlog it took me about five hours to distribute the Rations and everyone went home Happy except for the late comers who got on my nerves for their share of the RATIONS. In such scenario I feel helpless as the Rations with me are only for the registered number of persons.


Every year I increased the number of recipients and from the figure of 30 persons in 2002 this year in 2013 the figure has touched 1000. There has also been inflation and price hike over the past ten years when a single person ration costing me was less than Rs 300/- and this year it is costing about RS 850/- per person as we have increased the weight of flour from 5 kgs to 10 kgs and the ghee from one kg to 2.50 kgs as result of this my budget has also shot up to Rs. 8.50 million but God acts in strange ways and every year He sends me more and more donors who meet my budget expectations.
MAIN TAN TANHA CHALA THA JANAB – E – MANZIL ………. LOG MILTEY GAYE OR KARWAN BANTA GAYA…..


The important Islamic event on 17th Ramzan was the first battle of Islam and the Battle of BADAR where a hand full of 313 SAHABAS’s overcame the big infidel force of one thousand strong. The battle of BADAR was fought outside the outskirts MADINA near the wells of BADAR which can still be seen when you go on pilgrimage and ZIARAT to MAKKAH & MADINA.


In the evening one of my cousin sister sent in her son Capt Taha Zubairi along with the ingredients of ROH AFZA for which both of us went to the mosque together after ASAR prayers and started preparing the ROOHAFZA.
The edibles for Aftari were quite sufficient and double plates were sent out for the ROZADAR’s to consume. 


Having spent much of my childhood and now in the twilight years of my life in mosques and other religious places because of my strong religious background I have observed that apart from criticizing our police, revenue system and Wapda we do not try to put our religious leader’s right….


I see great greed, corruption self projection and mismanagement in the mosques as the young clerics throw all norms of discipline and decency when it is time for MUNO-SALVA to be distributed.


Next time you are in a mosque please try to observe this rapacious and insatiable habits of these clerics when it is free for all scramble for food……..
The Zakat collection today remains static at Rs. 6, 21, 000/- and the total number of people given rations about 895.


I hope on Monday I am able to hit near about my target and also clear the one hundred people whose Rations are still lying with us.


Tomorrow being a Sunday will be a rest day for my staff so the Ramzan update of 18th Ramzan will be sent to you along with 19th Ramzan update on Monday.
Hope you have a blessed weekend and do find time to spend with the needy and poor and try to help them as much as you can.


28th July 2013……..

Today the 18th of RAMZAN… (Sunday)  A Slow day for me as I took the luxury of sleeping late till 10.00 am after Sehri. At about 11.00 am went out and looked after my Kennel in mates …….  It took me about 3 hours to feed & clean the kennels and also do the anti-tick treatment. 

Rest of the inmates the Alsatians, Labradors and mini dash-hounds were given bath and grooming. Some urgent chores of the house which were pending for the past two weeks were attended to and one major portion was the breakdown of the UPS which still is on my priority list of things to do.

The mention of dogs comes about three times in the Holy Quran in SURAH ALMAIDAH, SURAH ANFAL and SURAH QAHAF.
Those who make dogs a taboo are requested to first read these three verses of the Holy Quran and then make their opinion.

Rest of the day was spent in doing chores which were on the back burner for the past two weeks and could not be attended to because of my pre-occupation the ZAKAT and Aftari in the Mosque.

In the afternoon took a well deserved nap and slept till Asar prayers and then got dressed and went to my sister’s house in General’s colony near Murree Brewery for Aftari which was a slow paced affair as I was missing the daily aftari of Jamia Islamia Mosque. There I said my prayers in Askari X mosque and was quite amazed to see the number of acolytes (Worshipers) filling the center dome of the mosque and the filling of three SAF’s in the outside courtyard.

Again I am repeating this question what happens to these NAMAZI’s after Ramzan?
I would like to quote a HADITH here which is very touching
“ONE OF THE SAHABI’S ASKED OF THE PROPHET OF GOD MAY PEACE BE UPON HIM……IF ONE DIRHAM IS SPENT FOR JAHAD, ONE FOR EDUCATION AND ONE FOR HELPING SOMEONE WHICH OF THREE DIRHAM’S IS THE MOST AFZAL (Superior) THE HOLY PROPHET REPLIED MAY PEACE BE UPON HIM THAT ONE DIRHAM WHICH IS SPENT ON HELPING SOMEONE IS THE MOST SUPERIOR”
So keeping this HADITH in mind I have ventured out to help the poor and needy so that this HADITH is acted upon, revived, spread and set as an example for others to follow.
Hope you had a nice Sunday and a good one too.

29th July 2013 ……..

Today the 19th of RAMZAN… (Monday) I was anticipating  very little rush so I came to the clinic late at about 11.00 am and started the Zakat distribution which was very organized and orderly as the number of recipients was very low and we distributed rations to 40 people that brings the total to 935 another 65 people left. There was again the late comers and the gate crashers who pestered me for Rations but were politely explained that we have completed our registration and they should come next year in early SHABAAN 2014.  

Today as I was distributing rations I looked up to the sky and THANKED GOD for his countless and innumerable blessings which we has bestowed upon me and the nice friends, well wishers and family members he has given to me by virtue of which I am able to complete my charitable work which would not have been possible without GOD’s willingness and help of my friends.

Also I received an email from my friend Mr. Hussain Lawai President Summit Bank Karachi who also came up with a generous donation. Thank you and God bless you…………….
In the mosque the usual prevailed as the young MADARIS are full of greed and want and their appetite is insatiable as they want to carry all the edible inside so that they can horde and waste……..some of them a very critical of me because of my strict discipline and regimentation. One of the mosques Chowkidar who is always hoarding the edibles came in for admonishing by me because of his greed I reported his misdemeanor to the mosque authorities………. Well I have to do it otherwise no one will get AFTARI and many will hungry.

Looking back and down the memory lane I think of those gloomy days of 2002 when I was in sheer stress and depression due to the loss of my parents and how GOD held my hand and guided me during my time of need and distress……………
Today proudly when my hand is extended to give the Rations I know some where GOD is working in mysterious ways and helping me…….. 

I in my ordinary and humble way have multiplied my investments in BANK OF ALLAH UNLIMITED and would request all of you to avail this opportunity to en-cash this special deal enounced by ALLAH almighty because one good deed will be rewarded 70 times in the holy month of Ramzan.

A very important corporate announcement came in today that Fauji Fertilizer Company has given a payout of Rs.3.75/-share which is very encouraging for the shareholders. FFC please keep it up. Don’t let acquisitions of Askari Bank bog you down?    
Many donations came in today and bloated my collections they are enumerated as follows
1.     Mr. Hussain Lawai             President Summit Bank Karachi           Rs. 50,000/-
2.     Mr. Khursheed Zafar                     S.E.V.P Askari Bank                  Rs. 25, 000/-
3.     Mr. M. Ghazali                                Company Secretary AKBL       Rs.   5, 000/-
4.     Maj Abdul Waheed                       Askaria College                         Rs.  5, 000/-           

The total collection comes to about Rs. 7,08,000/- very near to the target of Rs. 8,50,000/- that is about Rs. 1,42,000/- still to go.

I would like to thank all of my above friends who have donated towards Raza Charity Trust for the Ramzan rations for the poor and needy people and also like to urge others to emulate their noble example.

AITIKAF starts from 21st Ramzan and this ASHRA comes to a close tomorrow heralding in the last Ashra of MAGHFRAT that is freedom from the fire of hell.  

30th July 2013 ……..

Today the 20th of RAMZAN…  A light cloudy day today with temperature about 34 degree’s Celsius……and I took it upon myself to take it easy and looked after my kennel inmates. At that time Bank of Allah Unlimited came in to action and I received a phone call from Brig Shaukat Yaqub Malik SI (M), (Retd ) Company Secretary FFBL that he has been reading my daily Ramzan updates and would like to contribute to the noble cause which I am doing. He asked me to send someone to collect the money from FFBL headquarters in Harley street so I sent my driver Rauf for the collection ………… and what he collected came as a surprise to me which is enumerated at the bottom of the updates.

Really the hand of Allah moves in mysterious ways as two more of my sleepy donors also woke up and promised to send in the money ASAP.

I came to the clinic late and very few people about 10 of the recipients of ZAKAT were there and they were given the Rations in a very easy manner. Two Handicap people were also accommodated thus bringing the total number of Zakat recipients to 995 and also extra RATIONS had to be given which depleted my reserves.

In the evening the usual took place for ROOHAFZA and this time I sent 2 kgs of sugar along with one bottle of Roh Afza other people also came in and brought more bottle of Roh Afza’s and the ice added extra tinge to the this and the people enjoyed the drink very much.

The number of ROZADAR’s at the table was less today hence double plates were sent out which they ate to their hearts content.  
The last Ashra of Ramzan that is MAGHFRAT starts from today which is freedom from the fire of hell and the faithful should recite 

ALLAH HUMA…….AJARNI MINAN NAAR

The AITIKAF has also started and those observing AITIKAF in the mosque also joined me for AFTARI and some people volunteered to give me money for arranging tomorrow’s AFTARI but that was politely taken as a rain chque for rainy day as today the weather was very nice and pleasant. 

A few days back I wrote about the results of Askari Bank and its after effects which was printed in the one of the news papers as a result of which I was flooded with phone calls, emails from apprehensive investors who wanted to know what should be their position as regards the shares of AKBL. To this I will respond in greater detail sometimes later but first I must give a write out about the good performance of Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited which I will do in the next few days because of my busy schedule.


The Bank of ALLAH unlimited special package is left for another 9 / 10 days depending on the sighting of the moon but one thing very nice this year that Ramzan started on the same dates in all the five provinces of Pakistan. Hope that the Pakistani nation can be as harmonious as they have been on the advent of Ramzan.


Please make use of this special deal by ALLAH in following the tenets of ISLAM and helping your fellow human beings and giving food and clothing to the needy and poor.
The total Zakat collection comes to about Rs. 7,58,000/- as my friend Brig Shaukat Yaqub Malik SI (M), (Retd) sent in Rs. 50,000/- bringing me very near to the target of Rs. 8,50,000/- that is about Rs. 92,000/- still to go. This is quite achievable as my friend Dr. Sadaat who is an old donor also promised to send in his share.  Still some pledges in the pipe line and I am envisaging that target will be oversubscribed by the end of Ramzan.
BLESS YOU ALL AND A VERY HAPPY LAST ASHRA OF RAMZAN.
  

31st July 2013

Today Wednesday the 21st of RAMZAN… the last ASHRAH of RAMZAN which is called MAGHFRAT has now started and this guest will leave us after 9 days and the Bonus package announced by BANK OF ALLAH unlimited will now come to a close by the 09th / 10th of Aug 13…………….. This bonus package will not be available to us for another 11 months……….so please avail this opportunity of multiplying your investments 70 times as you never know the call of MALIK UL MOUT may come any time and you may not be able to see the next RAMZAN.


A good deed which you think of doing now do it now……. Do not wait for tomorrow because tomorrow sometimes never comes………


Early in the morning after getting free from my kennels routine I made my way to Bank Al-Falah at Kalma Chowk where I had to make payment for the flour (ATTA) provided to me by Mr. Fayyaz owner of Khan Flour Mills. This time the ATTA mission went on without any hitch thanks to the cooperation of Mr. Fayyaz who also donated Rs. 5,000/- 


When I came to the clinic after ZOHAR prayers I came to know that the ladies from Mr. Younis Bhatti’s house had come in with their donations and about two wildcard entries were there and two people were accommodated on compassionate basis ……….. This brings the Ration token count to 997.


Today again I indulged in  the luxury of taking a well deserved nap till ASAR prayers as I was exhausted due to over work humidity and heat…………


One important Islamic event which has gone by today was the MARTYDOM of HAZARAT ALI (R.A) by IBNE-MULJIM on the 21st of RAMZAN. It is a sad event that the 3rd Caliph of Khulfa – e – Rasheedeen was attacked in the mosque while conducting prayers. This event sowed the seeds of KHARJI and DHAKHLI that means outsiders and insiders which has today multiplied many folds into the FITNA that we face today. 


In the mosque today as I was preparing ROH AFZA light drizzles and showers came which made the weather very pleasant and it was enjoyable to distribute the Aftari and the ROH AFZA.


Presidential Election

Yesterday also saw the presidential elections of Pakistan where as an unknown entity by the name MAMNOON HUSSSAIN became your new president by virtue of fitting in to the typical criteria of a YES MAN. It reminds me of the time when Ch. Zahoor Ellahi who was better known as PHAJA was made the president and was hardly ever seen outside the president’s House. What message are you giving to the world? Look at the personality of your President? Is he going to be the first man of the country? 


This nation will never realize and keep on committing the same mistake over and over again as if they are obsessed with committing suicide sooner or later.   


The total Zakat collection comes to about Rs. 7,83,000/- as my friend Mr. Younis Bhatti a prominent lawyer of PINDI sent in Rs. 20,000/- along with Mr. Fayyaz Rs. 5000/- bringing me very near to the target of Rs. 8,50,000/- that is about Rs. 67,000/- still to go. This is quite achievable as I my expecting my friend Dr. Sadaat who is an old donor to come in the evening to deposit his share. 

01st August 2013

Today Thursday the 22nd of RAMZAN… and the 2nd day of the last ASHRAH of RAMZAN which is called MAGHFRAT.

Yesterday on 31st July as we were finishing our daily routine of our office work and Ramzan updates for net at about 8.45 pm that I received a message in my inbox from my nephew Ehsan Ullah Khan from Upstate New York that he had sent in Rs. 50,000/- towards my Trust and was complaining that I had not responded so far.


I apologized and told him that I was very busy on Tuesday and just opened the face book for a very short time hence I missed his message. Her asked me to open my email and downloaded the MCB transaction slip along with PINCODE for collection of money. Later on on skype we chatted for some time and this conversation ended on a pleasant note.


When I was closing my clinic at about 9.30 pm one very desperate and deserving lady came and asked me for Zakat Rations but as she was not registered I at the first moment gave a polite NO but all of sudden as if I had been hit with a bolt of lightning that spiritual revelation dawned on me that who am I? Why have you built fault pride and ego around you?  Then I realized that I am a non entity and these rations do not belong to me, I am just the custodian of these Rations for a very short time.


These rations never were mine, never belonged to me and never will be mine then who am I to refuse this lady the Zakat Rations. With this thought in mind I started perspiring and a feeling of guilt and repentance came over me. If one does introspection then one realizes that one’s presence in this world is transitory and for a very short time. Everything belongs to GOD and will return to GOD sooner or later. The dust will mingle with the dust in the end. This reminded me of the great verse by BABA GHULAM FAREED
DHEEK FAREEDA MITTI KULLI
MITTI UTHEY MITTI DULLEY
MITTI HASEY MITTI ROYE
ANT MITTI DA MITTI HOYE
NA KAR BANDEYA MERI MERI
AYE TERI NA MERI
CHAR DINA DI KHAID HA BANDEYA
PHIR MITTI DI DHARIE

I nearly with tears in my eyes apologized to the lady and gave her the rations from the reserve quota with an inner sense of repent, embarrassment and guilty mind that if the ration falls short then I will replenish from my own sources. 

I looked up to the sky and THANKED GOD for giving me the opportunity of being the intermediary to help his mankind with whatever meager resources I have. Why has this opportunity not been availed or given to other well to do persons? This means that GOD has something big in store for me but what it is and when it will be only time will tell.

I also thanked GOD for his countless and innumerable blessings which he has bestowed upon me and the nice friends, well wishers and family members he has given to me by virtue of which I am able to complete my charitable work which would not have been possible without GOD’s willingness and help of my friends and family members.

Today proudly when my hand is extended in giving rations I know some where GOD is working in mysterious ways and helping me…….. 


In the mosque after Asar prayers when I go and layout the empty plates which remain empty for a longtime but as the time of the MAGRIB prayers comes near the plates start filling up and by the call of the MOAZIN I am still busy in distributing the edibles as some people send in their share very late which causes slight mismanagement at the last moment. 

I open up my fast with a date and then keep on distributing till the bags are empty and later on sit by the side of the ROHAFZA tub to pour the SHARBAT for the ROZADAR’s till the jamaat stands up and I after performing gargle join the congregation while the IMMAM is reciting the SURAT and sometimes join it just before the RUKOOH. This is my physical investment in Bank of Allah unlimited.   


The total Zakat collection today comes to about Rs. 8,37,000/- as my nephew Ehsan Ullah Khan sent in Rs.50,000/- along with Mr. Farrukh Hafeez Rs. 4000/- bringing me very near to the target of Rs.8,50,000/- that is about Rs. 13,000/- still to go. The Ration token count comes to 998.

When the first of Ramzan started my collection was only Rs. 2, 52, 000/- the amount sent in by my son Salman Raza Alim from USA was the seed money and when I set the target of Rs. 8, 50,000/- I thought that this will be achieved with great difficulty but low with the Blessing of Almighty ALLAH and with the help of my friends and family members this target has now been achieved.


This amount will be oversubscribed by the end of Ramzan and INSHALLAH the balance money will be carried forward to our main account from which we do our monthly activities of arranging dowry furniture, school fees, and other philanthropic work.

I in my ordinary and humble way have multiplied my investments in BANK OF ALLAH UNLIMITED and would request all of you to avail this opportunity to en-cash this special deal announced by ALLAH almighty.  
Hope you have a good last Ashra of Ramzan

02nd August 2013……..
Today the 23rd of RAMZAN… (Friday) more or less the holiday and festivity mood has taken over and people are casual in their attitude…………not much of work is going on in offices as everyone wants to rush home for EID but still EID is 6/7 days away.

Remember about two weeks back my AC went out of order and the mechanic repairing it had to go to Jail for some domestic case in which he was innocent came back and had my AC repaired and installed but this is not the end of the story as the UPS got burnt……… GOD only knows how? And Rauf had to be called in for the emergency bypass maneuver and then things had to be brought back to normal.


In the morning Rawalpindi received very pleasant showers and the weather was like Murree in Pindi and the drizzle continued till afternoon and streets were all cleaned up. 
In connection with some out of country payment I had to visit MCB Bank Lalkurti for money gram encashment and found that chaos was the order of the day. The bank looked like a fish market and there was complete mayhem and free for all.


It took me more than one hour to en-cash the money gram sent by my nephew from USA and later on went to AKBL haider road branch for deposit of cheques and to give my indent for new notes. I don’t know why people have the peculiar urge to get new notes for EID where as the old and the news ones are at the same par value.


Not much activity in the clinic or in the afternoon as total number of Ration recipients is now 1000 about 25 odd bags are still lying with us awaiting their claimants as some people have under taken AITIKAF and will claim their bags after EID.


Today also was JUMMA TUL WIDHA and my Jamia Islamia mosque Kashmir road Rawalpindi was full to the brim and I had to climb to the third story to find a place to pray as the centre courtyard of the mosque could not be used because of the rains.
Today I would like to share a very touching incident with you about the organization and distribution of Aftari in the mosque. As people come in with their share of edibles after Asar prayers and hand them over to me, some people who are not fasting because of the medical problems old age also have their FIDYA sent to the mosque in lieu of the fast which they have forgone. In this way I am able to organize Aftari for about 150 people for 30 days..


People in the mosque do not know my name but call me Haji Sahib / Dr. Sahib as I am there from Asar to MUGRIB prayers of each day of RAMZAN. What really boost my morale is that when unknown people come up to me with their  share of Aftari and today so much edibles came in because of JUMATUL WIDHA that I had to go round three times to distribute the edibles….. JAZAKALLAH. The Rohafza today was one of the best made so far because four bottles of Rohafza, 2 kg’s of Sugar and 5 kgs of ice were there to make it a sweet nectar drink.

As I said in the beginning of Ramzan that this is a month of caring, sharing, helping the needy and poor.
Why can’t we do this the whole year round?
What happens to us rest of the year?
The total Zakat collection today comes to about Rs. 8,47,000/- as my friend Dr. Sadaat sent in Rs.10,000/- bringing me just on the target of Rs.8,50,000/- The Ration token count comes to 1000.

Operation helping hands for Ration distribution is now more or less complete and the photographs portraying the activity can be seen on the facebook.

03rd August 2013……..

Today the 24th of RAMZAN… (Saturday) on this day at my age most of people usually take long Holidays but a workaholic like me got up before SEHRI had my sehri and then said my Fajar prayers. 

After feeding my kennel inmates I along with my driver and Mahar (Handy Man) got in to the Jalopy and made our way to 17th Meel and Angoori village from there made our way down about 1.5 kms to my lands in Dhoke Dumma which was an ordeal for me because of the decent and ascent and of course the ritual of fast was with me. 

At the lands made inspection made out the payments to the laborers rested for one hour. Delivered Rations to two widows in the villages and at about 10.30 am started the uphill climb to the road and then finally sat in the jalopy with the scorching sun over my head. On the way back it took us about one hour to reach lalazar and there had a bath and went to rest. Got up in time for Zohar prayers and after Zohar prayer went to sleep. At about 5.30 pm attended to the Asar prayers and then went to clinic at about 6.00 pm. 

In the evening went to the mosque with the usual rituals of making the SHARBAT and the distribution of the AFTARI while I was making the sharbat some old friends of AITIKAF of last year also came and sat with me and helped me with my rations distributions. The number of people opening their Roza in the mosque has become less and hence many plates become surplus and have to be distributed again.   


Life in this world is very short and I don’t know why everyone strives to be a successful man in this world rather than being a successful human being where the fruits of paradise are assured and an eternal life of bliss and happiness will be ours forever.  The crux of human endeavor revolves round greed, fear and amassing wealth whereas one should try to achieve KANNAT (contentment), loves for fellow human beings fear of GOD and to lead a straight and pious life.    


This world is like a Airport …………….there are arrivals and departures and the people waiting for their flight avail the transition time in the departure lounge and this is the genesis of life, may be people of my age are now in the departure lounge waiting for their flight………..? 


Operation helping hands now completed Zakat collection target achieved 24 daily Aftari’s completed along with fast and prayers. One thing I would like to admit that I have not been regular in my TRAVEEH’s because of the work load but now only six days more to go and I will try to be regular. May GOD forgive me for that.   


04th August 2013

Today the 25th of RAMZAN… (Sunday) this is usually a slow and relaxed day for most of the people but fo ‘10’r me it is a day where pending house chores are attended to and the BEGUM’s shopping list is complied with. After SEHRI got up late at about 10.00 am and then attended to my kennels inmates and spent some time with them as regards their training, grooming and cleaning. Kennel inmates are now eleven in number with the puppy population turning in to adults and also eating as much as the adults do. Just as a passing reference all dogs have their different psyche and mentality and respond in the same way and each has to be treated accordingly.


After finishing at about 1 o’ Clock when I switched the TV ON the channels were full of news about the deluge of 2013 and how the civil administration has failed to come up to the expectation of the masses and were caught with their pants down in Karachi and in other areas of Sindh, Punjab and Baluchistan. For the past decade or so I as a social activist have been pleading about the water reservoirs, Barrages, Dams and lining of the Canals but this has not taken place because of the apathy and callousness of our leaders. As a result of this the rain / flood waters finds its way in to the Arabian Sea and is lost but we still are a country without water recourses. The fault of this lies with us because we as a nation do not choose our leaders wisely.  

    
Although we gained independence from British domination more than 3 ½ decade ago but we are still slave and subservient to the slave mentality left by the RAJ legacy as we are slaves of the system, fuedal lords, establishment and off course exploitation by bureaucracy as we have not learnt to live as a nation but rather as clans and fiefdoms. We should come out of this cocoon of allusion which we have built around ourselves and throw out the inefficient and corrupt politicians and leaders……….


A great chance was available to this nation in the shape of the recently held elections and this was a last chance to choose our wise and competent leaders but the nation threw away this chance by electing the same corrupt leaders again and again. Now you have to bear them for another 5 years and by that time the nation will go further down.       

The masses have to be educated and the media has to be put in its proper place as it has now become like a genie  out of the bottle which has over grown it size and cannot fit in to the bottle again………. The media must play its constructive role in educating and preparing the masses for the days ahead.

I don’t want to be in a state of despair or be apologetic because we have nothing to be cheerful about except load shedding, corruption, lawlessness and above all incompetent and corrupt leaders.

Wake up my countrymen my comrades before it is too late as I always say PLEASE STAND UP AND BE COUNTED………… GOD BLESS PAKISTAN

One of my very good and old friend who also happens to be my instructor in AFMC Lt. Gen. Mustafa Kamal Akbar sent me an SMS that why the update of Sunday was missing……… Sir, Gen Akbar Sahib thank you for the remembrance and thanks for your positive input.  


05th August 2013……..

Today the 26th of RAMZAN… (Monday) very slow day as things are moving at a snail’s space and hardly any activity, even the KSE 100 index went down by 250 points and many blue chips were in the buying range now.  I also capitalized on the slow day and did my routine work slowly and by the time it was time for ZOHAR prayers I finished had a bath and then went to sleep again.

After ZOHAR prayers was thronged by phone calls from my friends and acquaintance for FRESH NOTES for which I had to go to various bank branches but could not get the required amount.

Why is it that the demand for FRESH NOTES arises so much near EID……….. Can any one answer this question what is the relation between EID and FRESH NOTES………?      

After ASAR prayers I went to the clinic to finish my routine work as today is the eve of 27th of Ramzan and there is KHATM – E- QURAN in my mosque and I will try to be a part of the congregation and will stay late in the mosque to offer my NAWAFILS and attend to the MAHFIL – e – DARS in the mosque. 

Today is the divine day that the HOLY QURAN was completed and it is the last revelation of GOD to mankind……….. and also our beloved country Pakistan gained independence on 27th Of Ramzan in 1947.  

 Let me share with you something which although very simple but many of the readers would not have noticed it that the topic of QURAN is………………….. MAN and narration is the conduct of one human being towards another……….. so in short the meaning of ISLAM is a to bow down, be humble and to sacrifice oneself for another, as ISLAM is a religion of peace.


In the evening I went to the mosque early in order to compensate for my absence yesterday and made the sharbat and laid out the Aftari Plates. As I was preparing the Sharbat and instructing my workers about filling of the plates that well dressed bearded man in his 50’s came very close to me in a whispering range and asked me “JANAB ARE U INCHARGE OF THIS AFTARI” my reply was that I am a non entity and this was the work of ALLAH and he is incharge of this Aftari and I pointed my finger towards the sky. 

The man then said but you are the medium (WASEELAH) for this and I would like to contribute my share for the Aftari with this he put a big note in my pocket and went and sat down with the other Rozadar’s. This episode today reiterated my belief in the blessings of GOD and was sufficient to convince me that the hand of Allah which works in mysterious ways was also there to help and guide me. With these thoughts tears of gratitude came in my eyes that GOD has chosen me to help his creation. 


There was quite a hussle and bussle in the mosque because of the KHATAM – E – QURAN and of the people doing their AITIKAF waiting for the moon so that the advent of SHAWAL comes in and people can celebrate their EID.

  
Late at about 8.45pm I went to the Jamia Islamia mosque Kashmir road Rawalpindi and became part of the congregation for the KHATM – E – QURAN as only half chapter of the last 30 chapter which culminates in WANAS was recited hence the prayer was over by 40 minutes after which the translation of the half chapter was given followed by combined DUWA and later on sweet meets were distributed amongst the people present. 


Came very late at night but saw the big ordeal of feeding the kennel inmates still left which was done in two hours and by that time it was time for SEHRI.

06th August 2013……..
Today the 27th of RAMZAN… (Tuesday) since last night was spent in the mosque and I came late to Lalazar but could not sleep till SEHRI as the chores of the kennels inmates was pending …………. Went to sleep after saying my Fajar prayers and got up at about 10.00 am 


Took my time in cleaning of the kennels and by 1 O’ Clock took bath and was ready for the Zohar prayers which I offered in the Raiz ul Jannah mosque lalazar. As I came home I saw a chit of shopping list left by my BEGUM as she is now sitting in AITIKAF hence the shopping list was attended to which was again an exercise in futility as some of the finer ingredients of SHEER KHURMA were not available up to the specification hence they were put on the pending list and I went home and indulged in the only luxury available that is sleep.   


Also side by side there was a routine of the banks, offices and some shopping order for my butcher to collect meat for my kennel inmates as for the next 4/5 days will be holidays.


Came to the clinic at about 6.00 pm and gave rations to about 4 people who were registered and still some people have not come forward to collect their RATIONS still some bags are lying with us unclaimed may be their claimant come in another day or two or after EID.


As I was leaving for the mosque some patients turned up and had to be attended to so I sent Rauf in advance to the mosque to deliver the edibles and the ROOH AFZA items. When I went to the mosque at about 7.00 pm my impending fear became a reality as there was free for all scramble for the food items in the mosque as some of the clerics capitalized on my absence and pilfered and usurped the edibles to their USTAAD’s in the HUJRA’s. In the beginning of my Ramzan updates I mentioned about the rapacious and greedy mentality of our clerics and I think they will not change in my life time so I have decided to give them a wide berth when I am confronted with them. May ALLAH give them guidance? 


After AFTARI as I came back to the clinic a lot of pending work has accumulated on my table and now I am trying to make a futile attempt to clear my table of the backlog.
I have been receiving many phone calls and queries regarding my prediction about the fall of shares of Askari bank to par value & some were cynical about my prediction and jeered at me that AKBL shares were pegged at RS 14.00 to them I replied just wait and see till the end of September then talk to me .Many newspapers columnists dub me as an expert on Askari bank corporate activity and keep on asking me questions relevant to AKBL & I politely answer their questions to the best of my abilities. 


The total Zakat collection today comes to about Rs. 8, 86,000/- as my friend Mr. M.A Bawany a very soft spoken but competent man who is THE MAN behind P.S.L in the absence of Mr. Hashwany sent in Rs.30,000/- and my bank manager Mr. Zishan Farooq Khan of BAFL Rs. 9000/-


The bank of ALLAH unlimited has now been oversubscribed and by CHANDRAAT this escrow account will close and those who have subscribed to this account will be rewarded by GOD 70 times along with the profits bonus & dividends.
Thank u my friend for your help and cooperation and GOD willing together u & I will make this world a better place to be.
HAIN LOOG WOHI JAHAN MAIN ACHEY..........  JO ATEY HAIN KAAM DOSROON KAY......

As RAMZAN draws to a close more and more people are coming to the mosque for redemption…………. And prayers……… but their hearts and souls are not purified and contaminated with greed, want, ego and above all the MUNAFIQ mentality that has taken over the minds of Pakistani’s.
CANNOT WE BE MUSLIMS FOR THE WHOLE YEAR AND NOT JUST FOR RAMZAN?

07th August 2013……..


Today the 28th of RAMZAN… (Wednesday) I was woken up early in the morning at about 0930 am by a phone call from my office that a ZAKAT contribution has come in and a receipt is required. On telephone I contacted the person who had brought in the cheque and found out that one of my regular donors who was asleep had sent in his contribution towards my trust. This donor very emphatically emphasized that his name should not be mentioned in my daily Ramzan updates.



He is one of my seniors from Cadet College Hassanabdal and my friendship with him goes to the previous generation also. GOD Bless you my Abdalian friend.

After stretching in the bed for about 10 minutes I shook of my lethargy and put on my work clothes and went out to attend to my kennel chores. My kennel inmates have been badly neglected during this month as the routine of brushing grooming and daily walk has been put on the back burner because of time constraints and my adherence to the Islamic code of conduct by offering my prayers on time. 

Had my shower dressed up and went to Bank Al-Falah for new notes then to Habib Metropolitan bank for deposit of the Zakat money and finally to Askari Bank for cheque deposits and new notes. 

Many of you will ask what is your need for the new notes? This is to respond to the request and FARMAISH of my staff and other acquaintances who feel very happy when new notes are given to them.    

The attendances in the office are very thin as not much of work is going on in offices as everyone wants to rush home for EID…….and that is why there is so much rush and congestion on the roads that a simple journey of 10 minutes takes about 40 minutes or so and the problem of parking is rising.  

Rain has brought relief and the weather is very pleasant but the accumulated rain water of PINDI / Islamabad finding its way in to the water channels of LAIYEE and Korang river finally meet together and join river Indus near Dhoke Pathan and this may cause flooding downstream beyond PUNJNAD near Ali Pur.  

No activity in the clinic or in the afternoon but two odd recipients came up for the RATION collection…..

In the mosque today there was influx of large number of edibles and the plates were full to the brim and after distribution as I was waiting for the call of the MOAZIN then two people came in with bags load of edibles which were six in number. So I opened my fast with a date and then went round distributing the edibles as some ladies with children also came in at the last moment and they were also accommodated to their hearts content. It nearly took me about half an hour to distribute the edibles and even when the Jamat stood up I could only join it just before the first RUKOOH.


Operation helping hands for Ration distribution is now complete and the store room for the Zakat Ration is empty expect for a few bags of flour and tins of GHEE.

The total Zakat collection today comes to about Rs. 9, 06,000/- as my Abdalian friend sent in Rs.20,000/- the IPO of Bank of Allah unlimited has been oversubscribed by Rs. 56,000/-

As said in my Ramzan updates in the beginning that month of Ramzan is for caring sharing and helping the needy and poor.

The very essence of Ramzan is defeated when the traders deliberately increase the prices of essential items thus fleecing the poor public not withstanding that these worldly gains will not lead them to paradise.

As I look back to the advent of Ramzan about a month a ago I was apprehensive that this gigantic and mammoth task will be left in complete but with the blessings of GOD almighty, my friends, relatives and well wishers the task has been accomplished.
I would like to thank all of you again and bow my head to my creator for his countless blessings amongst them good friends like you are an asset to me.

08th Aug 2013
Today the 29th of RAMZAN………. The Holiday and festive mood is gaining momentum…. No one wants to work, and will not start work before Monday 12th of August ……………… If u look at the holiday calendar of Pakistan out of 365 days 96 days are for weekly holidays, 10 days for national holidays and another 2 weeks for religious holidays…………so in total this nation works for only 245 days in a year and that to from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm.. If u calculate the Human resource index of Pakistan it is in the negative as the people in Government services, Utilities, Police, Revenue, Judiciary and allied departments don’t work at all…………… They work only when QUAID E AZAM makes them work…….

Got up very late today because of my obsession with twitter which did not let me sleep till 5.00 O’ Clock and then donned my work clothes to work in the kennels and then tried to attend to my kennel inmates. 

It took me about three hours to settle the kennel job and then had my bath and said my Zohar prayers.

In the afternoon after ZOHAR prayers had the luxury of sleeping and resting and after ASAR went to the mosque for AFTARI and today lot many edibles were there and it was like a sumptuous feast and after the plates had been cleared I prodded the ATIKHAF People about keeping one more fast and somehow or the other my jabbing was just for fun sake as EID has been celebrated in Saudi Arabia and England and united states today so EID INSHALLAH will be celebrated TOMORROW ……….

As EID is tomorrow so the thrill fun and excitement of CHANDRAAT has more or less died down…… it was good of the met department that they predicted that Eid will be on Friday 09th of August 2013 and hence the ambiguity of having 2 EID’s was settled.

In the mosque most of the people observing AITIKHAF were gathered in the courtyard with smile beaming on their faces as if moon light was shinning on them….

Since the prayer leader was late in coming I explained to them the importance of this day when the moon is sighted and AITIKHAF comes to an end………… it is a day of divine blessings where prayers are answered by GOD……..

I told them that immediately after MAGRIB prayers we must make a collective DUA and everyone should then disperse home………

In the AFTARI not many had come but gradually the number of the ROOZADAR’s swelled to about 40/50 people and the AFTARI had to be given at the last moment as the edibles came late and ROOHAFZA was made late…………… After MUGRIB prayers came back to the clinic to on work on the computer and later went home to greet my wife in the house who was also in short AITIKAF……

After getting free from the feeding of the kennel inmates had a bath and looked after the arrangements for Vermicelli and the preparation of SHEER KHURMA……. That’s why EID UL FITAR is called MEETHI EID.

Late night went for a drive of CHAND RAAT and was very disappointed that the traffic was jammed and the BAZZAR’s were choked. Came home after purchase of HALEEM, Sweet Meets, Cold Drinks and Ice cream, went to bed very late and set the alarm at 06.30 am in the morning as the EID NAMAZ in Jamia Islamia mosque Kashmir road Rawalpindi was scheduled to be held at 07.30 am….

EID is a Muslim festival signifying the end of the fasting month of RAMAZAN and is like a gift of GOD to the Muslim UMMAH for their perseverance, steadfastness and piety………………..but it is also a message of peace, love, humanity and humility……
This RAMAZAN I feel that as a humble servant of GOD I have tried my level best to do good deeds to others hoping that GOD almighty will forgive my sins and reward me in the next world of Eternity.


REVOLUTION IS ROUND THE CORNER ……………………….and very soon there will be an uprising against the corrupt leaders…….like the French revolution………… it only needs a match stick to light the fuse….


GOD BLESS YOU AND A VERY HAPPY EID MUBARAK TO ALL OF YOU.



Dr. Babur Zahiruddin