ایسے میں ہمسایہ محلے کے سرکردہ لوگوں کی ملی بھگت سے گھر کے اندر گھس کر گھر پر اور گھر والوں پر قبضہ جما لے اور دروازہ اندر سے بند کر لے.
گھر کا اصل سربراہ گھنٹیاں دے، کنڈی کھٹ کھٹائے، بااثر لوگوں کے دروازے پر جائے، تھانے میں شکایت کرے... سب سے استدعا کرے کہ بھائی میرا گھر ہے... میں اس کا اصل وارث اور حقدار ہوں. غاصب کو باہر نکالو. نہیں مانتا تو کم ازکم اسکو پنچایت میں تو لاؤ.. بات کراؤ.. میرا حق مجھے دلواؤ... میرا گھر ہے.. مرے گھر والے ہیں.. خدارا کچھ تو کرو...
لیکن سب، بشمول غاصب کے، اسکو توجیح پیش کریں کہ بھائی چپ ہو جا.
I began writing this blog a couple of years ago, but don't know why, never finished it. Sharing just one paragraph that I wrote of a blog that is likely to remain unfinished:
'You only fail when you accept failure,' preached an energetic, confident and determined Imran Khan amid pin drop silence in a hall full of us, his followers, during at dinner he hosted in Islamabad's posh hotel. This one line pretty much summed up his life; an aspiring fast bowler, who was told over and over that his aspirations may just be a dream he might never be able to live. A philanthropist, looking to build a one of it's kind charitable cancer hospital for the poor of Pakistan, with a constant caution by everyone around him that he was bound to fail. A politician, with only a partial success after sixteen years of struggle, Imran Khan. The man who has single-handedly changed the way politics is done in Pakistan.
مئی 2013 میں الیکشن منعقد ہوے. الیکشن کے بعد تمام جماعتوں نے، بشمول نواز لیگ، یہ الزام عائد کیا کہ الیکشن میں بڑے پیمانے پر دھاندلی ہی. ٹیلی ویژن چینلز، اخبارات، الیکشن ابزرو کرنے والے دیگر ادارے، سب نے الیکشن پر سوالات اٹھائے.
تحریک انصاف نے بھی الیکشن کو دھاندلی زدہ قرار دیا. چیئرمین تحریک انصاف، عمران خان، نے اعلان کیا کے انہوں نے نتائج تسلیم کر لئے، حکومت تسلیم کر لی مگر دھاندھلی تسلیم نہیں کی. انہوں نے ' الیکشن آڈٹ' ڈیمانڈ کیا جس میں یہ پتا چلایا جا سکے کہ آخر الیکشن میں ہوا کیا. اور آئندہ دھاندلی روکنے کے لئے الیکٹورل ریفورم کی جا سکے. پارلیمنٹ میں تقریر میں انہوں نے کہا کہ چار حلقوں کا آڈٹ کرایا جائے تاکے دودھ کا دودھ اور پانی کا پانی ہو سکے. وزیر داخلہ نثار علی خان نے جواباً چالیس حلقے کھولنے کا کہا. تحریک انصاف نے تجویز مان لی. مگر کچھ نا ہوا.
بات دوبارہ پارلیمنٹ میں آئ. خواجہ سعد رفیق نے نکتا اٹھایا کہ چار حلقے تحریک انصاف اور چار حلقے نون لیگ دے. اس پر بھی اتفاق ہو گیا. نون لیگ نے عمران خان کی ایک سیٹ آڈٹ کے لئے دی. تحریک انصاف نے اپنے طور پر عمران کی دوسری سیٹ جس سے وہ میانوالی میں جیتے تھے وہ بھی پیش کر دی. لیکن بات وہیں رک گئی. تحریک انصاف لگاتار ڈیمانڈ کرتی رہی اور حکومت لگاتار غیر سنجیدہ ردعمل دیتی رہی. بات کو ہنسی ٹھٹھے میں اڑاتی رہی. مئی 2014 آ گیا. تحریک انصاف نے دھاندلی کے خلاف تحریک شروع کر دی. پھرموقع دیا دھاندلی کے الزامات کی تحقیقات کا. عمران خان نے یہاں تک کہا کے اگر تحقیقات میں دھاندلی کے شواہد نا ملے تو وہ نواز شریف کے گھر جا کر معافی مانگیں گے. مگر ڈھاک کے تین پات. نواز لیگ کے گلو بٹ غیر سنجیدہ بیانات دیتے رہے. کام کچھ نا کیا.
دانشمندانہ جواب اور طریقہ کار یہ ہوتا کہ حکومت دھاندلی کے الزامات کو سنجیدگی سے لیتی. پارلیمنٹ میں موجود تمام جماعتوں کو باور کراتی کہ وہ واقعی ان الزامات کی تہ تک پہنچنا چاہتی ہے. سب کو اعتماد میں لے کر تحقیقات کا عمل شروع ہوتا. اگر دھاندلی ثابت ہو جاتی تو ملوث افراد کے خلاف کاروائی ہوتی اور بہتر الیکشن کے نظام پر کام شروع ہوتا. اگر دھاندلی ثابت نا ہوتی تو الزام لگانے والوں کی سبکی ہوتی. مگر حکومت اپنا فرض ادا کرنے میں ناکام رہی. سب راستے بند کر کے بیٹھے رہے. ایسے میں ایک واحد راستہ احتجاج کا بچا. احتجاج ایک بنیادی، جمہوری حق ہے جو ریاست ہر شہری کو دیتی ہے اور تحریک انصاف 14 اگست کو اپنا یہی حق استعمال کر رہی ہے.
حکومت نے اپنے غیردانشمندانہ رویئے سے ملک کو ایک بند گلی میں لا کھڑا کیا ہے. تمام مواقع مہیا کیے جانے کے باوجود انکو ہاتھ سے جانے دیا. ہمارے پاس سوائے احتجاج کے کوئی اور آپشن چھوڑا ہی نہیں.
Last year has been an exceptionally successful one for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Since January the party has been on a phenomenal upsurge, both organizationally as well as in popularity. As Imran Khan would say, 'Insaf (PTI) is an idea, whose time has come," and indeed it has. The year that began with a grand rally in Faisalabad will hopefully end in 'never seen before' kind of a grand rally and a jalsa in Karachi at Mazar-e-Quaid. The high point in this year, and perhaps in PTI's 16 year old life was a historic jalsa at Manto Park in Lahore. Some say they haven't seen a crowd as big, as energetic and as upbeat before in a political gathering. I not only endorse the view but I can proudly say that I too was part of history that was made on October the 30th in front of Minar-e-Pakistan. I'll always cherish the memories of the day.
Since the last few months, before and after the jalsa, whole nation seems to be gripped by a debate of whether PTI should welcome politicians who have been in other parties before, of whom some have even also enjoyed ministerial and other government offices, into party's fold or not? Many argue, especially those within PTI, that party that we should not. Their argument, which does make sense, is that these people are only joining PTI for electoral gains that party's popularity can potentially offer them and do not have much to do with the philosophy of the party. Some argue that they are joining PTI, literally in flocks, because they've been ignored or sidelined by the party they were previously in. But the strongest argument of them all is that how can Imran Khan bring about the 'change' he has been promising with these old horses who have been part of many of the previous regimes he has been so vocally criticizing and opposing. All these are tough questions to answer.
Theoretically, yes, I endorse all those views. But on the other hand isn't this mass support what I and all my fellows in PTI have been working for? Now that we are getting it, we suddenly don't want it. Lest we forget, PTI is a political party, not a Gymkhana style exclusive club where rights of admissions are strictly reserved for a certain type of people. Will we tomorrow, come elections, won't accept votes of those voters who have been voting for other parties before? What if a thief wishes to vote for a PTI candidate? Will we ask him not to? Besides, accepting someone in party is one thing, and giving him a party ticket in elections is another. Doesn't mean that if an ex-MNA, who is allegedly corrupt, joins a party he'll most certainly get a ticket as well. As Imran Khan has said PTI will be represented by new, young faces everywhere it practically can. But party also has to keep the biradri based, largely uneducated rural politics in mind as well if it has to make it big in the parliament. To achiever a victory in elections, party will have to field a mix of new and old faces where majority, in my opinion, must be faces that have stuck it out with the party through thick and thin.
These are going to be extremely tough decisions for Imran Khan and party leadership to take, but I'm sure right decisions will be taken. Those decisions which will have a popular support, both, within the party and outside.
On April the 24th, 2011, I left for Saudi Arabia for a holy journey. I stayed there for 20 days. I kept a journal, in form of facebook status updates, of the whole journey which I am now reproducing here;
* Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik...Labbaik la shareeka Laka Labbaik...April 24 at 3:00pm
* At Jeddah Airport, Saudi Arabia. Leaving for Makkah in a while.I thought Pakistan immigration was the worst, until I came to Saudi Arabia! April 24 at 11:20pm
* My first impressions of Saudi Arabia:When landed at Jeddah airport; I thought I was in Bangladesh.On way to Makkah from Jeddah; everything looks very plastic, fake. Very 'Las Vegas' type if you may. April 25 at 12:12am
* My whole life, this place was a 'direction' I was supposed to offer my prayers in.. Today I'm here, sitting right in front of Khana-e-Ka'ba, thinking if I am worthy enough of even being in the vicinity of this place, let alone doing it's tawaf, touching it's black cloth, kissing the hajr-e-aswad and praying under it. April 25 at 3:11pm
* I want to take photos of Khana-Ka'ba.. But I don't seem to have enough strength.. Too much in awe..April 25 at 5:43pm
* Last night, during tawaf, a wave of people came and pushed me in the direction of Khana-e-Ka'ba's wall, almost pinning me it's wall.. I was scared to touch it, but I did with trembling hands, and then I couldn't stop... Don't know the rest.. All I remember is Soha later asking me why I was crying. April 25 at 6:01pm
* Reached Hijr-e-Aswad, got an opportunity to give a bosa, prayed with my hands at the footsteps of Baab-e-Ka'ba, offered nawafil in Hateem... But the experience that I had last night was simply out the world. I am doubly happy because Soha was in my arms when Ka'ba pulled me to it's wall. Allah-o-Akbar. April 25 at 7:59pm
* At Khana-e-Ka'ba you actually understand what 'life in motion' means.. Men, women and birds, all doing tawaf around this large but very simple black room. I wonder if anything of this magnitude could be any simpler! April 25 at 8:02pm
*I was told by everyone that Meccans were rude. They forgot to mention it was Bangladeshi Meccans they were talking about. April 26 at 12:38am
*I was just telling Soha what she has to do if in case, God forbid, she looses us in the mosque...or on street. She listened to my instructions patiently, nodding her head saying 'jee'. And when I finish, she makes a crying face and says, 'Baba! Aysi baatein matt karo' April 26 at 12:33pm
*Soha, apparently, doesn't want me to wear either a skull cap or a scarf over my head. She wants me to go out with shaved head. She wants me to look funny. April 26 at 12:35pm
*When I was on my way to Ka'ba, I had a lot of prayers in my had, a lot that I wanted from Allah, a lot that I wanted to ask.. But the moment I saw this black room, I forget everything. All I could ask for was forgiveness. Nothing but forgiveness. Slowly, in a day or so, others things also start becoming part of your prayers. April 26 at 3:44pm
*If I had it my way, I would make at least one kilometre around Haram a 'skyscraper free zone'. Probably that is why I'm not in charge here. :) April 26 at 6:56pm
* Finally meet a Pakistani waiter at restaurant, and he refuses to accept tip. April 26 at 9:43pm
*My back is stiff, my feet hurt and my muscles are tired... But I'm fresh... Still time to hit the bed an early morning... Have to wake up for Tahajjud and Fajar. April 27 at 12:37am
* An exceptionally tall Arab asks me something in Arabic and I respond in English. We barely make each other understand. Very next moment he starts talking to another Pakistani in fluent Urdu. April 27 at 9:58am
* The heat of Arafat, and Jabl-e-Rehmat... Awesome combination!April 27 at 11:36am
* I could definitely spare a punch or two for each of thrre 'shaitans'.... and our tour guide. Pity, I don't have my boxing glows on! April 27 at 12:04pm
* Buildings in Makkah, except a few around the Haram, are very one dimensional. They all look alike and aren't very pleasing aesthetically. They all seem to have been built on a single philosophy - that of accommodation, and accommodation alone. April 27 at 2:20pm
* Generally Arabs have a very stern look on their faces, Turkish; pleasant and smiley, Indonesian/Malaysians; lost, Persian/Lebanese etc; proud, Africans; expression less, Bangladeshi; sneaky, and Pakistanis.. well Pakistanis look tired, almost as if constipated. Looks like they are only going through motions out of compulsion. But those are just expressions on faces, not the feelings inside.April 27 at 3:53pm
* The world's foremost mosque is also the world's most informal mosque. #Khana-e-Ka'ba! April 27 at 10:10pm * The only other language, or words of a language, that I have heard guards at Khana-e-Ka'ba speak is Urdu. And I'm assuming that is probably because quite often you would find Pakistanis and Indians being on the wrong side of rules.April 28 at 2:15pm
* A Pakistani selling Pakistani food, a Bangladeshi selling Pakistani food, even an Arab selling Pakistani food... and everyone else seems to be eating Pakistani food. But not Soha. She wants me to find Pizza Hut for her! April 28 at 5:36pm
* I've noticed that affluent Arab or I should say Meccan young boys have a very funny look and body language. It's a look when you are not sure how to tell everyone else that you are rich - so you put up an arrogant demeanour, with chest pushed out, shoulders standing up, and a look of dis-concern on your face, and you start walking like a body builder, even if you are as thin as a tooth pick. April 28 at 8:08pm
* Although it's a just a 200 meters walk to hotel from Haram, but at the end of the day (with Soha riding on my shoulders) the legs are so tired that it seems like a never ending one. April 28 at 11:24pm
* Soha's demand: "Baba, aaj hum phir ronay chalein gai" (Baba, today we will go again to cry). In other words, she wants to go for 'tawaf' again.April 29 at 12:28pm
*Everyone who comes to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage should also be allowed a gallon of oil to take back home along with the zamzam water. April 29 at 7:03pm
* I think Meccans are not really as rude as they are thought to be. I think this perception has more to do with they way they speak Arabic that they seem rude. But this is my observation and can be wrong. April 29 at 7:13pm
* Very open, very welcoming, very relaxed, informal, always in motion, with people from all races and colors circling it, where none is big or small, all encompassing and extremely simple. That's Allah's house for you. I wish every mosque in the world could follow Masjid Al Haram. April 29 at 9:56pm
* A guy selling tea near Haram tells me, "yeh jo log Pakistan se aatay hai, yeh cheeni bauhat istamal kartay hein" April 29 at 11:48pm
* Which are the cities that never sleep?Let me start with Makkah.. April 30 at 3:19am
* As I finished my prayer and looked up to take a glance at the Ka'ba, for a moment or two it dragged me back to the days I was in Sadiq Public School. In those moments I felt the same feeling that I used to when I was about to leave for boarding. The feeling of leaving behind what I loved. The feeling of leaving home and parents. But it lasted only couple of seconds. April 30 at 1:36pm
* In Madina.. The city that embraced the Prophet... The city that the Prophet embraced! April 30 at 7:46pm
* Only if I had words to explain the feeling of being at the place where once Prophet lived and now rests. The first mosque of Islam, the Mosque of the Holy Prophet, may peace be upon him.Nostalgic! April 30 at 8:29pm
* Masjid al Haraam (Makkah) is more about vigour, vibrance and stirred up emotions, but Masjid-e-Nabvi (Madina) is more about calmness, love and recollection. In Makkah, pilgrims have this concerned look on their faces... Not so in Madina. Here, every face has a calm smile on it. Loving the feel of being in the city of Prophet, may peace be upon him. May 1 at 6:03pm
* Khana-e-Ka'ba, with all its simplicity, is very overpowering and humbling... And Masjid-e-Nabvi with all it's grandeur and magnanimity, is extremely soothing and relaxing. It has an understated grandness about it! May 2 at 12:26am
* Masjid-e-Nabvi is huge.. grand actually... It's architecture is very modern, pretty and impressive, but the same time very understated. Attention to detail is tremendous. It's exceeds all expectations. And a cloud of calmness and serenity envelops not just the mosque, but entire city. May 2 at 1:08am
* Only women, not properly dressed in Abaya, that you would see in both the Harams are Pakistanis. Wherever you see a colorful, flowery shalwar qameez, that's a Pakistani lady you're seeing! May 2 at 10:24pm
* As I entered Riaz-Ul-Jannah.. It was jam packed..all I saw was heads.. Head behind a head, feet tangling feet.. Not even enough space to do sajda.. And there I see a space in front of me empty.. No one trying to take it.. As if it was reserved for me.. May 3 at 2:02pm
* Where would street hawkers leave their merchandise on the street unattended and rush for the mosque for prayers? Masjid-e-Nabvi, Madina. May 3 at 6:02pm
* Madina's sun is harsh, but it's air is pleasant. May 3 at 6:30pm
* Praying in the area where Prophet, may peace be upon him, once prayed with his companions.. Where he taught his dispels, where he sat with his daughter and grandchildren.. Where he met the dignitaries, where he spent his daily life.. Dawn to dusk and beyond, and where he now rests.. Only if I could explain the happiness. May 4 at 12:44pm * Buying presents for those back at home is also as much part of the pilgrimage as the pilgrimage itself. May 5 at 2:45pm
* An ethnic group of Sudan (not black, but brown) and people from Pakistan's South Punjab tie an extremely similar turban. They even look quite alike. May 5 at 6:07pm
* Al-Baik has already served 509 customers in last half hour and there must be at least a 1000 more to get hold of the fried chicken. And more cars keep stopping outside. KFC and Hardees here are almost out of work. May 5 at 11:33pm * Most difficult things to do in Saudi Arabia:
Reaching Hajr-e-Aswad Praying in Hateem Praying in Riaz Ul Jannah And Eating Al Baik. May 6 at 1:57am
* At the valley of Uhud, between the Uhud mountain and Jabl-e-Romat. This is where Muslims fought their second battle and lost. They lost a battle they had already won, when a group of archers left their places thinking their enemies had fled. May 6 at 10:06am
* At Masjid-e-Qiblataain.. The mosque where qibla was shifted, during prayer, from Jerusalem to Makkah. May 6 at 10:34am
* At the site where the battle of trenches was fought.. The third epic battle that Prophet, may peace be upon him, personally led. May 6 at 10:57am
* At Masjid-e-Kuba, the first mosque built by Prophet, may peace be upon him. May 6 at 12:15pm
* Offered Friday prayers at Masjid-e-Nabvi, Madina. I don't think I've been part of a bigger prayer congregation before. Masjid-Al-Haraam's congregation last Friday was huge too.. but I feel this one was bigger. May 6 at 3:21pm
* A jury comprising certain Faisal Hadi Baloch and I, Sikander Fayyaz Bhadera, sat and reached a unanimous conclusion that Iranians are by far the most handsome Muslims around. May 6 at 3:49pm
* In Madina, everyone feels like a local.May 6 at 9:53pm
* The people you are most going to interact with, during your stay in Makkah and Madina, are Bangladeshis. Right from the airport lower level staff to your cab driver to the receptionist in your hotel, to the waiters and cleaning staff. Almost every shop has a Bangladeshi behind the counter.. even KFC. Cleaning staff at both Harams is also predominantly Bangladeshi. May 7 at 2:38pm
* It's really hard to find an Arab speaking Arabic or an Iranian speaking Persian and mixing words of English within, unlike Pakistanis or Indians. May 8 at 8:29am
* How difficult it must have been for the Prophet sw to see his own people turning against him, to find that there was no place for him in the city he called home; Makkah... So much so that he had to leave it in the darkness of night, with shinning swords set out to finish him once and for all...And to set out for a new city, 500 kilometers away, to live in a new city, among new people, in a different culture.. To start his life as a migrant and from their to become the ruler of Arabia... His adopted city, and city that adopted him was Madina.. Madina the beautiful.May 8 at 3:07pm
* Only if I had paid any heed to the Arabic lessons back in class 6th and 7th, making a cab driver understand would have been much less of a hassle. May 8 at 8:30pm
* To be an orphan in society that gave little or no rights to widows and orphans.. with no wealth or formal education of any kind.. He stood up against the very fundamentals of his society, both religious and social. He knew he was on a divine mission, but they did not. They, his own people, opposed him, ridiculed him, humiliated him, hurt him, outcast his entire clan...went as far as killing him... But he did not budge...he left his home, made a place called Madina his new centre stayed steadfast on the way of Allah. In a period of 23 years he revolutionized the whole of Arab... Making them adopt a new set of rules.. A new life.. Opposite to the one they had been living so far.. Made them leave the ways of their forefathers, they ways they took immense pride in.. Gave them a new charter, a new constitution and a new faith.. Islam... He created an empire of Faith and his message still spreads to the every corner of the world... He was Muhammad, may peace be upon him. May 8 at 11:22pm
* As my time to depart from Madina draws close, my nights are becoming sleepless. 2nd night in a row now... Don't know what it is. May 9 at 7:04am
* Got stuck in a lift with a bunch of Iranians. Their first question: 'Arab?' My answer; 'No! Pakistani'. : His reply; 'MashAllah'. He asks; 'Farsi?' I reply: 'No! Urdu.... And English'... 'Ooh, you speak English!' What city in Pakistan? 'Lahore' 'ooooh' and when he approaches his floors... smiles at me and says.. 'Iran-Pakistan.. Brothers' :) May 9 at 11:17pm
* The message was divine, but he was the one spreading it. The mission was Allah's but it was his sweat and blood that went into making it a success. He fought wars, did diplomacy, stroke deals, made strategies... Struggled till his last breath...But we often, in sincere love and reverence, take a lot of credit of his successes away from him by attributing it to divine intervention. May 10 at 6:47pm * Jamoom is a small town, only 25 kilometres from Makkah. Not many people know about it being part of a very important event in Islamic history. When Prophet, may peace be upon him, led an expedition to Makkah, to finally defeat the Quraish and take control of the holy city, it was a tall mount in Jamoom where the Muslim army set it's camp night before the final attack. In Prophet's... orders, fires were set on an area much wider than the actual camp to make it look like that Muslim forces were much larger than actual number. When the Meccans saw the camp fires from distance, fearing a brutal end at the hands a huge army, the decided to surrender without a fight. History knows the event as 'Fatah-e-Makkah'. May 10 at 10:25pm
* Back in Makkah. Today when I woke up, I felt aches in my feet at spots that I never imagined would ever ache. May 11 at 2:57pm
* The Saudi driver, who drove me from Medina to Makkah, knew an awful lot about Pakistan. He had views on a lot of things about Pakistan, which I'll state here in his own words:
On OBL: Every muslim sad.. Osama death... No good. Mujahid. No good.
Pakistan: very strong country.. Very weak leader.. Asif Zardari.. Mr. 10. Businessman no good leader. Asif Zardari, Yousuf Raza Gillani, Nawaz Sharif Businessman.. No good. Barrak Obama, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown no businessman.. Good leader. Pakistan corrupt leader because business.
AQ Khan: Abdul Qadeer Khan, good man. Make bomb. First India-Pakistan big problem. India make bomb fight. Now India no fight. Abdul Qadeer Khan, Dr Samar good men, make bomb.
Musharraf: Bervez Musharraf not good man. 5 years, he make Adbul Qadeer Khan sorry on tv. Not good man.
Pakistan's sports: Pakistan no good football. Only cricket.
Indo-Pak cricket: Big problem. My father, farmer. No watch tv. India Pakistan cricket match, he sit watch tv.
India: No Hindu, no Muslim...no problem. Only money. May 11 at 3:30pm
* A South Indian, in a barely manageable Urdu, asks me a question if it was 'subah' or 'tasbeeh' prayer... And repeats the question a few times... During those repeatations, at some point thinks I'm an Arab.. After that he changed his accent to make it Arabic like, but question remained in Urdu. May 12 at 7:02am
* I have noticed that average Pakistani has a very distinct way of walking, in fact two distinct ways of walking. Either they would have slightly exaggerated arm movements with free flowing arms, right from the shoulder, or a relatively stiff shoulder and elbow, with generally forearm moving. And with both styles, their feet movements are pretty much the same, with feet pointing outwards almost at the angle of 140, moving with a slight jerk. And their steps slightly bigger. May 12 at 2:57pm
* The bright Meccan sun and it's glare reflecting from the white sang-e-murmur floors of Masjid-e-Haram... Blinding! May 12 at 3:17pm
* When I asked my rather short and dark cab driver if he was a Bangladeshi, his answer was, 'There's no Bangladeshi, Pakistani or Indian... We are all Muslims... And I'm Arab.' May 12 at 4:03pm
* Air-conditioning at Masjid-e-Haram wasn't working today at Friday prayers... It was very hot... Very very hot in fact. Poor Soha! May 13 at 3:30pm
* The finest recitation of Quran that I've heard in my life was today, in the second rakat of Fajar prayer by the Imam-e-Ka'ba. Beautiful. May 14 at 7:00am
* An elderly Pathan, with tears in his eyes and a gloomy voice, praying for Pakistan in front of Khana-e-Ka'ba... And then praying for himself. May 14 at 7:16am
* Banda-o-sahib-o-muhtaaj-o-ghani ek hue Teri sarkar mein pahunche tau sabhi ek hue! May 14 at 9:11am
* I've done it once, but can't again. Not like this... I cannot push, nudge, press or hurt someone to reach Hajr-e-Aswad... It feels more like a competition than devotion. Saw a man crying to get out of the crowd last time I went there... I can't again. May 14 at 10:46am
* Kya Ka'bay ka tohfa zam-zam kay siwa kuch nahin?May 14 at 2:33pm
* An Indian shopkeeper is Jeddah, after knowing that I was leaving for Pakistan tonight after Umrah, asked me: 'Aysa dil nahin karta kay yahan par hi reh jao?' My response was an instant 'no.' He smiled and said, 'lagta hai aapka wahan acha karobar hai.' May 14 at 9:18pm
* For weeks the pilgrims pray to Almighty for happiness, success and prosperity in their lives.. They leave Makkah with tears in their eyes, believing all their prayers are heard... And then...and then they reach Jeddah Air Port's Hajj terminal !!! May 15 at 3:21am
* It's not important how many times I offered praers at the holy mosques, or how many tawafs or umrahs I did. What is important is that whether the lessons learned there will remain with me for the rest of my life, lessons of equality, patience, love and humanity, or will it be back to life as usual. May 16 at 6:27pm
