TORONTO: Pakistanis worldwide
of all ages, whether they are citizens, immigrants or refugees, demonstrate and
express their deep love for the country by taking part in celebrations and
greeting each other.
On August 16, 2016, I went to the Sunnybrook Medical Sciences Center in Toronto,
Canada, for dialysis. I went to the volunteers room where one of the volunteers
was Shahab, a grade 12 student of Pakistani origin.
We introduced and greeted each other and after that the first thing he did was
ask: “Uncle how and where did you celebrate Pakistan Independence Day?” I saw
the glow on his face and his great love for his motherland Pakistan.
I then asked him do you like Canada and celebrate Canada Day. He said: “Oh yes,
I like and love Canada and celebrate Canada Day and all other occasions in best
possible ways. The Canadian people, charter of rights and values are simply
great and one of the best in the world.”
He said: I wish Pakistan would have been like that and we would not have been
compelled to leave the country. It is being systematically destroyed. My country
is one of the best in the world but the system is one of the worst.
He said: “Uncle, you are a journalist. Tell me is there not a single patriotic
and daring leader who can face the mafia and wipe them out without showing any
mercy.
With tears flowing from his eyes, he stated: “I am hardly twenty but all my life
I have seen Kangars and Kaminays (criminals, cruel and corrupt people and
leaders) from Karachi to Kashmir running, ruling, ruining and destroying the
country. They have made the lives of people miserable and hell.”
He said: Uncle you are a Free Expression Award Winner and a highly respected and
recognized professional journalist. Please do keep writing fiercely, boldly and
daringly so that someone may hear the voice of the conscience and step forward
to send the corrupt ones, criminals and terrorists to hell even if they number
in hundreds, thousands and millions. This is the only option and solution for
freeing Pakistan from the grip of all mafias and corrupt ones.”
With his face turning red with anger, he said: “The corrupt ones have spread to
all parts of the world including Canada. Here too these cheats, frauds, pimps,
touts and criminals are playing with the community, society and system. By all
means and ways including holding of musical concerts, social, cultural and
religious gatherings they fool and cheat the innocent community members, This
way they are tarnishing the image of the community, Pakistan and Canada.”
He said: “Most of the Pakistanis right from children to elders like and love
Canada, people and the good values, society and system. They are badly hurt when
cheated by the criminals, cheaters, looters and corrupt ones. Only the deep love
of the country and the famous stars, singers and leaders pull them to the
places.”
He stated: “The cunning cheaters know this and that the community is starved
because of lack of good people, organizers and events and take full advantage.
The lucrative business of building Masjid, Madarsa and Islamic school and
centres is flouring. The owners have no interest in these projects except to
make millions by fooling and cheating the people.”
On August 14, 2016, I along with my friends when to Milton to join the Pakistan
Independence Day gathering and to attend the musical concert where Ali Zafar,
the singing sensation and actor of Pakistan and Bollywood India was expected to
perform. My friends were Anwer Shaikh, a school teacher, and 85 years old
Muhammad Shafi who is a visitor from Pakistan. We reached there at 4 pm. There
many people holding flags and shouting Pakistan Zindabad and Azadi Mubarak.
There were some food stalls. Most of them coming were waiting for the concert as
well.
At the ticket counter, people were seen arguing with the ladies selling tickets.
My friend Anwer too had heated argument with them. His argument was right the
tickets which were being sold for $20 where then sold for $50. There was no
mention of the amount on the tickets. The organizers misbehaved with people.
When I noticed the cheating and pointed out, the ladies selling the tickets
said: “Do whatever you like. We damn care.”
There was a VIP culture to please and pamper the distinguished personalities
including Salma Zahid, MP, Mazhar Shafiq, renowned Liberal activist and
community leader, Pakistan Consulate in Toronto officials including the Consul
General.
I pointed and protested to Mazhar Shafiq: “What the hell is happening. This is
Canada. For God sake don’t harm the community, system, society and highly
respected values of Canada by promoting cheaps and cheats. You are a respected
and responsible Canadian and this is Canada.” He hardly paid attention and moved
forward with his team to the VIP gate which opened early for them.
When we try to reach and meet such leaders, they say: “We are very busy” but
they are most found at social and cultural meetings and events. The people keep
waiting for them to do something for the people. The reality is that after
elections they disappear and surface again at the time of elections. Mazhar is
my good friend and a nice person that’s why I brought this to his notice. He has
a responsibility to serve, support and protect the community. He must realize
this and remain close and connected to the people.
The Consul General and Pakistan Consulate people must take this very seriously
and avoid people and events which are being organized by cheats, frauds, looters
and irresponsible people of the community.
The musical concert was a total mess and the people were seen cursing and
booing. One elder said: “I cannot stand this Kanjarkhana (Gathering of immoral)
any more”. He left the show at 9.30 pm with his family. The gates were supposed
to open at 6 pm but they were opened after 7.30. Till about 9 pm people kept
waiting but there was no performance. After that few local ones perform calm
down the charged and angry audience. Sensing that it was a mess we too decided
to leave the show. Our 4150 went in drain and garbage.
Through my think-tank---SHIR International Network (SHIRIN), which stands for
Serve Humanity In reality”, all the team leaders including Shahid Hashmi,
Chairman, Canpak Chamber of Commerce, Syed Muhammad Iqbal, President of Pak
Seniors Forum (PSF), Mohsin Imam, Deputy Attorney General and attorney of
Supreme Court of Pakistan, who handled the famous Daniel Pearl case, Afzal Khan,
educationist and community leader, Salahuddin, famous Ghazal singer, Khalid
Ahmed, community leader, who is son of Hameeduddin, a renowned personality of
Indian and Hyderabadi communities, and many others try their best in big and
small ways to keep serving, supporting, promoting and protecting people in the
best interests of humanity. It is the spirit and efforts that count most and
considered most essential to achieve the objectives of SHIRIN’s vision and
mission. As a reminder, SHIRIN’s objectives are:
1) Serve humanity in reality.
2) Unite humanity in reality.
3) Support humanity in reality.
4) Promote humanity in reality.
5) Protect humanity in reality.
Throughout my whole life I have been trying to achieve my objectives although
the task is very difficult and challenging. With the blessings of God (Allah)
and the spirit and determination, I have been facing the tough challenges with
high head and successes. God has never let me down. Friends too are sincere,
honest, responsible and respectable people and personalities.
Vice Admiral (Retd) Ahmad Tasnim, who is a national and international hero as
India’s INS Khukri was sunk under his command during the 1971 war with India,
contacted me in 2015 from Islamabad, Pakistan, and while on a visit in
Toronto\but we could not meet. He again contacted me both from Islamabad and
when he came to in 2016. Recently he and his spouse had dinner with my family at
my daughter Sana and son-in-law Irshad Haroon’s residence. we had a very good
gathering, meeting and discussion. He impressed us all and invited us to visit
Islamabad and stay with him at his residence.
I have always seen Shahid Hashmi, Seema Hashmi and family helping, supporting
and serving the community and all communities. They promote the good values of
Islam and Canada.We must always remember that both Canada and Canadians are
great and one of the best. People must feel proud being a Canadian and try to
understand, accept and implement Canadian values which are closest to Islamic
values. The Consul General of Pakistan and the Pakistan Consulate should take a
serious notice instead of attending such events and joining hands with such
people.
I still remember and always quote the beautiful remarks of a famous Muslim
cleric during his sermon at the Eid gathering in Darus Salam Mosque in
Thorncliffe Park locality in Toronto. He said: “ Canadians and their values are
so good and nearest to Islamic values that they only need to recite the Kalima.
They have the great potential to become best Muslims. They will emerge far much
better Muslims than us.”
From my platform and think-tank SHIR International Network (SHIRIN) I appeal to
all people to support and promote the mission and vision and help and humanity
in the best possible ways. No doubt there are tough challenges and great
difficulties but when we join hands and get united and come on the same page
then we can face them.
We have to remember that it is a never ending struggle so we need to prepare all
coming generations for this cause, mission and vision. May God help us all and
always keep showering His 11blessings. When we talk about then we mean all
communities and people. We must celebrate both Canada and Pakistan’s
Independence Days in the best possible ways. This is how we promote love and
respect and join together to serve and promote humanity and fight terrorism and
all evil forces and corrupt people.