مختصر کہانی ـ ۱

وہ صاحب کے گھر کل وقتی ملازم تھا، ڈرائیور، مالی، باورچی، سب کچھ ـ دس ہزار ماہانہ تنخواہ ـ باورچی خانے میں کھڑا کھانا پکا رہا تھا کہ اس کے فون کی گھنٹی بجی ـ بیوی نے بتایا کہ چھوٹا بیٹا شدید بیمار ہے اور علاج کے لیے پیسے چاہیں اور اگر فیس ادا نہ کی تو بڑے تینوں کے نام سکول سے کٹ جائیں گے ـ وہ پریشانی کے عالم میں صاحب کے پاس گیا' پریشانی بتائی اور تین ماہ کی بقایا تنخواہ کی درخواست کی ـ صاحب نے کہا کہ کچھ دن میں پیسے آتے ہیں تو کرتے ہیں کچھ ـ شام میں بیگم نے اسے تیس ہزار روپے دیکر کہا کہ چھوٹے بابا کو ساتھ لے جائے اس نے کھلونے خریدنے ہیں ـ اگلے دن اخبار میں خبر آئی کہ ملازم، لاکھوں کی نقدی اور زیورات چوری کر کے فرار ـ 

خواب

دھنک رنگ سی شام تھی
آسمان کی ساری مے
بس تیرے ہی نام تھی
تیری راہ کا جو راہرو بنا
ہر شجر ُاداس و تنہا میرا ہمسفر بنا
چلا جو تیرے سنگ میں
ہر ستارہ اپنی گردِ راہ بنا
ُدور زمیں پہ جو چراغ تھے
میری آرزو کے وہ' دلفریب باغ تھے
اس قدر حسین وہ
زندگی کی رات تھی
میں تیرے سنگ نہ تھا' ُتو میرے ساتھ تھی
آخرِ شب کے چاند نے
مسکرا کے یوں کہا
ہے ُدعا یہ دل کی
ساتھ ساتھ رہو سدا

آج بہت دنوں کے بعد!!

آج بہت دنوں کے بعد کچھ لکھنے کو جی چاہا
جی چاہا لکھوں تیرے حسن کے قصیدے
تیرے نین کنول، ہونٹ گلاب لکھوں
ہنسی کو جھرنا، تجھے خواب لکھوں
تیری سانسوں کی مہک، چوڑیوں کی کھنک لکھوں
سوچتا ہوں چاند کو تیری جھلک لکھوں
آنچل دھنک تو رفتار صبا لکھوں
زلفیں گھٹا، چاندنی کو قبا لکھوں
حور لکھوں، پری لکھوں، الپسرا لکھوں
تجھے سب سے جدا لکھوں، تیری ہر اک ادا لکھوں
منفرد لکھوں کہ یکتا لکھوں
حیراں ہوں کہ تجھے کیا لکھوں
لکھوں تجھے مرمر کی مُورت
لفظوں سے بناؤں تیری صورت
قرطاس پہ انمٹ تحریر لکھوں
تجھے حُسن کی تفسیر لکھوں
ہر خواب کی تعبیر لکھوں
تجھے اپنی تقدیر لکھوں
تیرے حسن کا فسوں لکھوں
اپنے عشق کا جنوں لکھوں
اپنی بے تابی کا قصہ لکھوں
سوچتا ہوں تجھے اپنا حصہ لکھوں
کبھی سوچتا ہوں تیری گفتگو لکھوں
تیرے سامنے تیرے ُروبرو لکھوں
تیری ذات کا ِسحر لکھوں
ہر شبِ غم کی َسحر لکھوں
قدرت کا شاہکار لکھوں
نزاکت کا آئینہ دار لکھوں
فصلِ ُگل کا کوئی بہروپ لکھوں
یا دسمبر کی ُدھوپ لکھوں
نکہتوں کا استعارہ لکھوں
یا فلک کا ستارہ لکھوں
بحرِ ہستی کا تجھے اک کنارہ لکھوں
دل نشیں یا دل کا مکیں لکھوں
اپنا گماں، اپنا یقیں لکھوں
درد کا درماں، دل کا ارماں لکھوں
اپنی زمیں یا پرایا آسماں لکھوں
تجھے لکھوں جہاں لکھوں
سو دل میں تجھے نہاں لکھوں
آج بہت دنوں کے بعد کچھ لکھنے کو جی چاہا
بتا!
تجھے کیا لکھوں؟ 

A LETTER FROM SNGPL EMPLOYEES TO THE MINISTER FOR PETROLEUM SHAHID KHAQAN ABBASI

Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

Minister of P & NR

Islamabad

Respected Sir,

SUBJECT:

DISPARITY CREATED AMONG EXECUTIVES OF ENGINEERING & NON- ENGINEERS BY PROMOTING ENGINEERS ONLY TO HIGHER GRADES

This is with reference to recent promotion of Engineers working in SNGPL in contradiction to the HR principles & violating “Equal Employee Opportunity” right for all executives of the Company.

I joined SNGPL in March 2012 on the basis of MBA from a reputed University as grade-II officer after completing requisite formalities for hiring of the said post. My other fellows from Engineering background were also hired on the same terms. It was told that we will be promoted to next grade i.e. Grade-III after completing mandatory parking period of 2 years at SNGPL. SNGPL hires fresh executives as Grade-I while an applicant with 2 year post qualification experience is offered Grade-II which was offered to me as well with a very low salary w.r.t. to the market i.e. 31,000/.

Many executives from Engineering & non-Engineering department resigned due to low wages, posting at remote areas, undue political & managerial pressures. Many executives from Engineering & non-Engineering back ground resigned & joined other organizations which appreciated their work & where work is done with showering trust over their capabilities. The Managing Director of SNGPL, Mr. Arif Hameed got concerned over a number of resigns & gave a solution to Board of Directors and consequently Grade-I & Grade-II engineers were promoted to Grade-III by amending HR rules overnight while non engineers were not offered this favor. This disparity has moved executives from other Service departments (Legal/Sales/IT/Audit/Accounts/Finance & Billing) a lot. This mal treatment has put them to mental shock, unrest, lack of safety & chaos. Their juniors working as G-I Engineers have been promoted directly to G-III thus one level up to them. This is a crime & no one dares to speak against this harassment & biasness.

I would like to add that master degrees like MBA, MCS, LLB & ACMA are not achieved easily & lot of mental effort & money is involved in it. These professionals are actually the voice of the Company. Chemical & Electrical Engineers are working in Billing department while this is none of their business. The present regime of SNGPL is favoring Engineers a lot & is least bothered about the problems faced by executives from non-engineering departments.

I humbly request your highness to take a keen interest in the matter & advise SNGPL to adopt an even handed approach for all executives & raise their pays to a reasonable level so that they can serve better for the Company. The departure of able executives from the Company will eventually harm its image (About 150 executives left SNGPL during last one year due to such policies of the Management).

Wishing a speedy justice from your end

A Serving Executive of SNGPL

cc: Chief Minister Punjab – Your kind support is requested in this regard sir.

cc: Chairman OGRA-. Kindly look into the matter & get it resolved as SNGPL is your licensee & presently it is only supporting top management & engineers only regarding salary increase

cc: MD/ SGM (HR) SNGPL

 

This letter is published as received from SNGPL employee.

CHELSEA’s EMPHATIC VICTORY – AN UNMATCHED TROPHY CABINET

 

Chelsea’s 2 – 1 Benfica is the score card which made Chelsea double European champion, though for time being only, by winning Europa League as well as the reigning UEFA Champions League Champions. They are the only team in the history of European Club Football history to hold both trophies simultaneously. Fernando Torres, the Spaniard became the only player to be World Champion, European Champion, Champion’s League winner and Europa League Winner.

Branislav Ivanovic’s beautiful header won the match in 90^th minute from the corner of Juan Mata. Match was heading to extra time when Benfica’s leading goal scorer in the league Oscar Cardozo levelled the score at 1-1 in 68^th minute from the penalty spot. Earlier, Fernando Torres had scored in 59^th minutes to put Chelsea on the track for rare feat which was eventually sealed by Branislav Ivanovic.

Earlier, the game had followed a similar pattern in both halves. Benfica enjoyed more possession and territorial advantage but failed to capitalize. Chelesa had their chances too. Frank Lampard came close to scoring at the end of first half and hit the wood work too, later in the game. Torres struck at the hour from a counter attack, it was his sixth goal in the tournament and he scored expertly. Later, Oscar Cardozo scored from the spot (Penalty) for the handball to make the scores level.

TEAMS:

Chelsea was playing without John Terry, who did not recover from ankle injury sufficiently, so Ivanovic came into central defence alongside Gary Cahill. Ramires moved to a wide-right position for this game with Oscar coming in. They replaced injured Eden Hazard and Victor Moses, who was on the bench. Frank lampard, the stand-in captain played alongside David Luiz and Fernando Torres lead the attack.

Benfica were playing without right back Maxi Pereira from their semi-final line up being suspended. Andre Almeida moved across from left-back to replace him with Lorenzo Melgarjo coming in on the left. Nicolas Gaitan moved from midfield in the Fenerbahçe games to play as one of the front three.

PLAY:

It was a night when Chelsea rode their luck for periods against their Portuguese opponents but the sheer grit and resilience shown in grinding out this win in their 68th game of the season is a tribute to their reserves of character. No doubt, they deserved it for the mettle they have displayed in the field.

The first chance was for Benfica and centre-forward Oscar Cardoza must have been unhappy not the head a cross from the right at least on-target with just two minutes played. Cesar Azpilicueta then had to get his chest in the way of a ball diverted towards the Chelsea goal by Ivanovic.

There were words from the referee to Nemanja Matic five minutes in after he bundled Ramires to the turf on halfway, but no booking for the former Chelsea midfielder. Unfortunately Oscar couldn't control a well-weighted ball over the defence by Juan Mata with the offside flag staying down.

For all Benfica's possession and superiority, it was their goalkeeper Artur who had to make the half's outstanding save. The keeper, prone to occasional moments of eccentricity, did brilliantly to change direction and palm Lampard's swerving shot to safety.

Chelsea were asked to defend stoutly in the opening minutes after the interval, with balls coming in from both flanks, but still Cech had yet to be asked to make a proper save. Azpilicueta tracked inside diligently and hacked the ball off the toes of Salvio in front of goal when Cardozo had turned inside Cahill and squared.

Cardozo had the ball in the net on 50 minutes but he was offside.

Chelsea took the lead against the run of play just before the hour, but it was a moment of vintage Torres that provided it. He showed pace and body strength to escape the attentions of Ezequiel Garay and Luisao before rounding Artur to score from the tightest of angles.

The lead lasted only nine minutes. Benfica drew level from the spot after Cesar Azpilicueta handled Eduardo Salvio's header, Cardozo scoring emphatically.

It required superb athleticism from Cech to prevent Cardozo putting Benfica in front with nine minutes left, the keeper at full stretch to turn his dipping 20-yard shot over the bar.

Benfica forced Chelsea into some hurried clearing as the clock ticked towards the end of normal time, but then another tireless Ramires run won a corner inside stoppage time. Mata sent the ball over deep and Ivanovic, between two defenders rose sky high. His header arced beautifully over the grounded Artur before the Serbian slid joyously in celebration in front of the Chelsea fans at that end.

Benfica, with their greatest ever player Eusebio watching from the stands, were attempting to lift their European curse and end a 51-year barren sequence but have now lost seven successive European finals, many of their players slumping to the turf in tears at the final whistle.

FUTURE AHEAD:

Outgoing Chelsea Interim Manager Rafael Benitez ends his tenure with triumph. He was quite unpopular with club fans for being associated with Rivals Liverpool, but they were celebrating in Amsterdam when the trophy was added to the now unmatched cabinet ever.

With Frank Lampard’s contract extended for one year and Mourinho widely linked for a return to the club, the future looks bright. The current Real Madrid Coach is tipped to be the best in the world. As Lampard suggested, “insists the current Real Madrid manager would reintroduce the ‘battering ram’ mentality of the Chelsea side which won two Premier League titles under his stewardship.

‘When we won the title under Jose we were criticised for the fact we were so dogged but we certainly need to get some of that mentality back in our game,’ said the 34-year-old midfielder.”

The club is set to be attraction for big names in transfers as it has qualified for UEFA Champions league and is set to Play Super league Final against the winner of UEFA Champion’s League later this year.

Are Motorway and Road Projects Important?

It has become a norm in the political culture of Pakistan to criticize the projects of opponents. Motorways & Road Network initiatives of PMLN often top the list of the projects subject to constant criticism by their opponents, particularly the PPP and Imran Khan's PTI.

Construction of roads not only services as a means of transportation between farm/industry & market, health, education, but it also serves more than 100 industries . Even the most developed countries in the world - example, the USA - used, availed and utilized this "road construction" industry as a major instrument on their path to development.

Coming to Pakistan, it is probably the only third world country that has motorways with a proper planned network of 8 motorways M1-M8 & an additional M9 (upgradation of Hyderabad - Karachi super highway).

This project was and is still frequently criticized as an unnecessary waste of money and resources. Let me tell my friends, that if we hadn't built this motorway network our main N-5 would have choked by now between Lahore & Islamabad; similarly Indus Highway is relief for N-5 in Sindh & South Punjab.

Furthermore, the main idea behind this motorway network was the concept of a "trade corridor". Simplest example can be trade between India & Central Asia through Iran. This trade through Iranian port consumes a lot of time & Iran charges a certain amount of money/ton of goods transported through Iran. The route is Central asia > Iran > Iranian port > sea > Indian Port > India & vice versa.  You can yourself imagine the time & fuel consumed by this route. Let us now consider the other route, India > Pakistan > Motorway > Afghanistan (Wakhan Belt just 24 km wide) > Central Asia.

Time & fuel consumed in this route is approximately a quarter of the same on the other route.
Once this network is completed, this possesses potential to become one of the busiest trade routes of the world especially when Gwadar & Karachi ports are also connected to it.

Why PPP+Allies Cant be Ruled Out Of General Election 2013

There is a lot of media hype going on that this election is only between PMLN & PTI. Some columnists are also supporting this suggestion regularly in their columns. It is also a fact that it after a long time that elections in Pakistan are being held on Bhutto & anti-Bhutto divide, rather this time it is Nawaz & Anti-Nawaz divide which will decide the outcome of forthcoming elections. No doubt, PTI has emerged as a strong political force in last few years, especially after 30th October, 2011, but still it is very unwise, to me, to rule out PPP+Allies altogether in these elections. PPP+Allies have conventional vote bank in rural areas of Pakistan, which in unfortunately majorly uneducated & gives a very little ear to what is being said & done practically in the country. To these people, Bhutto is alive even today, no matter even if they have seen outcome of his nationalization policies & the role in division of Pakistan. Similarly, Altaf Hussain & Baacha Khan are flag bearer names for MQM & ANP. Nawaz Sharif is also the name on which PMLN thrive. Even the party of change PTI is nothing, if you take Imran Khan’s name out of it.

Coming back to the point, We see PTI focusing its campaign in Punjab & KPK only, whereas we don’t see any noticeable activity by them in Baluchistan & Sindh. This simply means that they have given up these two provinces even before contesting. So it is quite clear that the majority of vote division will be in Punjab & KPK between PMLN & PTI whereas loyal vote bank of PPP+Allies if choses to vote, may produce surprising results, if not shocking. Further, PPP has a history of covering its corruption & incompetence behind the dead bodies of Butto & Benazir, in which they are more or less always successful & this time again, their campaign focuses on using the same strategy. MQM uses & will use Muhajir card, whereas ANP after succeeding in getting the name of province changed & their bold stance against taliban is still very much in the game to secure seats on their own.

PTI on other hand does not have any conventional vote bank except that came with the electables like Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Javaid Hashmi, Qasuris etc. Their major focus is on youth & selling of their idea of change & some big promises of doing everything right in 90 days, which is frankly speaking, a highly idealistic & impractical approach in practical world. This approach might attract emotional people but majority remains unimpressed by these copied slogans from Obama Campaign of 2008 US presidential Elections. The time is very less for PTI to revamp its policies & approach if they want to compete as a solid force in coming general elections.

So keeping all of the above in view, I foresee, PMLN with simple majority in parliament whereas PPP+Allies will be main opposition parties & it will be left to IK decide whether to join PPP in opposition or make an alliance with PMLN for some Practical Change in Pakistan.

An Open Letter To Mr. Imran Khan

Dear Mr. Khan,

Being a self-proclaimed champion of change, you and your team claim to bring change in Pakistani Politics for good through extensive use of Social & electronic media. You have also did your best to exploit the passion & zeal of our youth to support your Change i.e. tsunami, as you love to call it. But have you ever pondered over the fact, that the kind of language you use against your political rivals & leaders of other parties has done with the morals & ethics of our society? We do not see any respect for elders, in supporters of your part, which was not only our tradition but more importantly part & parcel of our upbringing & culture. Your “Agents of Change” have no respect whatsoever for ladies, journalists & any other who dares to differ from you.

I support a political party, which is not PTI & I have been abused several times by your “Agents of Change”. Even, one of my photographs, with daughter of our Party Leader was stolen, edited and uploaded on a FaceBook Page run by supporters of your Tehreek. Several requests were made to page admin, to remove the picture, but all in vain. This shameless act was repeated yesterday, and the same picture was uploaded again, only for defamation & character assassination of that very lady. This is the picture & what kind of message your Social Media Team wants to convey through it?

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=361584953943416&set=a.159162274185686.24316.146930025408911&type=1&theater

 

Instead of condemning this act, the youth inspired by the language you use, tried to defend this act & many went to length of abusing the lady & calling her names. I wanted to post the screen shots of the comments as well, but those were too much to be shared on a public blog. This is not the only instance when this has happened, your “Agents of Change” abused Ms. Shireen Mazari & Her daughter as well, when she left your Tehreek. The same has happened to many renowned journalists & anchors like Mr. Nusrat Javaid, Mushtaq Minhas, Sana Bucha, Omar Cheema & now a days Mr. Mubashar Luqman is facing the music.

Through this letter, I want to request you to please maintain a dignity when you talk & comment about your political rivals because your followers are inspired by you. The way you behave, your followers will go two steps forward, thinking it to be good. Being a leader, brings a lot of responsibilities & if you cant hold yourself responsible for this demise of political ethics, how can you assure us to be responsible for corruption free, social welfare republic?

 

Regards

Jawad Maqsood

A supporter of another political party.

PMLN IS THE PARTY TO BEAT IN ELECTIONS 2013

 

There is no iota of doubt that PMLN began as a pro-establishment pro-right wing political party, but then, which political party did not start as pro-establishment. Even the most anti-establishment party was founded by Mr. Bhutto who served as minister in the cabinet of Mr. Sikander Mirza and Mr. Ayub Khan. He even was covering candidate for Ayub Khan in his election against Madam Fatima Jinnah. He even wrote to Sikander Mirza, declaring him even greater leader than Jinnah. He launched his party when Ayub Khan was at his most vulnerable and lost his support in Army too, and became the face of anti-establishment where in fact working for establishment to dethrone Ayub Khan.

The real anti-establishment PPP started after the demise of Mr. Bhutto by Zia ul Haq under BeNazir Bhutto and at that time PMLN started its political career as pro-establishment party. It continued as it was supposed to be till 1993 when clashes between powerhouses and the then Prime Minister started. This was the time when both PMLN and PPP revised their strategies. PPP started to tilt towards establishment & PMLN adopted some anti-establishment policies. This continued until in 1999 PMLN Government was thrown out by any army coup under Mr. Pervaiz Musharraf. This is when PMLN really became an anti-establishment party. As a matter of fact, credit must be given to both BeNazir Bhutto and Nawaz Shareef for signing the “Misaq E Jamhooriat” which if implemented in its true letter & spirit could have changed the whole political scenario for good in Pakistan.

But unfortunately after demise of Benazir Bhutto, the next PPP leadership chose to side with establishment and gave no attention to public issues as the ruling political party of Pakistan. This made PMLN hugely popular among the masses and it became the most popular political party of Pakistan. This time, instead putting all its weight behind one political party altered their policy and launched several pawns to divide the vote bank of major anti-establishment. First, PTI was launched. At start it received an overwhelming response as winds of change in the country, but due to immaturity and confusion among the ranks of its own leadership resulted in its downfall. Then establishment tried another, in Mr. Tahir ul Qadri, whose initial moves were so dangerous that those even threatened to derail the democracy in Pakistan. But thanks to media and awareness in people he was exposed at very early stage and he had to join the ranks of ruling coalition.

These two attempts were clearly to divide the vote bank of PMLN which majorly is right wing, but with these being exposed it will be first time after 1990 that elections will be held in Pakistan, between one anti-establishment party at one side and pro-establishment on the other. The continuous rise in the popularity of PMLN depicts that it will be a hard nut for establishment to crack and it may win at least simple majority in upcoming General Elections.