PROTEST For Release of Samar Ali Khan who was standing up against VIP movement of Zulfiqar Mirza – Darakshan Police Station [map] 6pm TODAY
Last night at 11:30pm Architect Samar Ali Khan was arrested on Khy-e-Shamsheer for standing up against the VIP protocol blocking the road for Minister Zulfiqar Ali Mirza. After dropping a fellow architect home after dinner, Samar was proceeding home when at Khayban-e-Shamsheer a road block in front of the house of Minister Zulfiqar Mirza totally irked him, as a very active member of civil society in Karachi Mr. Samar Ali Khan, stepped out of his car and voiced his objection, he was able to walk up to the gate, rang the bell and demanded to speak to the owner [which was Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Mirza. The police escort immediately started pushing him around, naturally things got a little infuriated and a tussle broke out. Samar was arrested and taken to Darakhshan Police Station, where he spent the night and is being taken to court for a hearing, the family has still to know what charges have been levied against him
The PPP cadre and Mr Mirza is pushing the news in the media that he was enraged and out of control attacking, but witnesses say the entire provocation later was by the minister and his guards. A few people who met him barely two hours later at the police station say that Samar was generally ok, no major bruises, a little apologetic to have created all this fuss in the heat of the moment, but there is no doubt he was in high spirits
Either way, ever since Mr. Zulfiqar Mirza has moved onto the house on the main street of Khy-e-Shamsheer two speed breakers have gone up around his house and a convoy of police escort remains surrounding the area ready to block off traffic to allow the free unrestricted movement of the Minister. I personally have been caught up on that street once too many times and it might be possible that a fuse may have sparked within Samar to let it all go.
I feel it is a proud moment, for someone in Pakistan to have the gutts to stand up against this hegemony of VIP movement. Samar Ali Khan, what you did was right, we are proud of you and may this serve as an example for others to challenge this idiotic VVIP movement trend so common of our elected leaders
UPDATE 2: A Protest has been organized outside Darakhshan Police Station [map] where he is being held at 6:00pm today [Jun 16th] Show up in numbers to protest against this VIP hegemony and support Samar Ali Khan
UPDATE 3: Talked to Samar on phone just now, he was definitely worried, as he was being treated like a criminal as a black cloth was being draped over his head – have told him to hold the fort and keep his hopes up high, pressure needs to be applied to break the hegemony of Zulfiqar Mirza
UPDATE 4 HOT NEWS: Samar Khan is free, al charges have been dropped he is going home
Comments
206 responses to “Proud of Samar Ali Khan for standing up against VIP Movement of Zulfiqar Mirza”
June 17, 2010 at 3:36 am
what a joke. a drunk man shows up at the private residence of the home minister and the speaker of the national assembly, makes blatant threats, abuses the owner and his staff – all while this man’s daughters and family are home. he is lucky he got away as easily as he did – in fact, i believe that the leniency he was shown was uncalled for – he should be prosecuted within the context of the law. mental fragility and being under the influence of alcohol does not position you above the law. i salute dr. zulfiqar mirza for giving khan’s family the time to make excused for his deplorable behaviour and not pressing any charges against the idiot.
I am all for complete freedom of speech for all citizens of a country, but there is a right way and a wrong way to express this freedom. Imagine yourself in this scenario – how would you react if a stranger come to your home while you were asleep at midnight and created a violent racket. I dont think you would take that passively – you would likely call the police. I know I would have probably given the intruder a servere beating before handing him over to the authorities.
I wish you and your bandwagon jumping readers would take a moment and think for yourselves rather than blindly taking the side of any idiot who makes a fool of himself in the name of freedom of speech and expression. shame on you all.
Yes
Saad
You are right we all must shame on us while standing in group of thousands for hours and hours along road side so one or two people using our tax paid money in the name of high security would safely reach to designated places.
I fully agree with you to see as part of self humiliation that when motorcade of president(the most corrupt president) , PM(the liar PM) and cOAS( THE MOST COWARD cOAS) all brigade of lower service men not only protect them but salute them wearing uniform of Pakistan.
I really die with shame to see in same hospital ,common or honest people are getting worst kind of medical aid from govt funds and just feet away, in special wards same people of govt of Pakistan is enjoying luxurious medical aid from same govt money coming from our taxes.
You should be given 100 marks of highlighting our degraded shameful level as we all stand quite and submissive in VIP culture for showing our inherited slavery attitude to keep the honor of these VIPs.
Here it is proved that Samar did all in alcoholic conditions and in context of his superiority complex which he might developed due to his capacity of affording BMW.
Sooner or later we might see him sitting with mirza's family sharing toast and new deals of city design in same sindh club where once he got hyper after seeing hurdle in the way of his swift BMW drive.
Bullshit Saad M.
You have NO idea how irritating these PPP or any other VIPs can be. If we, the educated and westernized, need to gather courage through booze, so be it.
Time to show those uneducated and insecure junglees how we feel about them.
who r u fool taking a site of a looter a dakoo the person who is not even worthy of living amongst us that means u r one of them.
NAZIA UR COMMENTS NO.27.1
You totally misunderstood my comments in this regard.I didn't mean that one should drink and protest, it is foolishness.He was drunk or not I don't discuss his personal habit but I must encourage his this move when he has protested in front of the house of this idiot interior minister.
Some body also commented about Rawalpindi area where these monkeys (VIP) when moves the whole area is being blocked with rangers & police cammandos to let these coward generals & corrupt politicians to pass, and hold the innocent public for hours and hours.
If he is in drunk state then no need to praise him.But if he is in his senses then one can back his stance.
Look I always reacted when I stopped for hours for giving ways to such apes.Really I consider my self as part of planet of apes when somebody place us in helpless state like that.At that time I call local chief of traffic police, local sp, local MP whose numbers are written on signboards in kuchari chowk But always annoyed to hear that all showed ignorance of this blockage.Ambulances are stuck, Old people and kids are seeing urinating on side ways of roads, People stand outside but no body act like drunk sammar as they are in their sense.
You know the horrible incident of prade lane.
When burial ceremony was going on in chakalala base where PM and COAS was attending it ,all main arteries of roads going to chaklala base were sealed of for three hours.I was stuck too.I called local MP again and again to help the people if in such an environment any bomber would again hit in such crowded and jammed place the casualties would be beyond imagination.
But all were busy in securing few VIPs and funeral ceremony of senior army men.
After stuck in such convoys I have come to know that we are living in farce environment where each day common people are being pushed to be target of all kind of sick minded groups and planning .Those who would shake hand with corrupt ruling group would be awarded state security and rest are used as symbol of victim of terrorism.
MR SAAD M…!!!!!
Shame on you,because you said "shame on you all", this is the return of your words.
Now you have expressed your views about Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, who has escused Khan on his this attitude. Just wait & see after the down fall of this govt their all ministers,mpa,mna will run, because the whole public is fed up from them and this time the nation will not give chance to these all barbarians to run safely who have looted this country and made fool to this nation, and you are giving salute to them, shame on you, on your this attitude.
i totally agree with you that once their govt is gone they will be hiding here and there but i tell you that people from us will give them shelter and history will be repeated
with due respect i would like to say that ours is a corrupt
nation and just for money v can do any thing.By that time they will hv so much money that they will be able to buy any
thing but i hope that even if few of us come and stand against them the things which are happening today will not
happen.lets hope u and i are alive to see that day
I agree with sincere, Saad M it is because of people like you that we have elected such incompetent and corrupt people as our ministers.
Samar ali khan was not drunk at that course of time, this is the version presented by our police to knock him down.
Nobody forced Mr. Mirza to come into politics, it was his own decision, he shouldn't have if he had so much fear of death and needed such a guard. What a shame we are STILL paying for these hypocrites luxury lives.
Saad, I myself would not like it if somebody comes on my doorstep with an aggressive attitude, but what if somebody comes to my doorstep with a complain of my wrong doings. NOT NECESSARILY aggressively !!!
Shame on you more than any body saad m.
i think it takes a little bit of alcohol for you to step out of your car and knock on a very notoriour ministers house and tell him he is doing something wrong – having alcohol in your blood and being drunk are two very different things!
and if will take alcohol to give this nation the gutts to stand up against such tyrannical rule then i say lets open alcohol for everyone ! 🙂
its time to replace these self centered decision makers with people of high courage and integrity who will do good for this nation and not themselves. cheers to all !
Pakistan is moving towards a correct path. Samar you are leading the saner elements of this country.
Are there any sane elements in police who can look into this shameful police handling?
Not long ago a senior AVM was man handled in Defence Karachi
by a spoilt brat and police.
Our nation is in turmoil, every single step in the correct direction will help us to the road of recovery.
Since I live just off Mujahid I know the hardship this entire circus has caused us all since these jokers moved onto Shaheen. I have myself cursed them under my breath (ok maybe loudly but the car windows were up) many a time while passing through.
It is entirely possible that one day I could have blown my fuse and acted exactly the way Samar did. Saad says there is a time and manner to express yourself, and I agree, but maybe sometimes the feeling of helplessness in this non-democratic democracy takes over and manifests itself in the sort of behaviour we saw.
Well dome Sammy, Maybe more of us need to follow that example, and if it helps the round is on me!
When there isn't a time and place to block access to public roads, there isn't a time and place to protest against it.
Commendations to Mr. Khan for taking a stand against at least one abuse of power perpetrated by our so called elected mafia.
We all know how many people show up at the polling stations. I wonder who even votes, when I ask everyone they say they never went.
Their entire voter base comes from the countless farmers and haris they have enslaved generations upon generations. Indoctrinated into serfdom for all eternity, it seems.
These criminals deserve to be dragged out on the streets behind cars without their clothes and with hooks going into their flesh. That I think is a fair kind of justice for this horrific horde of murderers and pillagers. I use these words here knowing full well the implications of labeling everyone in the government a murderer and pillager, but I say it because even if they did not perpetrate the crime they stood by and watched others do it, which is tantamount to doing it by themselves.
I wish that the people of Pakistan had enough self esteem (if it somehow manifests under the influence of alcohol, then perhaps we should all partake of it, maybe it will make us better men) to throw off this abominable regime of decaying swine and filth that is our government.
But alas the average man is no better than these maggots. We see that in everyday dealings when each one of us is presented with the opportunity to do good and we fail to deliver.
We need to be better at being human, only then does society stand a chance.
@ Mr. Saad M. If you have somehow managed to mortgage off your manhood, please don't expect everyone else to follow suit and if you believe so much in the system (read chaos), Then pray tell why it doesn't work.
In my humblest of opinions the Obvious solution is anarchy – a call to arms for every man woman and child. Let us march on the palaces of our en-slavers, let us take back what is ours. Let us burn it to the ground so we can build it all anew. Make new mistakes and not repeat the old.
Glad to see that my comments have people talking. I would like to clarify a few things.
1. i hate vip movements as much as the next guy – i am also inconvenienced by their excessive nature.
2. i am not involved with pakistani politics, have no out of the ordinary sympathy for our politicians – i am merely a normal guy expressing his outrage about abnormal behaviour.
3. I have no doubts that at some point in time – I have no idea when (i'm just a normal guy, remember :))- the government will change – it always does, anywhere in the world. I beleive that if you think that things will be different with a new regime, you are delusional. The political agenda may change, but the VIP culture that is being lambasted here, will continue to flourish. It has been an integral part of the Pakistani culture since our inception, and will continue to be so. same tune, different dancer, if you know what i mean.
4. After reading the number of comments on this post, it leads me to believe that many of you are not entirely familiar with the happenings of that night. please, for a moment, put your personal feelings about vip movements, politics and political ideologies aside and examine the facts as they are:
a. khan gets drunk at a big sindh club party (he is known to enjoy his beverages. khan's BAC (blood alcohol content)is measured and documented at a karachi hospital prior to being taken to the thana.
b. khan gets into his bmw and drives over to dr. mirza's private residence
c. khan creates a scene, threatens security and demands to go into dr. mirza's home, where his family is fast asleep.
not exactly the right way to file a grievance, im sure you will agree. And pretty agressive too, i'm sure you would agree.
5. Bright Pakistan – I agree with you – no one forced dr. mirza to enter politics, but a man is entitled to his privacy and security. this was not his official residence, nor his office. this was the home of his wife and children – the children, i need not remind you, are not politicians and should not be subject to harassment. Let me ask you this – lets say hypothetically, you are the manager of a bank. i am a customer of that bank. i dont like the interest you are charging me on my credit card balance – i decide to have a few drinks, build up my courage, come to your home at midnight, start shouting and honking the horn so your neighbours are awoken from their sleeps, and demand that you come out and explain to me why you are charging me what you are. what would you do? as a customer, it is my right to know why i am being charged the fees that i am, but it is not my right to ask this question in the way that I have. I have to follow the conventional way. Would you invite me into your home for a cup of tea? Or would you ask me to go away and come back in the morning (khan wasnt some man off the street – he is a successful architect with significant wealth – he coudl have easily gotten an audience with dr. mirza during office hours and have gotten what he wanted off his chest. he chose a different route, and shoudl pay for his MASSIVE lack of judgement. If you or I were to try and force our way into the home of a minister of any other country in the world, in the middle of the day (much less night), I promise you that we would not be set free the next day – much less have protests organized in our honor.
6. Zohaib – I agree with you about legalizing and regulating alcohol in pakistan. i think it is a brilliant revenue source – we should legalize it and tax the hell out of it. it would still be cheaper than buying it from a bootlegger, and would make things a whole lot easier. It woudl also cut out the criminal underbelly associated with booze. that being said – it is illegal in pakistan today. whether he had a few drinks or was piss drunk – thats just symantics. I havent seen his medical report, and nor have you. what i do know, and have no patience for, is that even 1 drink can negatively impact your ability to drive (no matter how much better you may think you are able to drive after having a few). As a father and a family man, i have ZERO tolerance for people who choose to drink and drive. If a man can afford a BMW in karachi, he can afford a driver. he should not be driving around, risking the lives of innocent people, because of his own selfishness. obviously, he thinks he is above the law, because he was blatantly violating it. so, ironically, by driving around after having a few drinks with no thoughts about the legal reprecussions, he has made himself a part of the VIP culture that he is so adamantly protesting. so, not only is he an imbecile – the man is a hypocrite!
7. Freedom of speech – all for it. i think it is one of the cornerstones of any successful democratic society. Khan's incident, however, was not an example of the powerful politicians stifling a citizen's rights to freedom of speech. we should not turn it into this. in fact, putting this spin on the entire scenario does nothing but show how easily we pakistanis are lead by the media. we need to stop and think for ourselves – what would i have done had i been in dr. mirza's shoes that night and a man attacked me and threatened my family. woudl i have shown the leniency that dr. mirza did by releasing khan the following day after receiving the appeals that he did? probably not. khan, no matter how he is now deciding to mask his foolish behaviour broke some laws that night – his behaviour should be punished and not condoned.
comeon guys – there is a right way and a wrong way to do things. just because a man runs for office and gets elected, it doesnt make him public property. you have a problem with him, bring it up during business hours, at his office, when you are sober. is that too much to ask for? because that is what this entire situation comes down to. this is not about VIP movements, corrupt politicians, dr. mirza's political beliefs and actions, freedom of speech, freedom of expression or anything of that sort. this is about the bad judgement shown by a man after having a few drinks at his ultra exclusive club. this is about a stranger trying to force his way into another citizen's private residence. this is about a drunk man assaulting others blatantly. if samar khan was an average karachi-ite, driving down zamzama blvd. with his wife and 2 children, in his suzuki, and was upset about the traffic jam caused by a MNA's motorcade, do you think he would have driven over to dr. mirza's house and demanded an explanation? absotely not. samar khan is an elitist snob, who after spending an evening drinking with his fellow elite members of karachi's society at a SUPER EXCLUSIVE CLUB, decided to drive over, in his bmw (endangering the lives of innocent passerbys because he was driving around drunk) and cause a scene at dr. mirza's home. he thought that he coudl do that, and could get away with it – he thought that there would be no legal ramifications to his actions. why? is he better than the average pakistani? if i did that, there would be legal ramifications to my behaviour. if you did it, you too would have to pay the price. so why not samar khan? the man is a hypocrite – he enjoys the VIP culture when it suits his needs, but wants to protest it when convenient. pathetic.
Very well written. Agree with you 100%. I have known Samar Khan for more than 30 yrs from our college days in USA. I know him very well and can say that what he did was very wrong. This is not the way to logde a protest. I have never supported his political views but if he wants to protest I will support him in a civilised manner & can join hands at Regal chowk & lead a procession. I think Mr. Zulfikar Mirza was extra ordinary good to him and dropped all charges. This is the difference having a democratic set-up in the country from a military dictatorship. Even in the West, with all the freedom they would press charges if the man driving is under the influence & trying to protest. Hopefully Sammy will sober up after this incident and forget about such stupid behaviour.
saad,
desperate times call for desperate measures, i know the man personally and he is one of the most calm and composed individuals i know. alcohol or no, he did the right thing.
most of the elites of our country do not bother to say anything against all the BS that goes on in the name of security, so if this elite did something it should be saluted. it is time that elites wake up from their slumber and start taking a stance on behalf of people like you and me who do not have the guts to stand up to people like the "honourable minister".
saad no one minds people "enjoying the VIP culture" if it only affects the individual, but when you start infringing on the rights of others that the problem starts.
i pray that you never come in touch with the ugly side of power, for then i would ask you if you would wait for the honorable minister's office to open and then right up a petition against some friend of his.
This was "in the heat of the moment" kind of behaviour & I'm sure he's apologetic for it. The bottom-line is that we as a nation are tired of this BS VIP culture with ministers being paid in crores annually (whether PPP govt or any other) & the poor masses keep suffering along. The sick part is that the govt spends on its ministers as if we are a rich nation. Do we need this splurge? Do we need a huge cabinet? Can we afford it? I don't see any change in our country in my lifetime.
@ obvious prime – "mortgage off my manhood"??? wtf? that makes no sense whatsoever. how long have you been waiting to use that line? with all this anger inside you, perhaps you should take up position outside dr. mirza's home and make your call for anarchy in a loud and clear voice. but you wont do that. and you have the audacity to question my manhood? seriously?
Mr. Saad M, your explanation is… logical and quite sane. I am moved by your rhetoric and your ability to see behind the hate we possess for the powers that be.
Thank you for shedding light on your views. We didn't know what side of the fence you were on.
Having read all that you have said. I agree with you vehemently.
I personally do not advocate the use of alcohol beyond the scope of astringent. But to each his own, we all must meet out Maker and answer for what we do individually. But I do believe that Alcohol and other recreational drugs should be legalized and taxed so we can make some money off them and do away with the criminal element involved.
Having said that, we must take it upon ourselves, people like you and others with a conscience and vision to try and run for offices for public service. If honest people don't go into public service then vultures and opportunists will and that is why we are where we are now. Because honest God fearing people don't want to take the responsibility.
We need good leadership and that can come only from people who have an idea of what good leadership should be like.
@ Saad M. I wanted to get a rise out of you, just for kicks. You did not disappoint. That was a great comeback I must say and no I have used that line several times before. It saddens me that more people don;t use it often enough I find it to be quite the firecracker.
I apologize if I have upset you. I'm laughing quite hard right now.
@ obvious prime – my wife wont let me run for public office. i may be a strong man, but i know who is boss! 🙂
Ah the old ball and chain, there is much to be said about the sinf-e-naazuk that is not so naazuk.
I really do believe that governments are elected to serve the people and not make their lives difficult. I seriously propose that all ministers should live in an enclave away from the city so as not to cause any hardship to their people.
VIP culture has to stop. Huge cabinets and huge expenditures must stop. Don't these ministers realize that they are crippling this country to the point of no return? Where is their love for the country? Why the flashy cars etc.? Why should an already poor country foot the bill of their luxurious life-styles?
Samar Ali Khan had the courage to protest one general aspect of the minister's decadence. This is no small feat. Ordinary citizens are too scared to do so for fear of reprisals from those highly placed. We as a nation must put our fears aside and support people like SAK. Otherwise there is no hope for this country, which the majority of us truly love.
You know what? Next time you see a motorcade, block it and protest right there. You will make headlines and create awareness.
IF enough of us do that then perhaps the media will catch on and there will be some measure of release from this.
A good advice! But try this, dear Prime and see the result. I am a very old man living in Khanna East, Islamabad. I have to cross often the Express Way to go to the hospital,etc., on Public transport. But when (and it is too often on this road) the so called protocol blockade, ('root'), is on, policewalas don't allow people even to stand by the road and remove those even who are awaiting transport on bus stands hundred yards away to stand and burn in the hot sons with women and children till the bloody VIP passes. I once refused to budge as being aged and with poor health I expressed my inability to stand up in the sun. But the police walas dragged me about 400 yards away from the roadside. What, however, surprised me most was that dozens of the people already made to stand there did not raise any protest.
Don't we deserve this humiliation, I thought? They do so perhaps as they vote for these people and get 'alcohol' prohibited, which is harram for them, in any case.
Sorry! A correction! Please read 'sun' instead of 'sons' in the 6th line of my previous post.
Samar should fire off a letter to the VIP. I am not sure what the wording will be, but it should make interesting reading. Part apology, part complaint!
V I P – Very Impotent Person.
No wonder he's a government official. He never gets anything done.
Dear SAad,
Firstly i salute your insane explanation of the incident, i personally believe that you need to know the facts before writing (or rather wasting your time) an essay on what is not true.
your example of the credit card is well appreciated and well thought, but you didn't get the drift my friend. Interest rates are announced by the banks and signed by the customer(YOU). It is completing unethical for you to knock my doorstep in the middle of the night. I agree !!. but please note that mirza is a public servant (unlike me being a paid bank manager), he DOES NOT showed a single percent of being a servant.
If it is his wife and children house, then sorry to say, mirza again is at wrong by using government machinery at his private residence. Its his personal residence innit? why doesn't he hire his private guards. Who gave him the right to block the street?
being a democratic minister, he should be open to the public, give it a try… try having a word with our leaders and you'll see the hurdles… or rather, try writing a valuable piece of ESSAY (that you do on the internet) and follow up, again, you'll see.
My point here is simple. They wished a gap between a normal citizen and themselves, they should stay away from the normal citizen residencies then. and stop causing trouble.
Samar khan is one example of atleast having guts to have his words registered. You don't have it, fair enough!! am not advocating the devil, just trying to put some light on what is unseen by you.
and say, this was a wrong judgement of samar, a ghairatmand minister would, not matter what, consider the complain afterwards and revoke his improper use of the unjust machinery.
lets see if he is ghairatmand or _________ 🙂
What Mr. Khan did is not right. I agree with Saad M that if Mr. Khan did have a grievance he should have taken it up during office hours, and not at the ministers personal home. As for people saying that Mr. Khan had the balls to stand up to the minster, it"s all crap. we all know what alcohol can do, and i have heard it from the horses mouth that he was dead drunk.
I hate VIP movements, but we have to live with them. I would love to protest against them, but in an organized manner. Not by getting drunk and suddenly finding my balls.
Please lets not make a hero out of a drunken fool. If anything lets use this as a step to something good and concrete.
Bright Pak – thanks for pointing out that my thoughts were baseless and insane, without actually providing your sane version of the happenings. what exactly are the facts? are you seriously saying that any private citizen has the right to harass an elected or appointed government official to demand an explanation for alleged wrong doings? If so, there should be a line a mile long outside the home of the head of the KESC on a daily basis, no?
Back to the bank/credit card analogy – yes, interest rates are defined and are signed off by you. like interest rates, laws that are put into effect are also signed off by you, the customer – albeit indirectly, by YOUR elected officials – those who YOU put into power. If you have a problem with the way that our political representatives are elected into office and their actions, that is an entirely different discussion, and not one for this particular topic. If you have a problem with Dr. Mirza's personality and perceive him to not be as humble as you would like, again, another topic altogether.
On to your point regarding using the police as security at his private residence – are you saying that he should not be entitled to state security when he is not residing in a state residence? Had he been staying at his official residence, would Khan have been justified in doing what he did? In my opinion, absolutely not. For example, if Hilary Clinton goes to visit Chelsea Clinton at her apartment, is she not entitled to secret service protection? Should she be contracting out her own private militia to protect her from threats? the security afforded to Dr. Mirza, whether private or state sponsored is entirely neccessary given his office and the threats that come with it. whether it is provided at his home or elsewhere is irrelevent.
I am curious – how do you propose they separate themselves from the average man? Create separate compounds for elected officials? ok – so they do that. then what? then people like you start complaining that they are cordoning themselves off from the common man because they think they are superior – its a lose lose situation with you.
I agree with you – Khan showed soem minute level of courage in doing what he did – to have his "words registered". But, it was illegal, and he should be held accountable. perhaps i should remind you – our country is at with individuals who also want to have their "words registered" – the oppose the government and its policies – and resort to means outside the laws that govern us. they blow up buildings and shoot innocent people as they worship in the way that they want. we call them terrorists. the example may sound harsh, but its not entirely black and white – just shades of gray. there is a right way and a wrong way to protest – khan (please understand – i am not equating him with the terrorists) chose the wrong way.
just my two cents.
Saad M: I think there are two issues.
If he was drunk or DUI than that is illegal.
But his going up to the house of the minister & demanding that he be allowed to meet with him, creating a fuss about it etc. cannot be considered illegal by any stretch.
You might say it is not morally correct but its not illegal. He did not trespass on Mirza's private property, did he? What would Mirza charge him over? Creating a lot of noise?
Zulfiqar Mirza blocking a public road on the other hand can be called illegal, however. What if a person dies in an ambulance due to the blockade?
Ladies and gentlemen,
Contrast the usual VIP behaviour with this:
In the 1990s after operating a flight from London to Islamabad I was invited, along with my wife, who accmpanied from London, to dinner at Air House in Chaklala where my old friend the C-in-C PAF lived.(He had fought in two wars and been decorated for gallantry)
After an enjoyable dinner he personally drove us back to the Pearl Continental Hotel in his battered old Toyota Corolla. When I asked him what had happened to his official four star Mercedes with accompanying jeeps he said:
'Johnny, these people on the streets pay my salary and my job is to defend them–not to cause them pain and irritation. I avoid the official trappings whenever I can.'
Would that all our VIPs could have the same sentiments.
Dr Mirza is not an angel nor Khan a pious man….If the minister has created problems for general public than there is always a civilised way to get redressal….Khan opted for tackling wrong with wrong….This is no bravery but stupidity…It reminds me of an old joke which goes like this…While on ship, a passenger fell in the see accidently. Immediately a "brave" man jumped and managed to rescue the passanger from drowning. On the deck, people praised rescuer's courage and honoured him with trophy. The rescuer was happy but could not resist saying in his "Thank you" speech that…"…Thank you all.But…please tell…who pushed me in the sea….". So, is it posible for Mr Khan to let us know as to who "pushed" him in this case?..Was it really the alcohal as Layman suggested?
By the way, who gave Mr Khan an authority to barge in Minister's private house?…Wasn't it better if he had just gone home….Made a placard denouncing discomfort to general public by VIP culture…came back to Minister's place, stood on footpath displaying placard and lodging his protest peacefully?….I am sure many would had joined him in this peaceful protest and the Minister would have (definately) taken cognisance of it in a positive way. This kind of peaceful and civilised protest was surely expected of an educated person like Mr Khan…(But only in sane condition).
Finally a word about Capt Johnny's story of 1990.Those were the days we always miss….But those are bygones…Let us talk of present…Can we qoute any such incident in present times?….
if only.
I salute Samar Ali Khan. Regarding his drunk status, it is a misleading and conventional method of our police controlled by Mirza.
Mr. Zamar is a well recognized Architect of Karachi and a CEC member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lead by Imran Khan. His home was nearby this ghost Mirza (Minister) and they blocked the way of Samar's home. He protested and then beaten and shifted to Police Station.
Thank God he has been released but it is real slap on the face of our society that the goons like Mirza are freely enjoying on our income but activists like Samar Khan are suffering.
I don't know what is more sad here people sitting in the comfort of their homes blogging about this shit or turning a madman into a hero or tainting a man's reputation.
I know not which is true or false. He did what no one else has done. Say what you will, but he is a pioneer, if not through choice then by destiny.
The pioneer's way shines the path for others to follow.
Why don't all of you respectable and well educated professional people organize against such things being perpetrated in the name of protection and justifiable excess on the part of our officials.
As Pakistanis we love to bitch and moan about shit but when it comes to actually doing something, there's always something better to do.
Do it for future generations, the children you have or may yet have. What kind of future are you leaving them? One rife with complaining and bitching about things you'd rather have no control over?
Of do you want your children to perceive you as heroes who fought for what is right.
To hell with the media. Unplug the damn TV and political discussions. Get some people together go the offices of these government officials and demand your rights.
Demand the expenses related to such abuses of government resources. Demand that audits be done and made a matter of public record. THEY ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND AS SUCH SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY.
WE FEED THESE BASTARDS, WE OWN THEIR SORRY ASSES, WE WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR RUPEES IT TAKES FOR THEM TO WIPE THEIR ASS WITH!
I don't think that is too much to ask.
This country is not going to get better unless the technocracy takes control of it. You are the technocracy and you are asleep. Blissfully so. What more will it take to jar you out of your perpetual slumber?
To summarize:
"People shouldn't be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of the people."
V for Vendetta – Alan Moore
Napoleon……..
"The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people,
But because of the silence of good people!"
Tony Montana…….
" In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women."
I wanted to put in quote too!
saad nice quote, and now i see where you are coming from, your priorities are well defined, money power women, cool, no wonder your wife is against your running for office 🙂
"And when you get the women, you lose both, power and the money" 😀
Me Too !!!
Theses are the quotes for greedy men.For good and secure life first get a good woman, then money and then think of power.
Good lady would secure your all money and power in your premises, keeping all matter under your control.
So choices are there only timely decision of pickers are required.
hahahahaha so true
it is not true but desire of greed of taking control of all in one life.
Very proud of you Samar Ali Khan!!! May there be many more liek you who would stand up for Pakistan and its people.
The behaviour of Zulfiqar Mirza and the highhanded attitude of the police on his orders is shameful.
What else can one expect from crooks and enemies of the state like the majority of Zardari's friends are? This SOB – Zulfiqar Mirza – addressing a public meeting announced that "we" (probably meaning he, has mentor and other PPP goons) wanted to break Pakistan after the killing of Benazir Bhutto. Watch the vide clip yourself.
http://thecurrentaffairs.com/we-wanted-to-break-p…
How is the leadership of the Peoples Party tolerating this goon and is not taking any action against him? A simple answer is they probably have the same feelings and don't care what anybody does or says against the country.
The time is not far Inshallah when the Peoples Party crooks will be dragged out from their houses and hanged on electric poles for all to see and enjoy …….or so I wish and pray they would be. Ameen!!!
Is this the govt. official who lives on Shaheen, close to Shamsheer where all the cop cars, vans and mobile homes are and the two speedbumps have been built ?
If so, I also curse whenever I pass by and have to slow down. On many occasions I have blared my horn so as to protest 🙂 The amount of bad-duas these people must be getting, I think they should move into a more quieter street so as to impact fewer people and be less noticed.
Buree nazar lagay kaa rahee hai.
Yup thats him all right. been stuck on that road a few times myself.
Salaam All! While I agree that there is a right way and a not so right way of lodging your protest, we all reach a point at times when we do lose control and just do what our anger dictates. Moreover, there was an incident about an MNA's son a few days back where a retired AVM of the Air Force (I think I have this right) was threatened and warned by the "son's" official police escort. I will just say that we should lodge our protests about all these excesses but should not expect too much from the people WE are supposed to have elected because what will you expect from these people, the vast majority of whom do not even bother to get official number plates for their vehicles and even when they do, the number is hidden by a large plaque advertising their status as MNA or MPA or SENATOR !!!
On the subject of Alcohol consumption, I thought there was "prohibition" in force in the land of the pure!!
Typical of Pakistani politics the focus has shifted from debating a concept to personal attacks on individuals.
The issue is not if Samar was drunk or not. It is not if he is a hero or not. It doesnt matter if he begged for forgivness or not. It doesnt even matter why or what he actually did. It also does not matter that Zulfiqar Mirza utilizes VIP Protocol practices. He utilized what is seen to be a 'right of office' in Pakistan.
These issues that focus on individuals actually detract from the real question at hand.
Is VIP Protocol justified? If so (and it is in many cases, especially in Pakistan where high profile individuals are knocked off on a regular basis) then for whom? And what does VIP Protocol entail? Blocking roads? Shutting out neighborhoods?
VIP Protocol culture I might add also seems to infuriate people living in Defence etc … the common man has bigger problems. Hence it is the privilaged class complaining about how they are made to feel a little less privilaged! Do we as privilaged Pakistanis who have access to the internet etc want to fight to reverse VIP Protocol. Can you not see bigger issues to lend your support to?
When Pakistanis learn to have debates that tackle the real issues, when we learn to attack broader concepts and not individuals alone (the removal of whom does not have a material impact on things – note our rotating leadership), when we have the ability not to air personal dirty laundry or links to young ladies facebook sites … but to actually think about what is important and what we should fight for … then maybe we have some hope.
I posted the following comments at the adjoining post but I have realised a bit late that all the activity is taking place here!
"Having read this post and the previous one – and a sample of comments thereon – I am wondering if I am lost in a weird Alice in Wonderland world. I have no idea what is reality and what is illusion, thanks to the innumerable postings of a gentleman who calls himself ‘Saad M’. The ferocity with which he is defending the PPP thug belies his claim to be impartial.
The all-important fact, in my opinion, is that a PROTEST was made in a place where such protests are unheard of. I applaud architect Khan for that reason. In Pakistan ‘life and honour’ are valuable concepts only for people in a privileged and powerful position while ordinary people die like rats each day and their “honour” is trampled underfoot by the likes of Mr Mirza.
As for the deep consideration that ‘Saad M’ reserves for the man’s wife and daughters, the worst that might have happened was that they were roused from their slumbers. Compared to the rapes that Mr Mirza’s class commits daily, that “offence” is neither here nor there.
I think there is an urgent need to “out” ‘Saad M’. He probably has close links with Mr Mirza or the PPP or, possibly, both."
Loved this story so I blogged about it on: http://blogs.rnw.nl/southasiawired/?p=1003&pr…
Good on you Teeth Maestro for telling us about it –
I think we need some more Teeth to stop this kind of thing that’s happening on a daily basis not just in Pakistan, but also in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka…read more on the blog
Let me clarify. he wasn't protesting and the road wasn't blocked by barricades. you must know where the Home minister lives why don't you go check it out for yourself and before you call Dr. Zulfiqar and his class rapist. you should know that Mr. Samar Ali Khan belongs to an elite class and was driving a mercedes.. so i guess youre implying hes a rapist too. Mr. Sakib Ahmed i would advise you to speak to Mr. Samar Ali Khans family and find out what actually happened. So when you find out the truth then come and bark here.
Everyone of us should watch the LAAL video umeed -e-sahar! and see how an action like this can make a difference.We all should stand up for our rights, rightly ours!
Wow.. these comments have really gone from one place to another…
Not to lose sight, I personally have no clue if the gentleman was drunk or not. Either ways, that would be his personal choice, and focussing on that is taking away from the actual problem the people are facing: VIP movements!
One reason why the Pakistani people cannot come together on anything, is that they are easily distracted by some trivial, often tangential topic, and they can spend hours having heated arguments on that.
Focus guys focus.
We have a huge problem at hand: the country is being overrun and sold in front of our very eyes! Like someone mentioned earlier, the ministers and the government officials are almost using our tax money for toilet paper.
Seeing the country now, I am sure that the founders would wish that they had never fought so hard to have an independant state! Honestly, zoom out, and look at the big picture.. Pakistan is one of the 'worst' places in the world to live in, and been declared 'terribly unsafe'…however, leaving aside what Time and Newsweek call us, we have a worse disease that is eating the country up from inside.. our government and the political system.
Dear Saad M,
Your views are like American phyco, tell me your home address and i will do the same to you as Samar A K did to the minister, then i will see that you can only write these comments like ( you can only bark and can not bite ) You dont know what sort of peoples live in karachi.
ladies and gentlemen – the future of pakistan. Navid, i am sure you are just the sort of peoples that live in karachi that i try to avoid on a daily basis.
p.s. wasnt american pyscho about a murdering sociopath? do you mean American Idol? I think that is about making fun of people like you.
The difference between a brave man and a wise man is a wise man thinks twice before jumping in the pool. The brave man doesn't know what the depth is. He just thinks he does…….more simply "There is a thin line between bravery and stupidity"
http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.php?37805-I…
http://insaf.pk/News/tabid/60/articleType/Article…
Shanzae Khatoon,
Thanks for your comments. I think, Madam, you may be confusing several issues and arriving at the wrong conclusion. First, let me get the matter of Mr Samar Khan’s social class out of the way by quoting from another of my posts:
'The "westernised fascists" of Pakistan have created a system of apartheid in the country. They have created a bastardised culture where they speak a foreign language and write grandiose articles in Pakistan's "English language press" while looking down with contempt at the parallel Urdu language press. It is these hypocrites who are indirectly responsible for most of Pakistan's problems. They make no effort to convey humanist ideas to the general population by writing in the Urdu language press and educating their less fortunate citizens. Their self-indulgent pomposity is almost as vile as the ignorance and barbarity of the Taliban. It is these two evils which are destroying Pakistan.'
Now back to the subject of this discussion. First, may I refer you to Jibran’s reply to my earlier post, which will bring home to you the stark reality of our evil ‘political culture’:
https://teeth.com.pk/blog/2010/06/16/stand-by-sama…
Next, Mr Mirza is a pillar of the evil system that the National Robbers’ Organisation (NRO) has imposed on the country. Therefore, when someone speaks up against this oppression he has to be applauded irrespective of his social background.
If you belong to Mr Mirza’s household you have my deepest sympathies. I know you must be very upset. However, it is your sacred duty – refer to the Qur’an, please – to uphold justice even when it ends up punishing those near and dear to you.
Since you brought up the NRO issue, Zulfiqar Mirza is not one of the many people ( politicians from several political parties, businessmen and a multitude of people from all walks of life alike) who benefited from the NRO.
"To uphold justice even when it ends up punishing those near and dear to you" – punishing for what exactly? Who decides whats "just"? Justice in my eyes would be a public apology by Mr. Samar Ali Khan who not only committed a crime that night but to top it all off tried to make himself look like a hero by giving a bullshit story.
I hate VIP movements but what I hate more are drivers who drive drunk…..they can kill and have killed.
So Boo to Samar Khan who only had the balls coz he was drunk…..what would have happened if he had killed someone while driving drunk….
ALIZEH !!!!!!
Very nice comments given by you.
This Zulfiqar Mirza not only the beneficiary of NRO, but he is a traitor, because he himself admitted "After the murder of Benazeer we were ready to break Pakistan", this is the ugly thinking of this man. He is & was involved in all crimes made by Zardari & due to his this part he is enjoying his life. Some viewers have taken the side of this man, shame to all of them. How much he misused his powers, only one example, he is minister who can live in state house, whereas he is living in such a house which is not his property but he is getting full house rent from govt by false statement. This house belongs to his wife who is the speaker of National Assembly, so both husband & wife looting the govt by their dirty tricks.
CAPT 'JOHANNY' SADIQ….!!!1
We are proud of our Armed Forces (except some corrupt officers), who are our guards and we sleep soundly in our bed rooms.There are many examples of such cases in which they watch the interest of the country & the nation, and not like Zulfiqar Mirza & Zardari who are misusing their status & power for their personal interests.
SAAD M !!!!!!!!!!
I feel you have been either benefitted by this minister or you are close to him that's why you pleaded his case.
Once again I must appreciate this architect Khan who has protested in front of his house.As regards the allegation on him that he was drunk !!!!! what proof do we have except the report of police who is under the control of this minister. What ever they got message from the minister they have given the report that he was drunk. If I ma a minister I can get report from police & hospital according to my orders even against you, so it's not a big deal in Pakistan to get favourable report. Just another example of Benazeer murder case what the Dr has given report, what ever the Dr was communicated by the Higher Authorities, he has given the same report which is still contoversial.
What a load of rubbish coming from the so-called "Sincere Pakistani" & all the others.
What SAAD has written is 100% correct. Our honourable Home Minister is NOT the one at fault here ! What seems to be the problem with the people? Why is everyone criticising Mr. Zulfikar Mirza?? What has he done wrong? You should give him the credit of dropping all charges against Mr. Samar Khan. The method used by Mr. Khan is not a civilised one and I know for a fact that he is ashamed and embarrassed. I can assure you that Mr. Samar Khan will NEVER do what he did.
This matter should be closed. People who are supporters of a military goonda buffoon General who takes over the country and ruins it during 35 yrs of direct rule should live in a military cantonement.
This whole affair is so stupid and I can;t belive people writing all this rubbish. Ask the man who was arrested?? Was he doing the right thing? NO and 100 times NO !! He will NEVER do it AGAIN.
@Hussain: Dropping charges on what exactly? Making a lot of noise outside his house?
These Charges [Jang often charge ANYONE ITS LIKE WITHOUT BOTHERING TO VERIFY]Jang says he was Tipsy: http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/jun2010-daily/16-06-2… and belongs to Tehreek-e-Insaf.
I salute Mr. Samar Ali Khan. This is an initiative to break this hegemonic nature of the government. We all should support him and also start taking initiatives like this so that there can be some form of equality!! Because of this inequality we have seen people committing sucides and we really need to do something now!
You know something? Am I just imagining it or has the Circus on Kh Shaheen actually gone a little quiter? For starters I do not see that white Humvee that was always standing outside the house blocking half the street. I think even the police mobiles are more carefull about where they park and the hang out. If it is true and a result of Samar's outburst, he has certainly set an example we should all follow.
Hussein said:
"What SAAD has written is 100% correct. Our honourable Home Minister is NOT the one at fault here ! What seems to be the problem with the people? Why is everyone criticising Mr. Zulfikar Mirza?? What has he done wrong? You should give him the credit of dropping all charges against Mr. Samar Khan. The method used by Mr. Khan is not a civilised one and I know for a fact that he is ashamed and embarrassed. I can assure you that Mr. Samar Khan will NEVER do what he did"
This kind of thinking where you consider your looters worthy of respect, is the very reason why one is ashamed to call oneself a Pakistani in the world today. There is a misconception of legitimacy and basic ethics in 97+% of the population and thus even if Mirza was not in power some other like minded sod would be placed in power only to abuse the "responsibility" of being an elected official rather than serve. Everyone is a cheat and just waiting for their turn to abuse and loot.
What a load of rubbish coming from "Hussain" Saad & some other followers.
The real reply has been given by "hateful" in his worthy comments.
Zulfiqar Mirza, Zardari, Rehman Malik, Dr Babar Awan, Yousuf Raza Gillani, Kaira, Fauzia Wahab all are the creation & production of Corruption, lotters, how one can give them respect.They are all worthless & supporters may be guided on the right path.
Every politician is a cheat and just waiting for their turn to loot and be abused.
Does this so-called "Sincere" Pakistani know how to spell the word sincere?? to start pretending that he/she is patriotic towards Pakistan? This is so ridiculous !
We are discussing the untoward behaviour of Samar Khan and not talking about the politics in this country. Keep these two things seperate ! As far as honourable Home Minister Zulfikar Mirza, our elected President Asif Ali Zardari and PM Gilani, Rehman Malik, Kaira, Fauzia Wahab etc. are concerned have nothing to do with the incident on Kh-e Shamsheer. We should feel proud that the country has a democratic dispensation and all credit goes to our President for his able leadership that the Federation is moving in the right direction. There is harmony among all the provinces. With the implenataion of NFC, 18th ammendment, the fruits of democracy will bear fruit. This govt has done far more in these two years than the previous military bullshit dictatorship. For all you sincere and "educated westernised idiots" deserve to live in a military cantonement where you polish the boots of Khakis day and night.
Whatever Saad has written is 100% correct. Let me say that what Samar Khan did was wrong and HE is ASHAMED and EMBARASED by it. So for get it and STOP supporting this idiotic gesture. Go live in a cantonement !! Leave Pakistan to its people !
@Hussain: Regardless of what samar khan did was right or not, the alternative to polishing khaki boots is not licking Zardari's balls. You can stop now.
I agree with Hussein – The rest of you are "Cantonment" worthy residents of Karachi.
Better thank your lord that Samar got free without any charges for the crap he pulled with an authority who has the right to defense as they are taking terrorists head-on!
I highly appreciate Samar Khan of his bold step against these Very Illiterate Persons(VIPs).All architects must be united and jointly condemn in media for what has happened to our fellow architect. In future we must take positive action to protect the right of people as we are very responsible professionals.
Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners(PCATP)must do something to protect each and every architect's right.United We Stand. Bravo Samar Khan.
I support the brave Pakistani citizen who challenged VIP culture.
This cancer is not peculiar to Democracy or Dictatorship but is simply an open exploitation of power by the strong (feudals, khakis, politicians, rich, bureaucrats…)against the weak. No minister or khaki etc should dare call himself a VIP, much less trample on other’s rights.
We should all regularly do what we can to oppose VIP culture. Who is going to ring the ministers doorbell next?
I'm not into politics, so my knowledge of Mirza is zero. I'm not into architects, so my knowledge of Samar is zero. The following is an opinion based on the incident – minus personal bias or prejudice.
To cut straight to the myopic chase: We're talking about a man who lives in this country, who has clearly been stuck in traffic due to VIP protocol, who has been bitten by the system countless times and who had the spine to finally DO something about it. And here we have a collection of people pronouncing him worthy of being thrown into jail.
Yeah, we're such a cool, civilized society that when a civilian creates a scene he MUST be apprehended under charges of perhaps, 'disturbing the peace'.
Ha.
Now before you all get your knickers in a twist – let me just explain where I'm coming from.
I find it bizarre that there are people here who have decided that 'tsk tsk, Samar had alcohol in his system and hence all actions are questionable' based on hearsay. From what I know (and of course I could be wrong; feel free to correct me; although you all would regardless of my invitation to..) the blood alcohol report was not officially published.
Anyway. I'll give you this – just so you anti-alcohol people are happy – the man had a few drinks in him. Before we start accusing him of DUI – please – do confirm whether his blood alcohol level really was too high for him to be behind the wheel. Although, THAT would be another story. Not this.
The thing, people, is that this isn't about his drinking habits, the 'elite' clubs he's a member of, the car he drives, the college he went to or what his personality is like. This is simply about a person REACTING to what we all have to endure on an almost daily basis.
Sure, how terribly rude and uncouth of him to wake up Mirza's wife and kids (and neighbors too!). Yeah, very rude. Minus 10 points for him for that. Also, how rude of him to 'threaten' the man. Yeah. Much threat one lone man could be in the midst of all those policemen and security guards who camp outside the house 24/7.
But since we are trying to reflect a veneer of civility here, I'll even agree that yes, not 'proper' behaviour to scream outside ANYONE'S house at any hour of the day or night.
The point really is about frustration and anger and just getting sick of things. If we are to look at this from a purely objective point of view then this was a man who was merely sick of the VIP culture that continues unabated. That.Is.All.
Of course, the good citizens we are…habitually prone to be 'fair', to be 'lawful', to be 'obedient' – we rip this man's actions apart because holy sh*t! How dare he create a ruckus for no good reason!
It's sad and disappointing to see you all stand up *HERE* and point fingers at a man who didn't kill, steal, rape or murder. He didn't cause anyone any real, lasting harm (only harm was a few sleepless hours that one night for the residents – which by the way, KESC causes on a daily basis). Sure, he lost his temper and reacted to his surroundings but please please please don't be all high and mighty and say the politician is the angel and us, the civilians are the devil. We are a product of our surroundings and unfortunately, politicians create much of it. What was he supposed to do? Make an appointment with Mirza and go speak to him at work the next day maybe you say? Really? Someone rams into your car and you'll just smile at them and say, "Hey, why don't we discuss this tomorrow over a cup of coffee?" Really? Won't you be a little ANGRY and won't you REACT then and there?
We're human. We are allowed to lose our composure – in fact, I am amazed more haven't till now. Be a little decent in your assessment of the human nature – keeping the politics of government in mind.
Be real.
Nice Comment.