Tire smuggling, Chaman

Tire smuggling, Chaman
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

Smuggling is the best option in Chaman if you want to survive the cut throat competition from various Pathans out there. And for smuggling you need to have guts, some hard cash for the officials, and a sincere single-minded approach towards life and work. Your children should also be great little-smugglers. And indeed there are, if they work on Pak-Afghan border, second in importance to Torkham border near Peshawar, which connects two troubled countries.

I photographed this man carrying loads of tires from across Afghanistan. He was heading towards Customs Office nearby. No wonder Pakistan needs so much International Aid despite so much business. No one pays the taxes. Not these Pathans driving across from Afghanistan. Certainly not the ministers in our cabinet. And surely not our Prime Minister, who did not pay a single Paisa this financial year. Goodness me.

9/11 - Changed perceptions

I was just reading this nice blog on Dawn today by a former student, who was there in USA when planes struck Twin Towers.

I was in Pakistan at that time and I was also a student, a sort of a fire-brand type. It was evening and darkness had already pervaded our university. I can clearly recall that that day I was sitting in my computer lab and for some reason I was late in going home. Almost all my classmates had already left for home. On another system my classmate, Ovais, was sitting when he suddenly called me over informing me that some building in USA is under fire. I looked at the screen and thought maybe some odd fire had broken inside. I was wrong. Ovais hastily told me that it was some plane, which had hit the twin towers. Twin towers for me was a new term. I went home.

At home, as soon as I entered, my mother greeted me with more than a flourish and invited me to look at the screen, which was positively blackened with the dark, billowing smoke coming out from the towers. It was CNN and the anchor was horrified at what was happening just behind her. I was just beginning to settle when suddenly a plane took a sharp turn and rammed into the second tower, which till then had been standing amidst chaos and drama. It later emerged that planes had been hijacked and used as suicide material. What an ingenious idea that was, I had thought. And I was really very glad, just like my parents and siblings, that finally that great Satan had been 'controlled'. Future events and the consequences for Muslims the world-over would prove us all wrong. These terrorist attacks into the heartland of USA had not only shaken the great Satan, it had in effect woken them up and all of us to the reality of international terrorism. A reality, which sadly has harmed interests of Muslims world over.

Today I and my parents feel that the events of 9/11 were not perpetrated by Jihadis (as CNN would have us believe) but by real terrorists, people who have no faith or religion. Today I can see clearly that killing of innocent Americans, whether Jews or Christians or Muslims, won't serve anyone's purpose. We cannot ask for revenge on a common American for the misdeeds of their Army and politicians in Iraq and Afghanistan and Palestine. This we all Muslims should understand and realize. We cannot isolate ourselves from the real world and continue to fool around. We must consider murderers and killers as terrorists and not some good Muslim Knights.

Today I am not happy that common Americans were killed that day. I just hope I wasn't happy in 2001, when the events broke out. But I was and I accept it now.

Cricketers from punjab harm Pakistan's image

Yes, you heard it right: Punjab born cricketers including Salman Butt, the Test captain for 2010 summer Test series against England, has taken the bribe and destroyed image of Pakistan yet again. These bastard Punjabis continue to defame Pakistanis at all levels. No wonder then the main culprit besides Salman Butt also appears to be a full blooded Punajbi Mazhar Majeed, the bookie par excellence. Please also recall infamous match fixing scandals of other Pakistani greats, Wasim Akram and Waqar Yonus. They also belonged to Punjab province of Pakistan.

I have just read reports in Guardian paper that investigations are underway and that test match will continue. We hope PCB, headed by Ijaz Butt will take strong action against the proven madness of our players. And that it will come clean on this issue. Thanks to God that finally we have proof of involvement of our players in match-fixing.

Flood of the Century?

Not sure if the headline is true but I just read it on BBC website. And I am not particularly shocked after viewing the gory details and the images of what has come to pass. And just now, while I was having my late breakfast (as today is yet another strike by MQM in Karachi) I watched BBC anchorperson discuss with someone from HSBC about Pakistan's economic growth. She asked her how in the world Pakistan can progress if such menacing devastations continue to hamper its growth and wash away its agricultural land (as in this flooding)? Well, HSBC person had no answer to that. And here we are asking for more aid and our good President is out in Paris to discuss bilateral trade and security concerns. How sick is that!

Well, as of now, floods across Frontier and Punjab have killed over 1400 people and made homeless countless others. Every second footage on TV is now showing angry people blocking roads, destroying government properties and shouting in front of foreign media that 'our' government is helpless and useless. And really with no food and shelter that's the case indeed in most parts of Swat (Kalam is one of the worst hit areas), Nowshera and Peshawar, which is cut off from rest of the country.

Pakistan Army has dedicated over 30,000 of its troops for relief operations across the affected areas but people still feel that nothing is being done. That's mostly due to the vastness and remoteness of most of the areas affected by flooding. just imagine a rainfall of over 312mm within a span of 36 hours. And put in one of the largest catchment areas in the world and you have water spilling everwhere, breaking bunds and barrages and bridges and all. But atleast decomcratically elected government should have shown some sense and visited the areas affected by rains and flash floods. No, not at all. Only Army is supposed to do all that. Why, I am not sure.

USA has pledged 10 million USD as aid package to the country and has allowed the use of 4 of its helicopters for aid dropping. But it is the jawans of Pakistan Army and members of Edhi and UNO which have done the bulk of the aid work and it is to them that we salute.

p.s Pakistan Met Office has reported more monsoonal rainfalls across lower Sindh, Punjab and KP proinves. Well, we are in for a bit more hell here.

Gate crashing the Margallas

The Margalla Hills—the foothills of the Himalayas—are a series of small-elevation hills located north of Islamabad, Pakistan. Margalla Range has an area of 12,605 hectares. The hill range nestles between an elevation of 685 meters at the western end and 1,604 meters on its east.

That's what Wikipedia has to say about Margalla hills. And they have just added an entry for Air Blue flight which took off from Karachi at 8am on 28th July 2010 and never landed. It gatecrashed into Margalla killing all 152 passengers on board.

This tragedy has brought almost no surprises for me so far. Our minister for everything, Rehman Malik, announced hastily that Black Box has been found soon after the incident. Then he denied it. Same apathy towards knowledge and use of proper information.

Then we got our gory Urdu channels shouting that they've been first to make footage of this ill-fated plane. They also shouted about how they were able to film the grieving mothers and fathers of those who perished. And they had the audacity to barge into the homes of victims' families and ask them such stupid questions as, 'How do you feel about your so and so being dead'? etc. Is this how journalists should act? Well, no surprises here. Pakistani Urdu media has the tradition of doing just that.

And then the people. Some of them, off course. People who stole body parts (presumably of females more than those of males) so that they might just get some gold out of them. How sick and familiar is that.

And lastly, I am not at all surprised by the action Pakistan Army has taken. They've been everywhere along with Edhi people. And together they have done what democratically elected government has simply failed to do: Help its people in these most distressing time.

p.s Over 800 are thought to have perished due to heavy rains and subsequent flooding in Frontier and Punjab provinces.

Baluchistan Diary - Day 12 / Reading Quran sharif

Reading Quran sharif
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

We were shown a small masjid, which is inside the main complex of the Palace of Khan of Kalat. And like every other place within the palace, this place was also full of carpets. Light was filtering from one of the windows as asar namaz timing was nearing; we decided to have khadim read Quran sharif so that we may photograph him. Here's the result.

Baluchistan Diary - Day 11 / Dump Ghosht, Quetta

Dump Ghosht, Quetta
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

I am not sure how to spell it. But this thing is cooked like this: Sacrifice a goat, pull out everything from its belly, stuff rice and some dry fruits, as per your taste. Stitch the whole goat so that rice don't fall out and cook the goat under ground. Or whatever. And the taste is so unique you have to taste it to understand the whole idea. No wonder Pathans and visitors alike love this dish. It was our last dinner in Quetta and Pakgateway.com ensured it was the best.

Next Day: To Kalat and Khuzdar.

Baluchistan Diary - Day 9 / Lakhpass Toll, Baluchistan

Lakhpass Toll, Baluchistan
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

That's where we started off our long, fascinating journey to the ends of Pakistan: Iran border. A place full of wonders and trade and of fascinating history and all. It was a jam-packed two-days sensation.

This expedition and subsequent research in Baluchistan is fully funded by www.pakgateway.com.

Baluchistan Diary - Day 7 / Crazy for Cherries

Ameer Hamza has gone crazy for Cherries of Balochistan
Originally uploaded by eDanial

Danial Shah, my travelling companion for this 13-day expedition to the heartlands of Baluchistan, took this shot and subsequently uploaded it to his account. It was our 7th day of travel and we were in Ziarat. Here is what he wrote for this frame:

"Its been 7 days and Ameer Hamza has gone crazy for Cherries, and continously consuming it more and more every day.

I never knew Balochistan has such fruitful places. Traveling always gives me a great experience to understand each and every place.

The Picture was taken in Ziarat Valley, Cherry orchards."

Baluchistan Diary - Day 6 / Kanmehtarzai Railway Station

Kanmehtarzai Railway Station, Baluchistan
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

Our main target for Day 6 was to travel up towards Pishin area and visit the now dis-used Railway station called KANMEHTARZAI. It is said to be the highest station in Asia but I am really not sure about it. I will have to recheck it with some authentic railways data. But I must say that there was this spectacular scenery ahead and I hope that Government of Pakistan will once again make it a destination. Meanwhile, all tracks have been taken away and proabably sold as scrap. We moved on.

This expedition is funded by www.pakgateway.com.

Baluchistan Diary - Day 3 / Khojak Tunnel

Shela Bagh, Baluchistan
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

Also known as Shehla Bagh (Shela Bagh) this tunnel is the largest in Pakistan and is so cold even in summers that it is hard to imagine. It's length is 3.91 KM and is not exactly straight. This tunnel is pictured in Rs.5 old note of Pakistan.


This expedition is funded by www.pakgateway.com. [This website will go online by the end of this month].

World Press Photo Competition

For photojournalists worldwide World Press Photo is like Oscars for movie stars and directors. It has been that way since 1955, when the awards were first announced. It was Danish Mogens von Haven who won that award. And since then highest standards of photojournalism have been set. Each year, those standards get higher and higher as more and more photographers jump into the competition. Last year over 96,000 photographs were submitted to the competition of which off course one won the top honours.

I have been participating in this competition since last five years. As only few Pakistanis participate I feel honoured to be representing my country at this highest level. Although I have seldom chance of winning this competition this time around, I am keeping my fingers and my brain crossed. Every year there are a few surprises and hitherto new photographer gets some prize or the other.

So let's wait for 12th Feb, 2009, when the official results would be announced.