December 7-13 2014
DRIVEN No one is above the law on the streets of Islamabad
December 7-13 2014
Feature
Cover Story
Handle with care
Violating a traffic law in Islamabad can land you in serious trouble
Nurses should be given due recognition in the medical infrastructure
Driven
22 Feature
Learning without a price tag An open-air school provides free education to the underprivileged
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4
44 Regulars
6 People & Parties: Out and about with beautiful people
52 Reviews: Books and Movies 58 Positive Paksitani: Ali Jilani rises above his disability
Magazine Editor: Sarah Munir and Senior Subeditor: Dilaira Dubash Creative Team: Essa Malik, Jamal Khurshid, Mohsin Alam, Omer Asim, Sanober Ahmed & Talha Ahmed Khan Publisher: Bilal A Lakhani. Editor: Kamal Siddiqi For feedback and submissions: magazine@tribune.com.pk Twitter: @ETribuneMag & Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ETribuneMag Printed: uniprint@unigraph.com
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Tariq Huda, Shakeel, Zeba Bakhtiar and Muhammad Ali Rajpar
dr Ishratul Ebad Khan performs the groundbreaking ceremony of the Eduljee dinshaw Road Project in Karachi Dr Zsuzsanna Fajcsak
Amna Salman
Francois D’alorso
6 December 7-13 2014
Syeda Sarwat Jilani and Fahad Mirza
Nazim Salim
PhoToS couRTESy NEw woRld coNcEPTS
Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan
PEOPLE & PARTIES
PhoToS couRTESy NEw woRld coNcEPTS
Iraj and Tariq Huda
Salman Datta
Ava Cowasjee and Jameel
8 December 7-13 2014
Shahid Abdullah
Zarmina and Tatmain
Surayya
Shafqat
Moiz Kazmi, Hala Syed, Farha S Kamal, Khursheed Haider, Fouzia Nasir and Asma Aziz
Intel Pakistan hosts a tablet showcase event at the Noodle house, Pearl continental, in Karachi
Mehboob Khan
10 December 7-13 2014
Zainab Ansari, Aamina Jahangir and Farheen Mahmood
Shafia Agha
PhoToS couRTESy XENITh PR
PEOPLE & PARTIES
PEOPLE & PARTIES Nestlé Pakistan organises a seminar for its ‘Kero Aitemaad – Believe in yourself’ initiative in Karachi
Nabeel Ahmed and Momina Javaid
Lilith Chu, Ayesha Waseem and Fatima Farid
12 December 7-13 2014
Zahra Isaad, Fariha Azam, Mishelle Khalid, Subia Faruqi and Hejab Shahid
Anoop Khalid
PEOPLE & PARTIES Sadaf, Maliha and Faiza
The ToNI&Guy hair Meet wardrobe celebrates its success at the 2014 Fashion Pakistan week in Karachi
Mariam Ali Khan with her daughter
14 December 7-13 2014
Tinath and Aania
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Sidra with a guest
Feeha Jamshed
Zoe and Adnan
Salima Feerasta
16 December 7-13 2014
Sarwat Gilani
Frieha Altaf
Handle with care Nurses are the backbone of medical care and should be treated accordingly TexT by Nisma ChauhaN PhoTos by arif soomro
The medical sector in Pakistan has historically been more preoccupied with cure rather than care. As a result, while the country continues to produce a massive number of doctors every year, the nursing workforce has largely been ignored. Despite their integral role in patient care, they are seldom given the attention or recognition they deserve which has inevitably led to a drastic shortage of nurses and paramedics in the country. anum shiraze Gujrati’s dream to pursue a career in nursing came true after she secured a merit-based scholarship at the aga Khan university school of Nursing and medicine.
According to figures cited by the Journal of Pioneering Medical Sciences in 2013, the existing nurse-patient ratio in Pakistan is approximately 1:50 whereas the ratio prescribed by the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC) is 1:10 in general areas and 2:1 in specialised areas. Moreover, the existing nurses are also distributed unevenly across provinces with Sindh facing the severest shortage of nursing staff while Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has the most nurses. Currently, Pakistan has 162 registered nursing colleges with over 50 students enrolled in each of them annually. These schools are regulated by PNC, which is responsible for approving nursing schools for accreditation, devising the curriculum, licensing nurses to practise and advising the federal and provincial governments regarding nursing education and services. Demand for nurses in the country, however, still continues to exceed supply. One of the primary reasons for the shortage in the nursing industry is due to the general stigma attached to the profession. Nursing is not generally considered a high-prestige job and usually written-off as an option for the less-privileged. “This profession is not the first choice for many,” confirms Salma Rattani, director for the Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) programme at the Aga Khan University (AKU) School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM). “Nursing isn’t considered a well-reputed profession and something that is generally meant for women.” The male-female quota enforced by PNC does little to help the situation either. The male to female ratio observed in a BSN classroom is 10:90, the Post Registered Nurse Bachelors of Science in Nursing (RN BSN) follows a 50:50 quota whereas diploma programmes only offer single-gender courses. “The concept of care is associated with women in our society,” says Noor Khan, coordinator at the Post Graduate College of Nursing in Peshawar. “But hospitals and other institutions where nurses are required need both genders.” Keith Cash, dean and professor at AKU SONAM, however, believes that the quota set by PNC reflects the cultural reality of the country. “It is not culturally acceptable to have male nurses,” he says. “Patients prefer females over male nurses and a [gender] balance in the [nursing] workforce is not right for the Pakistani population.” Khan, on the other hand, states that certain places such as army or surgical male wards prefer male nurses. Ironically, being considered a ‘female domain’, does not free the profession from the usual biases and challenges for women. According to Rattani, if a female nurse is taking care of a male patient and is required to touch him, it makes people uncomfortable. Similarly, those working odd-hours or in far-off locations are exposed to security risks and sexual harassment threats. According to the District Nurses Association, Peshawar, eight cases of sexual harassment against
Nursing is not the first choice for many. It isn’t considered a well-reputed profession and something that is generally meant for women Director for the Bachelors of Science in Nursing programme salma rattani
Keith Cash, dean and professor at aga Khan school of Nursing and midwifery, talks about the increase in demand for nurses internationally and the shortage of well-qualified nurses in Pakistan. 23 December 7-13 2014
feaTure Pakistan has also been categorised as one of the
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countries that are facing a Human Resource management in Health crisis — it is well below the level defined by World Health Organization to deliver essential health interventions required for achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
anum’s father, shiraze Gujrati, working at the Linen and Laundry department at aga Khan university hospital. nurses were filed over the last five months and the problem persists throughout the country, though it may not always be officially reported. Philomina Sadiq, head nurse at the Civil Hospital, Karachi, who has been in this profession for the past 25 years, also shares other challenges that nurses have to face on a daily basis. “When a member of a political party is admitted [at the hospital], there is usually a lot of chaos and we are also threatened,” she says. “Often, patients also break things, misbehave with nurses, beat them and blame them for their family member’s death.” The wages paid to nurses fail to take these risks into account. A nurse in a private hospital earns between Rs20,000 to Rs22,000 per month whereas those in a public hospital start with a salary of Rs14,000 per month. “Nurses work gruelling shifts. They are exposed to life-threatening infections but still diligently perform their jobs,” says Khan. “Yet, we are not valued accordingly in the market and given fewer incentives and facilities.” Rattani adds that the nursing pay scales are not adjusted in accordance with the rising inflation rate either. According to Cash, the lower pay scale can also be attributed to gender discrimination. “Females always get paid less than males. It’s just the way it works in many places,” he adds. The lack of uniform standards across nursing schools in the country is an additional problem faced by those working in the public sector, which eventually leads to demotivation 24 and brain drain. “A Faculty of Science graduate like myself December 7-13 2014
a Post rN bsN class at aga Khan university hospital, school of Nursing
who opts for a diploma in nursing and then further completes his Masters is given equal credentials as a Bachelors of Science Honours in Nursing,” says Khan. He adds that in other industries, completing 16 years of education directly qualifies you for a grade 17 job in the public sector, while he was hired as a grade 16 officer despite having completed the same years of education. The shortage of nurses, however, is not just a local problem. Infact, the downward trend is affecting medical care worldwide. WHO estimates that the world needs to increase the number of health workers by more than four million to achieve the global health goal in 2015 set by the Millennium Development Goals. Countries like Phillipines and India, which have an abundance of nursing staff, have already capitalised on this trend by exporting medical workers to developed countries like the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. And with the right research, planning and investment, Pakistan has the chance to benefit from similar gains, both at home and overseas. T Nisma Chauhan is a subeditor on The Express Tribune magazine desk. She tweets @ChauhanNisma
a helping hand The nursing industry continues to be mired in challenges, but some brave on despite the hindrances. “Coming from an underprivileged house, it was almost impossible to complete a diploma course which costs about Rs400,000,” says 21-year old Anum Shiraze Gujrati about her dream of pursuing a career in nursing. Things, however, took a positive turn after she was awarded a 50% merit-based scholarship at the AKU SONAM where she enrolled for a nursing diploma. “I didn’t have enough money to pay for her course,” says Shiraze Gujrati, Anum’s father, who has been working at the linen and laundry department at AKU for the past 27 years. All his concerns, however, were relieved when the organisation extended monetary assistance to support his daughter’s dream. Half of Anum’s financial aid loan was exempted and only Rs 1,500 are deducted from her father’s salary every month. Anum does not take her good fortune lightly and plans to channel it positively. “Once I get my license after a year of internship, I have plans of completing BSN and then Post RN BSN,” she says, adding that her education will help her bridge the gap between theory and practice.
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and midwifery. The school enrolled a total of 117 nursing students this year. December 7-13 2014
No one is above the law on the streets of Islamabad BY ZAHID GISHKORI PHOTOS BY MuHAMMED JAVAID DESIGN BY ESSA MALIK
Equality before the law and accountability for violating it are one of the founding principles of justice and a healthy democracy. In Pakistan we usually see neither. However,
over the past year, things have taken a turn in the right direction, at least on the streets of the federal capital. The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has not only raised the bar for maintaining order on the streets but has also penalised those who have violated the traffic laws, regardless of their position, family name or political and economic clout.
1,244
tickets were issued to VIPs by the Islamabad Traffic Police over the last year.
According to official records, the ITP issued 886, 943 tickets between June 2013 and August 2014 — 1,244 of which were issued to politicians, military officials, diplomats, journalists, bureaucrats, judges, lawyers, members of Parliament, chief minister and governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa (K-P) as well as the former president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Nearly 400% more tickets were issued to VIPs in 2013-14 as compared to last year (2012-13) and more than Rs270 million were also collected in fines, which showed a 630% increase compared to last year. According to Senior Superintendent Islamabad Traffic Police Malik Matloob, the 400% increase in tickets was a combination of the increase in the capital’s population and the number of vehicles on the road along with a revamping of the police system in the federal capital.
Equal before the law
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Of all the VIPs booked for violating traffic laws, politicians took the lead. Official documents reveal that the traffic police ticketed 44 of the 104 lawmakers in the Upper House of the Parliament last year — some of whom were booked more than thrice. One hundred and thirty-five members of the December 7-13 2014
Lower House of Parliament were also booked which adds up to nearly 40% of the members of National Assembly having violated traffic laws in one way or the other over the past year. Moreover, 13 federal ministers, three advisors to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and 44 members from the four provincial assemblies, 19 of which were provincial ministers were also booked. Half of those booked were from the K-P Assembly. Majority of those booked were penalised for violating traffic signals while some were ticketed for speed driving. Most of the violators belong to rural backgrounds and had little knowledge of traffic rules. Next in line were military officers. Out of 1,244 tickets, more than 450 were issued to top military officers including major generals, brigadiers, colonels, majors and captains. More than 49 officers from the Pakistan Navy and 50 officers from the Pakistan Air Force were also ticketed for violating traffic signals or over-speeding. The ITP also ticketed nearly 91 diplomats — who generally enjoy diplomatic immunity — 30 of whom were ambassadors or high commissioners. Moreover, 31 top secretaries, 15 additional secretaries, 27 joint secretaries, 18 deputy secretaries, 34 people from the judiciary and 32 journalists were also booked. Ninety-one senior government officers and eight celebrities were also fined. Those who control traffic and law and order in the city were not given a free pass either. Thirty-five police officers were ticketed, something that rarely happens in police forces, according to Shams Gill, the ITP spokesperson. According to the 1965 Motor Vehicle Ordinance, if a person violates a traffic law, a police officer or a government-authorised person may draw a charge against him on the spot stating the offence. The police officer or the authorised person shall draw the charge on five copies of Form-J and immediately deliver three copies of the form to the accused and get acknowledgement. The fourth copy and the seized documents such as the driving license, national identity card and registration documents for the vehicle should be forwarded to the bank branch, the post office or the traffic sector office from where the accused may collect his documents once they pay the fine which can range anywhere between Rs200 to Rs500 depending on the nature of the violation. Senior superintendent Asmatullah Junejo shares that most of the VIPs were very cooperative
Prominent Persons who were booked for traffic violations last year Name Adnan Akmal Shah Zain Bugti Sheraz/Shahzaib Aziz Hamayon Dilawar Manzoor Ahmed Dr Asif Irfan Asif Kirmani Shujat Azeem M. Saqlain Zohaib Durrani Gul Ahmed Shehram Khan Jamil Ahmed Ziaullah Afridi Wazir Baig Squad H.S.Sharif Sardar Yousaf Maryam Nawaz Raja Zulqarnain A.Qadir Baloch Sirajul Haq Parvez Khattak Mehtab Abbasi Akhtar Jamil M.Rafi Zafarul Islam Nadeem Mr Roff Col BP Pany
Designation Cricketer Bugti family member Son of Sartaj Aziz Justice IHC Islamabad Secretary Defence Doctor to the PM Secretary to the PM Advisor to the PM Captain Pak Hockey Team Son of Akram Durrani Minister K-P Minister K-P Deputy Speaker G-B Minister K-P Driver Family Ex PM RP Speaker G-B Son of CM Punjab Federal minister Daughter of PM Ex-President AJK Federal minister Amir Jamat-e-Islami Chief minister K-P Governor K-P Major General Air Vice Marashal Major General Lt General ISI Attache British Embassy USA Embassy Member
Car Number LEA-113 YG-9139 LEC-9121 AA-225 LZX-9351 GT-409 LEJ-1167 SA-91 LED-505 DF-70 YG-9139 NN-1032 GLT-4 AA-1023 GLT-3 LEF-938 BH-444 VT-5,YD-001 MDJA-467 IDK-5096 PA-9980 HV-024 QV-724 RIA-6107 AQG-266 HB-144 IDN-212 PU-541 NC-99
Duty Officer ASI G.Muhammad ASI Haq Nawaz ASI M. Afzal ASI G.Mustafa ASI G.Mustafa ASI G.Mustafa ASI M. Iqbal ASI Ziaullah ASI M.Arshad ASI A. Qayyum ASI Rafaqat Ali ASI Waheed Iqbal ASI G.Murtaza ASI Nabiullah ASI Azam Khan ASI Ishaq Ahmed ASI Wajid Shah SSP Asmat Junejo ASI Liaqat Hussain ASI M.Anwar ASI M. Nawaz ASI Anwar Gujar ASI Wajid Ali ASI M.Ramzan ASI Tariq ASI M Arshad ASI M Boota ASI M. Ramzan ASI M. Ramzan
Date Mar 24,2014 Apr 18,2014 Apr 22,2014 Mar 24,2014 Apr 15,2015 Mar 02,2014 Mar 1,2014 Dec 19,2013 Dec 19,2014 June 10,2014 May 25,2014 Apr 27,2014 Apr 15,2014 Feb 11,2014 Jan 03,2014 Dec 30,2013 Nov 27,2014 Dec 13,2013 Dec 21,2013 Dec 27,2013 Oct 30,2013 Oct 06,2013 July 31,2013 July 19,2013 July 25,2013 Nov 16,2013 Dec 11,2013 July 30,2013 Aug 05, 2013
Token No 1423 74382 71278 39430 73156 1055680 NM 928910 915295 222649 175991 100974 718405 1007199 947336 923407 872147 190990/10 933214 883425 800022 748472 647934 617508 618399 848750 906110 633971 643068
City Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad
When lawmakers violate laws, it discourages those who abide by the rules and also leads to a loss of trust in lawmakers Islamabad resident Asad Chaudhry
SOURCe: ISLAMAbAD TRAFFIC POLICe
and even appreciated the traffic police for their efforts. He recalls Pervez Khattak, chief minister for K-P lauding the efficiency of the traffic police when he was ticketed. Similarly, Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was also cooperative when she was booked. “I am glad that our police is taking the law seriously and treating everyone equally,” Junejo recalls her statement at the time. There were, however, exceptions such as Akram Khan Durrani, federal minister for housing and works in K-P, who was extremely rude and abusive towards the traffic warden. “No one has dared to book me since I became a minister. How dare you do this today,” Junejo recalls Durrani’s statement. A few days later, his son Zuhaib Durrani was also booked for traffic law violations who abused the police officers until his vehicle was shifted to the Aabpara police station using his father’s influence, shares another officer who wishes to remain anonymous. Ayaz Soomro, a member of the
National Assembly also unleashed his wrath on the police officer when he booked him. “It’s unfair that you guys book lawmakers. I never saw this practice in Sindh,” the police officer who booked Soomro recalls his statement. Despite multiple attempts, none of the figures quoted above, except Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, agreed to share their version on the record. Yousaf too shifted the blame for being ticketed onto his driver who was behind the wheel at the time.
Taking the law in your hands According to human rights activist Zafarullah Khan, the massive number of traffic law violations by the VIPs was an alarming sign. He added that selective enforcement of law leads to frustration which results in further violations. When lawmakers violate laws, it discourages those who abide by the rules and also leads to a loss of trust in lawmakers, says Asad Chaudhry, an Islamabad December 7-13 2014
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resident. It also gives public the impression that the lawmakers are above the law. “If the ITP has adopted a uniform approach in implementation of law, it must be appreciated,” says Khan. Senator Sahibzada Saifullah Magsi also called the equal treatment of citizens by the police “a positive trend”. He added that it was their responsibility as lawmakers to set an example for the public but unfortunately what happens on the streets is quite the opposite. In order to ensure that the current discipline on the roads is maintained, Magsi suggests that the fine should be increased further so that citizens are forced to follow the laws. He added that the system of issuing driving licenses should also be improved and traffic rules should be made a regular feature of the public service broadcast by the ITP. Traffic wardens who sometimes misuse their power should also be kept in check, says Aamir Abdullah, an Islamabad resident who appreciates the ITP’s efforts but does not want it to become prey to the usual corruption, inefficiency and nepotism December 7-13 2014
The Islamabad Traffic Police was set up in 2007 by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and was modelled along the lines of the National Highways and Motorways Police. The department has earned a reputation over time for being unbiased, efficient and corruption-free. The pictures above show them in action along the various routes of the capital.
NUMBER OF TICKETS ISSUED TO VIPS BY ISLAMABAD TRAFFIC POLICE FROM JUNE 2013 TO JUNE 2014 530
180 135 34
33
32
34
JUDICIARY
POLICEMEN
JOURNALISTS
VIPs
8 GOVT OFFICERS
VIPs’ DRIVERS
40
CELEBRITIES
44 MPAs
3 PM ADVISORS
SENATORS
MNAs
ARMED FORCES
The improved law and order on the streets of the federal capital can be largely attributed to the efficiency of the ITP. The department was set up by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in 2007 to emulate the success of the National Highways and Motorways Police, which has been functioning effectively since 1997. Over the next few years, the ITP came to be known for being corruption free and unbiased towards citizens. It was also awarded the ISO 9001 certification in 2008 for introducing state-of-theart driver’s license, new laws that prohibited using mobile phone while driving and made it mandatory to wear a seat belt while driving along with clientoriented policing service in Pakistan. The ITP is the only police organisation in South Asia that has its own FM 92.4 radio station which uses radio programmes to educate people about safer driving practices and also guides motorists on the most suitable routes that can be used to reach their destination safely and quickly. The purpose of the radio station is to educate and entertain commuters, shares Aisha Jamil, the programme director at FM 92.4 who has been involved with the initiative since the beginning. “I always encourage new and ambitious people to join hands with us in guiding the public,” she says. Half of the fine money collected from traffic law violators also goes to the ITP, a major chunk of which goes towards imparting safety education while the rest is utilised according to the needs of the department at the time and the situation in the city. The department conducts regular seminars and public campaigns to raise awareness about traffic rules and holds classes for public drivers to inculcate
46 DIPLOMATS
Order on the streets
91 32 P/F MINISTERS
that is associated with most government-run organisations.
SOURCe: ISLAMAbAD TRAFFIC POLICe
the importance of driving safely. Signboards and huge screens with safety messages have also been installed across the main routes in the city. Till date, the ITP has conducted 95 driver courses, educated 951 public service vans and organised 249 sessions with 6,828 taxi drivers at the traffic complex. The traffic police helpline (915) has also registered more than 5,010 complaints and took action on 3,134 complaints during the past year. Additional Inspector General Police (Operation) Dr Sultan Azam says that they are consistently striving to not only maintain the department’s current efficiency level but also improve the standard further. “We hope to build upon the good image that the organisation has achieved under the current leadership,” he adds. According to former Director General National Police bureau Afzal Ali Shigri, since ITP’s performance has been better compared to other cities, the same model — which allows the department to function independently of outside interferences — should be extended to other mega cities as well. T Zahid Gishkori is a 2014 Alfred Friendly/Daniel Pearl fellow and a national correspondent for The Express Tribune. He tweets @ZahidGishkori December 7-13 2014
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seven-year-old Waqar ali studies at a school for the underprivileged children in islamabad set up by ayub Khan in 1986.
Learning without a price tag
Master Ayub offers free education in an open-air school for the underprivileged in Islamabad text and photos By sa’adia Khan desiGn By sanoBeR ahMed
44 December 7-13 2014
A little help by someone can sometimes change the entire course of one’s life. Ayub Khan, or Master Ayub as he is known to his students, learnt this lesson at a young age when he was assisted by a family friend while struggling to provide for his family. He reciprocated the gesture years later by setting up a free school for the underprivileged children of Islamabad, who like him needed a helping hand. Khan left his birth city of Mandi Bahauddin in central Punjab for Islamabad at the age of 19. His father, who was in the army during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, was imprisoned and died shortly after his release and repatriation leaving Khan behind to support his six younger brothers and three sisters. “That’s when I realised that my education and that of my siblings was my responsibility,” he says with a sigh. Khan became a civil servant and joined the fire brigade after volunteering for them first. At the time, he also sold newspapers and made paper bags to supplement his income. “I [would] see children wandering the streets of Islamabad and would think to myself how different their lives could be if they too could acquire an education,” he shares.
Initially it was about trust building — children can be resilient and not so easy to convince Man behind the school for the underprivileged ayub Khan
twelve-year-old Faikah sits on the paved floor of the open-air school.
In 1986, therefore, Khan accumulated a group of approximately 10 children from the nearby katchi abadis to meet him every day in the marketplace for informal classes. But the group was soon ushered away by perturbed shopkeepers. “Initially it was about trust building — children can be resilient and not so easy to convince,” he says, adding that he also had to convince skeptic parents of his objective to provide an education with no financial cost or burden on them. The initiative attracted more students over time and boasted approximately 300 students by 1987. Today, with an enrollment of 75 children, the unconventional school — functional six days a week, from 3:30pm to sunset — is located on a Capital Development Authority (CDA) owned corner plot opposite a katchi abadi in F6. Every morning, children of all ages, ranging from six years to 16 years, carry A-stands, blackboards and half a dozen garden chairs and proceed to their allotted space and place their bags and books on the paved floor. Rows are formed gradually and the students wait to commence the day with the national anthem. Khan’s primary objective is to get children into the mainstream educational system, hence, the subjects taught at the school include English, Mathematics, Urdu, History, Social Studies and Islamiat. It is also part of the school tradition for older students to
Children aged between six years and 16 years attend classes six days a week from 3:30pm to sunset.
FeatURe
If a child learns just a single word from me, I regard that as a huge achievement Teacher Mohammad hafiz
seventeen-year-old shaan is one of the school’s teachers.
Master ayub who works as a chief fire officer at the pakistan secretariat students at the school. return and teach the younger classes in their spare time. One such college-going student from Saidpur, Farhat Abbas, whom Khan had taken under his wing, says, “Had it not been for Master Ayub I would still not be able to read or write, I would just be collecting wood,” says Abbas. Mohammad Hafiz, who was reluctantly sent by his parents, is today studying for a master’s degree and spends his afternoons teaching the students at the school. “If a child learns just a single word from me, I regard that as a huge achievement,” says Hafiz, who also works for the Directorate of Energy and Disaster Management. According to 38-year old Nadeem Sagar who was under Khan’s tutelage 28 years ago and now works for Red Cross, “Sir Ayub is a very honest person. I don’t have words to express what he has done for me,” he says. “Today when I see my children with a better life than I had, I feel proud of my achievements.” Khan’s long-term commitment and resolve to educate children has gained him the adulation and respect of many former students. “This is the legacy of 28 years of commitment to educate the poor,” says Khan. With the generosity of others, including young students of Roots Ivy in Rawalpindi who collected Rs40,000 which helped buy supplies such as blackboards, stationary and books, Khan has created a home for learning for generations of students. There is also a donation box at the entrance where children are encouraged to
by day resumes his teaching duties in the afternoon. he teaches the older
donate even a pencil or rubber. While many have shown willingness to assist, there are some who view Khan’s efforts with suspicion. “Nothing in life is free,” says a nearby resident Nosheen who claims to contribute a small amount of Rs300-Rs400 each month but has no proof of how that money is spent. “The land belongs to the CDA, people make donations because they see a school for the poor. Some items [at the school] are kept and some sold,” adds another resident Manzoor. There was even an attempt to evict Khan and his band of students, but Ahmad Faraz, an acclaimed Urdu poet who passed away in 2008, approached the CDA chairman and insisted that the school should remain open. The plot of land was subsequently cleared, levelled and paved. “I do not need to prove anything further than what is visible through the success of my students over the past three decades,” says Khan, who is determined to continue his mission of educating those with limited means. He divides his time between the students and his job as the chief fire officer at the Pakistan Secretariat which also helps him pay for some of the supplies for the school. “I am starting to feel weary and tired now, but I will not leave these children in my lifetime,” he says.
Sa’adia Khan is a freelance photographer based in Islamabad. She tweets @IM_SaadiaKhan
Currently 75 children from the nearby katchi abadi are enrolled 47 at the school. December 7-13 2014
BOOK
no holds barred Dilip Kumar opens up about almost everything in his autobiography The Substance and the Shadow By ShahaBuDDin Gilani
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Psychologist Dr Masani and Devika Rani, known as the first lady of Indian cinema and great-grandniece of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, introduced Yusuf Khan to Indian cinema. It is this Yusuf who went on to become Dilip Kumar, the unsurpassed superstar of Indian films. Devika Rani gave him his first break as the hero of her production Jawarbhata and also a new name, Dilip Kumar. She was so impressed by his talent that he was offered a monthly salary of Rs1,250 — a big amount in 1944. Considering the star’s exceptionally large fan following, Dilip Kumar’s autobiography The Substance and the Shadow is being widely discussed in both India and Pakistan. It is for the first time that the legendry actor has opened up about his personal life. The book is based on interviews recorded over several years and transcribed by senior journalist Udayatara Nayar. Dilip Kumar, born in Peshawar on December 11, 1922, worked in 62 films from 1944 to 1998. His father, Mohammed Sarwar Khan, who was involved in fruit trade shifted to Bombay in the mid-1930s for better business prospects. Kumar studied at Barnes School in Deolali, Maharashtra and later at Khalsa College in Bombay where Raj Kapoor became his close friend. The two regularly met on Sundays for which Kumar was almost always late. When Kapoor suffered a stroke, Kumar was in Pakistan to inaugurate Fatimid Foundation’s blood bank in Peshawar. After he returned to Bombay and learnt about Kapoor’s condition, he immediately left for Delhi to meet his hospitalised friend. When he finally sat beside his friend, he said, “Lalay, aaj bhi mein nay der kardi…” (Friend, I am late today too). The Substance and the Shadow is, however, not an entirely honest memoir. It remains mostly tight-lipped on Dilip Kumar’s affairs with actors Kamini Kaushal and Madhubala. It also fails to mention Suchitra Sen, who starred alongside him in Devdas, and Meena Kumari, a co-star and a connoisseur of poetry much like himself. The only time Kumar mentions Madhubala is to explain why he could not marry her, explaining that her father wanted to turn the marriage into a business affair. But he remains mum about why she was replaced by Vyjayanthimala in the 1957 movie Naya Daur and the court case that lead to it. Although Madhubala shared the story of her broken heart with film journalist Bunny Reuben while weeping uncontrollably, it remained unpublished due to the censorship rules at the time. “And finally, I will never forget… the dearest one who became a foe,” was the only line that featured from the interview. Dilip Kumar and Madhubala were not on talking terms even while filming romantic scenes for Mughal-e-Azam. He also did not attend the movie’s premiere because his sister Akhtar had married the film’s producer/ director K Asif against his wishes. Dilip Kumar, also known for his philanthropic work, reigned over Indian cinema for more than five decades. He has many prestigious awards to his credit, including India’s third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan, India’s highest award in cinema the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Pakistan’s highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz. He even went on to win the Filmfare award for Best Actor eight times during his career. The book is, therefore, a must-read not just for Dilip Kumar fans but also for patrons of good cinema. T Shahabuddin Gilani is an editorial consultant for The Express Tribune.
December 7-13 2014
Breaking News Some people will go to unusual lengths to make the headlines BY SAMEEN AMER
People in the news business rush around the clock to satisfy the insatiable appetite of the monster that is the 24-hour news cycle. They do this while simultaneously racing against their competitors to break the biggest stories and bring the latest visuals to our television screens. Inured viewers don’t pause to think about where the footage came from, who shot it, or how it was obtained. But perhaps they should. The breakneck pace and demands of the media machinery leave it susceptible to cracks that could be exploited by those with shaky morals, which is what happens in Nightcrawler, a crime thriller that shows what can transpire when actions are driven by a union of opportunism and depravity. The story revolves around Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), an unemployed petty thief who ekes out a living by selling stolen scrap metal. By chance, he encounters a camera crew that is out chasing late night news stories so that they can sell the gory footage to local news channels. If there is carnage, the cameramen descend like vultures. Enthralled and inspired, Louis obtains a camcorder and police radio scanner and joins the hunt for tragedies to exploit, selling his clips to Nina (Rene Russo), a producer working the graveyard shift at a flailing network. He subsequently hires homeless drifter Rick (Riz Ahmed) as an ‘intern’, as his sociopathic
tendencies start to take over. Nightcrawler presents a fascinating character study of a disturbed person who is willing to profiteer off the misery of others, and if need be, orchestrate that misery himself. The film also satirises the television news business, taking a swipe at the media’s “if it bleeds, it leads” mentality by giving us a very extreme version of events and showing us how awry things can go if this morbid tendency is not kept in check. In his directorial debut, screenwriter Dan Gilroy has proved himself a master of creating tension, gradually increasing the intensity of the proceedings as the film goes on till it reaches its climactic clash. He has also equipped his characters with distinct, dark personalities, and chosen very suitable actors to fill each role. Jake Gyllenhaal is terrifyingly impressive in the unsettling part for which he reportedly lost over 20 pounds, and he is perfectly paired with Russo and Ahmed as his partners in crime. Overall Nightcrawler makes for an intriguing albeit uncomfortable watch as it takes the viewer on a dark journey into the life of a disturbed soul ambitiously following his newfound passion unhindered by things like morals and ethics. Louis isn’t given a detailed backstory, a choice that will please some viewers while leaving others wondering how he became who he is and why he thinks sounding like a cross between a business brochure and a self-help pamphlet is a good thing. Ultimately, Nightcrawler’s fascinating look at an extremely dislikable yet riveting protagonist and the workings of the murky universe he ventures into may not be pleasant viewing, but the movie is very likely to make an impression on viewers and give them something to think about. Rating: Sameen Amer is a Lahore-based freelance writer and critic. She tweets @Sameen
More Jake Gyllenhaal movies
1
Donnie Darko (2001):
The cult hit tells the story of a troubled teenager who is plagued by doomsday visions featuring a figure in a rabbit costume, as a jet engine crashes into his house.
54 DECEMBER 7-13 2014
2
Zodiac (2007):
A political cartoonist joins the manhunt for a notorious serial killer and becomes obsessed with tracking him down in this film directed by David Fincher.
3
Prisoners (2013):
A detective tries to solve a kidnapping case, while the father of the missing girl takes matters into his own hands in Prisoners.
BOOK
Let truth be told Sadruddin Hashwani rises to the challenge of opening up his personal life to the public eye By Kamal Siddiqi
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The first time I met Sadruddin Hashwani was at a dinner hosted by Dr Maleeha Lodhi to bid us farewell from Islamabad. I was moving from my position as correspondent of the Asia Times, a Bangkok-based English newspaper in Islamabad to a correspondent for Dow Jones in Karachi. Hashwani sahab talked little during the dinner but we struck a chord and soon after I would visit him to glean tips and get an idea of how his business was doing. My logic was simple. His business, like many others, was an indicator of how the economy was doing. He did share some tips and information and the one thing I found most interesting was that in most of our conversations he was usually very optimistic. I profiled him for Dow Jones but it didn’t reveal any hidden gems. That is why his book Truth Always Prevails, published this year and already in the middle of controversy (which incidentally only helps sales), comes as a surprise. It is an honest account of his life and work — and the incidents and experiences he had as the country’s most prominent hotelier. In some ways he has thrown caution to the wind. There are many parts that are controversial, like where he has insinuated who was behind the Marriott hotel bombing of 2008. This is very unlike the Sadruddin Hashwani I know. But then, maybe there comes a time in the life of a person when he decides to tell it all — maybe he feels that he owes this to history. And in that sense, I salute the courage that Mr Hashwani has shown in retelling some of the more interesting incidents he encountered. In this, I am also somewhat let down as he gave an account of two people I had held in high esteem — former Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo and the first chairman of National December 7-13 2014
Accountability Bureau, General Amjad. My heroes have fallen. But then I am a journalist and Hashwani is a businessman. The expectations that people had from him were different. At the same time, Hashwani has the reputation of being a fair person — something that is the exception in present-day Pakistan. In his book he also gives some answers. Like how he ended up buying the Intercontinental chain. I recall reading some articles in a respected monthly at the time which alleged foul play. Now the book tells me that one of those bidding was the owner of the media group that owned that magazine. And yet, for me, the best parts of the book are not the controversies. It is about Sadruddin Hashwani’s upbringing and his relationship with his parents, the lessons his mother taught him and the people he met in his youth as he struggled to become a businessman. I enjoyed reading about his travels to Balochistan by the Bolan Mail and his work on the docks of Karachi. But also the lessons he learnt as a businessman especially at a time when there were many ready to outwit him. Having said that, the most encouraging part of the book is this man’s vision for Pakistan. Unlike others, he has invested in the country and continues to put money in its future. His chapter on how he plans to expand his empire leaves me impressed. At the same time, by telling it all, he has put himself in the line of fire. Unless, of course, he too wants to come into the arena and this autobiography is a sort of launching pad for him. Either way, the book is indeed a compelling read. T Kamal Siddiqi is the editor of The Express Tribune. He tweets @Tribunian
positive
PAKISTANI
ali Jilani who suffers from cerebral palsy became a motivational speaker after his teacher guided him in the right direction. PHoTo CoUrTeSy: NIDA JAMAL
T
hose who knew the shy Ali Jilani during his early school days could have never imagined that the 19-year-old would transform into the vivacious powerhouse he is today. Suffering from cerebral palsy — a neurological disorder which affects motor functions in the upper and lower limbs — Ali’s condition had once not only hampered his mobility but also his approach towards life. Today, he may not have regained complete movement in his feet but has certainly changed his attitude and is motivating others to do the same. Despite undergoing a series of physiotherapy sessions and a surgery to elongate the leg muscles, Ali was not able to stand upright for even five minutes without experiencing excruciating pain until the age of 12. “I was told it was a daycare surgery,” says Ali, who did not expect to wake up in excruciating pain. “I didn’t let anyone touch me, I was screaming so loud that it was disturbing every patient in that wing and it made my physiotherapist’s job really tough,” he adds. Five days after the surgery, Ali was tied to a vertically upright table for days during physiotherapy sessions, after which he took his first three steps. “I felt relieved but frustrated as I knew I’d never be able to walk normally again,” he says, explaining that it was the first time he felt pessimistic. Ali, who was always physically restricted due to his condition, envied the students who could participate in sports. “I would see children take part in athletics, plays and be up on stage and my heart would sink because I had come to believe that I was inferior to them,” shares Jilani. Noticing how distant he had become, one of his teachers, Ghazala Amin, started counselling him and encouraged him to express his emotions. In hopes to restore his confidence, she introduced 58 him to the works of Nick Vijicic, author of No Arms No Legs No December 7-13 2014
A step in the right direction
Ali Jilani has overcome his disability with a positive attitude and is helping others do the same
By ZainaB Sadia Saeed deSiGn By eSSa MaLiK
Worries, and Bethany Hamilton, the inspiration behind the movie Soul Surfer. Gradually Ali showed signs of improvement with his initial reaction being, “I thought people looked at me [with pity], and [that] would break me so I [decided] to prove to everyone and myself that I can do everything they can. [In fact] I can do it better.” The realistion that his physical disability had no link with what he could achieve became his strongest asset. He started participating in all school events, including debates and plays, and was even selected to be part of the student council. In February 2012, when he was asked to lead the marchpast on the school’s annual sports day, he obliged without hesitation. Although his teachers and friends had expressed concern, Ali was determined to overcome the challenge. He practiced for weeks and stunned the audience on the final day with his courage as he marched holding the house flag in one hand and a walking stick in another. When the pain became unbearable, he handed the house flag to one of the students to make sure that the flag was held high. Based on his performance, a year later Jilani was awarded the title ‘Leadership Mentor’ to inspire other students and conduct motivational workshops. Currently pursuing his dream to become a doctor at the Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, he is also an annual speaker at the Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation where he aims to raise awareness about the special needs of people. “Ali’s only dream is still to be able to walk on his own one day,” shares his friend Sameer Ahmed Khan. But in his quest to do so, he has already inspired several others to get back on their feet. Zainab Sadia Saeed is a student and an aspiring journalist. She tweets @zainabssaeed