Imran Khan bowls!

The day of change, the day of justice, no one can deny, yesterday, October 30, 2011, was the day to be recorded in history! The original champion, Imran Khan, chairman and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), held a jalsa (rally) yesterday along with his supporters in a major city of Pakistan, that is, Lahore. After a long time, people came running to attend a jalsa, from small villages to the residents of Lahore, everyone was pumped! Why? People need change! All this time, everyone can see that we need to revolutionize but they did not have a platform! May be now they do! Time will tell!

The crowd had more then 50, 000 patriotic Pakistanis, women as well! By some estimates there were over 100,000 people and one media even exaggerated to 500,000 though that could be called a very ‘wide’ ball? As reported, Imran Khan started his speech with reciting Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim! Khan began with the name of Allah, praising Him and His blessings! That seems to be an attempt to get the right wing engaged to his message a la Jamat-e-Islami and JUI vote bank. Khan said “Intention and striving is kept in our hand by Allah while success he will give Himself!”

I will mention here some of the messages and strategies he laid out as manifesto for his movement for change. Khan said, “When people of our country get up for change, no one can compete with them!” He addressed the Lahoris as well as the young generation with a very positive attitude, talking about practical targets which were reachable! Khan explained that problems related to electricity, will be a thing of the past, public will be free from such issues! Khan talked about corruption, he will end the interest system in villages and cities, taxes will be collected for the betterment of the country!

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Don’t get me wrong, I’m generally not that type who boasts but when I thought about it, what is the one thing which I can show off about? It is my very own mother country PAKISTAN. It’s the country where I was born, brought up and now living my life. I have explored most of its famous trademark places, be it Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore, Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi, Faisal Mosque in Islamabad or Lake Saiful Muluk in Kaghan. All these places are absolutely breathtaking. When you visit these areas, you will know you are in the presence of true splendor. All of these are made with spot on brilliance.

My favorite hobby whenever I visited the northern areas was horse-riding; I got to do a lot of it when I visited Nathia Gali and Murree. The horses are so beautiful, strong and free-spirited. I used to enjoy being in their presence when I was a little girl. It’s been my dream since forever to live in those areas in which where ever I look, the surroundings leave me in awe.

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Most westerner s image of Pakistan is of a dusty desert country; full of rough, bearded men and devoid of anything female, but Pakistan is a diverse, complex nation full of tourist attractions. This article lists the top 10 places a western traveler can t miss in Pakistan.

10. Makran Coast

This sparsely inhabited coast has some of the most beautiful virgin beaches in the world. Although currently organizing a trip might be a huge logistical challenge but the wild pristine beauty makes it all worthwhile. The main coastal town Gwadar, is being developed as a major port, and soon, the area will be secure and developed enough to become a true surfing/scuba diving heaven.
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By Moazzam Husain

Shalimar Gardens

As two lovely looking girls riding bicycles overtook us, I saw one of them turn to us, then say something to the other. They both giggled as they rode away. Having travelled more than my fair share, the novelty of visiting exciting places had diminished with each successive destination — until I arrived here.

I had never envisioned a place like this. Last week I visited Lahore. On the Mall road people courteously gave way to each other and smiled frequently. I saw nobody talk on a mobile phone nor heard any ring tones. There were bookshops and newspaper stalls but no hawkers nor any beggars. People waited patiently in lines at the theatres. There were far fewer people too and elegantly dressed, as if a dress code went into force in the evenings. There were many neatly managed wide open spaces with art deco. This was a fashionable and cosmopolitan city that had acquired the title of ‘the Paris of India’. Last week I visited Lahore, as it was on the eve of the breakout of the Second World War.
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Eid Ul Azha, or the ‘festival of sacrifice’, an important festival in the Islamic Calender that marks the end of the Annual Pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, known among the muslims as the “Hajj”.

During this three-day festival, muslims are mandated to slaughter designated animals such as sheep, goat, cows, and camels – depending on the availability and cultural norms of the region. All other animals’ sacrifice is forbidden during this festival.

This ‘sacrifice’ is carried out in commemoration of Prophet Ebrahim’s (Abraham) (PBUH) readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God. But just as he was about to run the knife over his son’s throat, the son was promptly replaced by a sheep, and thus, this is how, or rather, why Muslims carry out this ritual.

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