How can we youth promote peace, "A response to the terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University Charsadda Pakistan".

How can we youth promote peace A response to the terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University Charsadda Pakistan

On a foggy morning, four fanatic attackers stormed Bacha Khan University in Pakistan taking everyone by surprise and went on a killing spree once again resurrecting the horrors of Peshawar School attack, Kenya’s Garissa University attack and Umpqua Community College shooting in Oregon. A Pashto (language of the Pashtuns) poetry function was being held on the day on the theme of peace and the services of Pashtun leader Bacha Khan for education and his non-violent struggle for human rights. Attackers chose the institution because it is named after the legendary Pashtun leader Ghaffar Khan aka ‘Bacha’ Khan meaning ‘King Khan’ (Khan is a title used for respect and prestige among Pashtuns).This attack was a clear message against education and non-violent means of struggle; one practiced by Khudai Khidmatgars (Servants of God), the volunteers of the movement started by Bacha Khan in 1929 from his village Charsadda in North West Frontier Province of British India east of Durand Line carved across Pashtunistan region (Land of Pashtuns) by British ‘Raj'.

In the aftermath of the attack, scary rumors of mass beheadings of girls and media cover up of actual higher death toll started to circulate. There were also rumors spread by a few far right conservative Islamists that an orgy or a drunken music party was held at the campus on the night before the attack. It seems that there has been a deliberate attempt by the backers of these so called savages to spread terror. The masterminds of the attack had also planned and devised conspiracy theories to spread misinformation and to divert attention from the resilience shown by students and civil society to condemn and vow to continue their education defying the terrorist threats.

It is very important to use this tragedy into an opportunity. This is an opportunity for us to pool the anger of the people into something positive; peace-building actions to show a globally united front especially by students and youth. We need to reach out to students around the globe to condemn all forms of terrorism that lead to civilian deaths; hiring mercenaries to overthrow a regime or to defend a regime, facilitating foreign covert operations to weaken an enemy state, terrorism by states or by non state actors, religiously or racially motivated terrorist acts and supporting terrorism by states or other organizations to gain resources. People around the world need to realize that our world is a global village. Acts of ‘organized’ terrorism are not isolated acts of violence in a particular country but have causes and consequences linked to other countries of the world. The promised age of technological advancement has also brought with itself an age of ‘global terrorism’. It doesn't matter where these attacks against education happen, it is our loss collectively.

The essence of education is the same throughout the world; to transmit accumulated knowledge and search for more. Students need to play a more responsible and important role in international peace-building. Students and youth need to organize internationally and be united in celebrating diversity. As students are not directly part of any stake holders in the adult lust for power, struggle for resources, weapons trade and spreading terror, we the youth certainly need to organize ourselves to take coordinated actions in promoting peace globally. Exchange visits of youth activists to understand each others’ culture in equally important. Research scholarships and awards on the themes of peace and student activism will also provide us some more suggestions for future action.

The terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University seems to be an attack on the message and legacy of Bacha Khan and the morale of Pashtun nation residing in the terror-hit South West Afghanistan and North West Pakistan. Bacha Khan (1890-1988) and the struggle of his un-armed comrades greatly contributed in raising awareness among the independent Pashtun tribes about modern democratic ideals, civil rights and the spirit of sacrifice for freedom. For his unflinching struggle against un-democratic regimes, Bacha Khan was labeled ‘red shirt’ (communist) by British ‘Raj’, ‘traitor’ by many Pakistani regimes, ‘Pride of Afghan’ by Pashtuns and ‘Frontier Gandhi’ by Indians.

There needs to be a paradigm shift in US policy on Afghanistan by focusing on strengthening genuine civil administration backed by cultural conventions of the country. The youth and students of India and Pakistan should put pressure on their governments to stop their proxy war through terrorist mercenaries. We the youth of both the South Asian countries need to have dialogues and meetings on this issue. Of primal importance is to create an international youth alliance for peace. The aim of education is to help students and youth understand the world and the interdependence in it; develop thinking, questioning and answering ability, and most importantly the respect for diversity.

Bacha Khan was like the Pashtun prophet of education and targeting Bacha Khan University means terrorists and some powers do not want Pashtun nation to be educated. Peaceful environment and education challenges students to question authority, develop curiosity and self motivation to change the world. We need to focus on the similarities between peoples of all nations, and celebrate the differences. The most important step in fighting back terrorists is acceptance of diversity. To remove all forms of hatred, prejudice, bias and negatively stereo-typing each other. Youth and students are the future and we can create a world where there is solidarity among students and they stand united for peace. We students have a central and most pivotal role to play to fight off attacks on academia and create the peaceful future so vital for human progress and write our own future - No more attacks on education!

By Muhammad Junaid Mandoori (Social Activist and Social Work student at University of Peshawar) and Basit Khan (Sociologist and Research Scholar at Bacha Khan University Charsadda)

fdf_143@yahoo.com

Healthy Mobility Challenge under the Umbrella of Youth 4 Public Transport(Y4PT)

HealthyMobility Challenge

Human body is designed for walking, running, jumping and climbing across the planet Earth. However, human beings today are drifting away from their nature by inventing ways to make distances faster. This has led to a great increase in obesity and obesity-related diseases. Today, more people are killed due to obesity than poverty. Consumerism and style fashioned by media calls for humans to go for comfort ignoring physical exercise so vital for human health. I am a Social Work student in Peshawar University and I used to take the bike from hostel to campus, a car around my city Mardan and a private vehicle for tours. But after being motivated by Youth 4 Public Transport (Y4PT) of changing my life style for at least a month, I decided to take matters into my own hand or my feet to be more precise. I convinced my friends to do so too. The first one to be converted was my brother Zeeshan and cousin Ejaz, then my mentor Basit and my other friends like Haseeb, Ajmal and Younas and ramiz. I would go on foot to campus every morning and would join Basit on a walk to the park where all our friends would gather. I used public transport for moving around the country instead of my car. The benefits of these changes are quite clear to me now.
I feel fit and healthy. My self-confidence has increased and I feel more able to tackle with the demands of life on me. I also feel more attractive and macho. Time spent walking for me means time taken off from the stresses of my daily life. I feel less anxious and more happy. In the morning when I was walking, it stretched my mind and widened my soul. Walking felt like It is a dynamic mind & body process. Walking across gardens creates a sense of rhythm and a music of your self with the nature. As I listen to my own silent rhythm, the pulse of life, my own heartbeat, my foot steps – I felt like I have become one with my nature, a complete man - fit in Mind, Body and Soul. In the morning walking to the campus energized me, awakens me and stills my mind to fully relax. With the change of mind my moods change and I experience a physical and a spiritual upliftment to become positive. As I would relax in my class, my perception changed and I reached from the everyday conscious mind to your highest level of mind - the intuitive mind and it paid off with great participation in life. My subconscious uplifts through the mental stress, releasing latent vitality and creativity, transcending traditional linear thinking and helping you find a creative solution. The earliest hours in the morning gave me fresh oxygen and quality time to spend with the greenery and beauty around me in Peshawar university. I felt like a writer or poet and start thinking like a philosopher instead of thinking of driving. Driving is a stressful thing to do especially in Pakistan where traffic rules are often not observed. You feel safer in walking and you feel comfort as health is wealth. Using public transport like buses give you a chance to mix and blend in the society and have a taste of culture. You see many people and you forget about your trouble. It helps your social skills and you often come across old friends and also make new ones. So simply, in this month, I felt my heart is strengthened, I did not get sick, Improved my mood and self-esteem. The activated hormones also made me feel more attractive, intelligent and confident.

Muhammad Junaid Mandoori
Fdf_143@yahoo.com

Time to KILL "I Don't care Attitude" by Muhammad Junaid Mandoori

Time to KILL "I Don't care Attitude" In this era many women are still living their life in violence and harassment. Our society has cut their wings so that they cannot fly and enjoy their freedom. They have made them so weak that they even cannot take a stand and speak for themselves. They are still oppressed by men. Brutal beating, Verbal assault, Physical tortures, Mental tortures, murdering them has become a part of our society these days. Killing them in the name of honor, dowry, anger, etc. considered to be normal in our society and has been part of it too. There are many women who have been killed by their own family members. Acid attack, domestic violence, honor killing, etc. is the example of violence that our society does every day. There are many INGOs and NGOs working for this kind of issues, but still there is a problem of violence against women. If we look at the record of domestic violence, dowry, Rape, Acid attack, etc., then hardly we will get the filed cases from the victim side because they protect their family who has tortured them in a cruel way as they feel fear to speak up against them.and then those families threaten them and make them not to mention about the things that is going on in their houses and everyday life. Before that in Pakistan we regard children as a blessing of Allah and Gift from Allah, but there are some people, which may be among us, doesn't think it in that way. Especially in regard of a Girl Child. Some of the example of it are not providing girl Equal rights to the girl child in comparison to the boy child. Above all of it abusing the girl child, beating her to the death disrespecting and insulting women is very common thing in some of our societies and  Killing them in a name of honor is the best example of it. People are becoming criminal day by day. Most of them have forgotten the meaning of being a human.
Violence against women is a serious issue and still a hidden problem. We don't know when this problem is going to end. How this is going to end? Who is responsible for this? Is that Government who is not being able to bring strong law for the criminals and not being able to give justice for victims, or worst mentality of the male, or superstitious belief of our society. Nobody has a proper answer. People are being criminal day by day. In my personal opinion, I believe that we together need to act for this. We need to stand for this ongoing brutal and harsh behavior towards women and female gender. It has already been a now or never situation and we together need to act for this insanity that our society does towards our women. Let's Act! Small steps can bring a radical change in the society or at least in the lives of a few number of people. I am positive about the beautiful future where there will be done no cruelty against women and girls. It's time to kill I don't/Who cares attitude.

Muhammad Junaid Mandoori
fdf_143@yahoo.com

Karachi Trip (28-06-2013 to 02-07-2013)

Dear all i just want to share about my karachi trip with all of you..!
It was friday and i was having paper of BA 4th year Economics , the paper was quite easy for me because i have never ever touch economics in my life before, i just ask from the invigilator about the questions given in the paper and he explain it for me then i start writing from my self and finish my paper very rapidly, the examiner appreciated me for finishing the paper in first , although he dosent know what i have written in the paper, after all i left the hall and went to an event in Sheikh maltoon town Mardan which was organized by Actionaid Pakistan and PRDP Mardan, i just stay there for 30 mints nd then left for my home.
I reached to my house my mother was waiting for me and she already packed my laguage in a bag. i take my meal and then take some rest for a while, then i take a shower and left for Islamabad airport through Hi-Ace from Mardan New ada.
i reached to airport on time, my flight was on 7:00 PM, i take some rest in airport launch and after couple of mints they call the passenger to be seated in the aeroplane.

The Journey was very comfortable and reached to karachi airport very safely one of my friend brother was waiting for me at airport to Receive me , he dropped me to the Beach Luxury Hotel because my stay was there at the hotel.
i meet my other fellows who were already there and we start gossip with each ither, i take some rest and then it was time for the dinner. The dinner was very delicious and the place where the dinner was serve were very fantastic, it was between the sea and live music was also arranged there..

After having dinner we decided to take rest because tomorrow morning cars will come to the hotel to take us to the Marriott Hotel for the event . So we all get dispersed and say goodnight to each other.

At the morning We were served by Breakfast and then we were taken to Marriott hotel for the event of 2nd General Conference of National Peasant Collation of Pakistan (NPCP). First Session was the Registration of  the participant and then they start the event according to the agenda. Senator Taj Haider was the Chief guest, he welcome all the people who were participating in the conference. The 2nd session was the election of NPCP, this session was very much interesting. All the Participant caste their vote to their respective candidates . Candidate from Baluchistan was selected as the President of NPCP.

1st day became finished and all the participant went back to their respective hotels and rooms.The first day in karachi was awesum and it goes very well, but at night i start vomiting because of area change and then i take some pills and ORS to control my vomiting, and By grace of Allah Almighty i control it and i was then totally recovered.

2nd day starts very well we went to the Event again and the organizer give us the Local Sindhi Ajrak. it was very nice to see every one in Sindhi ajrak. The 2nd day was for the Women farmer and the stage was also in the control of women , they spoke very well for the rights of women farmers and they show commitment to the people that they well fight for the rights of small women farmers.2nd day was finished and we were free from the organizer but we still want to stay in karachi to viist its historical palaces, therefor we decided to stay for 2 more nights.

we went to Calipton, Tomb of Quid-e-Azam, Tomb of Ghazi Abdullah shah, Karachi Saddar, Sohrab Gkth, Banaras, Defence and mand other places.

Then we book or fligh for Peshawar and came back to Peshawar safely.

I am very much Thanful to SCOPE for giving me this Opportunity.

Best Regards

Muhammad Junaid 
Youth Activist



 

  

Early Girl Child Marriage

Early Girl Child Marriage is big issue now a days in our society, and we need amendment in it..!

Today we were having a session with the vigilant group of Different U/C of District Mardan. 

According to the law of Pakistan if boy is 18 and girl is of 16 years so they are allow to marry legally. 

But the Question arises here is about the problem related to the girl age of 16 that we can't prove the age of a girl that during marriage her age is 16 are less then it. Different problems are related to early girl child marriage i,e health, education, childhood of the girl etc.

A participant during the session ask a very important question that a girl is allowed to vote when she is of 18 years but y her age will be 16 for marriage, is casting a vote is difficult task are controlling the home.

If some is found for violating the law of early girl child marriage so he will be punished only 1000 PKR and 1 month prison or both.