trend
Fly away (from) home
With the belief that there are not enough job opportunities and security in one's own homeland, prospective grooms now willingly overlook a woman's physical appearance before tying the knot in the hope of a better life abroad. Kolachi takes a look at changing marriage trends
By Urooba Rasool
Few things used to snap up quicker in the marriage market than the tall, slim, fair, demure, hour-glass shaped maiden. This sought-after creature's case for finding a husband was aided if she were skilled in the culinary arts. In some cases, it also helped if she was well-educated, in other cases not. 

Sadak Chaap
Q. How much time do you spend on the computer in a day?
By Sadia Hanif
Owais Asif, 18, student: "I spend about six hours daily on my computer, playing games such as Counter Strike, the Sims, Fifa 2008 and Cricket 2008. On the internet, most of my time is spent on websites like Facebook and Orkut."

legendary
Remembering Ibne Insha
Ibne Insha significantly contributed to the world of Urdu literature. On January 11, his 31st death anniversary, a memorial meeting was organised
By Zabe Azkar Hussain
Even 31 years after his death, Sher Muhammad Khan – popularly known by his pen-name Ibn-Insha – continues to live in the hearts of many. This was evident at the memorial meeting organised by the Literary Committee Muhammad Ali Jinnah University (LCMAJU) to mark Insha's death anniversary on January 11.

The new-media culture, popularly known as 'gaming', has paved the way for a fresh form of entertainment for young Karachiites. Rafay Mahmood explores the reason behind the growing addiction

"We are doing as much as we can, but there is simply no investment from the government." – Kamran Malik, CEO Fariya Gaming Networks

Story: Back in 1999, Kamran Malik decided to open up an internet café without having the faintest idea how swiftly it would give birth to a full-fledged online gaming zone.

By 2001, however, he identified the new trend in cyber world, and transformed Fariya Internet Café to Fariya (Gaming) Networks, providing Local Area Network (LAN) connections. "I now have more than 8,000 LAN connections all over Karachi," he reveals.

It did not take long for every household on the street to have access to the internet 24/7 after the advent of LAN. Such technological advancements have made it easier for students to access various resources for their work, but more than anything, they have paved the way for better entertainment. 

"The first time I played online was in 2001," says Osama Mahmood, alias Butcher (as he is known among the people he plays with). Mahmood is now considered to be a professional online gamer, and can still remember how exhilarating it felt for the first time. "Being able to play a game again and again at no cost (aside from an internet connection) was the most exciting experience I ever had."

Malik, who started it all, explains that since 2001, the number of LAN users and the amount of people involved in gaming have drastically increased.

"More than 50 percent of the connections are used for online gaming," he says, adding that Counter Strike is the most popular, with the highest number of players in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, followed by Defence, Clifton and North Nazimabad. In Malik's opinion, the best team is 'Incredibles' from Defence. He firmly believes that online gaming in Pakistan is now at a level where it can compete internationally. The second most popular game is Warcraft-Dota. "The players in Karachi spend six to 10 hours on online games every day, and are no less talented than any international team in the world."

Those well-versed in the world of online games say that the highest ranked teams in the world come from Sweden, Germany, and America, and the only reason their performance is so superior is that they have proper coaching and are sponsored individually by various IT companies.

"Players in Pakistan don't get any of that," complains Faizan, a frequent gaming zone visitor. "Here, there is only investment in the private sector, but internationally, all teams are sponsored by the government or by big companies like Intel or Nvidea."

Others, however, view the gaming industry in Karachi with more enthusiasm. Mahmood, for example, feels that gaming zones such as Playdium and Fariya are doing as much as they can to give international exposure to players and support them as possible. In addition, the Karachi Gaming League (KGL) has been organising tournaments for a year. More than that, Malik pointed out that for the past few years, a Pakistani Counter Strike team has been participating in the World Cyber Games (WCG) – also held in Karachi in July 2007 at the Expo Center. The team has been performing well considering the family pressures they face and the inadequate equipment (gaming gear) at their disposal. "They won three or four pool matches, which is not a bad performance at all," he said. 

Still, Malik acknowledges that it is not an entirely rosy picture. The gaming industry in Karachi is still in its early stages and is already fraught with "politics".

"Whenever the teams are sent to the WCG, gaming zones sponsoring the event favourite certain players, who are not necessarily those who perform well," he says. "Apart from that, the KGL had become a regular feature, but I don't think we'll be able to organise another tournament this year. We are doing as much as we can, but there is simply no investment from the government, even though we have requested them for it a number of times."

Malik is especially annoyed because, in his words, online gaming is unlike a sport such as cricket, and does not require specialised pitches or huge grounds. All it needs is minor support, which Malik regrets none of the players receive.

Online gaming has been known to have long-term medical side effects, but Malik does not feel he is shunning his social responsibility by providing an outlet for online 'gamers'.

"Anything in excess is bad," he says. "So is gaming. There is no reason you can't be a good player and a good student at the same time. It depends on the individual and his family." Besides, Malik says he already fulfills his responsibility to society by banning smoking and abusive language within the realm of his gaming zones.

"But," he adds, "If someone wants to pay me Rs400 for 10 hours of game time, as a businessman I will not ask any questions. That is a parent's job, not a stakeholder's."

"We are doing as much as we can, but there is simply no investment from the government."

-- Kamran Malik, CEO Fariya Gaming Networks

With the increasing amount of time youngsters spend in front of the computer screen, concerns of doctors and parents have also grown

With all the time and money spent on it, the excitement of online gaming also brings with it a host of medical and social problems, all of which have begin to exhibit themselves in the youths involved.

Dr Majid Ali Abidi, head of psychiatry department Hamdard Medical University, outlined three types of addictions: chemical, which involves drug abuse, substance, which covers addiction to glues, and non-chemical non-substance, involving addiction to computer games and television. "There are approximately six million drug addicts in Pakistan, but the amount of suffering from non-chemical non-substance addiction is uncountable," he says.

The only countable aspect of this type of addiction is that it is on the rise. According to Dr Abidi, the trend ties in with the relatively low prices of computers and technological advancements that have led to the availability of a high end computer with Local Area Network in every house on the street.  

"People in Pakistan think that working on a computer is a sign of education and literacy, but they are unaware that this machine can be very harmful if not used properly," he stresses.

There are several ways excessive computer use can cause harm. Dr M. Saeed Sheikhani, assistant professor and consultant physician at Taj Medical Complex, believes that sitting in gaming zones for hours and eating in front of the computer screen from a chair is the root cause of fatal diseases like hypertension and diabetes, among others.

"The first thing to be affected by computer games is your eyesight," he says. "It is common in every household for a child or two to suffer from weak eyesight. Parents consider it normal, but it is not." According to Dr Sheikhani, children's eyesight begins to weaken with overexposure to a computer screen. Television is harmful, too, but it has less of an impact as it is watched from a distance. 

The next harmful effect Dr Sheikhani cites is abnormal weight gain. "Sitting at a computer for more than two or three hours a day causes rapid weight gain, which in turn leads to juvenile diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, and in general a very unhealthy lifestyle." 

Dr Sheikhani feels that the solution to such a mass of problems lies with parents.  "Parents should plan their daily routines in such a way that each child should spend at least an hour or more in outdoor physical activities, which is the primary requirement of physical and mental growth."

Dr Abidi, meanwhile, adds that with such an avalanche of realistically animated computer games have restricted the lives of teenager to sitting opposite a computer. But players defend this trend by saying that gaming is an inherently social activity. While the players may look isolated on their computers, they are actually interacting with others through their computer, says a gamer.

But that is not all that concerns Dr Abidi. He also criticizes the violent content in games. "There are games where there are terrorists on one side and the counter-terrorists on the other, with both teams aiming to kill the other to win the game," he says. "The teenage mind tries to adopt the same environment in real life. To do so, teenagers form small gangs in colleges and schools and fight with everyone else on campus."

However, people have started to become aware of how much excessive computer use has started taking toll on their bodies and personality. Dr Abidi is not the least bit pleased to note that with time, students severely addicted to online gaming are being brought to OPDs (Out Patient Department) at hospitals.  

"Just a few days ago, I examined an 18-year-old who had run away from home after taking a lot of money from different people supposedly to invest in an online game. His parents brought him to me for treatment when they found him."  

Dr Abidi says there is treatment for every type of addiction, but stresses that treatment is more effective when done at an early stage. "The treatment for addiction to games is the same as it is for other drug addictions," he begins. "All treatment is in three stages: motivation, detoxification, and rehabilitation. The treatment for this type of addiction is more psychological than medical. We just try to tell the patient that the computer is a very good device, but there are other ways it can be used."

Dr Abidi is convinced that excessive online gaming is the reason there is so much insecurity and anti-social behaviour amongst the youth of Karachi, and he blames their parents.   

"There is a communication gap between the parent and the child, which leads to further problems," he says. The mass media should spread awareness about this silent killer before the future of this country becomes bleak."  -- RM

"I'm addicted to Counter Strike," declares Faizan. The 22-year-old is in the fifth semester of a Bachelor's degree in computer science, but his true claim to fame is his consummate skill as a Counter Strike player. He is known as 'Predator' when he is gaming online, and most of his friends don't know him as anything else.

"Even if someone calls for me at home, they ask for Predator, not Faizan," he says. "Gaming is my passion." Faizan has been involved in online gaming since he was 17, and says that since then, he has gone from being an amateur to a professional. "Different gaming zones and clans want me to play for their teams," he boasts.

When Faizan first ventured into the world of online gaming all those years ago, it was at home on his LAN. He has an avid interest in many of the games on offer, but his heart belongs to Counter Strike. So far, he has represented Sir Syed University in Softech 2008, the national champions in online gaming.  

"I'm addicted to Counter Strike because it involves team effort and the multiplayer experience," he begins. It doesn't take long, however, before the real reason for this addiction emerges. "I get to kill many people," he continues in a rush. "I can easily take out any aggression and frustration on the game, rather than fighting on the street." 

On average, Faizan spends five hours a day playing Counter Strike with his team 'Vitality'. "Those five hours are my favourite time of day. In my clan, I am the team leader making all the strategies."

Faizan is Vitality's team leader, and plays as a sniper/assaulter, followed by key player Osama aka 'Butcher', who specialises in playing with the sniper rifle. Fakhar a.k.a 'Parasite' plays as an assaulter and deals with automatic rifles, while Hassan a.k.a 'Evil Death', another assaulter, manages AK47s. Faraz, or 'Jackal', is another assaulter, and Asad, or 'Gothic Devils Mind', is an expert with an M4 rifle. The final team member, Haris, plays under his original name, and is widely known to be a skilled sniper.    

"Vitality has won many tournaments in the past few months, and is currently in the semifinals of the online gaming tournament organised by D-Juice," says Faizan proudly. He admits that it can be tricky balancing studies with his hobby.

"Games like Counter Strike require special tactical skills, and strategies need to be practiced a lot before a match," he explains.  "Right before the matches, I switch off my cell phone and spend the entire day in the gaming zone to create an assaulting strategy that would finish off the opposite team as quickly as possible." 

Planning such strategies is no laughing matter in Faizan's world, and includes intricate details. "We have to plan each and every movement such as where and when to plant the bomb, and how to get into the bomb zone."Faizan loves planning such attacks, and says that his attention to detail is what has propelled him to fame in his colony – "University" – and the gaming community itself.

He confesses, however, that his devotion to online games has weakened his eyesight.  "Gaming can turn into a lethal addiction if you do not mange your time properly. There was a time when I started to stray from my studies, but my parents helped me get back on track. I am now at a stage where I can study and enjoying gaming at the same time." Well-known though he is in gaming circles in Karachi, Faizan still has a dream: to represent Pakistan in the World Cyber Games. "Like every Pakistani, I want to contribute something to my motherland's prosperity by using the skill I specialise in."  That's the way Faizan looks at his passion.

-- RM

Ali Ahmed Jatoi screams as a monkey digs into his face with its teeth and nails. Jatoi, strung from a eucalyptus tree, is being held at Lakhi Ghulam Shah police station in the Shikarpur district of Sindh, some 500 kilometers away from Karachi. The monkey ravaging his face belongs to SHO Lakhi, and is used to torture the prisoners, to the amusement of the policemen watching.

Near the tree from which Jatoi hangs lie two men. One is elderly, and the other just a teenager. It is a cold day, but neither of them is wearing a shirt. Their backs show savage scratch marks the monkey has made.

Jatoi has been arrested since last week for allegedly being involved in looting the Karachi-bound Ghazi coach on the night of Saturday, January 17. The morning after the incident, a two-day police crackdown in Shikarpur saw the arrest of several people in connection with the crime. The SHO registered a case against 13 people for looting the Karachi-bound coach. Ultimately, three women, 17 women and 18 children – family members of the alleged accused – were arrested in order to build pressure on them to surrender. All of the accused were peasants.

The arrests that were made following the looting of the coach quickly filled up the Lakhi police lock-up. Later, all the women and children being held were taken to the SHO's house where the wild monkey was let loose upon them. Local press reports say that, neighbours heard shrieks of pain coming from within.

One of them was Ghulam Muhammad Mirbaher, whose sons were among the suspects. As a result, his wife, daughter and five daughters-in-law had been arrested among other women from the same neighbourhood. Mirbaher told Kolachi that he had recently moved with his family to Shikarpur in the hope of a better life than that in his village, but regretted his decision after this injustice meted out by the police without any investigation.

Jatoi's mother, Dhayani, shared his sentiments and said she could not see her son in pain. She visited the police station and pleaded with police officials to release her son, insisting he had nothing to do with the crime, but according to local reports, she was shoved out of the police station.

Shikarpur, where the alleged criminals are being held, has been gripped with lawlessness for years.  Once the cultural hub of Sindh, it has become a hub for tribal clashes that have left hundreds of people dead in the past decade. People of the area say they no longer dare to travel by public transport, not even in daylight. According to one human rights activist, the entire district, including the local police, is allegedly controlled by landlords.

"The real criminals – the feudal lords and petty landlords - are never arrested," said another social activist. "The wrath of the police unfolds over the poor or those with no police connections."

Human rights activists have condemned the attitude of the local police. Mohammad Paryal Marri, District Coordinator of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan for Shikarpur, said that it was true that some of those involved in the looting had come from the neighbourhood, but condemned the police for not investigating which ones they were before taking them away. Children who were arrested were released after a couple of days, but Marri warns that some of the women are still missing. He adds that there has been no crime record made of those who have been arrested.

"The police have violated many laws proving that there is no writ of the state," he lamented. "They (the police) have crossed all the limits of humanity.  The state should have control over them, but this is not the case."

According to Marri, Shikarpur is no stranger to crime, with road robberies reaching a peak, but instead of launching investigations, the police have treated the accused, women, and children inhumanly. "There was a time the role of the police was laudable, but this is not the case anymore," he said. "The police are no more independent."

Marri pointed out that even matters pertaining to the transfers and postings of the SHO and lower level police officials were in the hands of feudal lords. He, however, added that after pressure from local activists some action has been taken over the past week. The DPO (District Police Officer) Shikarpur Khadim Rind informed the media that SHO Lakhi had been suspended, although Rind had no comment on whether the arrest of women and children was justified.

Few things used to snap up quicker in the marriage market than the tall, slim, fair, demure, hour-glass shaped maiden. This sought-after creature's case for finding a husband was aided if she were skilled in the culinary arts. In some cases, it also helped if she was well-educated, in other cases not. 

Recent times, however, have unearthed a quality that swats away all of the above in a single stroke: a foreign passport – at least amongst those families who avail the services of a marriage bureau. "Grooms are willing to overlook everything to get a girl holding a UK, US or Canadian passport," Farhat Choudhry, who runs her own marriage bureau in PECHS, told Kolachi.

Choudhry has been matching couples up for the past 17 years. The 'Mrs Farhat Choudhry Marriage Bureau' attracts people of varying social strata from Defence, Clifton, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and PECHS. Popular though the decision to marry a girl from abroad may be, Choudhry is not sure if it is entirely wise.  

"We always warn them that the girls over there are very different, but it never makes a difference," she says. "The girls treat them like servants, but people will do anything to get out of the country." 

Salman Raheem* can testify how starkly different the girls "over there" are. Three years ago, a family settled in Michigan, USA, accepted his family's proposal. A nikah was arranged within a month. As soon as all his documentation for leaving the country was completed, the girl's family arrived in Karachi for a rukhsati. Raheem was soon settled in Michigan with his new bride. But within a year, he wanted to return.  

"We wanted someone who was traditional, like someone who had lived in Pakistan but it turned out this wasn't so," confided Raheem's uncle when talking to Kolachi. "The parents seemed to have a very firm set of values, and we assumed their daughter would, too." 

The "values" Raheem's uncle mentioned included expecting the new bride to quit her job and become a housewife, which she refused to do. However, a clash of values was not the only factor in Raheem's desire to come back.   

"The other thing we always warn them about is the lack of job opportunities abroad for someone who has had a local education," said Choudhry. "But even this does not make a difference. They are often willing to do things in other countries they would be ashamed of at home." 

Such odd jobs include working at petrol stations and driving taxis. Raheem, who had completed his Intermediate and studied at NED, failed to find a job that suited him. Today his wife continues to work at a bank, whilst he works at night at a petrol station. Regardless, Raheem does not intend to return to Karachi. "It takes everyone time to settle down," says his uncle. "All he needs is time." 

Such is a common viewpoint. However, not all are desperate to migrate. Records from a well-known marriage bureau in DHA show that for those who want to remain in Karachi, looks are top priority, followed by a certain level of education. Advertisements such as 'O-levels, A-levels background required', or 'Must have an MBA' are common. 

For the families of prospective brides, however, requirements are vastly different. If Choudhry's records are any indication, the geographical location of the groom is far less important than the status of his family, his employment and whether his level of education matches up to the girl's.

Nothing demonstrates this better than the case of Sarah Zaidi. Zaidi, an architect in her mid-twenties, was born in Sydney, Australia, a city she had called home until three months before her wedding last March.

But unlike most families abroad, the Zaidi family did not register themselves with a marriage bureau. Instead, like many other people in Karachi, they called upon their vast network of extended family and family friends. Sarah's husband is the son of a family friend, and Sarah had no qualms about accepting the proposal, even if it meant moving hemispheres. "No one forced me into it," she insists. "I made up my own mind. We were on good terms with the family and thought it a compatible match. There was no reason for me to say no. I've lived in Sydney practically all my life, but I would rather be happily married in Pakistan than single and frustrated in Australia." Today, she and her husband, who works for a reputable multinational company, are settled in Karachi and say they couldn't be happier.

This may seem like a unique decision, but it is not. Afifa Shahab has been searching for a daughter-in-law for nearly a year and no less than three people have suggested a family where the girl who has been spent her life in either the US or Canada is willing to uproot and settle in Karachi.  

"I couldn't understand it at first, but I later found out it's because the families don't trust the boys who have grown up there," explains Shahab. "They (the families) want someone who has the same values as they do, and they say they are more likely to find them in Karachi than in the US." 

Shahab does not personally know any wayward Pakistani boys abroad, but confirms that she knows of a family in London where the girl, who had grown up there, separated from her Pakistani husband, also raised there, when she discovered he was cheating on her.  

"Theirs was an arranged marriage," says Shahab. "The parents thought they knew the family, but it still ended in disaster. I think that's why people abroad are starting to look towards home when trying to get their daughters settled." 

Even families of prospective brides in Karachi are looking for grooms based close to home, albeit for different reasons. "My parents promised to send me abroad, but now I can't go," says a disappointed Saman Tariq.  

Tariq had been pining to go abroad for her higher studies, but her parents would hear none of it, and said they would find her someone to marry abroad instead. Unfortunately, Tariq's dreams of a life outside Pakistan took an unpleasant turn in the wake of the financial crisis. Tariq's father is adamant that she stay in Karachi, or at least, within Pakistan.

"I don't want to risk it," he says. "Not only are people losing jobs abroad, I have known people who have had their daughters married to people in the US, only to find that the boy has some legal problem or other," he says. "At least if she's married in Pakistan, she would be closer to home if anything goes wrong." 

Whether brides are staying at home or grooms settling abroad, Seema Zohair is certain of one thing. "All parents want the best for their children," she says. 

A housewife in her fifties, Zohair lives in DHA and has been instrumental in arranging nearly every marriage in her large extended family and beyond, and claims to have a high success rate. "I don't work for a marriage bureau, but I am very social and enjoy matchmaking within my family, friends and acquaintances. It's my way of giving back to society."  

Zohair assessment of Karachi's marital trends sums it all up: "Prospective brides and grooms are going abroad or coming back for the same reason: a happy married life." But whether each finds it, is a different matter altogether.

*not his real name

Owais Asif, 18, student: "I spend about six hours daily on my computer, playing games such as Counter Strike, the Sims, Fifa 2008 and Cricket 2008. On the internet, most of my time is spent on websites like Facebook and Orkut."

Hassan Sadiq, 15, student: "I end up spending about seven to eight hours daily on the computer. I hardly use it for my school work; my siblings and I play online games or download some from the internet as well. Nauroto is my favourite."

Aimen Rehmat, 18, student: "I am crazy about computers. There is no restriction on the number of hours I spend so I prefer chatting or playing games online in my spare time. The Sims is my favourite game."

Tabishuddin, 20, student: "My maximum usage of the computer is eight hours a day, sometimes I sit for three to four hours at a stretch and play games like GTA, IGI, Counter Strike and Delta Force."

Danish Javed, 19, student: "I play Counter Strike – a computer game – daily for about four to six hours. I'm addicted to it. My friends and I have created a server on LAN through which we connect and play with each other while at our computers."

Even 31 years after his death, Sher Muhammad Khan – popularly known by his pen-name Ibn-Insha – continues to live in the hearts of many. This was evident at the memorial meeting organised by the Literary Committee Muhammad Ali Jinnah University (LCMAJU) to mark Insha's death anniversary on January 11.

Ibne-Insha, a humour writer, was known for his creative poetry, prose and travelogues. He was a versatile writer who took a light view of things, but made lasting comments that left an impact on readers. His comments on history, political affairs, language and literature are still used references.

Sharing the works of Insha at the gathering, noted poet and his close friend, Sharshad Siddiqui, recalled how Insha stood by literature and creativity through thick and thin. What made him different than other writers was that he continued with literary activities despite facing tough times financially. Even in his later years of life, when he started earning enough money, "he kept his literary world alive," Siddiqui said.

Insha had another close friend, Jamiluddin Aali, with whom he shared his literary projects. During those days, recalled Siddiqui, Insha resided in Allama Iqbal Town in Lahore and Aali and Siddiqui were his neighbours as well. The three spent most of their evening together as a routine.

Insha played a significant role in the establishment of Pakistan Writers Guild (PWG) as well. He backed the idea of formation of such an association after which the PWG was acknowledged among other writers of his time. Secretary PWG (Sindh) Ahmed Omar Sharif, also present at the meeting, particularly mentioned Insha's column that were popular among readers as they provided an insight and understanding of social issues and literary matters.

After doing his Masters from the University of Karachi in 1953, Insha served Radio Pakistan, Ministry of Culture and National Book Centre of Pakistan. He later got an opportunity to serve in the United Nations which enabled him to visit several countries and write travelogues.

When diagnosed with blood cancer, the news of Insha's illness spread like wildfire among the literary circle and left everyone shocked. At the time of his death, eminent writer (late) Quratul Ain Haider, who was regarded a 'living legendary' because of her novel Aag Ka Daria among other writings had compiled a special pen-sketch of Ibne Insha in her one of the books 'Picture Gallery', declaring him to be a true brilliant writer and poet.

Ibne Insha had expired on January 11, 1978 in London, but his body was brought to Pakistan where he was laid to rest in a local graveyard, Paposhnagar, of Karachi.

Although Insha's poetry was used as lyrics by different singers during his lifetime, most of his poetic work was sung after his sad demise. His poetic lines such as Sab Maya Hay and other couplets have been recently sung by prominent singers including, Ghulam Ali, Abida Parveen and Attaullah Khan Esskhailvi. However his verses Inshaji Uthau Ab Kooch Karo sung by (late) Ustad Amanat Ali Khan were not only well-liked by people in Pakistan, but India and other countries as well. His mystical poetry left a great impact on people of the region.

The first edition of his poetry Is Basti Key Ik Koochey Main, was published in August 1976 and later, 22 more editions were published till 2003. Among his other collections of poetry that became popular were Chand Nagar, Dil-e-Wehshi, Awara Gard Ki Diary, Dunya Gol Hey, Ibn-e- Batoota Kay Taqub Main, Chaltay Ho To Cheen Ko Chaliye, Nagri Nagri Phira Musafar, Kumare Gandum and Urdu Ki Aakhri Kitab. Some of his humorous books continue to be printed and published to date proving that his work will continue to influence generations in the years to come.