Terrorism

Pakistani mobile phone
 Asia-Pacific, Pakistan, Opinion, Editor's Choice

Is it viral? Video and Barbarianism

Lawyers protest by storming into a hospital in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan, a country previously climbing the ladder of development at a snail’s pace, is now progressing very quickly with an increase in the literacy rate, a decrease in terrorist activity, and perhaps a better standard of living for some social classes. Additionally, the number of people in the country using the internet is now at a massive 35.1 million, and 25 million Facebook users. 

Pakistanis are always on the quest for seeking more information, and any video that is funny or has some important information to impart goes viral and the whole country is quickly talking about it. Unfortunately, videos are not the only thing going viral in Pakistan- seemingly, so is barbarianism. 

Very recently, a video of a doctor went viral in Pakistan in which a doctor trolled lawyers as he spoke of an incident when one lawyer asked the police to arrest the doctor for not providing priority care to a lawyer. The doctor, from the Young Doctors Medical Association, also mentioned that two lawyers went to the Inspector General of Police and coerced him to arrest the doctor under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. After the Inspector General refused, reportedly the lawyer told him to at least file ” a case” in order for him to be able to avoid embarrassment. 

Lawyers gathered in multitudes, hundreds to be exact, to protest against the video. However, it is to be noted, that their protest wasn’t a silent one nor was it based on discussion. How did they protest against a viral video made by an unknown young doctor? 

Lawyers attacked the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), stormed into the Intensive Care unit, and wrecked havoc. The protest was extremely violent where stones and bricks were pelted towards the building, cars were destroyed in the parking lot, and innocent patients were vandalized and refused care. It was also reported that one lawyer removed the oxygen mask of a 22-year old mother in the intensive care unit who died within a few seconds. Six people in all died because they were in critical condition when the attack took place and because of the mayhem, were not given proper attention- or for that matter any attention at all as everyone was running for their lives. 

Fayazz ul Hassan Chohan, the Information Minister of Pakistan, arrived on the scene in order to negotiate peace. Instead of civilly complying or even listening to the minister, the lawyers attacked him, pulled his hair, ripped his clothes, and beat him with their fists. Chohan later claimed that the lawyers were trying to “kidnap” him and vows that he will be taking due action against the responsible party. 

In consequence, the Young Consultants Association has announced a nationwide strike, saying that until the responsible party is given due punishment, no doctor would come to duty. At least that is the stance they hold till tomorrow, Thursday December 12th. 

In this clash of egos between doctors and lawyers, which is absolutely absurd to the core, the bereaved party are the patients and the innocent people trying to get their family and loved ones due treatment. With those six innocent patients dying in one incident- all because of a viral video- humanity and civilization has died within this country. Of those six people, there were two mothers leaving grieving families behind and the other four (yet to be identified) definitely leaving households overflowing with anguish. How will those families feel about lawyers for the rest of their lives? 

Now that doctors are on strike, there will be hundreds if not thousands of patients unattended and without treatment tomorrow and for however long this continues. Who is accountable for their demise? The extremely worrying factor is that this was a protest by the educated/privileged class- lawyers, responsible for upholding the law and protecting citizen rights in courts. What can you expect from the illiterate in such a situation? 

Surprisingly, with the thousands of articles published about the pros and cons of social media, spreading hatred and causing immense protests wasn’t exactly a factor considered. For those looking to advertise through this medium, there is dire evidence that you will be seen and heard if you have something to say- preferably something funny or negative. Because, you know, simple positivism doesn’t get as much attention, especially in a country where the educated class believes killing innocent patients and pulling the hair of your lawmakers is the best way to comfort your cracked ego. 

The lawyers have definitely made a statement – a statement that they are most uncivilized and barbaric. While they need to dwell more on their character and their role in their profession and in this country, perhaps we all need to either think about where this world is going or accept where we are headed. 

T.S Elliot said it plain and simple, “Let’s not be narrow, nasty, and negative”. But can we?

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Security theater and terrorism
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Kunduz massacre
 Asia-Pacific, Afghanistan, Opinion

Kunduz Massacre: Ploy To Grab Afghanistan’s Mineral Riches?

They say that the smallest coffins are the heaviest. Before you decide to deny this, imagine how you would feel in the shoes of those who have had to bury their young before themselves. Every parent wants to wake up and send their child to school early in the morning for something as special as a Graduation Day. Sounds pretty special, doesn’t it? Every parents dreams of the day their child graduates from middle school or high school but never in their wildest dreams do they picture their child coming home in pieces.

Where is Kunduz?

Kunduz is located close to the Afghan Border that connects to Tajikistan. This city widely became famous once it was overtook by the Taliban in September of 2015 once NATO’s ISAF was led by the US. Since 2015, Kunduz has seen many dark days but it was only in April of 2018 that it saw the darkest day that it had ever seen.

Graduation or Funeral?

On April 12th, Kunduz Province in Afghanistan suffered through a deadly school massacre that killed and injured many innocent young souls. This school was an education center to many kids under the age of 10. It was graduation day in this school in Dasht-e-Archi District of Kunduz Province when the United States bombed not only the school but also the homes of several innocent civilians which ended up killing over 250 Afghan/Pashtun kids, teachers, parents and villagers. This is nothing new for the people living in these villages as war crimes like the Kunduz massacre have become a dangerous norm for them.

On February 24th of 2018, U.S forces bombed yet another school and civilian homes in the village of Bala Baluk in the Farah Province of Afghanistan killing over 10 civilians and children. And before that on November 20th of 2017, several Afghani villagers reported 21 students including children massacred by the United States Special Ops in alliance with the Afghan Puppet Administration from the Maidan Wardak Province.

REEs More Important Than Innocent Children

United States General Nicholson tells the media that these airstrikes taking place in Afghanistan are targeted towards drug labs and has more to do with controlling REEs than terrorism. But if the complete facts of the case remain hidden from the general populace, how much of it can we really believe?

Afghanistan’s lands holds many treasures along with copper, iron, cobalt, sulfur, lead, barite, silver, zinc and niobium. But what really matters to the United States government is that Afghanistan’s land holds 1.4 million tons of REEs which is short for rare-earth elements. These deposits are vast and potentially untapped which explains why foreign governments are so attracted to it. These are situated near the Helmand Province in Afghanistan among other places and that is precisely why the U.S government cannot leave it alone.

Media Turns a Blind Eye to the Kunduz Massacre

Whatever happens in Afghanistan goes vastly unnoticed by the media eye and that is why most people never find out about chemical attacks and such. The attack that took place on April 12th in Kunduz that is now being referred to as the Kunduz Massacre was only one in a list of many things the Afghan Pushtuns have had to suffer through.

Wouldn’t You Do The Same?

Why the Afghan Pushtuns, you ask? They are the sole barrier standing in the way of Trump and the richness of Afghanistan’s lands. They are fiercely fighting to protect their land. So the theory so far is that the United States government is bombing their villages to get rid of their road blocks, so to speak.

We Condemn It

But at what cost, I ask? These innocent souls, what was their fault that they had to die this way? These illegal attacks must stop. The people who are responsible for committing attacks like the Kunduz massacre should be legally tried for their actions. If in a court of law, they can prove themselves, only then should they walk free. But anyone who harms innocent children, should not be considered one of us and most certainly should not be in a position of authority.

Comments Off on Kunduz Massacre: Ploy To Grab Afghanistan’s Mineral Riches? 44
Norway Government Collapse Sylvi Listhaug
 Europe, Norway, Politics

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Chiquita Banana Terrorist Group FARC
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Business is business. That means that business decisions have only one thing in mind – the company and their profits. It’s a nice code of honor to shield yourself from the emotional consequences of decisions made out of greed. The prime example of this is banana company Chiquita, which has been found guilty and reached settlements over their business decision to fund terrorist groups in Colombia for their personal gain, causing the death and suffering of thousands.
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Pakistan Haqqani Network Terrorists
 Asia-Pacific, Pakistan, Opinion, Politics

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On New Year’s Day, President Trump published a tweet in which he accused Pakistan of trickery for taking $33 billion from the US in the name of aid while providing shelter to Taliban terrorists that the United States is fighting against in Afghanistan. The White House declared that most security assistance that was given to Pakistan would be suspended. This suspension of hundreds of millions of dollars of aid is basically meant to pressure Pakistan into taking action against these Taliban and militant groups. As with previous statements, Pakistan is accused of harbouring terrorists from the Haqqani Network and of upholding relationships with the Afghani Taliban.
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Boko Haram
 Africa, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria

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The Boko Haram insurgency came to global attention in 2014 when over 200 school girls were reported to be kidnapped by the terrorists. The girls who were in school preparing for a test were attacked at midnight by armed militia who then forced them on to trucks and ferried them away into their forest hideouts. A great public outcry followed with many pointing fingers at the government’s incompetence in providing security.
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dying
 World

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Death is perhaps the most certain part of everyone’s life. It’s a given constant, while the only variable is the time of its occurrence. Thanks to mass media and the internet, news about death and dying seems to travel quickly these days, spreading hysteria and fear.
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Comments Off on Odds of Dying: Terrorists & Serial Killers Shouldn’t Concern You 1300