The Karachi that was — and will never be

[Meengla]

I think most karachites dont admire ZAB for giving up to Islamists demand , same goes for BB she did called the talibani snakes her bachay once and eventually the same bit her to death. Their fault was not calling spade a spade ..

Most Karachiites, including my parents and most of the Urdu speakers in the 70's supported parties like Jamaat i Islami and JUP (Noorani). Mohajirs came to Pakistan because of 'Islam' and were the linchpin of the movement which brought down ZAB. Ahh, little did they know what was to follow ZAB!

As to the Talibans, that had nothing to do with 'Islam'. Read up Ahmad Rashid's 'Taliban' to see how the Talibans came to power. And today there is almost a consensus in Pakistan that better be the damned Talibans then India-supported Tajiks. Benazir's stance was no different (not that she had real power/choice then, anyway).

 

[T-Faz]

Maulana Kausar Niazi aka Maulana Whiskey would think differently about these cosmetic changes. Many of which backfired and led to the dark ages of the 80's.

 

[Karachiite]

Maulana Kausar Niazi aka Maulana Whiskey

 

[Meengla]

Maulana Kausar Niazi aka Maulana Whiskey would think differently about these cosmetic changes. Many of which backfired and led to the dark ages of the 80's.

Yes, I am aware of 'Maulana Whiskey'. He was one more way to target ZAB. Oh, yes! ZAB had this apparently a high-ranking official--and that too a Maulana--who himself was a Maulana Whiskey.
T-Faz: You have probably only heard of the ZAB Islamization. I have lived through them. And I will tell you that ZAB did not radicalize the Pakistani society along religious lines. He had many faults but he was a staunch secularist. He did not make changes to the education curricula radically. He did not ban foreign (or even Pakistani movies) too much because they were 'Fa-hash' (a favorite term of Zia). He did not flog people in public squares. He did not try to force lady tv anchors from putting on make-up.

As I said, even in 1979 my lady teachers used to wear jeans and skirts in Karachi--full two years after ZAB was forced to leave. I remember the beaches of Karachi with occasional bikini-clad Westerns under ZAB. The places like Beach Luxury Hotel where wait-staff would serve beers to you near the swim-pool, under ZAB.

That ZAB bowed down before the Right-wing onslaught is not essentially different from today's Imran Khan refusing to take on the Blasphemy Law and Qadri, the Taseer Killer. These are regrettable 'cowardice' but perhaps there is a context to them.

 

[Samlee]

what i dont understand that Islamisation lets assume 4 a min is good for Pakistan , but why did those in power allowed these guns and most importantly deadly drugs into pakistan. WHY WOULD SOME ONE DO THAT ?? hope you or some one may have a logical answer to that

Zia Ul Haq Was Patronising Mohajir Nationalists Groups Namely The APMSO and MQM in Order To Counter The Sindhi Nationalism That Was Rampant After The Death Of Bhutto.In The Pretext Of Afghan Jihad He Patronised Various Sectarian and Extremist Groups.Thus Not Only Karachi But Our Whole Beloved Country Was Ruined Once and For All and We Became A Shadow Of What We Once Were and Could Have Been.May Allah Throw This Bastard To Hell.

 

[Baby Leone]

every sh!t in our country & in Karachi was started by zia ul haq & than stupid politicians after tht....

 

[Samlee]

In The 60s Pakistan Was The Talk Of The Town.PIA was The Second Best Airline In The World.We Helped Create Emirates and Air Malta.Most Of The Civil Aviation Companies In The World had Their Regional HQs In Karachi.Dubai Was Just A Fishing Village Then.
We Were The China or The Asian Tigers Of The Sixties With A Fast Progressing Industrial Base.The Likes Of Korea China India Taiwan Malaysia and Singapore Were Way Behind Us
We Were Genuinely Respected

Waqai Sir Teri Yaad Aai Tere Jaane Ke Baad

 

[Jango]

karachi could have been the linking gateway of the East and West, like Dubai is now.

But oh well.....life moves on.

 

[K-Xeroid]

Ah! Everyone has thier own views, their own traditions, but still keep disrespecting others , one of major responsible problem of Karachi voilence. Karachi will continue to move forward ,will continue its position among one of the Greatest city of world. and its negative aspects will remain in it in future too, Their is no shortcut for peace. things will remain complicated and gets more complicated, will have to find a way inside this whole mess.

 

[Baby Leone]

we could continue the growth of 50s & 60s if we didnt have unstable & hostile neibours in both east & west borders.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

I don't even understand what the violence in Karachi is all about

 

[Samlee]

karachi could have been the linking gateway of the East and West, like Dubai is now.

But oh well.....life moves on.

Bro That Is What Makes Me Cry What We Could Have Become And What We Did Become

 

[fullyfaltu]

I heard from my super elders that Karachi was the one of the most finest and modern city of undivided India.

Even If you ask me to spell some cities of Pakistan, Karachi would be the first on the list. Before Reading this thread I used to think that Its the mumbai of Pakistan.

However, I still wish to see this city growing ... donno why...

 

[Rank]

IMO today's karachi condition only because of MQM. That party totaly destory Karachi. When they had Karachi development infrastructure and everything smoothly going towards better and when they don't have karachi in their hand properly they start destroying karachi so that people blaming other parties that when karachi under MQM Karachi will be heaven but when any other party hold karachi, that city will become hell!

 

[Backbencher]

So in a way Islamabad is better than Karachi now ?