Bachay sab hee achay

Madeeha Ansari

Crime is a complicated phenomenon. There are always so many things behind it that it is difficult to blame the hand that steals any more than the invisible one that pushes it forward.

Whether or not they are directly responsible for their first alleged crimes, rehabilitation becomes a serious concern for juvenile prisoners. That is why not-for-profit actors like Voice of the Civil Society (VOTCS) are now working to establish schools and workshops within juvenile jails, so that the imprisoned youth can access a different way of life. Exposure to new ideas can only be a good thing. Philanthropist Irum Farooque told Dawn how she discusses "an array of topics with the young inmates, from a young man’s responsibility to his parents, how to behave with women, and even topics like jihad and suicide bombing."

However streetsmart or hardened they may have thought themselves to be, the youth have responded to being treated with respect.

"They started understanding me and they started waiting for me,” said Farooque.

Of course.

Deadly Blast in Swat Valley

A tragic bomb blast in the Swat Valley, a suspected Taliban suicide attack, ripped through a busy market in Mingora on Monday, killing 8 people.

In response to our concerned messages to Ziauddin Yousafzai, the owner of the Khushal Public School in Swat Valley, he replied:

"Let us not loose heart for our usual life must continue despite all hurdles. This is life and we should keep on crawling for survival on our own. This blast took away eight people, but we are blessed for thousands survived. Let us change our perceptions to think positively. Let us try to stay safe, brave and determined."

Our hearts go out to the people of Swat Valley, to Ziauddin, and all our school-girls over there.


[Picture: Ziauddin at a Shajar-e-Ilm Retreat with Mariam Raza Zaidi]

Pakistan's Public Schools
An American newsmagazine FRONTLINE/World provides yet another intiative for highlighting the importance of education. Such efforts will only be able to surface the gap on both sides and bring forth any form of communication.

Gulf News: Quality of Indian and Pakistani Education Under the Scanner

While Pakistani education standards at home have been the subject of much debate and criticism, Pakistani schools in Dubai are also coming under the radar. This story in Gulf News today reports that Knowledge and Human Development Authority scrutinized 3 Pakistani schools in Dubai, recently, two of them being stamped "unacceptable" at the end of investigation.

Insights on Poverty

Madeeha Ansari

Hans Rosling is brilliant. Like any true intellectual, he speaks with wit, simplicity and modesty. Stay to the end - these 19 minutes are unexpectedly worthwhile for anyone with or without an interest in development!

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

by Meeha Irfan

Where there are unfortunate circumstances, you will always find people who go out of their way to help those in need.

Rah-e-Amal School is the brain child of a very dedicated lady, Mrs. Zehra Fasahat. It all started when she saw some young children collecting garbage from a dumpster. These children, obviously deserving a better life and future, were offered education as well as love which they readily accepted. It began with ten students and now after a passage of eleven years the strength of the students has increased to one hundred and fifty students (old figures) . Tuition, books, stationery and medical care are provided by Rah-e-Amal

Just when we feel that there is no hope, there shines the silver lining.

Incessant violence

by Madeeha Ansari

The first page of Dawn today features a spate of attacks accross the country. Violence has erupted in Peshawar, Quetta and Lahore and casualties are still mounting. One wonders if these are coordinated activities, or simply sporadic outbursts of madness.