Conversation with Police Officers

It happened today at Tipu Sultan Road while I was on my way to office. I was speaking to a friend on phone and saw two amazingly smart and innocent looking policemen asking me to pull over. I did so as every responsible citizen would do.

Policeman 1: Assalam O Alaikum Sir. Can I see the documents of your car?
Talha(Myself): Wsalam. Sure. (I gave him the documents and he walked over to his partner and looked at the documents)

Policeman 1: Sir you were talking on phone and you’ve violated traffic rules and we will have to issue you a ticket for Rs.512. Please give us you driving license.

I said: Are you traffic police?? No. Then why would you give me the ticket??

Then they both looked at each other and then looked at the documents once again and said : You havent paid you car tax since you bought the car. We have dozens of cars locked in our police station for this.

I said: Are you from the Revenue Department?? Thats supposed to be their problem not yours.

At this point they didnt know what else to say. They both said: Sir we can lock up your car and will not release it until you pay the tax.

I said(offering them keys of the car): Sure go on. Lock it up.

They had nothing more to say. Then they tried another act.

Policeman 1: Sir Sahab(The other policeman) thinks you are a nice boy. he thinks you should go here are your documents.

I said Thanks and as I approached the car the first policeman came to me whispering, Koi thanday ka intezam kar dein tou achha hai bohat dhoop hai yahan (meaning: If you can arrange for cold drinks that will be good. Its too hot over here!!)

I looked at them and now both of them were looking like two innocent men begging for a drink. I bought them a drink from the shop across the road and moved on.

I think I did right by not giving them cash and buying drinks. or did I??

Reviewing 2008…

Another year has passed and we move into 2009. Before making new year’s resolution I usually take a look back at the previous year. The things that I do and am proud of and the things I shouldn’t have done at all.

First Quarter:

27th Feb: I resigned from my first job after working for 19 Months in that company. The decision was made within a moment a day ago. Too many reasons but a right thing to do. I miss my teammates and the culture that we had developed together.

15th March: Received the offer letter for my new job. When asked by HR when can I join I said 2nd April. I was asked why not 1st and I said “I dont want to give anyone a chance to make a fool out of me that day”. This is something I shouldnt have said!!  

Second Quarter:

2nd April: Joined my new job. Better salary better benefits. Nice Domain. Great People.

19th April: Was sent abroad for my first international project. Stayed for almost 2.5 months and learnt alot of things. Worked with a great team and with one of the best manager.

Third Quarter:

7th July: My last day on my second job. Left a great team and a good company. I am still not sure if this was the right decision as I miss my days there.

August: Stepped into something I always wanted to. Started a small company with two partners me and my brother with multiple freelancers. Started working from my room. Our office was the bed in the room one corner was my office and other my brother’s.

September: We developed partnerships with some of local companies. And worked for free with some companies to get them work. Then a month later realized if I continue to do it for free till I get work I will never be able to concentrate on what I want to do.

Fourth Quarter:

October: Received training for PMP and completed the required contact hours for PMP Exam. HR Development-A good thing to do when the business is new and uncertainity all around your future!! 

November:  Did certain things which I shouldnt have done… 

December: Finally Me and My Brother agreed on our website’s design( third one)…And he told me on the last day of the year that he has another design in mind and I said show me…

I met some great people this year most of them are my age and a couple of them through this blog. I have also taken many risks in this time of economic turmoil left my job, started a software company,almost burnt all my savings on this company.

I am entering in 2009 semi-broke, with hope to make a difference in my life and the life of others who are close to me. I hope to serve my country Pakistan better.  I also hope to take my company to another level INSHALLAH by the first quarter of 2009. Get certified for PMP INSHALLAH and will not leave it like OCP and CCNA.

Dreams..

You see things; and you say, “Why?” But I dream things that never were; and I say, “Why not?”

- George Bernard Shaw

A News Channel Closed Down???

If rumors are to be believed GEO English is in process of shut down and a staff of 650 has been fired!!!

 

Poverty and Our Role!!

A few years ago while I was in school I used to read newspaper during the assembly in the morning and I was so used to read about the middle class and the lower class and the issues each class faces. I had this perception back then that people who have a car are elite class, with a bike are middle class and those who travel by bus are lower class.

WIth the current economic scenario I fail to see these classes there are either rich people or poor people. This increasing economic chaos will lead to only two classes people who can afford to live and people who cannot. I really hope this never happens.

With ever increasing inflation, shortage of wheat, increasing loans and liabilities and many more issues which are faced by our country how would a poor person survive?

Government cannot do anything about it as the leaders cannot understand the needs of the poor. This is high time that we as people who belong to this society should start doing little individually to create an impact collectively. Most of the people would ask what should we do?

Most important thing that Islam teaches us is to give Zakat to the poor. People these days don’t give the right amount in Zakat and they look for way and means to try and save as much as they could.

We can also stop splashing money on things which are meant to be for a time only. This has different meaning for different people. For me, it means I have to stop spending my money on food trying out new fancy restaurants.

We can teach a poor child or we can pay the school fee for a child. It will take Rs.1000 rupees to do it. We spend many 1000 rupees every month on things we dont need.

We can form a group of people to contribute their share and distribute food to those we know who are not able to buy it.

On this day, I urge and request all of you to look around, you will find many families needing our support, and help the ones who need it.

A tribute to The Quaid

I read the following quote on a friend’s messenger comment. In the current situation words like these can keep the spirit of the nation up.

“Do your duty and have faith in God. There is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan. It has come to stay”

- Quaid

On the death anniversary of the founder of Pakistan there couldnt be a better tribute to the leader than to follow his words.

Earthquake Prediction???!!!

Yesterday I read this news in a local newspaper which states in many cities of Pakistan termors were felt in the last 48 hours which are actually the fore shocks of an earthquake higher in magnitude than these tremors.

Black Money Whitened!!!

In a poor country like Pakistan where the government has taken loans over $42 Billion and the people are crushed by the inflation. A resident of Karachi has got his black money whitened and that too worth Rs.2.5 Billion($32 Million) by paying just 2% tax and will never be asked about the sources through which he earned this much money.

For details: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=133818

Ramadan Mubarak!!

In this holy month of Ramadan I pray to Allah to give me courage to finish, what I have started, the way I want it to. I pray to Allah for forgiveness. I pray to Allah to give me and my family and all the families all around the world the best of everything, health, wealth and happiness. I pray to Allah to guide me. I pray to Allah to help me in helping the poor and needy. I pray to Allah to help me be focused. I pray to Allah to make us Muslims thank Him for all His kindness.

In this month of Ramadan, I pray to Allah to help me stay away from evil and be good always. I pray to Allah to help me be a good son, brother, friend and a human being. I pray to Allah to forgive me for everything that I have done intentionally and unintentionally. I pray to Allah to forgive me if I have in any way hurt anyone.

In this Holy month, I pray to Allah to make Pakistan a safe place to live. I pray to Allah to help us,Pakistanis, in these turbulent times. I pray to Allah to save us from the curropt leaders. I pray to Allah to save us from incapable leadership. I pray to Allah to save us from all enemies external and internal. I pray to Allah to help us build not divide Pakistan. I pray to Allah to change the hearts of those who encourage the young for suicide bombings and kill innocent people. I pray to Allah to save us and give us strength to get rid of such people. I pray to Allah to give us wisdom to make peace among our country men.

Amen

Importance of Parents

Its been a while since I had written my last post. I was away due to my work commitments and couldn’t get time to write anything. But I just can’t resist sharing this with some people who read my blog and visit it when there is nothing new on it.

I was looking for something worth mentioning regarding the rights of our parents. How we should be treating them? Looking after them and making them happy. And I googled and googled till I read this:    

http://www.inter-islam.org/RightsDuties/parents.html

I really feel bad whenever I see some of my friends and some young people I know from either work, university or family talk to their parents in a harsh tone or arguing with them asking for reasons for not permitting them to do something or why didnt they allow them to go for movies etc etc. I always ask myself why we, people of my generation, talk to our parents in this way? Why do we always think they are wrong? why dont we understand that what they are saying is based on their life’s experience and there is nothing wrong in it? Why?

I always feel that whatever our parents advice us to do is for our betterment, maybe not in the short term or near future, but in the long term. Parents aren’t our enemies they are the only people who would never want any of us to get hurt or to feel bad or to fail.

This is all I wanted to say to those “Pleasee Pleasee dont ever hurt your parents. Try not to argue. Try not to hurt them. And always take care of them before you take care of yourself because this what they have always been doing and they will continue to do so.”