Other Pakistan's Vision & My Interview with Pakistan Spectator

I was recently interviewed by Pakistan Spectator and wanted to share the interview with you all. It is hoped that you find the interview worthwile as I have chose to share it with a hope that it will help OP readers to understand the vision of Other Pakistan. In addition the interview will provide an insight to 'Wasim's World' and bring you closer to the person behind the name. Enjoy!

BIO Wasim Arif is an educator currently teaching in Birmingham, England. He is also the founder of Other Pakistan, a blog cum think tank that aims to bring together as many diverse voices as possible inside and outside of Pakistan by providing a forum for discussion and debate on how to create an ‘other’ Pakistan.

Could you tell us what made you decide to blog?

It is a long story (yawn) to narrate but you asked so here it is. It is a story of my reincarnation of sorts (I’m not dead yet!) into the Wasim before you today.

Two years ago I read a book by the brilliant Prof Akbar Ahmed titled ‘Jinnah, Pakistan and Islamic Identity: The Search for Saladin’. That book transformed me from a Pakistani in name alone to the ‘freak’ I am now, to a Wasim who lives, breathes and sleeps Pakistan. Therefore my blogging is my way of service to the nation created by the Quaid who is my ultimate hero.

I was inspired to blog by the saying ‘create small changes to make a big difference’ and support its application in Pakistan for as a people we have for too long been silent bystanders and spectators to our collective folly. Well I had enough of it all and decided to make a stand as per the words of the legendary Faraz saab ‘shikwa ae zulmat ae shab se tho kahin behtar tha, apne hisse ki koi shama jalate jaate’.

 What do you think sets your blog apart from other blogs?

OP is a blog with a view to becoming a Pakistani online think tank or forum of choice for Pakistanis to espouse their solutions to Pakistan’s problems. Consequently it aims to provide a platform for all Pakistanis to project their ideas of how to improve the nation. OP aims to get as many different voices together to articulate different ‘futures’ for Pakistan so as to help bring about a better Pakistan.

As a blogger I write without fear and from the heart and this has resonated with my readers so far. I know that I don’t always get it right (if at all!) but it seems my readers are used to my erring ways, I like to think of OP as a molotov cocktail of sorts, not as explosive but full of fire with rants and occasionally useful analysis of topical issues.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success, what would it be?

I have always been proud of being passionate with a capital P in all that I do. Everything I do, I do it intensely and with fervour. This has helped me to succeed as I never go for half-measures however sometimes I do tend to walk on the wild side and need to be reigned in by the saner Wasim that resides in me too. 

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

ALLAH has blessed me with love from family and friends, so happy moments are many. The darkest day in my life remains the death of my mother when I was only 16 for I too died that day. I never have been the same since other than a poor double.

Urdu Blogs have got huge potential, when do you think they will really take on the online horizon in Pakistan?

I have not followed the rise of Urdu blogs so I must pass on this question.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it's paid for what would your top 3 choices be?

Other than various religious places and places in Pakistan such as Gilgit and Chitral I would love to see Angel Falls in Venezuela. Fez in Morocco and visit the Amazon rainforest.

What is your favorite book and why?

One book transformed my life as I wrote earlier, all praise going to the brilliant Professor Akbar Ahmed and his book ‘Jinnah, Pakistan and Islamic Identity: The Search for Saladin’ The great Charles Le Gai Eaton’s books ‘Islam and the Destiny of Man’ and ‘Remembering God’ and Muhammed Asad’s book ‘The Road to Mecca: My Discovery of Islam’ provided me food for the soul and brought me closer to ALLAH.  

I must make a mention of two other names, John Pilger and Robert Fisk both masters of their trade. I often read the books and articles of both these giants of men.

What's the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not?

It has to be the eyes for they always tell a story.

Do you think Pakistani politicians could benefit from the social networks and things like twitter?

I am not aware of twitter but I do believe the next generation of our politicians could benefit. The present crop may claim or even fake an interest but it will be the politicians of the future who I hope will benefit the most. By this I mean the next generation of politicians who I hope comprise of legends like those bloggers and students who have led the student movement against Musharraf law (martial/musharraf can interchange!) such as those in the various student action committees, LUMS students and the team that runs the Emergency List to name only a few.

Whose Future is more bright in Pakistan; English blogs or Urdu Blogs?

I hope both blogs prosper for Pakistan’s sake but personally I want Urdu blogs to take the lead. I do believe that Urdu must remain our premier language for obvious reasons and I hope Urdu blogs can empower the youth of Pakistan too who must be the guardians of our proud heritage. 

How can Pakistani bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

I am not sure how bloggers can benefit financially other than allowing adverts around the site for Google and others. OP has no such designs although money is always useful!

Do you think Pakistani bloggers tend to remain somewhat self-centered and really don't go out of their shells? Is it the oriental style of blogging, or they are still unsure about it?

I don’t think Pakistani bloggers are self-centred or unsure, rather they are cautious as blogging is a new medium for all involved. Such poise and thought is useful as it acts as a quality control tool thus ensuring a quality blogging experience for all. At a personal level, OP allows for a forum where bloggers and non-bloggers can interact, debate and criticise my posts either by posting comments or even better via detailed rebuttals through guest posts. I invite Pakistan Spectator writers and readers to do likewise here

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

No way jose! I am always busy yet I don’t even blog every day unlike most bloggers. As a political anorak (by choice!) I find much of my time is spent on following Pakistani politics with a view to passing comment via OP and more importantly considering solutions to problems.

What are your thoughts on corporate blogs and what do you think the biggest advantages and disadvantages are?

Corporate blogs can work so along as though they do not become another tool for media and message management. If businesses choose to use blogging to sell their name, products and so on alone then it will be a big turn off for all and few will bother visiting their blogs.

Does it pain you or proud you that we have made a history by electing a uniform general as our president?

Pakistan has for too long been led by khaki kings. I recall one of my posts ‘Musharraf the Movie’ which can be seen here where I wrote of Mush as a living obituary and a zombie president. I do not accept him as our president; he is a usurper – plain and simple. His days are numbered, the poetic words of Faraz saab are a warning to his demise ’ye shehr shehrzada hai, sada kissi ki nahin, yaha apne liye bhee, dua kissi ki nahin, aaj mai zad par hun, tau khushguman na rehna, chiraag sab ke bhujain ge, hawa kissi ki nahin’.

Do you think this whole emphasis on blogs and whatever online is a significant indicator to show that the web, the social web, is becoming a very important social force?

Yes they are becoming an important social force but until Urdu blogs become more prominent the impact on the whole nation will be minimal.

What do you think where the Pakistani blogosphere is right now?

English language blogs continue to rise meteorically and I am sure that will continue. I hope urdu blogs can follow suit too and I hope to see soon sindhi, baluchi blogs too as I cannot overstate how crucial it is for us to maintain our great heritage.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers in Pakistan?

Awab bhai at Teeth Maestro is the best by far and I salute his leadership of the movement against martial law which will be written in golden letters by all I hope and at least by me. Adil, Owais and the ATP team obviously plus Jahane Rumi as Raza Rumi is just pure genius. 

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger in Pakistan blogosphere?

Awab bhai of Teeth Maestro who is the Robert Fisk of blogging and long may he reign!

What is the future of blogging in Pakistan?

Bright, very bright so long as blogging remains a discussion place, above all my aim with OP is to provide for a dialogue not a monologue. I just hope the future blogs of 2020 and beyond echo such sentiments too.

In political respect, can we say blogging a 'democracy of message'?

I think so although the political impact at the moment remains limited for until the masses remain uneducated it will be difficult to engage our most valued asset – the people. But as the great Munir A Malik said ‘the longest journey begins with a single step’ and that journey has begun.

Can Pakistani blogosphere play any notable role in the forthcoming elections, if they happen at all?

I think bloggers can help to educate and inform at least in the urban areas if bloggers choose to champion candidates or not depending on the quality of the candidate. For example OP is trying to make an impact however small by openly supporting a very unique candidate in Munnaza Abdul Razaq in Lahore NA121.

Munnaza deserves support for she is not a party political animal but simply a lay person like you and me who has had enough of the same scoundrels ruling over us and has chose to make a stand by standing in Lahore NA121. An article in The News here details why Munnaza deserves your support. Personally I believe my support of Munnaza Razaq could serve as a test case of the power of the blogosphere if all blogs PS included decided to support her online and worked for her on the ground to ensure she wins in NA121.

Just imagine the precedent it would set if she was elected thanks to the support from the Pakistani online community who could help to mobilise LUMS students and their respective action committees via their blogs and the Emergency List as well as motivate Lahore’s joe public to campaign and vote for her. So lets join together and elect Munnaza guys, please support her on your blogs and through your friends in Lahore, who knows she could win!

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

It has reshaped my life completely as OP dominates my daily thoughts. I am always busy and am always struggling for time. 

What are your future plans?

I hope to continue as I am at present and improve OP though I would like a Pakistani wife as keen to serve the nation as me to help me share the burden!

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

Please visit Other Pakistan here, make it a favourite or bookmark it and send me your views via guest posts and comments on how together we can build a better Pakistan, an ‘other’ Pakistan. OP aims to be inclusive not exclusive, it is not a power trip blog rather it is your blog, and I need your input for I believe it is so important to get dialogue started and to open up a space where different ideas and world views can be shared and conversation started so that we can work towards building a better, more just Pakistan.

The full interview can also be viewed on the Pakistan Spectator website here.

Wasim Arif - 3rd February 2008, 23:35 PK Time